Carlo knew that Spain at this ti was quite backward, but he did not expect Spain’s developnt in all aspects to be so backward.
As of the beginning of this year, Spain’s estimated population was 6 million. Why is it such a round number? Because the Spanish Governnt at this ti simply lacked the ability to conduct a detailed population census; this was rely a rough estimate by the Spanish Governnt based on population birth registrations and death situations in various places.
The fatal thing was that Spain’s illiteracy rate was over 70 percent. This also ant that among the 6 million population, at least 6 million were illiterate.
The poor education level, combined with the chaotic situation in recent years, led to Spain’s average annual inco being at the lowest level in Western Europe, only 87 pesetas, which was just over 3 pounds sterling.
Although in this era, the grassroots people of all European countries did not have it easy, and exploitation by factory owners and oppression by capitalists were common occurrences.
But an annual inco of just over 3 pounds sterling was clearly an extrely unhealthy level; the United Kingdom’s per capita inco exceeded 9 pounds sterling, and other European countries also maintained levels above 6 to 7 pounds sterling.
Spaniards could on average only earn half or even one-third of the inco of citizens in other countries, which was also why the public rebelled against Queen Isabella—because the Spaniards really could not survive.
Looking at such data, Carlo could not help but feel extrely headache.
Carlo had originally thought that Italy’s situation was already quite bad, but in front of Spain, it was not worth ntioning at all.
Except for tying with Spain in illiteracy rate, Italy could crush Spain in all other aspects.
Now Carlo had only one thought: to quickly promote Pri Minister Primó’s reforms and first improve Spain’s dire situation.
Let alone achieving revival, whether the Kingdom could continue to exist was a question. Although Queen Isabella had been driven away, she had left Carlo with an extrely dire Spain.
Faced with a Spain that was rotten to the core, this was no longer sothing that could be saved by burying one’s head in developnt.
At the Cabinet eting a few days later, Carlo sat in the lead position, quietly waiting for Pri Minister Primó’s reform proposals.
For this reform, Pri Minister Primó was fully prepared. The Cabinet Governnt nominated by Pri Minister Primó consisted basically of reformists; the only two who were not reformists, Serrano and Carlo, had also successively expressed support for reform.
Secondly, since becoming Pri Minister, Pri Minister Primó had been preparing for reform. He combined Spain’s current situation, referenced a large amount of successful foreign reform experience, and finally formulated a complete Spanish reform plan.
He handed this plan to Carlo and said very solemnly and seriously: “Your Majesty, this is the Spanish reform plan that I and dozens of officials wrote after a long period of investigation and research.
The following is the initial plan for the reform; please review it.”
The initial reform plan was actually very simple, consisting of only four categories: agriculture, education, industry, and military reform.
“Pri Minister Primó, please explain your reform plan in detail.” Although he supported reform inwardly, this did not prevent Carlo from wanting to hear Pri Minister Primó’s complete reform plan.
Pri Minister Primó nodded, stood up, and introduced to all Cabinet officials: “Our initial reform consists of only four aspects: agriculture, industry, education, and military reform.
In the agricultural aspect, I plan to promote reduction and exemption of agricultural tax to increase the inco of the agricultural population. At the sa ti, promote export of grain to ensure sufficient sales channels for the agricultural population’s grain.
In the industrial aspect, I believe we should restore Spain’s industrial construction in a short ti, invest in new factories, and build our own industrial zone.
Building factories can provide more jobs, which will also help us further improve per capita inco.
In educational reform, I plan to build more literacy classes to reduce our illiterate population, but this requires huge funds investnt, so it is the third choice for reform.
Finally, there is military reform. I hope to expand our army numbers to around 100,000 and equip our army with more cannons.
Sufficient quantities of cannons have proven their role on the battlefield; whether for defense against foreign enemies or stabilizing Spain’s order, improving the army’s combat effectiveness is necessary.”
Hearing Pri Minister Primó’s reform plan, before Carlo could express any opinion, Minister of War Serrano sitting beside him could not hold back.
Serrano stood up, looking at Pri Minister Primó with disbelief, and asked in surprise: “Pri Minister Primó, do you not know how many pesetas are left in Spain’s treasury?
Every one of your reforms requires tens of millions of pesetas, but our governnt simply has no money. To be blunt, if we cannot prepare sufficient pesetas before implenting the reform, this reform is destined to end in failure.”
“Don’t we still have a lot of fields?” Pri Minister Primó looked at Serrano who raised the opposing opinion, with a calm smile on his face.
For a monarchy country, the biggest landlord dostically is definitely the monarch himself. Queen Isabella herself was a debauched and greedy monarch, so it was not surprising that the Bourbon Dynasty owned the most arable land in Spain.
After driving away Queen Isabella, all the arable land originally belonging to the Bourbon Dynasty was confiscated by the Spanish Provisional Governnt, and these lands were the basis for Pri Minister Primó to implent reform.
Although these lands once belonged to the king, they certainly would not follow the throne to be inherited by Carlo.
Carlo naturally understood this point, and he had no intention of becoming a landlord, let alone ruining his own reputation for such lands.
On the contrary, if Carlo supported using these lands to exchange for sufficient funds for the governnt, this could instead beco one of the topics for propagating Carlo.
Seeing that Carlo had no ideas about those lands, Pri Minister Primó finally breathed a sigh of relief and explained to Carlo and Serrano: “The Bourbon family owns vast lands; these lands are sufficient to provide enough funds for our reform.
I plan to divide these lands into three parts: one part to be distributed free to Spain’s farrs, allowing farrs to have sufficient arable land to plant grain.
Another part to be sold to capitalists and farm owners to accumulate sufficient funds for our reform.
The remaining part to be nationalized, which can be rented to farrs at low prices for planting.”
“I support your idea, Pri Minister Primó.” Carlo nodded, having no objection to the proposal of dividing the land into three parts: “
Moreover, I have a proposal that can prepare funds for the reform: why don’t we try issuing national debt?”
First update, seeking support!
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