"Alright, let's run the final test."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Just after graduation, the mechanical harvester—the Reaper—was finally completed. It had taken nearly as long as the rifling machine to develop.
'I thought it would be simple, but with the technology of this era, building reliable gears and levers proved no easy task.'
The machine was designed to be drawn by horses. The motion of the horse turned the wheels, which in turn drove a system of gears and levers that powered a set of uniformly spaced blades. These blades moved rhythmically, slicing through the stalks of corn in the machine's path. The cut stalks were lifted onto a platform via an inclined ramp.
Farmers walking behind the machine would then gather the neatly stacked stalks on the platform, bundle them, and transport them away. Eventually, even the bundling process would be mechanized—but for now, that was beyond reach.
'Compared to harvesting each stalk with a sickle, this is exponentially faster.'
He knew this from direct experience during the harvest season. Once this device was widely adopted, a significant reduction in agricultural labor would become inevitable.
'In a way, it's a machine that creates unemployment. I'll have to ensure those displaced can be redirected into my ventures—or into frontier development.'
"Everyone, thank you for your hard work. As I mentioned before, you'll all be hired by Estrada Steelworks. Please begin preparing for mass production of the Reaper."
Though he had yet to inform Emilio Estrada himself, he had already named the company Estrada Aceros—Estrada Steel.
"Thank you, Your Highness. It has been an honor."
The engineers who had worked by his side for the past two years would now be part of Estrada Steelworks.
'Once the company grows larger, it might be better to spin off agricultural and mining equipment into separate businesses, while keeping Estrada Steel focused solely on steel.'
After the engineers had left, he gently ran his hand over the completed Reaper.
'With this, the first step toward agricultural modernization begins.'
Industrialization and modernization were essential if Mexico were to become a great power. Yet he wanted to avoid the kind of radical, painful transformations that had accompanied such changes elsewhere.
'My aim isn't to crush America and turn Mexico into the world's strongest nation for its own sake. I want to see the people of Latin America live well—better than those in the old world. I must not lose sight of that.'
Surely, the Mexican grandfather who had sent him here had wished for the same.
The plan was to gradually wean the landlords off their dependence on manual labor by showing them the sweet fruit of mechanization. The freed labor could then be redirected to frontier expansion, industrial work, and national infrastructure development.
'And to do that, I'll need to sell this machine well.'
Although he intended to use business as a means to drive Mexico's industrialization and development, he was, after all, the Crown Prince. Business was just one tool among many.
Even with graduation behind him, he would not have the time to manage operations personally. His involvement would remain limited to essential, high-level interventions. The actual day-to-day running of the businesses would continue to fall to his deputies.
'Except for cases like city planning, waterworks, railway systems, or major dam construction, there won't be many occasions I can or should get directly involved. Especially not in areas outside my expertise.'
His role was to set the macroeconomic direction; the businesses themselves would continue to be run by his trusted agents.
He could afford this approach only because those deputies had proven themselves during his four years at the military academy.
'Those who serve with patriotism, loyalty, and integrity must always be rewarded.'
Like Eduardo, these men would receive high salaries, a 10% stake in the companies they operated, and the honor of having their surnames included in the company names.
Yes, the capital had come from him, and yes, his historical foresight had guaranteed a high chance of success—but it was these men who had executed the strategies and would continue to lead the businesses.
'There's a reason modern companies distribute shares to key employees. The mindset of a shareholder is fundamentally different from that of a mere wage-earner.'
These deputies, though doing everything from start to finish, likely had no expectation of receiving ownership stakes.
Because that was how this era operated.
In this quasi-feudal Mexican Empire, unlike in the U.S. or Britain where even commoners boldly ventured into entrepreneurship, it was still standard for noblemen and landowners to entrust entire farms and businesses to hired managers. In return, the managers received little more than slightly higher wages than common laborers.
'That kind of structure won't last long in this empire. It's bad for both morale and productivity. But because of the times, my form of compensation will seem all the more extraordinary.'
He intended to register these enterprises as joint-stock companies and formally distribute ownership—but a problem quickly became apparent.
"You've got to be kidding… We don't even have corporate law in Mexico yet."
As far as he remembered, by the late 1820s, Britain, France, and the U.S. already had joint-stock companies not only legally registered but actively trading shares on stock exchanges.
'Clearly, we're far from that.'
He would need to begin by introducing the very concept of joint-stock corporations.
'Stocks aren't just for speculation.'
The joint-stock company and stock exchange were revolutionary inventions. They allowed corporations to raise capital for expansion, research, and innovation. They gave everyday investors a way to diversify and grow their wealth.
One could argue that the greatest invention in the history of capitalism wasn't a machine, but the corporation itself.
Even if it weren't for rewarding his deputies, the implementation of joint-stock companies and securities markets was a necessity.
'But this can't be done by decree. It must go through legislation.'
It wasn't a concept likely to face fierce opposition from either the Republicans or the Conservatives—but if any pushback were to come, it would likely be from the conservative camp.
'If I frame it right, even the conservatives should accept it.'
He could easily ask his father to order a conservative lawmaker to pass it—but he had resolved to approach them himself.
'Even family can't be leaned on endlessly without cost.'
His forced enrollment in the military academy had taught him that. Agustín I would no doubt grant the favor without question—but eventually, he would expect one in return.
Better to exert his own influence and handle the matter personally.
As Crown Prince, securing a meeting with any politician was easy.
"Your Highness, you've grown into a fine man."
Benito Camacho, a prominent conservative legislator.
He remembered him from six years ago, when, as a fifteen-year-old, he had delivered a brilliant rebuttal in Congress—silencing Republican opposition to the confiscation of Spanish properties.
'Hard to believe that was already six years ago.'
"It's been too long, sir."
He had grown taller since then. His build, hardened by regular exercise, made him look like a different person altogether.
"Yes, I still recall how Your Highness silenced those Republicans with unmatched eloquence. Hard to believe you were only fifteen at the time."
"You offered timely support that day, Representative Camacho. I never thanked you properly—so allow me to do so now."
"Haha, it was my pleasure."
"I asked for this meeting because I have a favor to request."
Camacho raised an eyebrow.
"I had assumed that anything Your Highness needed could be arranged through His Majesty. I'm surprised—and honored—that you've come to me directly. May I ask what the matter is?"
"Are you familiar with the joint-stock companies currently operating in Britain, France, and the United States? I would like to draft legislation establishing similar companies and a stock exchange."
"I am familiar, yes… Hmm. I believe, if I were to support it, such legislation would not face much opposition."
'So, what's in it for me?'
He could have leaned on his father's authority to compel Camacho's cooperation—but that wasn't his style. Camacho understood as much. A deal had to be made.
"I've recently invented a machine. It allows for quick and efficient harvesting of grain. I understand you own several fine estates. If you support this bill, I'll give you twenty-five of these machines as a gift. They will soon retail for 200 pesos apiece."
A total value of 5,000 pesos.
He could have offered cash, but presenting the Reaper would serve as valuable advertising as well.
"Oh? That's quite remarkable. As it happens, my overseer recently complained that many tenant farmers are fleeing to dig for gold. It's becoming a real problem… Would it be possible to see the machine firsthand?"
'Of course. He's not about to bite just because I named a price.'
"Of course. I'll even demonstrate it during harvest. In fact, may I invite other guests as well?"
'Might as well make it a full sales pitch.'
"That seems fair. I'll bring along some of my fellow landowners."
"Excellent. I look forward to seeing you in a few months."
"And I, you—thank you, Your Highness."
That evening, he visited Agustín I in his study.
Unlike before—when his father had wrestled with endless documents—he now wore a more relaxed expression.
"…So Spain is preparing for war?"
"Yes. I've heard that Spain is recovering from its internal chaos. They're unlikely to sit idly while their former colonies slip away—especially given our confiscation of royal and noble assets."
"That's true. I've been quietly bolstering our forces in preparation. Why do you think I ordered 5,000 of Eduardo's new rifles these past two years?"
In that time, they had also retrofitted 20,000 flintlock muskets.
"Thank you, Father. The problem is predicting when and where they will strike. As you know, we have no navy—so intercepting them at sea is virtually impossible."
"…We have a navy. We just don't have ships."
"Ahem… right. Which means we must repel them on land. If we can anticipate their landing site, it becomes far easier. If we plant agents in Cuba, we should be able to learn both the timing and likely location of their assault."
"The Spaniards will stop at Havana to resupply before invading. So we'll use that window?"
"Yes. I'll dispatch two agents—one to report immediately upon spotting the fleet, and another to identify the landing site and relay that as well."
"A clever plan. Very well—I'll see it done. Don't worry."
"Thank you, Father."
Thus, the empire would be forewarned of Spain's movements.
Conflict was inevitable. The better prepared would triumph.