Chapter 12: Chapter 11: The Other Transmigrators

Paris, France

Considered by many as the city of lights and love, Paris was bursting with life and vigor. The streets are busy and the shops are full. Lively citizens are walking to their work and children are running with bright smiles in the parks and plazas. The sun adds vibrancy to an already lively city, showing that Paris is one of the most developed cities in the world.

In one of the shops in the city, there are two men drinking tea at one of the outdoor tables in the shop. The two of them are watching the people walking and vehicles traveling on the road. They can see that the people are happy and vibrant. For decades with no major war in the European continent, the people’s lives improved and the economy is booming. With large colonial possessions and a powerful country, the people have a sense of superiority and pride in being French.

“Did you really ask Princess Charlotte for support for your war of independence?”

“Yes, but she said that it would be really hard to gain support from the French court and people. There are more disadvantages to supporting us than not. The Princess said that there are a lot of Spanish spies and agents following us members of the Philippine revolutionary group.”

The two men who are in the tea shop are the two other transmigrators that Princess Charlotte knows – John Campbell and Gregorio Francisco. The two men are having a conversation regarding their goals and objectives.

“But the Princess said that she would secretly send weapons and ammunitions but it would be sent to French Indochina and it is up to us to bring the weapon to the Philippines,” Gregorio added. “This is already good news and progress for our cause.”

“You know that you can live a better and safer life if you didn’t become a revolutionary. With your knowledge of the novel and game, you can become a successful businessman or politician in the Spanish Empire. You also had Spanish blood running in your veins and I think I can’t trust fully the princess.”

“I know, she might appear as an angel outside but I can sense her calculative and cunningness but I’ll rather bite the bullet. After years of living in the Philippines, I empathized with their plights and sufferings. A lot of my fellow compatriots also fight in a civil and peaceful manner but the Spanish authorities only ignored them. Sometimes they even arrested and branded my compatriots as rebels. A lot of people think that an armed movement and uprising would yield more results than peaceful means.”

John Campbell understands what Gregorio is talking about, but blood and chaos would be very horrifying. No matter how much Gregorio prepared when the time it would be implemented, there would be a lot of variables that would not go according to the plan. War would have more variables that are needed to be considered and prepared.

“But you are still young. How old are you? Twenty? You can have a brighter future and you can join me.”

“Twenty-one… Thank you for the offer but I think having this second chance in life… I want to make a difference… I want to make a huge impact on the world. I don’t want to make this life a waste the same as my past life.”

John is really worried about Gregorio’s actions and decisions in his life. As the older person between the two of them, he has the sense of duty to give advice and change Gregorio’s mind, to have a better life.

“The path you would take on would be very hard and arduous. As a fellow transmigrator, I’ll try my best to provide support and aid to your cause. But it would be hard to gain your independence for Spain is allied with the Germans.”

John thinks that it would be beyond hard, it is almost impossible. The Spanish Empire in this timeline is stronger from their previous lives. The Spanish army is trained by German officers and has a capable Asiatic fleet stationed in the Philippines.

“I know. Thank you for your help but I don’t want to drag you in our conflict… Speaking of the Germans stationed in Borneo that can provide reinforcements and aid to the Spanish. I can distract the Germans in another war.”

“You want to start a large conflict here in Europe to distract them here? Are you out of your mind?! You know that I will not also allow that to happen. Most of my parent’s businesses are related here in Europe.”

John Campbell continues his tirade of words to persuade Gregorio to stop his plans, especially drawing the Germans into a different conflict in the European continent. This plan might cause a larger conflict that can affect the whole world.

“But how could you distract the Germans? The German armies stationed in Borneo and Manchuria needs to be dispatched away from Asia in order to have a chance to avoid their interference. I know that the Americans want to help you directly but you also can’t trust their sincerity. It would become the same as our previous lives timeline if the Americans would join, making the Philippines an American colony.”

“I know but the Spaniards are stronger in this timeline in which both the Americans and Spaniards would bleed more and at that time, we would only face a battered army of either of the two powers who won.”

“Let’s say you can achieve all that variables, but how about the unity of the entire archipelago? Are you as one as you say or not?”

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Gregorio can’t respond to what just John had said. He knows that the Philippines is still not as united as he wants, the island is still divided and it has no sense of national identity. People from the South see the people in the North differently, the central islands also see themselves as different from the North and South and the North has been prejudiced to the people south of them.

The Philippines still doesn’t have a complete sense of national unity and nationalism. They always view people from other islands as different from them. They were divided into groups like the Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Bicolano, Kapampangan, Tausug and the Moro groups, with different dialects, traditions, and culture. The Spaniards used this method to keep the natives in check each other, it would be hard for the natives to be united together if they are very different from each other. For hundred years of Spanish colonization on the island, the Spaniards pit the different ethnic groups of Filipinos with each other. If one group start an uprising against their rule, they would use other ethnic groups to fill their ranks to squash the uprising.

That’s one of the main problems that Gregorio is facing, the Filipinos are a scattered and diverse people and it is hard to unite them against the Spanish colonizers. Some ethnic groups are even fiercely loyal to the Spanish that they would fight together with them if ever the Filipino patriots would start a revolution. In this timeline, they didn’t have any charismatic and nationalistic hero that can become a symbol and unite the Filipino people.

“Any premature and ill-prepared revolution would only yield to unnecessary sacrifices and losses. I know that you are planning to stage the revolution during the waves of revolution in the future but both the home countries of Germany and Spain would be left unscathed during that time. I have even heard that the Spanish garrison in the Philippines would be increased by 5,000 regular troops, not colonial troops, this year to protect their Asiatic colonies.” John Campbell added.

“I know… but what can I do to overturn everything? My countrymen are continuing to suffer if we don’t fight back and become independent.”

“Your plan is too idealistic and needs a lot of variables to make it happen that you need a godly amount of luck. And even if everything you plan aligns, it is not even sure if you can defeat the Spanish forces in the Philippines. It has too many variables, I can aid you but I don’t think I can wager everything in your plan.”

John Campbell said that if it is not worth investing then he won’t give the aid and support he promised before. Even if he wants to help a fellow transmigrator but he must also take into consideration his current life and family. Being dragged into a conflict where there are no any merits and chances of success would be a big mistake for a businessman. Living for thirty years in this life, he already started a family having a wife and two small young children who are both girls. He is also managing a large family business of selling clothes from Europe to Canada and the United States, he has much to lose if he is dragged into the conflict. Having an entire country against you is a big challenge for an intercontinental business.

“I know that you feel indebted to me when I save you from being attacked by pirates during their travel but you don’t have to help me in this regard. Your daughters are both still young and would need you.”

Gregorio wants to assure John that he can do it without John’s help. He knows that John would still help him secretly even whether he is aware or not as he is indebted to him. But John also knows that what he is planning would be too much risk for John so he didn’t want John to join in his plan. He hopes that John’s business and rational side would prevail over his emotional side.

“GREGORIO RUN!”

While Gregorio and John are talking, a Filipino man is running towards them and shouts for them to run. Then they see that the man is being chased by a few armed men with hats. Both Gregorio and John realize that they were in danger, they stand immediately and start to flee from the pursuers.   

Gregorio and John both are panting as they run for their lives, trying to shake off the pursuers. Both of them realize that their pursuers are Spanish undercover agents and they can escape by finding some French police or military to stop the pursuers.

Sending and conducting operations in a foreign country, and to a world power nation nonetheless would be damaging to the Spaniards but it might be that they deem Gregorio’s group dangerous and need to be weeded out of existence even taking the risk of launching an operation in foreign soil.

They turn into an alleyway while they were chased by the Spanish agents. The other Filipino who is running away with them slips due to the slippery ground and is captured by the agents. But they didn’t expect what the agents had done to the captured man, he is stabbed and killed on the spot.

The gruesome killing of the Spaniards made Gregorio and John’s expressions grim. They didn’t expect that the Spanish would do such a thing in a foreign country.

They reach the end of the alleyway and a dark vehicle stop in front of them.

“DUCK THE TWO OF YOU!”

A French man shouts at them to duck as he gets out of the car. Gregorio and John can only follow what the guy had said and duck. The pursuers are getting nearer to the two when the French points a suppressor pistol at the pursuers and shot some rounds at them. All pursuers who are chasing the two are killed and both John and Gregorio are shocked in seeing dead bodies killed in broad daylight.

“You two… get in the car right now if you don’t want to die.”

The two can only continue to follow the order of the man to avoid being killed, both are still stunned by what just happened today.

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