The War Court and Lap Pillow, Austria's Mandate of Heaven

Chapter 1543: The Scholars in the Military Academy
In fact, there is nothing wrong in learning from others' advanced experience, but the mistake is that the people in charge of the reform happen to be elites and experts in law.

Because it was different from the mainstream military thought of Britain and France, Archduke Karl's military doctrine could not be recognized for quite a long time. Even if the skirmish line achieved great success, it still stubbornly pursued the formation.

Even though the Austrian Imperial Army had already equipped itself with powerful weapons such as the lever-action rifle, the most basic tactics were still line tactics.

If it stopped there, Franz would just say these people were mediocre people who were inflexible.

But beyond that, these elite, French-savvy people teach not only British and French tactical concepts, but also British and French thinking and behavioral styles.

Of course, if they just copied it completely, just like the Japanese Navy learned from the British Navy, there would not be any big problems.

However, the reality is that these people are learning their ideal Britain and France. The most direct manifestation of this is that Austrian military cadets have to spend a lot of time studying the "Declaration of the Rights of Man" and "Battlefield Etiquette", as well as how to become a gentleman.

When Albrecht angrily piled the information on Franz's desk, Franz could hardly believe his eyes. He began to regret not going to military school, otherwise such an outrageous thing would never have happened.

The most important thing is that the so-called "Etiquette on the Field" cannot be found in the UK. It was completely deduced by this group of people based on Anglo-French war novels and some rumors.

"How did these guys sneak in? Didn't the previous military reforms affect them?"

Franz couldn't help but ask this question.

"Franz, I know you have been suppressing authoritarianism. Many academic cliques have been ruined because of this, but what you don't know is that there are also academic cliques in military academies.

They are more difficult to deal with, more secretive, and more authoritative than the academic cliques outside. "

Albrecht said angrily that he really didn't expect the military academy system of the Austrian Empire to be so rotten.

However, Franz was relieved. He was still wondering why the Austrian army command system had such a huge gap with other countries in history, and was even unilaterally beaten by the Russians who later treated it as a joke.

It's a good thing to be able to find the problem, which is better than not finding it at all.

"What are you going to do?"

"These guys must not be used anymore, they are too harmful!"

Franz nodded. He had the same idea. Instead of letting these guys continue to poison the army of the Austrian Empire, it would be better to take drastic measures to solve the problem from the root.

"How about demoting them all to assistant instructors and lieutenants? There aren't enough positions to send them all out now.

Moreover, these people who are in charge of military academies have experience in teaching.”

"But your majesty, who are you going to replace them?"

This was the biggest problem that troubled Albrecht, because the knife was cutting into the aorta, and if he was not careful, it might even cause the collapse of Austria's entire military education system.

In fact, in Franz's view, the military education system of the Austrian Empire has collapsed, because history has proved that this group of people is simply useless.

Now that you have reached the bottom, no matter which way you go, you are moving upwards.

A disobedient knife becomes more dangerous the sharper it is.

"It's very simple, just let all the old generals come back." Franz had wanted to do this for a long time. The top brass of the Austrian Imperial Military were too old.

Franz did not deny that these veterans were loyal to the Habsburg dynasty, nor did he doubt their abilities. After all, they were indeed the main force in suppressing the 1848 rebellion in history.

But these people are too old, so old that it is almost impossible for them to survive until the next war.

A group of old men in their seventies, eighties, or even eighties and nineties followed the army and lived in the open air. Franz really couldn't imagine what kind of chaos the army they led would be in if something suddenly happened to these old guys.

“It’s time for the old guys to retire.”

"It is time for the old guys to retire, but I am afraid it will be difficult for them to give up their power."

Albrecht began to worry again.
"Uncle Albrecht, I think it was a mistake to transfer you back to the Central Committee. Where is the enthusiasm you had when you went to Hungary with me?
You were too aggressive back then. I hope you can understand some ways of the world, but I definitely don't want you to get caught up in them.

Those old guys have already reached the age of retirement, and I will give them generous treatment and let them continue to exercise their power in the military academy.

But if there are really people who are blind, I don't mind sending them to the ground early. As the saying goes, when enemies come, we will fight them; when floods come, we will block them with earth.

The ones who should be worried are those with evil intentions.”

Albrecht thought again of his younger self and the proud boy he was. For the ideals and beliefs in his heart, what would it matter even if he had to become an enemy of the whole of Hungary?

On the ship to Budapest, Albrecht truly got to know for the first time the special child that others talked about, the hope of the family.

From that day on, Albrecht knew that the Austrian Empire would inevitably rise again.
Everything went as he expected. Franz soon showed his extraordinary talents. He not only successfully solved crises time and time again, but also successfully strengthened himself.
"Your Majesty, you are right. It seems that I have indeed thought too much."

"It's not enough to rely on these old guys alone. They can only ensure that the general direction is not wrong, but they have experienced too much and may have many outdated tactical ideas, so I need real strategic and tactical talents.

I think you know who would be the best fit.”

The result was somewhat unexpected, but also made sense.

The man Albrecht recommended to Franz was Heinrich von Hess, an unknown little man who was still only a major at the age of nearly fifty. He had even been captured by the Papal Army on the Italian battlefield.

However, he had an excellent understanding of military technology and his prediction of the war situation of the time. He advocated using everything to serve the war, including railways, telegraphs, and newspapers. He even proposed military reforms long ago.

However, due to his low status, his opinions were never conveyed to the Ministry of War.

Such people usually find it difficult to take on important responsibilities no matter how talented they are. Apart from other things, the fact that they cannot win the support of the people is puzzling enough.

However, Austria was an empire, and this was not a problem for Franz at all.

Franz appointed himself as the president of the Austrian Imperial Military Command College, and then he could appoint this little man as the president's chief assistant. The problem that seemed unsolvable before suddenly became simple.

Franz also carried out a major reshuffle of the three original military academies of the Austrian Empire, sending respected old men such as Radetzky, Pinkrey, and Josip Jelačić to serve as deans.

Radetzky was 85 years old, Marshal Pinkrey was nearly 70 years old, and Josip Jelačić, who had just turned 50, seemed a little out of place among them.