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

Chapter 1875 Things Are Different Now
Franz thought that in a decade or two, when the next generation grew up, everything would fall into place naturally. So-called Czech nationalism would become dust in history and be forgotten in a corner.

In fact, Franz's actions were very effective; the conflict between the German immigrants and the locals had long surpassed the conflict between the central government and the local authorities.

So when the storm of 1848 came, the Czech nationalists had no chance to make a big fuss before they were beaten down by the German nationalists and immigrants.

If it weren't for the previous Prince Windischgretz and the Bohemian bureaucrats playing with fire and burning themselves, they probably wouldn't have made a sound at all.

A series of coincidences have led to today's disastrous outcome. Franz originally intended to start by targeting the police system, but now he has no choice but to smash everything with a hammer.

The first target to be dealt with is the army. Daring to surround the imperial envoy and disarm the royal guards, this is no ordinary army.

Franz didn't want to hear any reasons, whether they were forced or deceived; such behavior was completely unacceptable.

This behavior crossed the line for the Austrian Empire, as there was no one within its borders who could not identify the Imperial Guard.

The fact that they chose to carry out orders even knowing the target was the Royal Guard speaks volumes.

Prague, Prince Wendyschreitz's residence.

"Uncle, what should I do?"

Alfred Karl zu Wendyschgretz looked quite dejected. Prince Schwarzenberg shook his head as he looked at his bewildered nephew, but was also relieved that he didn't really want to oppose the Emperor.

"Relinquish military power, leave the empire, and go to the colonies."

Alfred asked, somewhat incredulously.

"Do we really have to do this? I just want to help stabilize the situation."

Prince Schwarzenberg sighed and shook his head.

"Do you know what you've done? Your father may be a cunning old bastard, but he would never make such a basic mistake!"

You've been used as a pawn! Do you understand?

Alfred was still somewhat unconvinced.

“I just didn’t want to do nothing. But he arrested all the police in Prague, more than a thousand people are criminals? That’s too arbitrary!”

In fact, the former Prince Windischgretz was dismissed for his inaction during the rebellion, losing not only his wife but also his position as governor.

Fortunately, the Wendy Schgretz family had a strong background, and with his uncle, Prince Schwarzenberg, who was prime minister, he was able to become the governor of Bohemia.

Prince Schwarzenberg said, somewhat angrily.

"You're almost forty years old! And you still don't know where you went wrong!"

What did I tell you back then? Observe more, ask more, do less and talk less.

"You're always getting involved in all sorts of messy things? You're in the military, is it any of your business to meddle in those matters?"

Alfred looked aggrieved.

“But this is how our family has always done it, and it’s recorded in our family history.”

Prince Schwarzenberg finally showed a hint of anger.

"Damn it! The past is the past, the present is the present! Is that all you know how to read? Don't you know how to talk to your elders?"

"Do you just do whatever you feel like in a moment of impulse?"

Prince Schwarzenberg was furious because he thought his sister's only son was probably a fool.

While Alfred's past actions may have been wrong, no one would necessarily have held him accountable.

Because they have to consider the impact and their own strength, they will most likely take a step back and choose a compromise, or even simply deny that such a thing ever happened.

It is even more impossible to have such a comprehensive and thorough investigation.

In fact, Prince Schwarzenberg never really took the royal family seriously; he was just born into that position because of his good bloodline.

He himself was far superior to those emperors, and his loyalty was only for legitimacy and family honor, or even out of pity.

But now it is the era of Franz Joseph I, and Prince Schwarzenberg would bet Franz might be one of the most powerful emperors in all of Austrian history.

As the saying goes, "When a wise ruler is above, even virtuous ministers lose their luster." Compared to Franz, those cunning politicians and self-proclaimed brilliant advisors appear foolish and superfluous.

Prince Schwarzenberg felt this even more strongly as Prime Minister, and even his staff were hesitant to meet Franz, let alone try to guess his intentions.

"Uncle, can't you think of something? That kid..."

Before Alfred could finish speaking, Prince Schwarzenberg slapped him across the face.

“Shut your mouth! I'm telling you, forget about it! Go to the colonies and behave yourself. If you really think His Majesty the Emperor is one of those incompetent figures in history, you'll pay the price sooner or later.”

Alfred was somewhat surprised.

"Uncle, are you saying those rumors are true?"

"It's not all true, but it's not all false either, which is what makes it even more terrifying."

Strictly speaking, Franz's impact on Prince Schwarzenberg was comprehensive. Prince Schwarzenberg had met many monarchs, including the legendary Napoleon.

Napoleon Bonaparte was indeed an awe-inspiring, even fearsome, monarch, but he always unconsciously revealed a nouveau riche temperament.

Aside from his truly remarkable military talent, he is more of a know-it-all in other areas, always pretending to be knowledgeable and giving unsolicited advice. He likes to act as if he values ​​science, but he has never respected the opinions of the scientific community.

However, Franz was able to directly command the most intelligent people to his own advantage. At first, Prince Schwarzenberg did not believe it, thinking it was just a pre-arranged trick, after all, he had done it before.

But after Prince Schwarzenberg inquired extensively, he learned that Franz had been leading scientific research, and that when the top scholars in the entire Austrian Empire and even Europe were confused, Franz would personally point out the right direction.

Prince Schwarzenberg also had good personal relationships with some of the top scientists in the Royal Society of Science, and their expressions became even more exaggerated when he mentioned Franz, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

The church was a staunch supporter of Franz, and the priests' tendency to attribute everything to miracles was almost to the point of being unable to communicate.

In fact, Franz's reforms to the Austrian religion seemed too crazy to other nobles, and the church would certainly have resisted to the death, but in the end, Franz's reforms were carried out without any obstacles each time.

This alone demonstrates Franz's extraordinary status in the eyes of those charlatans.

The artists of Vienna also held Franz in a very high position, not just as a patron, but as a fellow artist who could truly appreciate their work and create equally great works.

As for military matters, Prince Schwarzenberg himself was a military expert, and he was well aware of Franz's military capabilities.

Although Archduke Karl thought Franz was only fit to be a regimental commander, the regiment led by Franz could probably easily defeat an elite brigade.

Prince Schwarzenberg knew of Franz's contributions to the military reforms of the Austrian Empire, from weaponry and equipment to strategy and tactics, and even logistics, which more than doubled the combat effectiveness of the Austrian army.

The Austrian Empire's army could typically and consistently defeat enemy forces two to three times its size, not including the armies of Britain and France.

Even when facing elite British and French forces, the Austrian army was confident of victory when numbers were roughly equal.

Note that this was a sure victory, not a relative advantage. At least since 1848, no unit of company size or larger in the Austrian Empire had suffered a defeat when their numbers were roughly equal.

This is why the Austrian Empire's military expanded so much at this time. Franz reformed the tactics of the army and navy, developed entirely new strategies, and even created the air force.

Any one of these achievements would be enough to leave a significant mark on military history.

Even Prince Schwarzenberg, who had long since demystified royalty, had to admit how terrifying His Majesty the Emperor was.

However, his nephew kept jumping the red line. Alfred was older than Franz, but his skill level was far inferior.

"Don't think too much. Just live a quiet and peaceful life in the colony and don't cause trouble."

Listen and observe more, and speak and do less.

Do you understand?

Prince Schwarzenberg reiterated his instructions.

When can I come back?

Alfred was quite perceptive, and he knew his uncle wouldn't harm him.

As for being beaten, he didn't take it to heart at all; it wasn't the first or second time he'd been beaten since he was a child.

"Twenty or thirty years, I guess."

"So long?"

"Wait until the new emperor ascends the throne. Our emperor is very vengeful, so don't come back before then."

Otherwise, I can't guarantee you won't be run over by a cart loaded with wood or coal, choke on your food, drown in a wine barrel, or die in a fire.

Alfred knew very well that Prince Schwarzenberg was not exaggerating; every year, some self-important men would die mysteriously, their cases hastily closed without any resolution.

“Okay, Uncle. But I don’t want to go to Africa.”

Prince Schwarzenberg was somewhat helpless, but he was also worried about sending a man who had been pampered for over thirty years to work hard in Africa.

"You good-for-nothing! Go to California. I'll take care of things for you."

Karl Ferdinand will be returning to his country in a few years, and I will try to help him then.

Don't make a fuss, understand?

Alfred immediately nodded excitedly. He knew California was a great place, and that it was far from the reach of the central government, where he was sure to have a lot of potential.

“California. Great! I’ll take my men and leave there to hunt and fish, but we’ll never cause any trouble.”

"What are you thinking? You're going there to retire, not to travel."

You can only go alone. You will have an estate where you can do whatever you want.

Alfred's eyes widened suddenly. He knew what his uncle meant, but he couldn't understand it.

"Why? Isn't that house arrest?"

Be content. This is all I can do for you.

Prince Schwarzenberg glanced at the pocket watch in his hand.

"I'll give you fifteen minutes. Think it over and give me your answer."

I'll tell you again, those bastards around you are playing you.

Alfred lowered his head and remained silent. In truth, he had no other choice, but he was just too embarrassed to admit it.

Prince Schwarzenberg was well aware of his nephew's character; in fact, Alfred was quite outstanding for a traditional nobleman.

In the past, if someone were to inherit the family business, it would be considered a blessing for the family.

But times have changed. Such people are no longer even able to maintain their capital. If a few major upheavals occur, no matter how much wealth they have, it won't be enough.

"I'll tell you one last thing: the person coming next time will be Marshal Hainao."

Alfred's expression changed drastically.

"Hainao? Why that bastard?"

Hainau was already quite infamous, and countries that were at odds with the Austrian Empire or were heavily influenced by Britain were desperately trying to smear him.

Within the Austrian Empire, the general public held Heinau in more praise than criticism, but among the nobility, both the newly rich and the traditional aristocracy deeply resented him.

However, it is undeniable that this name was very intimidating at the time, since in the eyes of many people he was a complete mad dog who would publicly execute people at the drop of a hat, and even do meaningless things like revenge.

The Brescia massacre is frequently mentioned. Although later generations often characterize the Brescia massacre as a massacre carried out by the Austrian army, few people mention that Italian rebels stormed into the church and massacred wounded Austrian soldiers beforehand.

Slaughtering unarmed wounded soldiers in a church can be whitewashed, but avenging one's own men will condemn one to the pillory of shame.

To put it bluntly, it's just a matter of who has the loudest voice.

Hainau's reputation was divided into two extremes both inside and outside the Austrian Empire; those who were willing to believe that Hainau was a demon could find more evidence.

"It's obvious that His Majesty the Emperor values ​​Hai Nao more than you. And you still don't understand the situation. Do you think this is child's play?"
"You want to confront the imperial central government with armed force? Do you expect His Majesty the Emperor to come and beg you personally?"

Alfred was somewhat bewildered, because in the past, His Majesty the Emperor should have sought help from the local lords, which was a survival wisdom passed down in his family for hundreds of years.

What does he want?

Alfred's voice trembled; he had already sensed something unusual.

Prince Schwarzenberg, however, said it casually.

"Do you remember Hungary? First, they besieged it for a year or two, then launched a fierce attack for several months. Finally, they suppressed it for over a decade under the guise of bandit suppression."

Alfred sat blankly in the chair, and asked a question as Prince Schwarzenberg walked past him.

"What will happen to my men?"

"What? Don't you know what will happen if they participate in the siege of the Royal Guard?"
"Either execution or life imprisonment."

"We didn't kill anyone."

"Is there a difference? But His Majesty the Emperor is merciful. As long as they are not the main participants, they should be exiled to the colonies to perform hard labor."

As for your bunch of cronies, forget about it. Even if His Majesty the Emperor doesn't kill them, I won't let them go.

"uncle!"

Prince Schwarzenberg slapped Alfred again.

"You're barely able to take care of yourself, and you're still thinking about those bastards? I don't have time to waste with you. Decide for yourself whether you want to go down with them or go enjoy the sun and sand in California."