Joseph looked at Compones: "How much does New Granada pay each year in salaries for officials and soldiers?"

The latter thought for a moment and said, "About 600,000 Escudo. If you include the Church’s expenditures, it comes close to one million."

Joseph continued, "Then what about military spending? Or other large expenditures."

"I can’t remember the exact figures. Last year the military cost was a bit over 1.8 million Escudo. Maintaining the monopoly bureau and the salt works takes 300,000, and dredging ports, maintaining roads and such also needs around 400,000."

Joseph waved his hand: "You see, just the overt expenditures already come to 3.5 million Escudo.

"I’m sure the amount embezzled by the bureaucracy at all levels over the course of a year must also be astonishing.

"If colonial administration is handed over to a self-governing government, then the Empire can save nearly 4 million in expenditures in New Granada alone.

"Even if revenue from taxes and monopoly trade is reduced by more than 80%, I believe the annual surplus the Empire can obtain from there will still increase greatly."

Compones was stunned on the spot, his mind racing.

Last year New Granada’s total revenue from all items was 3.87 million Escudo, while total expenditure was 4.1 million—given the frequent uprisings in the colony in the past two years, a deficit was perfectly normal.

If things go as the Regent of France has said, with revenue reduced to 800,000 Escudo and nearly all expenditure items cut, it would produce at least 600,000 in surplus.

This approach is crazy, but it is indeed a brilliant idea for improving colonial finances!

Yes, at present all Europe still adheres to the idea of absolute rule over the colonies. England’s model of "indirect control + economic bloodsucking" has not yet taken shape. Even England itself is still enforcing the Navigation Acts that completely lock down colonial trade.

So for the Spaniards, Joseph was no different from opening a door to a new world for them.

Joseph went on: "And this is only the gains on the books.

"You should know that the biggest problem in the colonies right now is the frequent uprisings.

"Whichever supervision district has an uprising, local tax revenues are cut at least in half, and the impact lasts for years. To pacify it, the Empire has to pour in huge additional military expenditures."

"If we allow the colonies self-government, the Creoles will have no reason to rebel. Stable order will inevitably promote sustained prosperity in trade. The Empire’s financial income from these places will grow accordingly."

What he called a "supervision district" was Spain’s secondary-level administrative division in the colonies, roughly equivalent to a province in Europe.

Charles IV turned an inquisitive gaze toward the Finance Minister.

The latter pondered and nodded, "This should be feasible, Your Majesty."

He then thought of something and asked Joseph, "Your Highness, how can we ensure that the Empire obtains stable financial income from self-governing colonies?"

"Not just financial income, but also mineral and trade revenues," Joseph said with a smile. "I can provide you with a complete set of recommendations in this regard..."

Three days later.

With the support of heavyweights such as Count Florida Blanca, Compones and others, Charles IV signed the New Granada Decree, announcing the implementation of the "new governor" system, a comprehensive reform of New Granada’s administrative model, and a major adjustment to the Casta System.

The so‑called "Casta System" was the legal basis in the South American Colony for dividing social strata according to bloodline.

For example, it stipulated that "only Peninsula People may serve as Governor, governor, administrative chief, Judges of the Court of Review, Senior Clergyman and other positions, and monopolize trade and mining concessions," and that "Creoles may become low ranking priests, landlords, workshop owners; with proof of bloodline they may enter the Royal and Pontifical University, the Church, guilds, etc."

The new decree blurred the above provisions and in practice greatly elevated the status of the Creoles.

But under Joseph’s arrangements, the various restrictions on Mixed-race people, and even on Indians, disappeared together with those on the Creoles.

...

Caracas, the major town in northern Venezuela.

A Spanish-made carriage with a dark gray canvas cover creaked dully as it rattled along a narrow, rutted road.

Inside the carriage, a white man of about thirty spoke respectfully in English: "Mr. Mackenzie, I heard the West Indian Association will invest seven to eight hundred thousand British Pounds in this war?"

Sitting opposite him, a middle-aged man in a meticulously tailored black long coat looked at the documents in his hand and said casually, "That’s only the first installment. Depending on how the war develops, there will certainly be more added later.

"Bronson, what do you think of this Ribas?"

Bronson didn’t even look at the document, and immediately nodded: "Jose Felix Ribas, Creole Nobles, his father once held a post in the City Hall. A fanatical Liberal, he frequently convenes clandestine gatherings, advocating the abolition of Peninsula People privileges and things like abolishing the Governor system.

"Especially after his father was dismissed last year, he even said the City Council must be responsible for local administration, otherwise he would organize militia to armedly defend Congress’s powers.

"Oh, I’ve heard several of his speeches; he’s a man of clear thought and firm will."

The "City Council" he spoke of here was merely a tax-collecting agency of the colonial government in various localities, with no real powers.

Mackenzie asked again, "I hear he’s closely connected with that Miranda?"

"Yes, sir. In private he often refers to Miranda as his mentor, and he’s also a member of the Patriotic Society."

Miranda is a pioneer of the South American independence movement, and moreover the leading figure of the Venezuelan Liberals. But because he has long been wanted by the Spanish Government, he has spent years in exile in the United States.

Mackenzie tapped Ribas’s name on the document with his finger. "We’ll settle on him. Get in touch with him as soon as possible."

"Yes, sir." Bronson carefully glanced at the intelligence officer from London. "Um, this mission will have a huge impact; and about the funding..."

Mackenzie broke into a hearty grin. "Five thousand British Pounds, not including the cost of purchasing supplies."

"I promise I won’t let you down!"

In the library of the Royal and Pontifical University of Caracas, Ribas was standing on a chair, excitedly shouting to the students around him: "Has everyone heard? The National Assembly in Vienna has officially convened, and a great republic has emerged there! Everyone can enjoy freedom, equality, justice, and..."

As he spoke he pulled from his breast a Spanish edition of the Declaration of Human Rights: "Rights inherent from birth!"

The library instantly erupted in cheers: "Long live Vienna!"

"Long live the National Assembly!"

"We too must embrace freedom and equality!"

The door opened; the librarian anxiously signaled for the students to lower their voices. Although Caracas doesn’t have many Secret Police, if someone overheard and reported them, they would all end up in prison.

Ribas nodded to the librarian, then lowered his voice and continued, "You’re right. Why must we become second‑class citizens on our own land?"

All around him came another murmur of repressed agreement.

Ribas clenched his fists. "Look at it: our officers have to be sent from the Peninsula, our judges have to be sent from the Peninsula, and we can’t even become the Priest of a parish!

"Domino’s father donated 1,000 Peso to the Royal Family to buy warships, yet in the end he was driven out of the City Hall!"

Well, his own father suffered the same fate.

A slightly chubby student nearby said, "We can do as the Viennese have done! At the very least, we must make sure the Peninsula People can’t call me ’colonial bastard’ to my face!"