Italian Laborers

After hearing Primo explain the funding preparations for industrial development, Carlo finally nodded and asked, "When do you plan to begin the industrial construction? What direction should our initial development goals take?"

"I plan to establish a small industrial base in Seville, Andalusia, and increase our steel production.

Once steel production has increased, we will begin railway construction. Over the next five years, we aim to raise the total railway mileage to more than 6,000 kilometers, linking the eastern, western, southern, and northern regions of Spain," Primo replied.

It might have seemed like mere railway construction, but the boost it would bring to industry was enormous.

The rails required for the railways would force Steel Mills to work day and night to increase steel output, driving the development of a whole chain of related industries.

Spain possessed considerable coal and iron ore reserves in Andalusia, which was also quite convenient for industrial development.

Although most of Spain's coal mines produced relatively poor-quality coal, they were still sufficient for initial industrial production.

After all, the total steel output of every nation in this era was not particularly high. It had yet to reach the staggering tens of millions of tons seen in later generations.

The strongest industrial power at present was the British Empire, yet British steel production was only around 300,000 tons, nowhere near such an exaggerated scale.

Spain's steel production, however, was even lower. Because industrial development had been neglected during Queen Isabella's reign, Spain's annual steel output had remained at merely the thousand-ton level—an impoverished 2,000 tons.

Part of the reason was that Spain lacked high-quality iron ore and coal reserves, but for a second-rate European nation with a population of more than sixteen million, such an industrial level was still far too shabby.

"Once our Steel Mills begin large-scale production, we have hope of raising steel output to more than 10,000 tons within five years. At the very least, our steel production must meet the demands of domestic industrial development. A Spain without industry is incomplete," Primo said.

Building 1,000 kilometers of railway over five years might have sounded slow, but for Spain, whose steel output was pitifully low, it was no easy task.

During the nearly thirty years from 1840 to 1869, Spain had built only 5,000 kilometers of railway. This construction pace had already fallen far behind that of England, France, Germany, America, and other nations.

Spain was filled with mountainous terrain. To better strengthen ties between its various regions, building railways was absolutely necessary.

This would not only strengthen the Kingdom Government's control over the different regions, but also accelerate population movement and economic exchange between them.

"I approve your plan, Prime Minister Primo." After hearing Primo's complete explanation, Carlo nodded and approved Prime Minister Primo's plan without the slightest hesitation.

Clearly, this industrial plan was extremely necessary for Spain. Though the investment was not particularly large, it was a good beginning for Spain's industrial development.

"Your Majesty, there is something that perhaps only you can accomplish." After Carlo approved the industrial plan, Primo first smiled and nodded, then hurriedly made another request of Carlo.

"Oh? What is it?" Carlo asked curiously.

"Whether we are building industrial bases or laying railways, we will need a large number of laborers. But as Your Majesty knows, those black laborers we purchased from Africa are not very obedient, and they are also a destabilizing factor in Spain.

"Compared with those lowly black laborers, I believe it would be more appropriate to bring in White laborers from abroad. When I visited Italy before, I discovered that a large number of Italians from agricultural backgrounds were choosing to emigrate overseas.

"If possible, could we contact the Italian government and bring in some Italian immigrants and laborers?

"Doing so would not only solve our labor shortage, but also accelerate our industrial development. I believe it is very necessary to give it a try," Primo said.

To construct industrial bases and lay railways, they had to prepare a large number of laborers as manpower.

This was difficult for Spain to achieve. Although Spain had a large agricultural population, those farmers were scattered across its vast territory and all possessed land of their own. They could not possibly cross more than half of Spain for such meager wages as laborers.

But these italian farmers were different. They could barely survive in Italy anymore, which was why they had chosen to emigrate overseas.

Since that was the case, why not find an opportunity to attract some italian immigrants to Spain and fill Spain's shortage of laborers at the same time?

One had to know that most of Italy's agricultural population lived in Southern Italy, which until not long ago had been ruled by the autocratic Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

These farmers had lived under absolute monarchy for a long time. They were far easier to govern than those black laborers and republicans.

This was also one of the reasons Primo had set his sights on italian laborers. Laborers who worked steadily, got things done, and caused no trouble would be welcomed anywhere.

Carlo was somewhat surprised to hear Primo say this.

Because bringing in italian laborers had originally been part of Carlo's plan, and it would also benefit Carlo's rule.

After all, Carlo had been born into the Italian Royal Family. These Italians coming to Spain certainly would not oppose Carlo's rule, and compared to native Spaniards, Italians would feel closer to Carlo as well.

Carlo naturally had no reason to oppose a request that was entirely beneficial to himself.

"For Spain's development, of course I am willing to do this." Carlo smiled. "If the government is ready, then our industrial construction can begin immediately.

"I will take care of the laborers. I hope our industrial development will proceed as smoothly as expected."

Primo nodded and said with great respect, "As you command, Your Majesty."

In the end, Carlo simply had too few people at his disposal.

The only ones he could currently use were Giotto and Loren. Giotto had to command the palace guard, so the only one who could go to Italy to negotiate the labor matter was Loren.

Fortunately, this was no great matter. Italy did not lack several thousand or even tens of thousands of laborers. Moreover, given the good father-son relationship between Carlo and Vittorio Emanuele II, signing a Labor Importation Agreement with Italy would not be a problem.

Sure enough, Loren's entire trip took only a little over ten days, and he brought Carlo back a "Labor Importation Agreement."

Carlo's demands were not high. If Spain could bring in several thousand or tens of thousands of laborers from Italy each year during the first few years, that would be enough to meet its development needs.

Once Spain's construction had achieved some results and the people's living standards and incomes continued to rise, those in Europe who could no longer survive in their hometowns would naturally be drawn to immigrate to Spain.

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