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

Chapter 1965 Rogue Trader
On the streets of Frankfurt, a veteran nationalist wept bitterly.

“In 1848, I waited for three days and three nights in front of the National Assembly, waiting for them to accept the Labor Protection Law and for them to announce unification.”

But they refused, and the civil war began.

It was a desperate war, and the wrath of Emperor Joseph I instantly destroyed the National Assembly.

I thought it was all over.

He was already sobbing uncontrollably.

"But I saw it, I witnessed the unification of Germany! Look! How powerful our motherland is!"

Not far away, the Austrian Empire's army was entering the city, and the roadsides were filled with tense and excited crowds. After all, they had all heard that the Austrian Empire's army was different, but no matter how different it was, an army was still an army, and ultimately a violent machine of the state.

However, at this moment, these troops became their own people, carrying the glory of the German nation, and everything changed.

Of course, the uniforms and military bearing of the Austrian Empire were impressive enough that people were more likely to feel a sense of admiration upon seeing them.

The church bells also rang at that moment, their sound traveling through the streets and the hustle and bustle to reach the ears of every citizen.

In fact, the people of Frankfurt have a special feeling about the unification of Germany because it was once the place where Holy Roman Emperors were elected and crowned.

The National Assembly of 1848, also known as the Frankfurt National Assembly, elected an emperor, but the emperor was never crowned.

Because of the previous unpleasantness, the National Assembly was moved to Aachen this time. Aachen was not chosen randomly; it was the coronation site before Frankfurt.

But in any case, their wish has finally come true at this moment.

Everyone seemed very excited, not only for the burning passion for democracy, but also for the heavy 20-florin voucher.

20 florins is not a small amount; if you are frugal, it can even be enough for an adult to spend for two months.

However, this huge sum of money could only be used to purchase designated goods, as it could not be used to buy food or coal that could be stored for a long time.

Therefore, many people choose to buy a new set of clothes, a new pair of shoes, or have a big meal with their family, eating things they wouldn't normally dare to eat or drink.

On the huge grill, whole chickens and pigs were roasted until they were glistening with oil, while the hot plate next to them sizzled with oil. Sausages and hams were fried until they were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and when you took a bite, the juices would burst out.

Grilled fish and boiled fish balls were also present at the celebration, with people raising their glasses in celebration and drinks splashing everywhere.

Sugar was no longer a luxury in the Austrian Empire, but people still instinctively wanted to eat it when they were happy.

Thanks to the Austrian Empire, the entire German Confederation was well-supplied with sugar at this time. The band rode in a carriage, playing music throughout the streets, filling the air with laughter and joy.

Of course, some people choose to spend more money to buy things that can be used for a long time, such as furniture, tableware, and tools. Some people might even buy things they've wanted for a long time, such as bicycles or sewing machines.
People in rural areas also need not worry, as itinerant merchant caravans from the Austrian Empire will travel to the countryside with vouchers and goods.

In fact, this group of people has considerable spending power and prefers to buy unusual and quirky things.

In reality, shopping in rural areas in the 19th century was not easy. Not only did the so-called markets have to wait for fixed days, but there was also no guarantee that there would be any good goods.

As for why no one has seized this business opportunity?
Because the population density in rural areas is not high enough to support permanent stores, and it is also very difficult and costly to source goods in rural areas, the selling prices are generally higher than in cities, which can easily cause conflicts.

The convenience of modern transportation and logistics often makes people overlook the actual road conditions in the 19th century. What's even more frightening is that, apart from the Austrian Empire at this time, bandits were common in the countryside of the German Confederation countries.

Ordinary merchants dared not travel alone, which further increased the cost of traveling merchants.

Jews and Gypsies are willing to take such risks, but they have a bad reputation and lack trust in one another.

Such suspicion often leads to greater losses for both sides, as villagers cannot distinguish between itinerant merchants, vagrants, or thieves selling stolen goods. Itinerant merchants, in turn, cannot tell whether their customers are farmers or bandits.

This has led to numerous brawls and robberies, with both sides even trying to carry as little cargo and buy as few goods as possible for safety reasons.
As for rural markets, due to a lack of regulation, prices are chaotic, with both price gouging and forced buying coexisting. In comparison, selling inferior goods as superior ones and shortchanging customers are considered minor issues.

This has led to the emergence of various local tyrants, whose taxes are sometimes even higher than those collected by legitimate markets in cities.

Paying the fee doesn't guarantee protection, but not paying it will definitely lead to big trouble.

The goods in the market were so scarce that they were unimaginable. Modern films and television shows, both in the East and the West, often depict those markets as open-air marketplaces with densely packed stalls and all kinds of goods.

Modern crowded markets have reinforced this stereotype, but in reality, many rural markets in 19th-century Europe had only a dozen or so itinerant vendors.

In some small medieval markets, or even in what resembles a nomadic camp in Diablo, the entire village consisted of only one blacksmith, one doctor, three or five traveling merchants, and a Gypsy caravan.

The Austrian Empire's merchant caravans were specifically established by Franz to address the above situation and could perfectly solve the above problems.

Moreover, Franz was giving real money. Although the villagers found the situation hard to believe, their trust in the imperial government and the emperor was rapidly increasing.

Moreover, this is actually a virtuous cycle, which not only benefits the people but also helps the empire develop rural markets.

This is what truly broadens the market.

Entering the countryside was just the first step; Franz wanted to do more than just sell things, he also wanted to buy things.

After all, farmers can't buy things without money, so we need to find ways to turn their primary agricultural products into cash.

In this process, government intervention can significantly reduce exploitation of farmers, providing them with a form of protection. It can also decrease the emergence of local bullies and strengthen the state's control over the economy and rural areas.

At the same time, it can eliminate middlemen, allowing both parties to benefit, reducing waste, and enhancing the sense of gain.

The development of a commodity economy also helps more rural laborers move to cities, since they no longer need to be self-sufficient, nor is it necessary for them to be self-sufficient anymore.

A commodity economy will naturally disintegrate the primitive economy of rural areas, and those self-sufficient behaviors will become futile or even turn into negative returns.

Franz could certainly launch a massive enclosure movement to drive all the peasants into the city to be used as firewood. With his abilities, it wouldn't be difficult for the peasants to hate him or even know what was happening.

For example, in the history of Germany, farmers were forced into factories in the name of freedom and progress. As a result, they were exploited and reduced to abject poverty, but they still had to thank Wilhelm I for giving them jobs.

However, Franz wasn't going to play that game; he would give people a choice. What the empire wanted to do was liberate labor, not simply exploit it.

However, the trend towards large-scale and intensive agriculture is unavoidable. They need to understand that the imperial government is helping them find a way out, not driving them out of their homeland.

Franz would also relocate some suitable industries to the countryside, even though local industrialization had failed countless times throughout history.

But the Austrian Empire at this time was different. Franz was not in such a hurry. He would only do the right thing at the right time and in the right place. After all, he had a much longer-term vision than those reformers.

Franz did not depend on bureaucrats or capitalists; on the contrary, they depended on Franz, the emperor.

In the Austrian Empire, no one could simply take the benefits without taking responsibility.

Franz didn't need to exploit ordinary people to curry favor with bureaucrats and capitalists; on the contrary, if they wanted to live their lives well, they'd better not let Franz find anything wrong with them.

The Labor Protection Act also includes provisions for them, which include provisions for short-term and seasonal workers.

These measures clearly favor farmers who work during the off-season.

Franz was not against industrialization; he wanted a win-win-win situation: farmers would receive funds to improve their lives, factories would have a sufficient labor force, and the state would complete industrial and agricultural reforms and stabilize society.

With the backing of the state, the Austrian Empire's merchant caravans had guaranteed credibility, and local bullies and villains dared not provoke them easily. At the same time, because they were backed by the state, their procurement costs were low, and the large volume of each shipment could reduce transportation costs.

The caravans could also absorb some wandering Gypsies and Jews, which could greatly reduce instability in rural areas and allow these people to find a sense of belonging.

Because they were serving the country, the locals didn't dare to make things difficult for them.

Of course, if anyone dares to disregard the law, the imperial government can teach those who break the rules a lesson.

Franz does not grant special privileges to the disadvantaged; he only gives them an equal opportunity to survive.

Their ability to serve the country is not based on their status, but rather on a mutual commitment.

After all, most people wouldn't enjoy being a traveling merchant, but some people can find joy in it.

All citizens can compete for these positions, but so far only Gypsies and Jews have shown particular interest.

Other ethnic groups, even if they have such ideas, mostly treat them as a hobby or one of the ways out, but Gypsies and Jews often regard them as the only way out and devote all their efforts to them.

That's why Jews and Gypsies often appeared in the empire's merchant caravans.

However, the entire group could not consist entirely of Jews and Gypsies, as they themselves could easily attract trouble.

The merchant caravan would inevitably include a group of officials and soldiers who could speak the common language (German).

There's no other way; otherwise, it wouldn't seem authentic. The existence of this group reduces a lot of unnecessary trouble.

However, the requirements for other positions are even higher. They not only need to be fluent in the common language, but also in the local language, understand local customs, and possess other skills.

This is something that usually only nomadic peoples like Gypsies and Jews are willing to do.

The mission of the entire merchant caravan was not limited to doing business. The caravan also included missionaries, teachers, actors, speakers, newspaper readers, doctors, cooks, and sometimes explorers and scholars with special missions.

On some routes with fewer participants, many people have to play multiple roles.

In the newly established territories in northern Germany, religious affairs were quite complex, so it was common practice to have a priest and a pastor present to avoid upsetting the locals.

Of course, the Protestant stance is very flexible. After the Austrian Empire defeated Prussia, more than a dozen Protestant branches emerged that were willing to pledge allegiance to Franz.

Franz disliked getting involved in religious affairs, but now that there was no religious influence, it would be difficult for him to control the grassroots.

The conflict between Catholicism and Protestantism did not disappear in the 19th century, but it had eased considerably compared to the past, with both sides shifting from armed conflict to a more diplomatic one.

However, the Netherlands is an exception, because they happened to be riding the wave of nationalism, which is why they were able to fight so fiercely.

The power of religion has, after all, permeated the grassroots for thousands of years; borrowing from it is far more effective than Franz starting from scratch.

These priests could also be doctors or teachers, since medicine was a compulsory course at the Austrian Imperial Theological Seminary, and they also needed to obtain a teaching certificate to become missionaries.

At this time, educational and medical resources are very limited. It is unrealistic to expect the market to spontaneously allocate resources. It would take at least several decades or even forever for them to complete the allocation of resources spontaneously, and they will not favor rural areas.

Franz couldn't wait that long. The basic medical care and education in the rural areas of the Austrian Empire might seem rudimentary by modern standards, but at that time they were far ahead of the curve.

Newspaper readers are actually very popular in rural areas, and in the eyes of many people they are like storytellers from the East.

For the villagers, who were isolated from the outside world, those news stories were fascinating tales. The various anecdotes and stories greatly satisfied their curiosity and were one of the few connections they had with the rest of society.

Because it's a group reading session, the individual rate is very low; some newspaper distributors and mystery shoppers even pay readers to read the newspaper for free.

As for why they didn't send telegrams? The truth is, telegrams were never fully widespread throughout history, even until they were phased out, let alone in a 19th-century rural area.
Besides newspaper readers, chefs were also very popular, but the most popular were the performance groups. These meticulously choreographed skits and plays were simply a game-changer in the countryside at that time.

In the 19th century, rural entertainment was extremely scarce; even a fight between two sheep could attract a crowd of onlookers.

In the past, they could only watch plays during monthly fairs or major holidays.

Of course, these plays were all carefully designed, and the content they promoted naturally aligned with the interests of the Austrian Empire.

Loyalty to the emperor and love for the country, safeguarding unity, and promoting national prestige.
This kind of subtle guidance is more effective than a hundred loyalty lessons and is less likely to cause a backlash.

These plays are also designed to be easy to understand, making them more accessible and even encouraging people to come and watch them on their own initiative.

This greatly increases the area of ​​transmission.

Officially, they were called mobile department stores, but the people of the empire preferred to call them "wandering merchants."