Chapter 59: Five-year Plan
The celebration banquet that Carlo prepared for Serrano and others was equally grand, but the specific specifications were not so luxurious.
Although there were also a large amount of cuisine, most of it came from Spain, with only a small amount of Italian cuisine mixed in.
The alcoholic beverages were even wine from Carlo’s private winery, emphasizing self-production and self-sale.
There were also many nobles attending the banquet. In order to express the importance attached to meritorious officials such as Serrano, Carlo specially invited several Spanish grand dukes and dukes, including Duke Jacopo, to bolster the occasion.
After a joyous celebration banquet ended, the main event that followed became the July enfeoffment ceremony.
Because it was the first time Carlo had conferred nobility titles since taking the throne, the Spanish Government attached great importance to it. Especially since this time the prime minister and the Minister of War were also being enfeoffed, the government’s officials did not dare to slack off in the slightest.
Compared to the officials’ hasty preparations, Carlo and the two protagonists of the ceremony were quite relaxed at this time.
After learning that Prime Minister Primó had been assassinated, Serrano was first greatly shocked, then sighed in relief upon seeing the unharmed Prime Minister Primó.
Serrano also understood that, at present, Primó was quite important to Spain. This reform could only be promoted by Primó; his importance was far greater than his own.
“Has the mastermind behind the scenes been identified?” Duke Serrano asked. The mastermind behind the assassination was not targeting Prime Minister Primó; they wanted to destroy Spain’s future. In the present where countries around the world are becoming increasingly powerful, if Spain does not keep pace with the times to promote revolution and accelerate industry and economic development, the gap with the great powers will only grow larger.
“Not yet for the time being, but I believe there will be results soon,” Primó said somewhat helplessly.
Although he had extorted a large amount of land from the Church and funds approaching 8 million pesetas, the taste of being secretly plotted against was not pleasant.
If he found out who was behind the planning of this assassination, Prime Minister Primó would not mind sending him to see God.
“So what is your next plan? Continue promoting reform?” Serrano asked curiously.
“Of course.” Primó nodded and replied: “Spain is too poor in all aspects; we must seize the time to carry out reform.
At the same time, we need to make massive investments in industry, agriculture, medical treatment, education, and so on, including building railways and roads, etc.
Good heavens, I don’t even know how long the government’s finance can support this; it’s simply an enormous pit.”
If it were just constructing a single industry sector, the burden on Spain would not be that great. But in Primó’s plan, he wanted to simultaneously construct industry, agriculture, education, medical treatment, and transportation, etc.; the funding pressure required was unimaginable.
“Prime Minister, I think we need to formulate a detailed plan,” Carlo interjected at this time: “If we layout so many industry sectors at the same time, it would be a huge burden on our finance, even impossible to bear.
Although we can also obtain funds through foreign loans, this method not only carries high interest, but also comes with some additional conditions.
If possible, I hope we can divide the tasks of reform and construction into phases, and complete them phase by phase.”