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

Chapter 1599 Education First (Part 1)

1853 years.

Vienna, Hofburg Palace.

At the long-awaited imperial council meeting, someone unusually voiced their opposition to Franz's orders.

"Your Majesty, your grand vision is admirable. But we are too expensive! Prussia's education expenditure is as high as 350 million thalers (approximately 421.68 million florins) per year, which is already the fourth highest in Europe."

However, our country spent 15 times more on education and educational infrastructure last year than Prussia.

But our population is only three times that of Prussia, meaning our citizens are receiving five times the education funding of Prussia.

Prince Schwarzenberg wiped his sweat and continued.

"Your Majesty, we have too many things to invest in, too many railways, roads, and rivers to repair, and far too many colonies and wars that never stop."

Forgive my bluntness, but even our nation's strength cannot withstand such a drain.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Baron Brooke, also nodded.

"Our fiscal deficit is increasing, and even if the royal family provides financial support to the government every year, this situation cannot be sustained for more than a few years."

Unless other countries are willing to lend us money, our domestic financial system is too depressed to shoulder such a heavy responsibility.

In fact, Baron Brook also listed the specific data mentioned by Prince Schwarzenberg: the Austrian Empire's railway mileage had surpassed that of Britain (15000 kilometers), ranking second in the world with 16000 kilometers.

Although it still lags behind the United States, which has 20,000 kilometers of railways, the gap with the second-largest country will widen in the foreseeable future.

The United States had a land area and geographical advantages that the Austrian Empire could not match at all. However, in Europe alone, the railway mileage of the Austrian Empire at that time was twice that of all other countries combined and five times that of France.

In fact, Franz did not expect the railway construction to be so fast. After all, based on previous experience and experts' estimates, it would have taken at least ten years for the Austrian Imperial Railway to reach its current scale, but the Austrians completed it in just four years.

Furthermore, railway construction has stimulated the market, and railways themselves connect more markets, resulting in a spiral upward trend in the overall economy. Therefore, the momentum of construction has not stopped.

If construction had continued at this pace, by 1860 the Austrian Empire's railway mileage would have surpassed that of the Austro-Hungarian Empire before World War I.

Furthermore, after conquering the two Danube principalities, the Austrian Empire began a comprehensive transformation of the Danube River, which would eventually result in a water system network covering the entire basin.

Such a massive project would naturally require astronomical sums of money.

Every year, the propaganda department of the Austrian Imperial government spared no effort in boasting about how many colonies the empire had acquired, how much farmland it had developed in those colonies, and how many mines it had discovered.

However, what they don't mention is the enormous investment in the development of the Austrian colonies, and the costs of maintaining the occupation.

The cost of the war goes without saying; for just the small country of Madagascar, the expeditionary force of 6000 men cost more than 500 million florins, not even including the costs of the later occupation.

The biggest expense was precisely the cost of occupation and development; the Austrian Empire fought dozens of wars, large and small, every year.

According to the statistics of Finance Minister Baron Brook, the Austrian Empire's war expenditures alone exceeded 50 million florins in 1852.

Furthermore, the research projects of the Austrian Empire were a bottomless pit, as the development of various technologies required money, and Franz particularly enjoyed providing funding for these madmen.

"Leaving aside other investments such as expanding production, I think it is very necessary to reduce unnecessary fiscal expenditures."

Franz only replied with one sentence to Baron Brooke's statement.

“We can cut spending on national holidays and royal celebrations.” In Franz’s view, reducing extravagance was essential when the economy was in a bad state.

But his statement was immediately met with unanimous opposition from all the ministers.

"Your Majesty, absolutely not! Unless you want to fight 1848 again, we must not expose our weakness."

"Your Majesty, if the rich do not live extravagantly, the poor will starve. You cannot fail the expectations of your people!"

"That's right. In fact, although the expenses of the celebration are huge, it can boost the national economy and the happiness of the people, and it can also create jobs."

Franz also knew that these so-called celebrations involved multiple interests and would indeed affect the feelings of all citizens.

From the anti-French war to the death of Franz II, the country had no celebrations, and the people lived in a state of melancholy.

After Franz ascended the throne, the people of the Austrian Empire were generally in a state of euphoria. People would often shout excitedly in the streets or by the river, and their shouts could even resonate with a group of people like a pack of wolves.

"Education is the cornerstone of a nation."

Franz was refuted before he could finish speaking.

"The people are your foundation, but you are trying to shake it!"

Interior Secretary Giovanni Batista said with a hint of indignation.

"how you said that?"

Franz agreed with the first half of Giovanni Battista's statement, that the people are indeed the cornerstone of a nation, but he didn't quite understand the second half.

Franz has been working to improve people's lives over the years. Although he has fought some wars and made some mistakes, he has generally benefited the vast majority of the country's people.

"Your Majesty, your education is shaking the order of this society. Please forgive my bluntness, but the people only need a simple life between home, fields, and church, or home, factory, and church."

This way, they will be less susceptible to being misled by heretical ideas, and our country can be more stable.

Giovanni Batista continued, heartbroken.

"You are trying to open Pandora's box. Those ungrateful fools will not appreciate the knowledge you have given them; instead, they will question taxes, question the law, and even question your sacred authority."

There will always be some arrogant and conceited people in this world. Wasn't the bloody massacre of 1848 instigated by a few self-important young men?

Franz knew that everyone would interpret events in a way that was in their own best interest.

"You think ignorance is the guarantee of order? Then why don't you say that ignorance is also the source of turmoil? Recently, cults in Transylvania have been demanding that their followers give up all their property and children, and even their lives, not to mention that."

Let's just talk about the turmoil of 1848. Was it really just a huge wave that a few young people could stir up on a whim?

We're all smart people; I don't need to go through all the complicated relationships behind this for you, do I?

Giovanni Batista was immediately rendered speechless and broke out in a cold sweat.

In fact, 1848 was a taboo in the Austrian Empire's officialdom. Although the rebellion had ended, the Austrian Empire never stopped purging its organizers and supporters.

Many people have been caught in this terrible vortex, and some have even lost their lives as a result.