Chapter 234: Birth of a Comedy Empire
Chapter 229: The Birth of a Comedy Empire
The Paris meeting was over, Franz took his leave from Nicholas I and left. A life of paper and gold is always easy to sink into, and Franz didn’t want to test his willpower.
Watching a leaf and knowing the fall, from the corrupt life of the top of the Tsarist government, Franz knew that the Russian Empire was already sick.
Many people were so addicted to the past glory that they could not extricate themselves from it, and even the bad situation of the Near East War had not been able to wake them up.
“A skin disease is not enough.”
Since the Tsarist government thought so, Franz naturally had no obligation to give them a reminder. An ally who was addicted to past glories was a good ally.
On the way back, Franz had already transformed into a literary youth and opened the path of literary creation. The future far-reaching “Emperor’s Psalms” and “Emperor’s Prose Collection” were created at this time.
In this regard Franz was still very temperate, at least not looking for someone to bring a pen. So this production is naturally not high, from St. Petersburg to Vienna was born a total of two limericks, really embarrassed to take out to see people.
……
The country is unfortunate, the poet is fortunate.
Influenced by the forced division of Germany by the Congress of Paris, the literary creation in the German region in this period showed a blossoming of a hundred flowers.
A large number of literary figures came to prominence in this period, such as: Arthur Schopenhauer, Geibel, Paul Heyzer, Freiligrath, Helweg, Werther, Von Tana, F. Grillparzer, Franz Grillparzer, Adalbert Stift ……
It can be said that in a few short months in the second half of 1853, more literary works emerged from the German region than in the past five years combined.
Criticism became the mainstay of literary production in this period, and the nascent German Federal Reich was spewing dog-eat-dog, and of course the Prussian government could not escape the pen of the literati, even the Austrian government was not spared.
Facts have proved that showmanship is very useful, compared to the first two, the Austrian government was sprayed much less, after all, is the hope of German unity, everyone or pen mercy.
The newborn German Federal Reich, on the tragedy, everyone does not recognize this is an empire, the main reason for the name of the empire is the following state inside the kingdom.
The central government could not be equal to the local governments, so it was artificially upgraded to an empire by the Congress of Paris, and it was clear that this “need for an empire” was unpopular.
……
Bremen
A middle-aged man said angrily, “Colbeth, read the newspapers, the world’s largest comedy empire is about to be born, and we will soon be part of it.
God, when did we agree to be part of this empire, why didn’t I know? This is just too bad!
I can’t imagine the consequences of people asking me later what country I’m from, and then me telling them, I’m from the comedy empire, this is horrible!”
The birth of the German Federal Reich was a farce, ridiculed by Werther as the “Comedy Reich”, and then everyone called it that.
A “big empire” with a population of less than ten million and a territory of less than 100,000 square kilometers, can it not be a comedy?
Although the Comedy Empire was a comedy, in fact, the overall national strength was not weak, only under the European powers, and the economic strength and the Kingdom of Prussia is comparable.
But this is not enough to make him become a real empire, if it becomes the German Federal Kingdom, probably no one will object.
The bearded middle-aged man, took the newspaper and scanned through it, then said unhurriedly: ”Fitra, it’s just a little bit of shit, and it’s also worth making a fuss over?
Paris conference, the European countries unanimously decided things, do you still expect the government dare to refuse?
What are you afraid of? Even if the German region is divided into three, we still have two empires and one kingdom, which is not comparable to any other country in the world!”
It could be seen that Kolbez’s look had betrayed the heart, he was not as relaxed as he said on his lips, but only intentionally suppressed his anger from bursting out.
In terms of comprehensive national power, the unified German region was the number one in the world, even the British couldn’t compare.
Obviously this was impossible, the European countries were not fools, who could tolerate a Central European giant coming out?
After the results of the Paris Conference came out, the nationalists of the German region fell silent, the reality brought them a blow that was unimaginable.
Although it was known that the European countries would oppose the unification of the German region, the fact that so many countries joined together to exert pressure still exceeded their estimation.
The grief was so great that many people despaired and became indifferent to politics, Kolbeis being one of them.
However, this indifference was only superficial, and when he learned that the German Federal Empire was really established, he could not help but make a few mocking remarks.
Fitra glared hard at Kolbeis, and then said with a sneer, “That’s enough, you coward, shut up. As long as the Germans haven’t died out, the German region will still be unified one day.”
Both of them had already passed their middle age, and after the German region had been forcibly divided, they didn’t run out into the streets to demonstrate like the young students.
As the newspapers said, that even if the entire population of the German region came out to demonstrate together, the enemy could not see it and could only be in the nest.
Oh, that may be what the capitalists say, after all, it affects their business.
Ever since the time when the countries jointly intervened in the process of German unification, the business community has just wailed. The South German region is fine, the Austrian market is not small, and there are also two markets in the Italian region and Russia.
North of the capitalists feel deeply malicious, in the loss of the South German region after the market, but also face the future of the British goods competition, which is simply to force them to the end of the road.
The Prussian industrial and commercial sector also felt the same way, since Austria accelerated the process of industrialization, their market has been robbed of a large part of the day, everyone is not very good.
Now it is even more ruthless, the market in the north is subject to the impact of British goods, and the market in the south has trade barriers.
Influenced by the market, from 1848 when the Kingdom of Prussia carried out reforms until now the economy of the Kingdom of Prussia did not improve significantly, but instead showed signs of continuing to deteriorate.
It is not that the capitalists did not work hard, but the reality forced them to do so. Historically, when the Kingdom of Prussia carried out reforms, it also compressed its military expenditure, suppressing it to less than 25%, and invested the money in nation building.
Now, affected by the international situation and having to defend against Russia and Austria, Prussia’s military expenditure has risen rather than fallen. Against this background, not to mention investing in domestic construction, the government is thankful if it does not levy exorbitant taxes.
Faced with the increasingly severe economic situation, Frederick William IV headache, but unfortunately he is not the material of economic development, if it is the development of armaments, perhaps he has more right to speak.
Looking at the military cabinet, it was difficult to develop the economy. “Reform” once again appeared in Frederick William IV’s mind.
……
Vienna
Franz, who had just returned home, was faced with three problems.
One, the question of the settlement of the Bavarian royal family;
Two, the question of the name of the state;
Third, the question of the governance of the additional territories.
Since his return to the palace of Vienna, his mother, the Dowager Empress Sophie, had been in his presence from time to time, and had from time to time brought up the question of the marriage.
Although did not directly say the Bavarian royal family, but that meaning is already obvious, no matter what, always have to give an explanation ah?
Now this kind of house arrest this them like what words, this let the dowager face where to put down?
Even the two little loli also often come over to pester him, a kind of you do not give a statement, we will cry to you look.
Well, this thing is Franz do not moral, said to give them a throne, has been delayed until now, have not put this problem into effect.
……
In order to get rid of the days of being harassed, in the state affairs meeting, Franz helplessly said, “Gentlemen, all other issues can be put aside first, first find a good place for the Bavarian royal family, right?”
Prime Minister Felix thought for a moment and said, “Your Majesty, the Kingdom of Bavaria still has a province of Pfalz, which was also lost to the German Confederation this time. Why don’t we just restore the status of the Duchy of Pfalz and let the Bavarian royal family go over to succeed the Archduke?”
Metternich objected, “Not good, we promised to guarantee the throne of the Bavarian royal family, and now we also have to appease the people’s hearts and minds, and a risky reversal could easily cause a change of heart.”
Prime Minister Felix shook his head and said, “I don’t want to renege either, the problem is that letting them inherit the Serbian throne, the Bavarian royal family won’t agree to it again.
Maximilian II is now emboldened and wants a piece of rich land to remain king, how is this possible?”
Metternich asked rhetorically, “Serbia is a barbaric land, no more than it is a Greek kingdom. How can they accept the throne of Serbia when the investment made by the Bavarian royal family for the Greek throne has not been recouped in so many years?”
Now Serbia is not a good place, by the impact of the war, the local population fell to less than 700,000, but also mostly the old and sick, between 16 to 40 years old young men by the Ottomans to draw empty.
Economically it was totally dependent on agricultural production, and it could be said that this nominal kingdom was actually worse than a Bavarian province.
If he became the king of Serbia, it is estimated that for a long time to come, the financial income of this place will not be able to make ends meet.
Maximilian II’s ambitions had already worn out and he didn’t want to go through the pain again.
……
Looking at the controversial crowd, Franz proposed, “What if we split the Lombardy-Venetia Kingdom and restore the Lombardy Kingdom for Maximilian II to go over and succeed?”
Minister of Finance Karl objected, “Your Majesty, the Lombardy region is economically developed and accounts for nearly one-tenth of our revenue, if we let this place become independent, we have a lot to lose.”
Franz shook his head and said, “It’s not about letting this place become independent, first lull Maximilian II over to succeed the throne and give the Bavarian people an explanation.
Then the central government passes a constitution and gets the local power of appointment and dismissal of personnel and financial power, so that he can just receive his annuity in peace.”
Independent statehood? Dream on! As an outsider, without Austrian support, what right did Maximilian II have to rule the region?
Expecting the Italians to support him as king, Franz did not believe that Maximilian II had the charisma to be in such a sorry state.
Finance Minister Karl thought for a moment and said, “If we don’t let the Lombardy region become independent, and just feed Maximilian II up, then there is not much of a problem.”
The matter of a million or eight hundred thousand guilders was indeed not worth mentioning. For the long term security of the Bavarian region, this money had to be spent.
Metternich said worriedly, “Your Majesty, if Maximilian II is allowed to become the king of Lombardy, I’m afraid that in the future, England and France and other countries will instigate local independence.”
Independence? Frankly speaking, Franz never cared that the Italian region would become independent. In terms of development potential, the region would not be able to become the core of Austria.
There were now over six million Italians in the Austrian Empire, a population percentage that was already very high. Nationalism had awakened in the Italian regions, and trying to rule these people for a long time was also a huge challenge.
Now the main reason why the Austrian government will not give up Lombardy-Venetia is still the same – profit – and that’s why the government is spending a lot of money to assimilate in the region.
If the costs of ruling outweighed the benefits, I guess Franz would have made them independent a long time ago. After all, these regions are resource-poor, and local industrial products are gradually losing competitiveness.
Before the westward strategy started, the Austrian government was prepared for the worst, to give up the Lombardy-Venetia Kingdom as the price, in exchange for the recognition of Austria’s annexation of the South German region.
Unexpectedly, Britain and France initiated the Battle of the Crimean Peninsula, which caused them to be unable to intervene within a short period of time, and these regions were only saved.
Franz shook his head and said, “Even without this king, our enemies did not forget to plot local independence.
According to our plan, changing wheat to mulberry, it won’t be long before the local food, will be completely dependent on Austria.
With the passage of time and the future rise of the local textile industry, if they leave Austria, where will they find a market?”
If you let the Italian region in the long run, the Austrian government is also carried out research, the answer is: food on the control, economic dependence.
(End of chapter)