At the foot of the mountains north of Caracas.

Inside a dark gray old-fashioned carriage, Ribas looked at the elderly man sitting opposite with some dissatisfaction: "Mr. Fernando, what urgent matter requires us to return to Caracas now? You see, I’ve been waiting here for half a month, and I was just about to meet Mr. Quincey."

Half a month ago, he came to Avila Mountain to try to persuade the Creole herders here to join his rebel army. These herders, accustomed to long rides while herding cattle, only needed simple training to become cavalry.

After receiving a massive funding of 3,000 British Pounds from "Fabio," his rebel force had already gathered about 300 people, but most were infantry. There was a serious lack of technical arms like cavalry. This trip was therefore very important to him.

However, just as he was preparing to meet an influential herder, Quincey, Felipe’s butler suddenly found him, stating that Mr. Felipe had important business which required him to return to the city immediately.

Fernando took out a copy of the "Caracas Newspaper" and handed it to him: "During your absence from Caracas, the King issued an important decree..."

As the carriage left the mountain path, Ribas’ expression changed to one of shock: "Does this mean the uprising is no longer necessary?"

"Indeed," Fernando nodded, "Most of the restrictions on administration and trade have been lifted. The Governor’s Palace will also implement a model similar to Congress.

"My master hopes you can assume the role of Executive Officer, and now is a critical moment to secure a seat."

Ribas hesitated for a moment, frowning: "What if the King is deceiving us?"

"My master said, in that case, the King would become the enemy of all of New Granada, and he has no need to do so. Moreover, the Portuguese army is approaching, and the King needs Creole soldiers."

Ribas nodded slowly but suddenly seemed to remember something and became anxious: "Wait a minute; if this is the case, then we must hold Caracas Harbor!"

"Hold it? Is there a problem with the port?"

"Not now, but I suspect the British and Portuguese Fleets will likely come..."

That afternoon.

The Governor of Caracas, Vasconcelos, looked at the two men before him in surprise: "Where did you get this information?"

Ribas felt a bit embarrassed. He couldn’t very well say, "An unidentified person funded my rebellion, mentioning coordination with a port attack," could he?

"It’s... A British friend of mine overheard in Saint Louis Port. He has some official connections, so it shouldn’t be wrong."

Vasconcelos exchanged a glance with the officer beside him, their eyes filled with tension.

At present, Caracas had only over 400 soldiers, among whom nearly half were merely drawing a salary for idling away the time, and there was no assurance of holding off the enemy.

And now, it was certainly too late to seek reinforcements from Bogota. Even if Angostura, the nearest, dispatched reinforcements immediately, it would still take more than 20 days to arrive.

Felipe allowed the officers to mumble in anxiety for quite a while before bowing slightly to Vasconcelos: "Governor, perhaps I can help you—oh no, I mean, find some soldiers for Caracas."

"You? Where would you find soldiers?"

Felipe replied respectfully: "If you support my nomination as Executive Officer in the ’Gentleman’s Committee,’ I can..."

He turned to look at Ribas.

The latter whispered: "At least 700 men."

"We can provide 700 soldiers to assist in defending the harbor, Governor."

Ribas immediately added: "We also need the command of the disciplined militia."

Vasconcelos frowned: "If you mean the disciplined militia, I don’t think I need them."

He knew well enough that the disciplined militia could catch a petty thief in town, but sending them to battle with a regular army would be sheer suicide. They only had about 100 guns in total, and half the men had never undergone shooting training.

Felipe bowed again: "Governor, I assure you, those assisting in the harbor’s defense will be a combat-ready force."

A Spanish Army Major beside them interjected: "I need to see those soldiers you mentioned."

"Of course, in three days, at the Guarbeito Manor on the outskirts of town."

On the appointed day, Vasconcelos and his officers indeed saw a force of over 500 men at the Guarbeito Manor.

All were Creoles.

Though they lacked a uniform appearance, at least each person had a flintlock gun, ranging in models from Spain’s Miquelet to England’s Brown Bess.

Yes, these soldiers were members of Ribas’ resistance organization, and the elites selected from the disciplined militia.

As for their weapons, they were naturally provided to Ribas by the so-called "Fabio."

Ribas signaled to the officers. A drumbeat sounded immediately around them, and the Creole soldiers proceeded to form into two lines, taking about ten minutes to pull into a crooked infantry line.

Vasconcelos looked at Felipe: "Let them familiarize themselves with the harbor fortifications immediately. My people will support Mr. Ribas and Mr. Navarro in the committee."

...

On the day following Ribas’ command of the Creole militia and the Spanish army repelling Beresford’s attack on Caracas Harbor, the list of Executive Officers recommended by towns throughout New Granada was gradually sent to Bogota.

Similar Creole militia organizations also rapidly emerged throughout New Granada.

Half a month later, the first General Executive Officer Conference was held in Bogota.

Out of the 150 Executive Officers, only 29 were Peninsula People.

However, somewhat to the Creoles’ surprise, they did not monopolize all the remaining seats, acquiring only 97 Executive Officer positions.

Additionally, there were 15 Caboclo Executive Officers and even 9 dark-skinned Mulato Executive Officers present at the Governor’s Palace.

The efficiency of the Executive Officers Conference was very high.

On the first day, they established an entirely new tax legislation concerning tariffs, mining taxes, trade taxes, circulation taxes, native poll tax, and even the Church tithe.

Except the native poll tax was only reduced by 5%, the rates of other taxes were cut by at least half, with some nearly abolished altogether.

When the Executive Officers next saw the Governor sign off on their submitted tax legislation with virtually no changes, thunderous cheers erupted in the conference hall.

This indicated the King was not deceiving them, and henceforth, these Executive Officers would decide everything for New Granada, while the Governor would gradually become a ceremonial position.

Immediately, excited Executive Officers across the land proposed new topics—from eliminating salutes to Peninsula People to amending school admission qualifications, from port and canal construction plans to land transaction systems. Some even suggested drafting a New Granada Constitution first.

However, the newly elected Deputy Convener of the Executive Officers Conference, Ribas, went to the front wooden platform of the hall and said loudly: "Gentlemen, I think we should first discuss how to establish a military force belonging to New Granada and the corresponding General Staff."