Chapter 199: Unrest in Göttingen

Curiously, the very next day it was not difficult to intercept the kidnappers and rescue Lichtenberg. The agents who had taken him returned to the camp, likely unaware that it had already fallen into Francisco’s hands. Because of this mistake, the guards of Göttingen and Francisco’s servants were able to return to the city with good news.

At the same time, Francisco sent Karl and the newly trained Germans toward the Low Countries, with the long-term intention of returning to New Granada. However, after the kidnapping, Francisco understood that he would need to find a new supplier. The British would likely refuse any further orders after Lichtenberg was returned safely to the director of the University of Göttingen.

Francisco chose to spend more time with Catalina. The experience had clearly frightened him, and he knew it would not be the last. As his studies continued and his contributions to Göttingen increased, more people would turn their eyes toward him—and toward those he loved, especially Catalina. For that reason, he decided to remain within the university. The director welcomed this decision; protecting Francisco’s work also meant protecting the university’s reputation.

What Francisco had not foreseen was how the tremors of the French Revolution—amplified by the scandal of the recent kidnappings—would set Göttingen ablaze.

“Down with the Old Order! Liberty for the Academy!” the students thundered, their voices echoing through the medieval alleys as torches turned the night into a flickering orange haze.

Under normal circumstances, the garrison would have crushed such insolence with a single cavalry charge. But the kidnapping scandal had stripped the Military Governor of his dignity. His evident incompetence—allowing foreign agents to snatch a scholar from the heart of the Electorate—had shattered the illusion of British protection. Even the city guards, many of whom had brothers or sons among the protesters, turned a blind eye, leaning on their halberds as the chaos surged past them.

Watching the sea of angry faces, Catalina pulled her cloak tighter, her voice laced with confusion and dread. “Francisco, look at them. I thought your rescue and Mr. Lichtenberg’s safety would bring an end to this. Why are they still in the streets? Is a kidnapping truly enough to make them defy the Crown?”

Francisco watched as a group of students hoisted a Tree of Liberty in the center of the square. “It was never just about the kidnapping, Catalina,” he said quietly. “That was merely the spark. The students aren’t shouting for my freedom anymore—they’re shouting for their own. The Governor’s failure proved the King is a distant shadow, and for the first time, these people realize they can breathe without his permission.”

Francisco shook his head. “This is a clash of ideas. Göttingen has some of the finest students in Europe. They are tired of living under the constant control of a king. They want freedom and autonomy. The unrest truly began after our successful discovery of an alternative to the steam machine. The British government pressured Hanover to halt experiments that might threaten British industry.”

Catalina frowned. “Why? Aren’t both places under the British crown? Shouldn’t the king be pleased that such discoveries came from his own territories?”

Francisco chuckled softly. “On paper, perhaps. But to George III, the United Kingdom and Hanover are not the same. London is the center of his power; Hanover is little more than an expensive garden. What truly suffers from our machine is Britain’s industrial hegemony. Europe now has the opportunity to buy steam engines not only from Britain, but from Hanover as well. And even if both governments tried to suppress it, many Göttingen students would simply take their knowledge back to their homelands and open factories of their own.”

He paused briefly.

“You could say Göttingen shattered one of Britain’s pillars. And I—being behind the idea—became one of George III’s greatest enemies. He likely hoped to take me to London, force me to work for him, and either rebuild that pillar… or strengthen it enough to regain the advantage.”

Catalina frowned. “That’s terribly unfair. Just because you had a good idea, they now see you as their enemy and want to force you to work for them.”

Francisco shrugged. “The world isn’t fair. It runs on interests, nothing more. I didn’t react well either. I expected some consequences from the machine, but I never imagined they would become so desperate as to try to erase me entirely. And now these students represent the frustration of Göttingen—and of Hanover itself. They don’t want to remain nothing more than His Majesty George III’s luxurious garden. They want to be their own country, with their own interests, free to study whatever they choose—even to compete with London and its so-called geniuses.”

As they passed another group of chanting students, Catalina glanced at them and asked, “Couldn’t the king simply remain neutral and allow Hanover more independence? If it’s about interests, wouldn’t having two united kingdoms strengthen his authority and power?”

Francisco chuckled softly at her naïveté as they walked. “Even if it could strengthen his authority, the interests behind the United Kingdom would never accept it. They would never allow another country—especially one in Germany—to grow powerful. If the king showed signs of neutrality, those interests would simply replace him with someone who truly supports them.”

He continued, his tone more serious now. “The United Kingdom has far greater potential than Hanover. Hanover’s true value lies in its strategic position in northern Europe. Many powers already watch these lands closely. Now, with Göttingen becoming increasingly important in the development of steam technology, I can say with certainty that this place will one day become a battleground for Europe’s great powers. Unless King George were absolutely certain he could unify the Holy Roman Empire and take its crown, he would never abandon a unified and secure United Kingdom for a small German territory.”

Catalina thought for a moment, then nodded. “Yes… trading an established superpower for a potential one would be incredibly foolish.”

Francisco nodded. “That’s why the United Kingdom is acting so aggressively toward Hanover. They fear the emergence of technologies that could undermine their dominance. From their perspective, it’s better to pressure Göttingen into pursuing fields where Britain holds no strategic disadvantage—so they can share in the profits and dividends—than to allow true competition that might erode their economic and industrial supremacy.”

Catalina sighed. “I suppose there’s nothing we can do about that. So… what’s your next project now that you finally have some free time? Will you continue helping Director Christian with his research into ancient civilizations? Or will you return to your studies with Lichtenberg on steam machines?”

Francisco walked across the campus, the screams of protesting students echoing between the stone buildings. The smell of smoke and hot wax from overturned torches hung in the air, making him frown as he thought aloud.

“Steam machines are absolutely out of the question,” he said quietly. “They’ve already reached Britain’s level. If I help them surpass it, then even if I manage to survive British retaliation, that technology would become impossible to use in New Granada once we return. An industry like that requires infrastructure, coal, skilled labor—things we don’t yet have.”

He paused, watching students argue beneath the shadow of the old lecture halls.

“My goal has always been New Granada. Making Hanover too rich or too powerful could interfere with everything we plan to do there. I need a project that benefits both Göttingen and New Granada—something that can’t be easily monopolized, something that won’t sabotage our future.”

Catalina let out a tired sigh. “It sounds impossible. Perhaps I should find my own project. But women are still so restricted here in Göttingen. Even when I speak with physicians, they look at me with disdain—as if I were merely a book passing knowledge from men in America to their faculty, never someone to be taken seriously.”

Francisco stopped walking and turned to her. “Medicine,” he said firmly. “That’s exactly where you should work. Projects that can shape the future of New Granada—and help us attract immigrants.”

Catalina blinked, surprised by his sudden certainty. Then her eyes widened. “Smallpox?”

“Exactly,” Francisco replied, excitement creeping into his voice. “If we can eliminate it—or at least control it—it would change everything. Immigration to South America would become safer. If we manage the treatment ourselves, we could ensure that those traveling to New Granada receive it first. And the number of children saved…” He shook his head. “It would strengthen our population for generations.”

Catalina’s enthusiasm faded into concern. “But where would I even begin? And I doubt the university would allow me to study alongside them.”

Francisco frowned. She was right. Even if Lichtenberg intervened, most of the men would dismiss her or ignore her outright. As they continued walking, his gaze drifted across the city—women carrying baskets, tending shops, watching the unrest from doorways.

Then an idea struck him.

“Women,” he said suddenly.

Catalina looked at him, confused.

“Why not build your own laboratory?” he continued. “Here in the city. Only women. There must be others who are tired of being denied knowledge. Even if they can’t find work in Hanover, when we leave, we can take them with us.”

His voice grew more resolute. “New Granada will need educated people—doctors, researchers, teachers. If Europe won’t train women, then we will. We won’t just bring settlers. We’ll bring scholars.”

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