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

Chapter 1951 Restrained
Under the label of "traitor," the Kingdom of Hanover collapsed even faster than Prussia.
If the two strongest states in North Germany were in such a state, the situation in the other smaller states must have been even more dire.

Amidst the flames of war, the Austrian Empire's advance became hampered.

An army crossing a border should normally be avoided like locusts, let alone an enemy army.

However, the Austrian army was welcomed like never before, and people did not feel that it was an army from an enemy country.

In fact, the Austrian Empire's army was highly disciplined, and the elite troops led by Albrecht were handpicked, with exceptional individual qualities.

Franz's reforms over the years have not been in vain, but what is even more evident is the change in the uniforms and equipment of the Austrian army.

While art students might lag behind in other areas, their aesthetic sense absolutely surpasses that of most leaders. Franz naturally understood the immense benefits that the appearance of equipment and the beauty of military uniforms could bring, so he also put in a great deal of effort in this regard.

Unlike Prussian blue, the uniforms of the Austrian Empire were typically silver-gray and pure white.

This is actually the traditional color scheme of the Austrian Empire's army. White uniforms, like black uniforms, have a strong sense of authority and represent nobility and purity.

However, Austrian troops would wear silver-gray or battlefield gray coats when marching and fighting.

The main reason why the Austrian Empire abandoned its ornate white military uniforms was that they were impractical.

On the battlefield, such conspicuous military uniforms would make one an easy target for the enemy, and they would also be too eye-catching to conceal one's whereabouts during marches.

That's why a layer of camouflage is needed; otherwise, this meticulously designed outer garment would only become a gorgeous shroud.

As for other designs, they should naturally be left to professionals. Franz didn't want to overstep his bounds, and he didn't have the energy to study clothing and weapon design.

Besides uniforms, temperament and presence are also very important.

The Austrian army, fresh from a great victory, was naturally in high spirits, a stark contrast to the previously uneasy and fearful Prussian army.

Such a group of stylish, charismatic, and disciplined young people naturally wins the favor of most people, not to mention the endless stream of admirers who are blessed by the halo of victory.

Albrecht himself is regarded as a national hero by many Germans, after all, he once commanded the German coalition forces to drive out foreign enemies.

Similarly, the Austrian army was regarded as a heroic army because they had fought for the Germans against the French and the Ottomans on numerous occasions.

There was no resistance when the Austrian army crossed the border; instead, they were greeted with cheers, bells rang, and flowers rained down.

In fact, there are many churches in the German region, and one of the hallmarks of 19th-century churches is the large bell on the top.

Especially in rural areas, the sound of bells signifies the beginning and end of the day, as well as mealtimes (6, 12, 18).

Generally speaking, bells are not allowed to be rung during the occupation of a city, as this might be seen as a trap and could provoke the occupying forces.

But it was clear that these Germans did not consider the Austrian army as outsiders.
But why is "welcome" in quotation marks?

Because, in a sense, these people were far too enthusiastic. Workers viewed the Austrian army as enforcers of the Labor Protection Act, while farmers saw it as liberators.

Nobles and officials were busy building relationships and visiting relatives, after all, they were all Germans, and might have even been related hundreds of years ago.

Capitalists also saw the Austrian army as their savior, because if the Austrians hadn't come, they would have been driven to their deaths by their own peasants.

In fact, most ordinary people prefer to express their emotions, don't like to reason, and are even less interested in discussing the law.

The Austrian army, though powerful, seemed to be able to communicate effectively. Furthermore, Franz never said he wanted to exterminate capitalists; he only said he wanted to implement the Labor Protection Act.

In any case, accepting the limitations of the law is much better than accepting the wrath of the law.

Besides, with Prussia losing 400,000 troops in the first battle and the Hanover general dying of fright, how could those capitalists possibly have the slightest thought of resistance?

Don't assume that weakness and compromise are just extreme exceptions; in fact, they are a common phenomenon. Especially when the enemy becomes powerful enough, capitalists often kneel down even faster than nobles and officials.

To put it bluntly, capitalists pursue profits, not any particular ideology or belief, so they are naturally open-minded and easygoing.

Of course, it could also be said that this group of people has been completely alienated by capital and has been reduced to a tool for capital appreciation.

In addition, maintaining good relations with the Austrian Empire was indeed a profitable business, at least without bringing any major side effects.

In reality, the nobles and officials had already prepared a banquet, and before the stewards could even deliver the invitations, the capitalists had already arrived outside the military camp with lavish gifts, some even bringing their families.

As carriages laden with treasures pulled up in front of the military camp, women of all kinds disembarked, each carrying a parasol.

At this point, Albrecht's anger level was almost at its peak.

"Damn it! Are these people never going to stop? Or is someone deliberately messing with us? Why is it the same everywhere we go? Are all Prussians brothels?"

Vincent Morris quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

"Isn't this a good thing? At least we don't have to fight our way through."

He paused again before continuing.

"This is also a way for them to express loyalty and friendliness."

Albrecht slammed his fist on the window frame.

"I'd rather they just attack. That way we wouldn't have to keep these wild beasts in a zoo."

Look at the state of our officers and soldiers! Do they even resemble soldiers anymore?!

Vincent Morris was completely unable to empathize with Archduke Albrecht's deep sorrow.

Even the Royal Guard in Bavaria did not have the same military discipline as the Austrians at that time.

The young Austrian officers were betting on who the valuables outside were for and who the beautiful women were looking for.

The soldiers, on the other hand, joined in the fun and enjoyed watching.

In Albrecht's eyes, these guys were nothing but a bunch of idiots who would drool over being cured. What if it were an enemy attack? They would die without even knowing how they died.

Even without an enemy attack, these idiots would be devoured by those guys outside, leaving not even bones behind, and they wouldn't even know how they died. But in Vincent Morris's view, as victors, being able to resist the urge to rob money and women was already a miracle.

However, both sides agree with Franz's statement that military discipline is not only the reins and the soul of an army, but also the scabbard that protects it.

No matter how sharp a knife is, if it is not controlled by a person, it is not a good knife, and may even become a threat.

Moreover, at this critical moment, a disciplined army is needed even more.

If Austrian troops entered Saxony and Prussia, they would begin to kill, burn, loot, and commit all sorts of atrocities, just like traditional armies.

It can indeed make a fortune in the short term and effectively deter the enemy.

But the cost was enormous; once the Austrian Empire fell into decline, all its enemies would come knocking.

The cost of the counterinsurgency was evident to all. In fact, many within the Austrian Empire had suggested abandoning Albania or reaching a great reconciliation with it, and some had even begun to question the correctness of the emperor's orders.

Such a thing would be considered absolutely politically incorrect in the Austrian Empire, which shows just how much trouble the counterinsurgency campaign caused for the generals of the Austrian Empire.

In reality, the threat posed might not be that great, but it was extremely troublesome and unprofitable. In terms of combat power alone, one Austrian soldier on the front lines was equivalent to several Ottoman soldiers.

But the reality is that in Albania, an untrained mountain dweller could very well trade one life for one with a well-trained Austrian soldier, or even kill several Austrian soldiers in a sneak attack.

Faced with a resistance group of only a few dozen people, the Austrian Empire might need to send thousands of troops to suppress it, and to defend against its cross-border invasion, it would need tens of thousands of troops on standby.

Maintaining the defense line comes at a cost far greater than simply providing food and lodging for tens of thousands of people.

Because most of the high-ranking military officers in the Austrian Empire came from noble families, they were often very politically astute. In their view, these Prussian territories near the border were likely to become Austrian territory.

They don't want to waste time and energy fighting a counterinsurgency war, so a peaceful transition is very important.

Furthermore, they were well aware of what these people outside were planning; this was a time for a major reshuffle. If they could find a powerful patron, rising to the top in one fell swoop was not impossible.

Even if you don't rise to the top in one step, it's not a loss to make good connections within this aristocratic system that has been stable for hundreds of years.

At the very least, they could launder their assets into the assets of the Austrian Empire. Those at the bottom would not dare to easily touch the assets of the Austrian Empire, and the empire would not give up its wealth.

In this way, they can remain invincible.
This would also be very beneficial to the Austrian Empire, as it would greatly accelerate the process of taking over the territory and reduce resistance, since regional stability is extremely important for a country.

The most effective way to stabilize a region is to maintain the original framework, such as by directly appointing the original officials and supply system.

In this way, the Prussian vested interest groups could be reborn under a new skin in the Austrian Empire. In fact, this was an unspoken rule among the nobles of the victorious nations, as it made it easier to expand their family power.

This system has been used in Europe for over a thousand years, but the current climate is somewhat different.

Emperor Franz's personality was too unpredictable, especially his previous crackdown on the police and prison systems, which really gave many people a fright.

Considering Franz's various actions over the years, at this moment, no nobleman of the Austrian Empire would dare to preemptively strike before His Majesty the Emperor.

Actually, it's not that no one has thought of rebelling, but those people are either already in their graves or have been sent overseas to enjoy their lives.

Under such unclear circumstances, rashly arranging a marriage alliance is risky. Who knows if His Majesty the Emperor will try to take advantage of the situation? In the end, you might not only fail to gain any benefits but also get implicated.

After all, in the eyes of the Austrian Empire, this was a war between Franz and the capitalists of North Germany. Would he be seen as a traitor for going there for a marriage alliance? Would his fate be worse than that of the enemies?
Albrecht and his high-ranking officials did not actually want to block people's path to wealth; on the contrary, they were protecting these unsuspecting individuals.

Even behemoths like the Wendy Schgretz family could hardly escape unscathed, and ordinary nobles who got involved would certainly die.

In fact, those speculators do not focus too much energy on top imperial nobles like Albrecht, because such people cannot be bought with money and beauty in the usual sense.

It would be an extraordinary achievement to go to great lengths to place a lover by his side, but it might also offend another top-tier powerful family.

So the best outcome is to become a familiar face, or to have a one-night stand.

Sadly, the entire family of Grand Duke Karl is devoted to pure love, and there has never been a precedent of infidelity in the family.

Historically, Archduke Albrecht's wife was unable to bear children, and he did not remarry even after his death, thus directly causing his lineage to end.

In fact, this situation is extremely rare even among European royal families, let alone the Habsburg family.

In other words, Franz's father's generation had rather unique circumstances. Even brothers as powerful as Archduke Franz Karl and Ferdinand I had some inexplicable lovers.

Although Franz gave Albrecht a different wife in this life, he remained the same as before, devoted to him until death.

Those so-called temptations felt like humiliation to the warrior of pure love.
However, the speculators were really targeting mid- to low-ranking officers, minor nobles, and young high-ranking officials like Vincent Morris who lacked connections.

This group of people has no family background and no idea how deep the water is in here.

However, what they never expected was that the Austrian Empire's military discipline was so strict that not only the officers, but even the soldiers dared not go out and act recklessly.

Franz's control over the military was absolutely terrifying. Over the years, he had established a complete feedback mechanism, and anyone who crossed the line would be completely eliminated.

With its own various halos and reputation, most people really wouldn't dare to try it.

However, the main reason is that the Austrian Empire has invested too much in its military over the years, to the point that many other incentives have lost their appeal.

At the same time, the punishment is severe enough that ordinary people simply cannot bear it.

Franz banned looting largely to prevent soldiers from deserting, since soldiers didn't join the army solely to defend their country.

Once some people discover this way to make money, they will spare no effort to try to replicate it, or even control the army.

Furthermore, from an economic perspective, looting is also a highly inefficient activity, as the costs and benefits are disproportionate and it is not sustainable.

However, the real problem was that the Austrian army could not turn away their enemies. At this point, the war was merely an extension of politics, and their unauthorized actions could very well disrupt Franz's plans.

So now we're in a situation where we can neither fight nor run away. The behavior of nobles and capitalists still has some logic to it, but the common people don't care about that.

For example, at this time, the peasants of Prussia and Saxony clearly regarded the Austrian army as judges. They frequently came to the military camp to ask the Austrians to judge their cases, even for trivial matters such as someone losing a water bucket or someone encroaching on half an inch of land.