I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 1294: Inciting hatred

1799 8 Month 2 Day.

The streets of Merdelin, a small town south of Vienna, were filled with proud French soldiers, while the town's residents nervously hid in their homes, peeking through their windows to watch the scene unfold.

This city, known as the "City of Music," is the hometown of famous musicians such as Beethoven and Schubert, and at this time it has become the focus of all of Europe.

Because a brutal war that affected the whole of Europe, with hundreds of thousands of soldiers on both sides and more than 100,000 casualties, will be signed here as an armistice agreement.

Officials from Prussia, Baden, Bavaria, Milan, Parma, Modena, and other belligerent nations had already arrived at the city's largest square. They were joining hundreds of reporters, gazing southwards towards the main avenue, awaiting the appearance of the most important figure.

Tall, imposing soldiers of the French Royal Guard grenadier battalion rode into the city. The clatter of their hooves on the cobblestones mingled with the strains of the band playing "Glory and Victory," filling the air with a solemn and austere atmosphere.

Surrounded by grenadiers, Louis Charles looked out the window at the unremarkable town with a somewhat listless air, recalling the grand scene of accepting the surrender of the Austrian army with General Soult in Pressburg.

The flag embroidered with the Habsburg family crest was handed to him, and thousands of Austrian soldiers walked past him, dropping their weapons on the ground. He felt as if a god of war had descended upon the world!
He had expected the armistice agreement to be more grand and exciting, but it turned out to be quite ordinary.

“My dear brother,” he finally couldn’t help but turn to Joseph and say, “why don’t we sign this important agreement in Vienna? You know, General Soult’s army can enter Vienna at any time without even firing a shot. There are only a thousand or two terrified soldiers there.”

Joseph smiled and said, "Because I don't want to promote unity among the Austrians."

"Huh? Is there any connection between these two?"

Joseph patiently explained to his brother, “For example, if someone steals something outside and gets a severe beating from the neighbor, it will only make his family feel ashamed and hate what he did.”

"But if his neighbor breaks into his house and smashes some things, his family will immediately forget about the theft and instead unite to discuss how to get revenge on the neighbor."

He gestured towards Vienna: "The people of Vienna are talking about how their emperor started a war without provocation and was eventually taught a lesson by the French."

"But if we get into the city, they'll be hoping His Majesty the Emperor will drive the invaders away for them."

Charles was used to his brother's insightful and far-sighted pronouncements, and simply nodded thoughtfully.

As the car drove past the church in Merlin, he couldn't help but say, "If you're worried that Austria will regain its strength, why not just station troops here?"

“Because oppression will inevitably provoke resistance,” Joseph said unhurriedly. “A large country like Austria, no matter what kind of crushing defeat it suffers, can quickly regroup and regain its strength as long as its people are united against a common enemy.”

"But prolonged decline and numb erosion can completely deplete the vitality of an empire."

"Oh, you'd better not mention these things to your mother, she might be upset."

Historically, Austria was defeated by Napoleon multiple times over 20 years, and even became a junior partner of France at one point. However, it still managed to muster 25 troops for the Seventh Coalition against France and ultimately won at Waterloo.

“I will, brother.” Charles nodded vigorously, then his eyes lit up. “So, Articles 5 and 9 of the ceasefire agreement were also for this purpose?”

“That’s right,” Joseph praised. “You learn very quickly.” Finally, the people in Moudring Square saw the golden frieze flag, and a French officer shouted, “Attention!”

The soldiers on both sides of the road immediately stood at attention and saluted with their guns raised.

The car stopped in the center of the square. Joseph got out of the car, first waving to the officials from various countries, then ignoring Archduke Leopold, the royal representative waiting to the side, and went straight to the west side of the square where the reporters were gathered.

He climbed onto the marble railing of a flowerbed, and like a street orator, spread his arms wide and proclaimed: "As everyone knows, Austria was misled by the evil British and joined them in launching this war that has brought disaster to all of Europe!"

"Let us first observe a minute's silence for those who died in the war, whether they were French, Baden, Parma, Prussians, or Austrians."

All the journalists were taken aback, especially those from Vienna who were prepared to document the brutality of the French conquerors. They hadn't expected the French crown prince to refrain from boasting of his own military exploits and instead offer a moment of silence for the dead, including the deceased Austrians.

Yes, Joseph was all too familiar with this kind of propaganda tactic; later politicians had already demonstrated it many times over.

Boasting about how powerful the French army is or how great you are at a time like this will only incite hatred.

What he wanted to do was to direct the hatred towards the Habsburg family and the British.

A minute later, at Emmanuel's instruction, the band next to them began to play a low and mournful tune.

“I know that some people may think that the Austrian soldiers who died deserved it,” Joseph continued. “However, I want to tell you that they were also ordinary people, just like every French soldier, with their families and ordinary, happy lives. Even before they went to the battlefield, they were just farmers, painters, or gardeners.”

"What hatred do they have for France, Venice, and Baden?"
Absolutely not!
"It is those greedy rulers who, in order to pile a few more gold coins into their inexhaustible vaults, have driven countless innocent people onto the bloody killing field!"

"I can't help but ask, why did this tragedy happen, and how can we avoid similar mistakes in the future?"

"How can we discern and crucify evil nations when they again tempt and kill with their devilish whispers!"

"This is a question that the people of France, Baden, Prussia, and Austria, who have all suffered the hardships of war, must consider..."

All the reporters were busy taking notes, afraid of missing a single word.

Meanwhile, officials from other countries on the periphery were seriously pondering the words of the French Crown Prince.

Standing at a distance, Metternich couldn't hear Joseph's speech clearly and was still pondering his own affairs: "What exactly is being overlooked..."

"The Treaty of Dresden? Wait, why did the French specifically mention this in the armistice agreement?"

The Treaty of Dresden was a treaty signed between Saxony and France after Saxony's defeat in World War II.

He immediately said to his assistant, "Go and get me a copy of the Treaty of Dresden right now!"

(End of this chapter)