Chapter 2: The Struggle

  Chapter 2 The Fight

“Franz, what’s going on with you lately, why have you fallen so far behind in your homework?”

Not waiting for Franz to open his mouth, his mother, Princess Sophie of Bavaria, had already started to explode.

This was the aftermath, as time went on, Franz’s good boy persona began to crumble, and the drop in grades was one of the aspects.

“I’m sorry to say, Honorable Lady Sophie, the lessons you have arranged for me are more than I can handle, there are so many European aristocrats, who’s schoolwork is as heavy as mine?” Franz questioned

“Franz, are you accusing me of mistreating you?” Lady Sophie said with a grim face

“Honorable Lady Sophie, I have no intention of accusing you, but you know how heavy my lessons are.

Human energy is limited, with so many homework courses, I simply don’t have enough time to study, and now that I have to participate in military training, it’s inevitable that my grades will slip!

The best way is still to cut some of the unnecessary courses so that my grades can get better!” Franz said with a resounding “Yes, Franz!

“Really, Franz, do you think that you’ve grown up, so you’ve hardened your wings and can disobey your mother?” Princess Sophie said with a sneer

Franz knew it was bad, it looked like he still underestimated a mother’s desire to control.

Often, as long as she thought it was for the good of her children, she would stick to it regardless, and it wasn’t easy to convince her at this time.

However, he couldn’t wimp out now, or else the days commanded even harder behind him.

Franz said seriously: ”Respected Mrs. Sophie, as the heir of the Austrian Empire, the knowledge I need to learn is different from normal people.

You now want to cultivate an imperial emperor, not a knowledgeable scholar, so many complicated courses, useful for governing this country?

If you think I’m being lazy, then you can try it yourself, I have a total of twenty-eight homework courses right now, and there are still two hours a day that I’m undergoing military training!”

Princess Sophie fell into a deep thought, this was the difference of European education, it was very common to contradict parents, as long as there was a reason parents would usually accept it.

Although this era is not very enlightened, the mainstream education model, or in the cultivation of obedient workers, this is the ruling class needs, but Franz is the Crown Prince, but no one dares to ask for confinement of the mind.

European aristocrats can thrive, in fact, and their education is also inseparable, do not look at them in politics is usually very conservative, that is the interests of the need, in the children’s education, European aristocrats have always been very advanced.

After a few moments of effort, Mrs. Sophie sort of recognized Franz’s statement, but the doubts in his heart were not dispelled, and asked in return, “What are you going to do?”

Franz said seriously, “Dear Mrs. Sophie, I am already 16 years old and not a small child anymore. I know very well what I’m doing now and understand what I need to do!

Theoretical knowledge is not equal to the real world, since I was a child I have lived in the royal palace, what I have seen and learned is what you think I should see.

But there are too many questions and loopholes, and you should know that my teachers were often dumbfounded by my questions.

What the world is really like, and what the Austrian Empire is like now, I know nothing about.

If I don’t go out and take a walk to understand the real situation of this country, in the future I will only be able to learn from my uncle and be a puppet emperor in peace!”

Princess Sophie’s face changed drastically, Franz was making a silent accusation now. In the end, she was still of royal origin, she quickly suppressed her anger and said:

“Franz, don’t forget that you’re only 16 years old, there’s plenty of time if you want to understand this country, right now what you need most is to learn!”

Franz shook his head before discreetly saying, “No, mother-sama! I don’t have that much time, and by the time you think I’ll be able to get to know this country, I won’t be able to see it for what it really is.

The bureaucrats have ways of showing me only what they need to show me, while the real social situation is beyond my reach!”

“Franz, you’re being paranoid, the world isn’t that bad, and to understand it, you can totally read the newspapers!” Princess Sophie said with a pale face

“Mother don’t forget that being paranoid is the most basic quality of a qualified monarch! As for newspapers, Austria’s book and newspaper censorship system, aren’t you aware of it?” Franz asked rhetorically

Reading newspapers to learn about the world? Franz instantly recalled the man who was pitted against Yuan Daotou by the newspaper and ended up losing his reputation.

Could this kind of thing happen in Austria? Franz didn’t dare to jump to conclusions, but as long as the interest groups needed it, printing a newspaper wasn’t a big deal.

The two men looked at each other, neither of them refused to admit defeat, and a stalemate ensued.

After a few moments of work, Franz took the initiative to ease the atmosphere.

“Honorable Mrs. Sophie, have you noticed that the agriculture in the German region is in arrears today?”

“I know a little, but what does this have to do with you?” Mrs. Sophie asked suspiciously

Franz shook his head and said, “Right now it is and has nothing to do with it, but in the future it will have something to do with me! The German region is suffering from a poor food harvest, which means that the standard of living of the local people is declining, and if the government doesn’t handle the situation properly, it will probably inspire civil unrest!

Although these civil unrest, will be quickly suppressed, and even the news will not reach Vienna, but the bottom of the people and the government’s conflict is intensifying.

In the short term, there would be no problems, but as time went on, the affected people would have to go into the cities to make a living, and the bourgeoisie would have cheaper labor.

Austria will even become more prosperous, but the contradictions keep growing and will be detonated sometime in the future, think of the French Revolution!”

“Franz, you’re being alarmist!” Madame Sophie said with a pale face

Franz said solemnly, “No, I’m not! Dear Madame Sophie, I have studied the French Revolution.

In 1788, there was a drought in France, causing a drop in French grain production and difficulties in the lives of ordinary people. And the contradiction between the bourgeoisie and the aristocracy in the country intensified, just like the reformists and conservatives we have in the country now.

Finally the government, which represented the interests of the aristocracy, lit a spark by raising taxes on the bourgeoisie, and the French Revolution broke out, burying the Bourbon Dynasty!”

“Are you saying that a revolution will break out in Austria? Franz, do you expect me to believe that?” Madame Sophie said angrily

Franz shook his head and said, “Respected Madame Sophie, this is only my personal preliminary judgment, whether Austria will break out into a revolution or not, the information in my hands is too little, I still need to know more information before I can judge.

I think this subject is much more important than that big pile of homework, as the Crown Prince of the Empire, it is necessary for me to understand the true situation of this ancient empire!”

……

(End of chapter)