I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 919 Protests and Riots

Schönbrunn Palace.

Baron Turgut walked quickly into the room, led by a court official, and bowed to the emperor.
"Your Majesty, General Grashakovich's troops have arrived in Orth and will enter Vienna the day after tomorrow morning."

Grašaković was the commander of the Hungarian Debrecen Corps, who brought 4 soldiers with him.

Franz II suddenly felt relieved, and felt that the monster-like shouts of the protesting crowd in the distance had become negligible noise.

But he immediately remembered the price asked by the Hungarian Parliament and felt a pang of pain again.

In order to mobilize this army, imperial taxes in the Hungarian region would have to be reviewed by the Hungarian Noble Parliament before they could be collected.

Tugut handed over another document: "Your Majesty, this is a warrant for General Grashakovich. You need to sign it."

Francis II flipped through it casually and saw that the authorization included: searching houses in the city; requisitioning any materials; and torturing those who participated in the riots.

And, rioters can be shot without trial.

Franz II suddenly hesitated, looked at Turgut and said, "Are you sure you want to use the army? Perhaps we have other ways..."

The latter said firmly: "Your Majesty, you must not show any weakness. It will only make the thugs more unscrupulous. It may even encourage the French."

Franz II thought about it and nodded vigorously: "You are right."

He signed the warrant and handed it back to Turgut: "Let this all end as soon as possible!"

……

At the same time, in a tavern in the southern suburbs of Vienna, seven or eight low-level officers were carefully passing a pamphlet around.

A captain with smallpox marks on his face said angrily: "His Majesty the Emperor is going to use the army to suppress the protesting crowd!"

The lieutenant next to him frowned and said, "Those people are just asking for compensation. That's what their husbands and children paid for with their lives on the battlefield!"

The flat-nosed officer on the other side shook his head and continued, "No, Lieutenant Schwartz, many people are just protesting against taxes, and they should be dispersed..."

Schwartz immediately retorted loudly: "Special war taxes should be opposed. You know, people also pay military service taxes at the same time!"

The captain holding the pamphlet motioned for him to lower his voice, but nodded in agreement: "Besides, our emperor said before that he would only collect taxes for one year, but now he has been collecting taxes for more than two years, and he will continue to collect taxes."

Schwartz exhaled: "No matter what, the army's flintlock rifles should not be used against civilians."

The flat-nosed officer took the pamphlet and shook it. "It may just be nonsense. I heard from Lieutenant Colonel Eshazi that His Majesty has ordered the immediate payment of the pension. The protest will be over soon."

This can only be said that Franz II overestimated the efficiency of the Austrian bureaucracy. The loan from Rothschild was paid to the Austrian government a week ago, but until now, there is no money in the account of the Military Committee.

It will take at least one or two months for the military committee to distribute the money to the families of the fallen soldiers.

The blond young captain sitting on the left stroked the wine glass in his hand and said in a deep voice: "This kind of thing can be found out by asking the nearby cavalry officers. So, what if there really is an army entering the city?"

Schwartz said solemnly: "We have to do something to prevent the tragedy from happening!"

The other officers fell silent.

They are just instructors at the conscription office, and their military ranks are not high. What can they do about such a big thing?
After drinking for a while, several people left in disappointment.

Near the corner outside the tavern, the blond captain caught up with Schwartz, patted him on the back, and whispered, "Leon, listen to me, you have to behave yourself. This is not something we can control."

The latter glanced at him and said, "Humph, it has nothing to do with you."

"God, what do you want?"

Schwartz stopped and said, "Ehlers, I just don't want the families of the soldiers who died in the war to be hurt again. Our emperor launched a wrong war, but ordinary people have to bear the consequences. If this continues, the whole country will be ruined! I, I am just angry now!"

"Are you serious?!"

"of course."

"It will ruin your career." "So what?"

"So, what are your plans?"

"Well, not yet..."

Captain Ehlers looked around and leaned close to his ear and said, "If... I have a plan, do you want to hear it?"

……

East side of Vienna.

On the banks of the Danube.

This place is some distance away from Vienna's outer city area, but protesters can be seen everywhere recently.

Two or three hundred sans-culottes, the poorest civilians in Vienna, were surrounding several roadside shops and smashing the doors with stones.

Scherer and several people wearing red ribbons on their arms held placards and tried to persuade them earnestly:

"You shouldn't rob randomly. It won't solve any problems..."

"Everyone go and petition the emperor to establish a constitution!"

"Everything will be fine only when those guys like Tougut step down."

"We must exercise the rights given by God and elect noble people to assist the emperor in governing the country!"

Most of the sans-culottes just glanced at them coldly and ignored them.

Some people were annoyed by what they said and spat and cursed, "Get lost, idiots!"

"Shut up, you bastards!"

Those who were smashing the door smashed even harder.

Just then, the sound of military drums was heard from the end of the road to the east.

More than ten minutes later, hundreds of Hungarian soldiers armed with real guns and ammunition appeared in people's sight.

The leading officer kicked his horse lightly, stepped forward, pointed his whip at the rioters and shouted: "In the name of His Majesty the Emperor, I order you to leave this place within three minutes and return home in compliance with the martial law order, otherwise I will not be able to guarantee your safety."

The sans-culottes were stunned for a moment, then they turned and glared at the soldiers, shouting, "I want my son's pension back."

"All my money has been taken by the tax collector, and I must get some bread for my children!"

"As long as His Majesty the Emperor cancels the war tax, we will leave immediately."

"At least let the price of bread return to what it was two years ago."

"Don't be afraid, they don't dare to shoot..."

Upon seeing this, Scherer raised his hands and walked towards the officer, bowing politely and saying, "Sir, we just want to suggest that His Majesty the Emperor revise the tax system. This is a normal parade. You have no right to arrest us..."

"I have the authority." The officer interrupted him arrogantly and gestured to the soldier behind him.

Hundreds of flintlock rifles were immediately leveled and pointed at the rioting crowd.

"I'm not afraid of you!"

A sans-culottes man in his fifties threw stones at the soldiers, and those behind him were encouraged and also threw stones and sticks in their hands, cursing.

The Hungarian officer frowned, drew his sword and shouted, "Aim—"

(End of this chapter)