Chapter 47: Chapter 46: The Battle of the Alamo

Vienna, Schönbrunn Palace.

"Archduke Franz, believe me, I also feel great sympathy for those poor people who are enslaved. But we are Austrians, and those people are Mexicans, or Americans—whichever they may be—in any case, they are not within the control of the Austrian Empire," Lauscher explained.

"So we can just turn a blind eye?" Franz countered.

"But our reach is too short."

"If I stand by as a cold spectator today, then when disaster strikes me tomorrow, no one will be there to cheer for me," Franz casually quoted a famous master.

Archbishop Lauscher felt somewhat helpless. He knew he could not stop the Archduke, so he chose to place his faith in this "born saint."

"The power of the Church is limited, but I will find a way to help those poor souls. I think my old friend, Pope Gregory XVI, might have a way."

The Pope! Lauscher reminded Franz.

Because the Catholic influence in both Austria and Mexico was so powerful, Franz had actually forgotten the person who most needed to speak at this time.

"His Holiness the Pope only needs to issue a decree condemning the slave traders within Mexican territory."

Lauscher was no fool; he understood that this matter would bring nothing but benefits to the Church, and it would also provide an opportunity to improve relations with the Mexican Catholic Church.

As for Pope Gregory XVI, that hypocritical and greedy fellow—as long as the interests were made clear and he was given a sum of money, even excommunicating those people in Texas would not be a problem.

Even if those new believers might not recognize Gregory XVI as the Pope at all, it didn't matter; as long as the Mexicans felt they were on the side of justice, that was enough.

Franz was not so superficial. What he wanted was to make the Texas War a massive international issue, to completely tilt public opinion in Mexico's favor to prevent any unforeseen circumstances.

After all, in history, the main force of Santa Anna was crushed in just 18 minutes by the militia led by Houston.

Although Franz had already pressured Count de la Garza through Lauscher, sent two experienced generals to Mexico, sold a batch of weapons at a low price, and even drafted a combat plan for him, no one could guarantee that Santa Anna would follow the plan.

After all, if Santa Anna were determined, it would be quite easy to find out that Archduke Franz Karl wasn't actually very bright.

Rome, the Holy See.

Pope Gregory XVI issued a decree condemning slave traders, stating that they treated slaves "like unclean animals," and forbade Catholics from participating in such trade. Those engaged in this trade would be excommunicated.

The issuance of this decree immediately caused a massive uproar, because at this time, the vast majority of European and American countries had already declared the prohibition of the slave trade.

Britain in 1806, the United States in 1807, France in 1794, Sweden in 1813, the Netherlands in 1814, Portugal in 1815, Austria in 1820, and Mexico in 1824...

American immigrants purchasing large numbers of Black slaves to establish plantations on Mexican land violated both Mexican law and American law.

It should be noted that in 1807, the United States had enacted a law prohibiting the slave trade, banning all forms of slave trafficking. However, due to immense commercial interests, the law was difficult to enforce, and the slave trade remained rampant.

And this Texas War once again pushed the United States into the eye of the storm, causing all of Europe to question whether the United States was truly a civilized nation.

(End of Chapter)