I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 1406 Swiss Confederation
Austrian Finance Minister Count Stadion immediately chimed in: "Your Majesty, in fact, simply expanding the size of the 'State Council,' for example, by increasing the number of members to 200, and adding some influential lawyers, writers, and businessmen, should be enough to deal with the impact of the French Chamber of Deputies."

The "Council of State" he mentioned was established during Joseph II's reforms. Its structure is somewhat similar to the British House of Lords, and it has a prime minister in charge of overall management.

However, after Leopold II came to power, he quickly sidelined this institution and replaced it with a series of "court committees," such as the "Court of State and Foreign Affairs" and the "Court of War," to seize real power.

Therefore, the State Council is seen by Austrians as a symbol of enlightenment and democracy.

Kobutz Jr. frowned: "Perhaps we need to hold an election, even if it's just a formality..."

Count Spearman immediately shook his head: "This will only make those elected feel that they have the support, and thus dare to disobey His Majesty's wishes!"

Count Stadion continued, "We also need to consider the attitudes of the Hungarian and Bohemian noble councils..."

The debate lasted for three days, and in the end, Franz II adopted a compromise.

The State Council was expanded to 300 members, but its members were selected through a so-called election from among four to five thousand people designated by the emperor. At the same time, the powers of the State Council were further limited, essentially confined to discussing laws, and the timing of its meetings was determined by the emperor.

……

1800 8 Month 9 Day.

Switzerland.

In a villa in western Basel, Metternich frowned as he looked at the documents that had just been sent from Vienna, shaking his head repeatedly: "Let those lawyers and journalists into the State Council and even participate in the discussion of laws?"
"Count Kobtzel is practically destroying the empire!"

His secretary, Friedrich von Gentz, sitting opposite him, cautiously remarked, "I think this is just a tactic His Majesty uses to reassure the people..."

Metternich maintained his elegant posture, but his voice was a few decibels louder: "His Majesty the Emperor must never show any sign of backing down, not even the slightest bit!"

"That will only encourage those who disrupt order to take further risks!"
"Whether they are Bohemians, Hungarians, Styrians, or Moravians, they all need a powerful emperor with an unwavering will."

"Your Majesty should make everyone in the empire know that the emperor's power is unique and supreme, and no one should have any other ideas!"

Gentz ​​nodded and looked at him, saying, "Then, shall I help you draft a remonstrance to His Majesty?"

Metternich raised his hand to stop him: "No, let me deal with things here first, and then bring it up when His Majesty summons me to report on my duties. That will give my suggestions more weight."

The secretary seemed somewhat worried: "However, the Basel 'Seven-Member Committee' doesn't seem to be in favor of joining the Federation today."

Metternich rose and went to the window, gazing at the Rhine River faintly visible in the distance: "I will persuade Vienna to provide additional funding. As long as we can get Baron Boycewell's support, the others will not be difficult to deal with."

Yes, Austria's previous intervention in the Swiss situation had not provoked France's displeasure. Vienna learned through various channels that France not only had no interest in the poor and chaotic German-speaking part of Switzerland, but also did not want its trade routes to be affected by the riots.

Metternich immediately advised Franz II to invest resources in facilitating the formation of the "Swiss Confederation" among several cantons in northern Switzerland.

Although the difference between a confederation and a federation is merely a matter of word order, their meanings are vastly different. A confederation is merely a loose alliance, with the government having virtually no power over the cantons. A federation, on the other hand, would mean that much of Switzerland would become a highly unified nation.

At that time, Switzerland could not only become a solid barrier against France's northward advance, but also, when the time was right, raise the issue of returning several cantons such as Bern and Solothurn to France.

To this end, Franz II allocated 60 florins to Metternich, along with various promises of assistance for the future Swiss Confederation, and sent the latter to Switzerland to promote this matter.

Metternich then used the previous riots in the northern Swiss cantons that had led to the "annexation by France" to threaten the cantons of Zurich, Basel, Schwyz, and Uri, saying that Vienna's aid could not support so many cantons and that if they did not unite further, they might not be able to withstand the next riot.

Currently, Zurich, Schwyz, and Uri have all agreed—Zurich, as the Swiss capital, would benefit the most from forming a federation, while the two poorer cantons, whose economies are heavily reliant on Zurich, have no choice but to accept.

Only Basel, the wealthiest state, remained hesitant, mainly due to concerns that unification would require "subsidizing" other poorer states.

A few days later, after Metternich spent a hefty bribe of 15 florins, he finally "persuaded" the seven-member political core of Basel, and the merger plan was passed by parliament.

Immediately, Metternich set off for Zurich, where he was to personally preside over negotiations for the formation of the Swiss Confederation from the northern cantons.

Meanwhile, on a road near the Roman Baths ruins north of Bern, a horse-drawn carriage from Basel was speeding along.

The two Basel parliamentarians sitting in the car were staunch supporters of joining the French Federation. The parliament's passage of the resolution to join the Swiss Confederation greatly displeased the pro-France faction, prompting them to send representatives to the Haut-Germany department in France for assistance.

Congressman Freno glanced in the direction of the sun, then looked at the newly renovated, historic thermal baths, and frowned as he asked the attendant:
"Cedric, are you sure this is the direction?"

The attendant said somewhat helplessly:
"My lord, the roads outside Bern have been renovated, and now we must detour through the baths to enter the city."

He thought to himself that if he entered the city from the east, he would have to pass by the "Roman Theatre".

At 2 p.m., the carriage finally entered the city of Basel, where the two Basel councilors saw craftsmen working everywhere.

Some people were leveling the land, while others brought over huge "iron bars" that were more than ten meters long and carefully fixed them to horizontal square timbers.

Congressman Goselan asked in bewilderment:

What are they doing?

“You must have never been to Paris,” Freno said. “This is a steam railcar, a state-of-the-art technology that can carry forty or fifty people and travel at speeds several times faster than horse-drawn carriages!”
"After Paris became the capital of the Haut-Germany province, it immediately began planning steam railcars in the city."

"It is said that it would cost several hundred thousand francs to build one mile."

Goseran was so envious that tears almost streamed down his face.

"Damn Boycewell, you've shattered Basel's bright future!" he cursed inwardly.

(End of this chapter)