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

Chapter 1641 A Place of Tranquility
This left Prince Gong with no choice but to be tempted. As a representative of the powerful group, he inherently looked down on businessmen, not to mention that he was also influenced by the traditional literati mindset. He had no choice but to make his decision.

But Yixin calmly picked up his teacup, took a sip, and looked at Hans.

"I understand."

However, the other party did not leave. Yixin was displeased and was about to say something when he suddenly realized a problem: this was not his home.

Hans Liu understood that the other party meant to serve tea and see him out, but based on his experience, this was almost certainly the case, since the other party had not directly refused.

However, Hans Liu was also worried that things might change if he waited too long, so he still hoped to add some more leverage.

"Your concern for the country and its people is admirable, but your body and hair are given to you by your parents, so you should cherish them as well."

Hans Liu said with a concerned expression, but Yixin could easily tell that there was something more to his words.

"Mr. Hans, please speak frankly."

"Very well, Prince Gong is indeed a man of few words. I will speak frankly then. Since you are a devout Buddhist, have you ever considered letting go of your attachments and going to a quiet place to cultivate yourself?"

If you wish, then we are willing to grant you this good match.

Yixin immediately became interested and asked, "A tranquil place?"

Hans Liu immediately took out a world map and marked the Austrian Empire's colonies in order, from the Far East to Europe, and then from South America to the islands in the Pacific Ocean.

"This is the place of cultivation that our country can provide. All the tickets held by our bank can be exchanged."

Yixin laughed.

"Sir, is what you say true? Does it really have so many wonderful uses?"

Hans Liu also laughed.

"Buddha guides those who are destined to be saved."

"Indeed! Indeed!"

The Taiping Army controlled a certain area.

"Is this true?"

"Indeed, we are all God's children. This note can be deposited and redeemed at any Anlu Trading Company in the world."

"Very well, sir. My lord needs to stockpile military supplies to ensure the long-term stability of the Heavenly Kingdom, just in case. This matter must be kept absolutely secret, and I hope you will keep it a secret."

"It's natural."

As a result, Anlu Trading Company received a large number of items from the Holy Treasury.
Judging from Anlu Trading Company's accounts, if either side could invest all of this money into the battlefield, the situation on the battlefield would be immediately rewritten.
Three years have passed since the Harrisburg Conference, and Cuba has undergone tremendous changes. When Franz first announced his ambitious plan three years ago, almost no one thought he could succeed.

Not only officials and businessmen within the Austrian Empire, but also other countries on the European continent were waiting to see them make a fool of themselves.

Britain and France seized the opportunity to hype up the idea that Cuban sugar production would drop by 90%, since 10 people simply cannot do the work of 120 million people, and even today, world sugar prices have not decreased.

American economists even predicted that within ten years, Cuba's economy would completely collapse, the Austrian Empire's colonization of Cuba would become unprofitable, and ultimately Franz Joseph I would stand barefoot before the U.S. Capitol, begging the U.S. government to buy Cuba, just like Henry IV. The Cuban independence movement, led by Don Peoli, also believed that the Austrian Empire would eventually compromise and take them back, thus granting Cuba autonomy.

However, three years later, Cuba's sugar industry had not only not collapsed, but had even recovered to pre-war levels. Inefficiency and chaos had been swept away, and the order of the Austrian Empire was gradually erasing the imprint of Black culture and local indigenous culture.

The Austrian Empire established an efficient and complete administrative system in Cuba, completely eradicating local separatist forces. The former large and small landowners enjoyed king-like power in their territories, with the power of life and death over everything.

Any policy of the state required their consent, and even if they agreed, whether or not it was implemented, and how it was implemented, depended on the whims of the manor owners. Tax resistance and even rebellion were commonplace.

The first thing every new governor of Cuba did upon taking office was to visit the major estates and local strongmen. Only by establishing good relationships with them could he secure his position as governor.

However, after the Austrian Empire's comprehensive sweep, no manor lord could wield absolute power anymore. Their judicial power was abolished, and the structure of local juries and parliaments was completely reshuffled, with power returning to the colonial government.

Cuban law was once virtually nonexistent, with customary law superseding imperial decrees, and customary law being defined by the locals. Historically, the selection of local officials relied solely on recommendations from the gentry, meaning that the selection process inevitably involved a few specific families.

Officials in a region often come from one or more intermarried families, and tax collection is entirely an art of balancing.

After the Austrian Empire took over, Cuban tax revenue tripled, many previously stalled laws were implemented, and some public water conservancy and road projects that had been delayed for hundreds of years finally began.

Cuban independence activists, led by Don Peoli, did not have an easy time in the United States. They were regarded by Americans as “foreign Catholics,” “dirty trash like the Irish,” and “former slave owners.”

Even if they wanted to sell themselves into slavery, their price was far less than that of black people. Like the Irish, even if they wanted to become contract slaves, they were constantly guarded against and exploited.

These native Cuban whites, who mostly only speak Spanish, are often in a worse situation than the Irish.

Even if some people from high society can speak English, their accents often lead Americans to mistake them for Mexicans.

If Black people in America could only be slaves, Irish people didn't even deserve to be slaves, and Mexicans were pests that had to be eliminated.

This meant that even those with special skills couldn't find jobs commensurate with their status, and the promises from the US government turned out to be empty words. Undoubtedly, they were deceived, they became pawns, and they became the building blocks of America.

However, Don Peoli and his partners still have one last hope: if Cuba's economy collapses, the Austrians will surely consider inviting them back.

Even someone like Don Paoli had little savings left, and he could hardly maintain his initial decent lifestyle. Don Paoli sat down in a Boston coffee shop and ordered only a coffee and an apple pie.

At the time, apple pie was one of the cheapest foods in the United States, and most importantly, it came in a large quantity.

Soon one of his friends came over, looking dejected, with a newspaper in hand.

"What's wrong, Hiero? You look so listless."

Hiero threw the newspaper in his hand directly in front of Don Peoli.

"See for yourself."

"Yero said irritably."

Don Peoli took out his reading glasses, glanced at the newspaper twice, and then angrily slammed it on the table.

"Nonsense! They're lying!" Don Peoli roared, grabbing Hiero's face. "Without us, without the slaves, how would they maintain production? This is just a little trick they're playing to cover up the truth. Europeans love to save face. I know they're trying to bargain with us!"