Setubal, Portugal.
Although this area is only separated from Riscuo by a narrow strait, it is dominated by plains and hills and has superior geographical conditions.
However, among the four districts in southern Portugal, this city can only be regarded as a short one and a tall one. By the 21st century, although its population exceeded 500,000, its overall strength ranked only sixth.
Historically, the Southern Region, including the Setubal District, Évora District, Seiya District, and Faro (Alagave) District, has always been the most backward place in Portugal, inferior to Lisbon, Cote in the north. Imbra and Porto are the first three regions.
The southern regions such as Alagave, as the last areas in Portugal's history to regain lost territory, have always been in poverty due to various historical and practical reasons, with a population of only about 500,000 in this era.
It is no wonder that Carlos I took out this poor and despicable land and gave it to Francisco as a sincere gesture of reconciliation and marriage.
Since New Year's Day in 1902, Francisco and Anna left Luxembourg and went to Alagavi to start developing this area.
Of course, at that time, Tangning and Helen did not go there, but were left in the care of their grandma and Aunt Adele, who had no children. They planned to bring them back after they had stabilized their regional rule.
However, the plan could not keep up with the changes.
In mid-1902, the last child of Guillaume IV and Maria Anna was born, a girl named Sophie.
Maria Anna endured a lot of sins when she gave birth to this child with high hopes, but she only received disappointment, and she was sad for a long time.
In fact, Guillaume IV had already looked away. While comforting his beloved wife, he immediately promoted his eldest daughter, Marie Adelaide, to become the country's crown prince. The process went very smoothly, and there was no glitch in the parliament.
Marie Adelaide was only nine years old, and her ninth birthday had not passed yet. Guillaume IV's health was getting worse and worse, and he stepped up his efforts to educate his daughter.
As a result, Tang Ning, as her fiancé, cannot leave Luxembourg for Portugal. She can only take some time to visit her parents occasionally every year.
April 12, 1904, was Anna's thirtieth birthday. As a child, Tang Ning must celebrate her mother's birthday.
On April 1, Downing, now 13 years old, brought Charlotte and her sister Helen to Setubal, where Francisco and Anna lived.
"Father, Setubal feels okay, but why are there black people!"
Tangning visited Setubal and found that it was a prosperous city with urban construction everywhere and many ethnic groups.
Not only the native peoples, but also other European peoples.
There are a large number of Spaniards, as well as a small number of Italians, Poles, Serbs, Greeks, and Germans.
Of course, there are also many people from other continents outside of Europe, especially the three ethnic groups of Brazilians, Sinians, and Indians. Their numbers are very large, reaching almost half of the city.
Although the number of black Africans among them is small, they are quite eye-catching.
After all, the local population of Greater Alagave is too small, only 500,000. After Francisco arrived, he quickly stabilized the situation and brought a large amount of investment, which directly activated the vitality of this region.
Especially the development of industry requires a huge working population. Francisco looked down upon those lazy compatriots in northern Portugal and directly introduced foreign populations.
These outsiders had no foundation, and the labor costs were cheap. Francisco became more and more comfortable with them, and the introduction became more and more intensive.
"Black people! I brought in the working population, but I didn't bring them in. They are not suitable for industrial society."
Of course Francisco understood what his son meant. Black people were of little use. His son was wondering why he introduced them.
"These people have existed for a long time. They are all local and have lived here for hundreds of years."
After hearing what her father said, Tangning was a little confused. It turned out that there were indigenous black people in Portugal.
Regardless of whether it was in the past or present life, how come he had never heard of this?
Tangning was sitting in a carriage, looking at the scenery and people on the roadside, and curiously asked: "Father, forgive my ignorance, are there actually indigenous black people in Portugal?"
"These black people are not native. Since Portugal expelled the Moors, there are only Portuguese people."
Francisco said, pointing to a black man at a fruit stand on the roadside.
“These black people are all left over from the Triangular Trade period.
In the triangular trade, although most black slaves were sent to Brazil, some were also used locally, especially in the south, which has a small population, and more were introduced. "
So this is ah! This does make sense.
When I heard my father say that places like Aragavi in the south had historically introduced more black people, I immediately became wary.
“Father, are there many black people in the Alagavi area under your control?
We are now an industrialized society, not an agricultural society, and we do not need them. You must know that Europe and other continents have more working people.
Father, you can’t follow France’s example of not imposing restrictions on black immigrants. We need a working population, and we can definitely bring in other ethnic groups. Even Indians are better than black people. "
“I came to Aragavi and after cleaning and purifying the area under control, I counted the population of the area and found a total of 534,000 people.
There are 461,000 Portuguese, 31,000 Spanish, 25,000 blacks, 15,000 North Africans, 11,000 Indians, and 1,000 Jews.
Now there is an influx of outsiders. According to the port data, there are 130,000 people in total. In addition to 20,000 other European nationalities, most of the people who have poured in are Brazilians, Sinians and Indians. There are no black people. "
Francisco said this, looked at his son nodding with satisfaction, and asked with a smile, do you hate black people so much?
"No, father, I'm just wary. After all, their skin color is too conspicuous, and they are indeed not suitable for industrial society.
I would rather have Brazilians, Southern Europeans, Cathays, or even Indians than I need them. After all, we are all light-skinned people with mainly black hair, so it is easy to blend in. "
The reason why Tang Ning said that was because Europe in later generations was seriously troubled by black and green, and it should be eradicated from the source now.
Just now my father also mentioned that North Africans should also pay attention. They are green and should also be paid attention to by my father.
“Father, please do not introduce those green gangsters from North Africa.
We had worked so hard to recover the lost land before driving them out. Now we cannot bring them in just because of the lack of labor force. "
Although Tangning is young, she has a vision that transcends the times. She has not helped her father since she was a child.
Francisco was able to open a company from the Far East, earn a lot of wealth, and reach the top of his life, and Tang Ning was indispensable.
Francisco still attaches great importance to his son Tangning's vision and suggestions.
The late wife Wen Qian once commented that her son was simply the reincarnation of Gan Luo, a beloved son given to them by God.
"I will pay attention to what you said!" Francisco nodded.
"How long do you plan to stay in Portugal this time? Anna and I haven't seen you and Helen in two years, and we really miss you."
Ever since Francisco came to Aragavi, his sense of responsibility seems to have been activated, and he has been staying here to develop and benefit the people seriously!
Except for occasionally going to Lisbon to develop a relationship with Carlos I, he spent almost all his time in the territory and paid attention to regional development.
"My sister and I are going to stay here for two months. We miss you very much, especially Helen. She often complains to me why our parents don't come back to see us."
At this point, Tangning started to complain.
"Dad, what are you thinking about? After staying in Portugal for such a long time, your sense of responsibility is overwhelming. Don't you have some plan?"
"Tangning, you are right, I do have a plan.
After staying in Portugal for so long, I discovered that it is not impossible for our family to be restored. Now, I have always had a good relationship with Carlos.
I was now on good terms with Carlos I, and he became more and more dependent on me, and now owed me more than two million pounds.
In order to pay off the debt, he gave me control of Ma Hong Kong, Goa, East Timor and Mozambique. "
Francisco, looking at his son's confused eyes, explained.
“Carlos I, apart from embracing the thigh of Britain, now only knows how to rule harshly.
I have observed both of his sons, and they are worse than him. Each has a worse character than the other, and they are completely unable to hold up.
Now the Gotha royal family does not have much support in Portugal. Opposition forces in various places are getting stronger and stronger, and the power of the nobles is getting weaker and weaker.
If this trend continues, the royal family of Kota will be expelled one day. Now that Aragavi is in our hands, this is an opportunity.
Alagave is recognized as a backward place in Portugal. As long as I develop this place well, the Portuguese who long for a wise king will definitely notice me.
If one day, the Gotha family is expelled, those republicans are destined to be unable to achieve anything in Europe today.
By that time, the nobles will definitely think of us, and the Portuguese people will also see my performance. It is not impossible for our Miguel Braganza family to want to be restored. "
Listening to her father's analysis and thinking about Portugal's future history, Tangning discovered that it was really possible to regain the rule of the Miguel royal family in Portugal.
Historically, the Gotha royal family lived a miserable life in the following years.
Faced with the radicalism of the Republicans, public dissatisfaction and protests, Carlos I's rule became more and more severe, and he did not want to compromise.
During the middle and late periods of his reign, Portugal became politically and economically dependent on Britain. The financial situation continued to deteriorate: Portugal declared bankruptcy twice during his reign.
These facts made him very unpopular at home and directly led to domestic opposition forces calling for the abolition of the monarchy.
Faced with an increasingly troubled situation, Carlos I responded by appointing General Joao Franco as military dictator to suppress opposition activities.
But the turbulent atmosphere in Portugal has not subsided.
On February 1, 1908, when Carlos I and his eldest son, Luis Felipe, Duke of Braganza and first in line to the Portuguese throne, were driving through the streets of Lisbon, they were ambushed by gunmen.
This successful assassination killed both Carlos I and his eldest son, Luis Felipe.
After the death of Carlos I and his eldest son, Manuel II succeeded to the throne.
The king who succeeded him was worse than his father. He was intimidated by the republicans, abandoned the monarchists, dissolved the autocratic cabinet, and completely relied on the republicans.
However, the Republicans took advantage of his cowardice and kindness. After taking power, they abandoned II.
In 1910, the President of Brazil visited Portugal. Directly in the eyes of outsiders, the Republicans launched a coup and overthrew Manuel II.
Having betrayed the monarchists, II had no useful power at all and was afraid of being caught and executed, so he hurriedly ran to Gibraltar and then to England.
After arriving in the UK, the British royal family wanted to support the descendants of the family, and the British government was ready. However, Manuel II gave up the use of force to recover, saying that he advocated a peaceful solution.
It sounds nice, but it’s actually cowardly!
Manuel II had a weak character and did not dare to be tough on the Republicans because he was afraid that he would be assassinated if he did so.
