Though the evolution of various political systems appeared complex, at its root, it was all caused by the people's dissatisfaction with those in power.
This also meant that, whether it was a monarchy or a parliamentary republic, there was fundamentally no real difference between good and bad.
The most fundamental issue was whether the people's needs could be met. This would evolve into Europeans' dissatisfaction with those in power and the government, and it was also the true cause behind the outbreak of revolutions.
If the Spanish government had been able to pay attention to the people's circumstances and introduce policies to improve their lives as much as possible, perhaps such a revolution would not have occurred, and Spain's absolute monarchy could have continued to exist.
This also showed that Spain's problems had already become severe. It was only when the people could no longer afford to eat and could no longer survive that revolution erupted.
The report Carlo published in the newspapers went straight to the heart of Spain's problems—to the most fundamental demand of the Spaniards: improving their quality of life.
Eating bread and drinking milk might have seemed like an entirely ordinary demand, but in 1868, more than a century ago, it was exceedingly difficult.
Even if it were simplified by two levels into the most basic need—to eat one's fill and drink one's fill—the Kingdom of Spain's government still could not satisfy it.
What Carlo wanted was to place all responsibility on Queen Isabella and the Bourbon Dynasty, washing the monarchy as clean as possible.
Later that day, November 30, 1868, Madrid, Spain.
"General, there is a report from Italy that requires your review."
Primo had been preparing to end his exhausting day of work when a remark from his subordinate interrupted him.
"A report? From Italy?" Primo asked in surprise. "What wind could have blown a report from Italy all the way to Spain?"
"It is a report about monarchy and republicanism, General." The subordinate handed over a newspaper. Printed clearly across its center was a headline: "We Need Bread, Not a Republic."
"Interesting." Primo had not intended to take the newspaper, but after seeing its headline, he accepted it and began to read.
The report had been reprinted by a small Madrid newspaper, which had translated it from Italian into Spanish so that Spaniards could understand it.
"How widely has this report spread elsewhere?" After reading the entire report, Primo suddenly asked an odd question.
"Other than its limited circulation in Madrid, it has also spread on a small scale in Barcelona, Valencia, and Valladolid. Newspapers in all those places have reported on it as well."
Primo smiled, a trace of deeper meaning in his eyes. In a teasing tone, he said, "It seems someone deliberately ensured that this report would appear on my desk."
"General, I..." The subordinate had just wanted to explain when Primo cut him off with a smile. "Enough. Of course I trust your loyalty.
What I mean is that someone has likely set their sights on Spain. For a report from Italy to spread so widely through so many cities in such a short time proves that the enemy came prepared.
If it merely happened to coincide with this revolution, so be it. But if our revolution had long been anticipated by whoever stood behind this, then that would truly be worrying."
Seeing the concern on his subordinate's face, Primo patted his shoulder and soothed him. "All right, I do not mean to cast any suspicion on you. I have a task for you now. Go to Italy and investigate the source of this report. Find out everything about the people behind that newspaper."
Though he wondered what kind of person wanted to use this report to achieve what end, for the moment, it was still quite useful to Primo.
The simplest example cited in it was impossible to refute, because the powerful European nations of this era were all monarchies.
It would also help Primo steer the new government toward a constitutional monarchy, concentrating power in the national government to carry out the reforms he envisioned for Spain.
Why did Primo oppose republicanism?
Because the republican system proposed by those peasants and workers was a loose Spanish Federation. Not only would this set off wave after wave of independence movements in Spain's regions, which already harbored separatist ambitions, it would also cause the Spanish government to lose control over those regions.
What the Reformists wanted was a stable government capable of carrying out reform, not a scattered and chaotic government. This was also why Primo ultimately chose constitutional monarchy.
As one of the most powerful figures in the Spanish Revolution, Primo's opinion carried considerable influence.
The Spanish Provisional Government did not stop the report from spreading. Some members of the great capitalist class even helped it spread to more cities in Spain behind the scenes.
Thanks to the heated debate stirred up by the report, Spaniards also began discussing the merits and flaws of monarchy, as well as the responsibility borne by the deposed Queen Isabella II.
Saving the nation in its hour of peril was impossible, but those capitalists were masters at frantically shifting blame and washing their own hands of responsibility.
Since Queen Isabella had already lost her throne, and the Provisional Government had no intention of welcoming back either Queen Isabella or Prince Alfonso,
then if they did not kick her while she was down now, were they supposed to wait until others shifted all the blame onto themselves and that damned queen?
For their own interests, capitalists would never show the slightest mercy.
From December onward, Madrid's weather grew even colder—at least, that was how it felt to the Bourbon loyalists.
Isabella II's reputation could no longer be described as merely terrible, because it had already been terrible enough before this.
The people's fury was redirected by capitalists and certain nobles with ulterior motives toward Queen Isabella. Those factory owners and nobles who had once ruthlessly exploited Spaniards no longer needed to worry about catching a bullet in the back.
But this was no good thing for Queen Isabella, far away in France, because even now she was still searching for an opportunity to restore herself to the throne.
However, not all nobles were happy at this time. The Carlists, who came from the same family as Queen Isabella, were in no pleasant mood.
Queen Isabella's dreadful reputation had affected the Bourbon Dynasty. As a member of the Bourbon Dynasty, Carlos VII had no fewer troubles than Queen Isabella.
More importantly, after being passed down through generations, the Carlists were no longer recognized by most people.
Especially after the Second Carlist War, Carlos VI rose to power and became the leader of the Carlists.
Yet only a few years later, this self-proclaimed King of Spain was arrested by government troops, and Carlos VI was forced to renounce his right of succession.
Carlos VI's younger brother, Juan, reaped the fisherman's profit and, without any preparation at all, became Juan III, the King of Spain proclaimed by the Carlists.
But the Carlists did not particularly support this "king" who had picked up a crown. Moreover, Carlos VI was soon released after being forced to renounce his succession rights, creating a situation in which two kings stood side by side among the Carlists.
They had already been kings entertaining themselves without the recognition of most people, and now there were two kings standing side by side. Support for the Carlists fell again and again.
Though the childless Carlos VI soon died afterward, Juan III, this so-called claimant to the throne, still failed to win strong support from the Carlists. This also meant that during the Spanish Revolution, the Carlists had neither the ability to stop it nor the strength to place Juan III on the throne.
Ever since beginning his campaign of public opinion, Carlo had kept his attention fixed on the situation in Spain.
When he learned that this report had been widely reprinted and circulated throughout Spain, Carlo finally let out a sigh of relief.
But Carlo soon began to worry anew.
This action was completely different from history, and Carlo could not have been the only one responsible for the report's widespread circulation in Spain.
It would be fine if it produced good results, but if it affected Spain's situation and pushed Spain toward a republic, Carlo would regret it until his teeth ached.
But Carlo had no particularly good solution now. He could only pray that General Primo, who had supported monarchy in history, would prove as capable as he had been in history, win a majority of seats in the Spanish Parliament elections in one stroke, become the Spanish government's prime minister, and take control of the entire Spanish government.
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