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Chapter 1069: The Future of the Gold Mines

Once Bailly finished his sales report, he added, "However, a black market for gold-panning tools has emerged in California. We are suffering significant losses because of it—likely exceeding 70,000 francs."

Joseph looked down, flipping through the section of Bailly's report detailing the situation in California.

Because the gold deposits on the West Coast of North America were so vast, they required a massive amount of labor to be effectively mined. Consequently, the Spanish government had implemented a licensing system.

Anyone could pan for gold in designated areas as long as they paid a regular permit fee.

Naturally, white Spaniards paid lower fees and held greater privileges, such as the right to establish permanent camps, purchase farmland, and hunt.

In contrast, the Mestizos—those of mixed heritage—and the Mexican natives not only paid higher fees but were restricted solely to gold panning. They were forced to rely on the white-owned camps for housing and food.

This allowed the white Spaniards to exploit their control over the camps to surreptitiously sell tools to the prospectors. With the miners' pockets overflowing with gold grains, prices in California had skyrocketed; it often took five or six gold nuggets just to buy a single shovel. The Spaniards were unwilling to miss out on such a lucrative opportunity. Since last month, there had been a steady stream of smuggled tools being sold under the table.

Joseph couldn't help but shake his head.

The Spaniards always insisted on these foolish racial hierarchies. They governed Mexico using the Casta system, where white Spaniards occupied the highest tier, followed by Mestizos, then Mexican natives, with Black people at the very bottom.

Joseph knew that in little more than a decade, an independence movement of unprecedented scale would erupt in Mexico. Ultimately, the Mestizos would lead the natives to overthrow Spanish rule and establish the United Mexican States.

Currently, the Spanish government was bringing large numbers of Mestizos and Mexican natives into California to mine gold while still clinging to their methods of racial oppression. It was entirely possible that a rebellion would break out here even sooner than in Mexico proper—after all, the immense wealth of the gold mines could make men completely disregard the fear of death.

Despite sitting on the world's largest silver mines in America and possessing more colonies than anyone else, Spain was managing to run itself into the ground, teetering on the edge of becoming a second-rate European power. It was truly a case of reaping what you sow through your own foolish actions.

Joseph obviously couldn't stop the decline of the Spanish Empire, nor did he have any reason to, but he had to do everything possible to secure France's interests in California.

Bailly looked at him and suggested, "Your Highness, I have already lodged a protest with the Governor of California. However, if we want to see real results, we might need to offer some bribes to the Californian anti-smuggling units..."

The so-called anti-smuggling units weren't actually responsible for searching for smugglers; their specific purpose was to prevent people without permits from illegally mining gold.

Joseph pondered for a moment before shaking his head. "Those selling the black-market tools will simply offer them more money in bribes."

He then asked, "How many Spaniards are actually among the prospectors in California right now?"

Bailly blinked, looking uncertain. "I haven't conducted a formal census, Your Highness, but it shouldn't exceed a thousand. After all, there are fewer than three thousand Europeans in the entire region."

Those three thousand included women, children, numerous officials, and the military garrison. The number of men available for actual labor was certainly less than a thousand.

Joseph smiled. "In other words, the vast majority of prospectors are Mestizos and Mexican natives."

"That is correct, Your Highness."

"The best way to get someone to protect your interests is to tie their interests to your own," Joseph declared. "We will bypass the Spaniards and go directly to the Mestizos."

While the Mexican natives were numerous, most lacked a clear political agenda and generally followed the lead of the Mestizos. Therefore, the Mestizo community was the key.

Bailly asked quickly, "What do you mean, sir?"

"Select a group of the most influential Mestizos and make them the authorized agents for our gold-panning tools, Hard Man Trousers, and other goods.

"When our ships dock, we will sell the goods to them at a fixed price, and they will be responsible for distributing them to the prospectors."

Bailly's eyes lit up instantly.

If the Mestizos were the agents, then any Spaniard trying to sell tools on the side would be infringing on their profits. Given the Mestizos' sheer numbers, it would be almost impossible for the Spaniards to evade their surveillance.

These agents could even send people to inspect the prospectors' tools at any time. If they found something that didn't come from their stock, they would report it immediately. Under those conditions, who would dare buy tools from any other source?

Joseph's reason for doing this was twofold: first, to eliminate the black market, and second, to build a rapport with the Mestizos.

Even if the Mestizos eventually revolted and achieved independence, these agents would remain French associates. They would naturally protect French interests—which would, by then, be their own interests as well.

Joseph continued, "Additionally, please send someone to negotiate with the Governor of California. Tell him we wish to establish a patrol in the mining districts to protect our nearby warehouses from theft. A hundred men or so should suffice.

"Oh, you may offer the Governor a bribe for this particular matter."

Bailly asked, somewhat confused, "Your Highness, if it is just for theft prevention, we could simply hire Mestizos."

Joseph smiled. "The patrol is there to help the agents deal with the Spaniards. Therefore, they must be our own people."

Bailly understood immediately.

The Spaniards would certainly try to use their social status to bully the Mestizo agents. With a French patrol present, the Mestizos could report any Spaniards selling illicit tools to them.

The patrol would then handle the violators according to the agreements between France and Spain.

Every problem was solved in one stroke.

He bowed deeply to the Crown Prince. "Yes, Your Highness. I will personally oversee the selection of the patrol members."

...

North Africa.

Medjana, East of Algiers.

Kuloğlu looked at the mud-caked officer standing before him. His temper flared, and he kicked the man to the ground.

This was the third time in two weeks. After Mukrari had fled into Annaba, he had been sending small units to slip back into Medjana to harass the logistics convoys.

Supplies were already difficult to come by in the mountains of Medjana. These raids had made his food situation even more precarious. Currently, the soldiers were down to only sixty percent of their usual rations.

If this continued, he might be forced to retreat to Mitidja simply because of a lack of supplies.

His position in the council was not entirely secure. He had built up some prestige by conquering M'zab, but he was now being attacked by the naval factions again because he had failed to suppress the Kabylia rebellion for so long.

"Mukrari must be eliminated." Kuloğlu stared at the eastern mountains, his fists clenched tight. "Bring Yunus to see me."