Chapter 13: The Death of a Famous General
Chapter 13 – Death of a Famous General
“The honor of nobility cannot be desecrated!” Archduke Louis said fiercely
Franz knew that it was a done deal, in order to provoke the conflict between the nobles and the capitalists, he kind of went out on a limb.
The first made a series of padding, and now finally inspired a sense of crisis in the conservative faction this for the big man, it is time to finish the job.
Obviously, Archduke Louis did not let go of Franz’s intention, directly asked: “Franz, you think we should put forward what kind of program to combat the bourgeoisie?”
Franz knew that he couldn’t hide at this time, or else he would have to give up on his previous work.
“Uncle Louis, this I also only have a rough idea, there is no detailed plan, we can formulate a Labor Protection Law.
Work on wages, working hours, labor protection, in this regard we can send people to investigate and then make a detailed plan.
Now the most important thing is still to divert attention, first get a draft to throw out, don’t let the reformists honestly stare at us isn’t it?”
Archduke Louis heart a joy, Austria up and down the country are shouting reform, a variety of reform programs, one more than a radical, he this conservative boss are about to top.
At this time, throw out a labor protection law, just can woe to the east, the bourgeoisie also pull down.
From now on, there are no conservatives in the Austrian Empire, everyone is a reformer, only the reform program is different.
The bourgeoisie can use the emancipation of the serfs, the constitution, the parliament, the popular election to absorb supporters, the aristocracy can also use labor protection, wage treatment, working hours, to give them a head start.
The aristocrats were still in control of the Austrian regime. The slogans shouted by the bourgeoisie were just slogans, whereas the counterattacks of the aristocracy could be immediately turned into laws.
The working class can’t refuse the government’s protection of their interests, lower working hours and higher wages, can they?
Once this combination of punches has been struck, it is expected that it will not be so easy for the capitalists to encourage the workers to cause trouble again.
Archduke Louis is already thinking about the latter, and there is no doubt that as soon as the labor protection law is introduced, the bourgeoisie’s labor costs will increase dramatically, and profits will naturally decrease.
The Austrian bourgeoisie in this era had limited strength, and after the profits were reduced, it would be difficult for them to continue to expand.
The bourgeoisie’s strength was successfully curbed, and then the domestic conflicts would now be eased, as the capitalists’ demand for labor fell.
As the leader of the successful suppression of the bourgeoisie, he, Archduke Louis, was a hero among the nobles, and perhaps it would not be a problem to let Metternich step down and become prime minister himself.
……
Archduke Louis’s yyy, Franz is no longer known, anyway, someone to charge the front can be, this person can Archduke Louis, can also be Metternich Prime Minister, anyway, as long as it is not he personally on the line.
As the saying goes, cutting off someone’s money is like killing their parents.
Franz does not think that the capitalists will sit back and wait for death, in front of the interests they also want to kill people, as the front stage of this plan to lead, is certainly to be on the blacklist of the capitalists.
Thinking about it, Franz decided that once the labor protection law is proposed, he will have to come out less waves, especially not with Archduke Louis, in case of being mistakenly injured then there is no place to cry.
He didn’t think that a Labor Protection Law could curb the growth of the bourgeoisie.
There is a policy at the top and a policy at the bottom!
The capitalists are smart people, and with the fact that workers in this era are still relatively easy to fool, he guessed that even if there was a law to protect them, it would be difficult to implement it.
Not to mention, the capitalists come to a wage arrears, can make the vast majority of workers dumbfounded, want to file a lawsuit, the litigation fee is not ordinary workers can afford to pay.
Of course, a short period of time is certainly effective, the aristocrats still have to find their trouble, there are lawyers to bring their own dry food on the battlefield.
Government departments will also break out twelve points of fighting force, use this opportunity to eat, drink and take, as long as they are targeted, do not peel off a layer of oil, that is not in line with the Austrian national conditions.
Accomplished two small goals, Franz contentedly bid farewell to Archduke Louis, returned to the Mei Quan Palace.
……
The next day, Franz was brewing a cup of tea, holding the latest edition of Vienna’s newspaper, and carefully savored it.
In this era of lack of recreational activities, Franz had to cultivate a good habit of reading books and newspapers for himself.
“Grand Duke, just now Grand Duke Karl’s butler came, I heard that Grand Duke Karl had an accident last night and is about to die, he wants to see you one last time!” The maid Jenny said softly
Franz’s face changed greatly, stood up and said, “Prepare a car immediately, I want to go to Grand Duke Karl’s residence!”
At this time, Franz just reacted, the history of the Grand Duke of Karl is this year to receive the box lunch, counting the time now is almost the same.
Old age, illness and death, Franz can not help, Archduke Karl was born in 1771, to the present has been 75 years old.
In this era of per capita life expectancy of less than 40 years, this is already considered a high life expectancy.
If possible, Franz really hope that the Archduke Karl can live a hundred years, there is a pin in the sea, his pressure will be greatly reduced.
Whether it is military reform, or the imminent outbreak of civil war, Franz needs this ally to exist, to share the pressure for him.
Franz with the fastest speed rushed to the Grand Duke of Karl on the road, he has figured out the situation, last night the Grand Duke of Karl drank a cup, and then accidentally fell.
This instantly fractured the lumbar vertebrae, in this medically underdeveloped era, there can be no way to add a steel plate for recovery treatment.
Doctors judged that his life is not long to go, as a political figure, in the last moments of life or to explain the last words, the Archduke Karl will not be an exception.
Franz as his most favorite disciple, (self-appointed) naturally have to be on the spot, not personally account for a few words, I guess the Archduke Karl will not feel at ease when he dies.
At this time, Grand Duke Karl’s residence has come to a number of military executives, Franz also did not have the heart to socialize, straight to the inner room.
“Grandpa Karl, Franz came to see you!” Franz said sadly
“Well, Franz ah!”
“Remember soldiers can only shed blood, not tears!”
“Albrecht, give Franz my unfinished plans for army reform.”
“Remember Franz, if you want Austria to be truly strong, you must complete the reforms!”
……
Archduke Karl said in a broken voice, some of the content Franz could only rely on guessing, the general idea was to let Franz succeed his cause and carry out the military reform.
“Don’t worry, Grandpa Karl, I, Franz Josef, promise in the name of God that I will carry out the military reform to the end!”
Hearing Franz’s assurance, he revealed a relieved smile and closed his eyes.
(End of chapter)