Chapter 3: The Legend – Archduke Karl
Chapter 3: The Legend – Archduke Karl
It took a lot of convincing, but Franz barely managed to convince his mother to get free scheduling rights, but the classes still had to be taken, just cut down quite a bit.
For example, the religion class, language class, and art class, which Franz didn’t think were of much use, were all compressed, and if it wasn’t for Sophie’s insistence he would even have to cut back on the politics class.
The main reason is that the content in here is still stuck in a hundred years ago, for example: the supremacy of the nobility, the sanctity of chivalry ……
The imperial academics that Franz was most interested in were only left in the abridged version, and the intrigues and plots were all out of sight, leaving the kingly spirit.
For example: when the emperor’s tiger shakes, the herd kowtows and bows down.
……
This is cultivating the emperor, not fooling the populace?
If an emperor is really being groomed according to this standard, I’m afraid that given the complexities of Austria, another person will be added to the monarch’s guillotine.
It is now 1846, and if nothing else, Franz will inherit the ancient empire in two years, leaving him little time now.
Early participation in politics?
This was clearly out of the question; anything that changed the general picture of history brought increased uncertainty to the future, and Franz would not take any chances before succeeding to the throne.
Of course he couldn’t get involved if he wanted to, how much say could a 16 year old kid have in politics?
Even if Franz is the Crown Prince, it doesn’t change the hardness of age.
But that didn’t stop him from getting into things, and many times it was far better to push behind the scenes than to charge straight ahead.
For example, right now Franz is going to visit a big man, the legendary figure of Austria – Archduke Karl.
As the most legendary general in the Allied forces in the war against France, he defeated the French army many times, was promoted to marshal for his service at the age of only 25, and was the only general in the Allied forces who made Napoleon afraid.
Had it not been for the incompetence of the Vienna government, which played a good hand, perhaps the war against France would have ended earlier without waiting for the Russians to come to the rescue, and Austria would not have had to lose the Netherland.
Such a marshal who specialized in speculating on the incompetence of the Emperor would naturally not have done well, especially since the Archduke Karl was still a member of the imperial family.
Fortunately, here is the European continent, the Austrian Emperor Franz I is also the grandfather of the protagonist, is not a ruthless master, this high-flying marshal, only to be able to remain active until now.
Military strong man is not equal to the political strong man, in the use of his reform of the Austrian army after, the political enemy played a little trick, let him resign and go home.
From then on, Archduke Karl went home to study military theory and wrote military books such as “On the Tactics of Generals”, “On the Principles of Strategy from the German War of 1796” and “History of the German and Swiss War of 1799”.
A generation of militarists was thus raised, and Archduke Karl believed that military science consisted of two parts: strategy and tactics.
Strategy was the science of the supreme commander, with the task of drawing up war plans and defining military operations. Tactics is the art of commanders at all levels and is subordinate to strategy.
Both strategy and tactics consist of certain rules or principles, and the important principles of military science are: the correct calculation of the forces and armaments available to achieve the intended purpose, and the force must be appropriate to the purpose.
Regardless of the size of the force, it can only be used in a timely manner at the moment of decision in order to maximize its effectiveness.
Therefore, the most effective way to win is to judge the time correctly and concentrate forces at the moment when they are most effective.
Another important point is to create an overwhelming advantage over the enemy at the decisive point. Strength is not only the number of troops, but also the morale of the troops, the ability of the commander, and the terrain conditions.
At the same time, the types of combat were divided into offensive and defensive, and the offensive was considered more favorable, pointing out that defensive combat was only meaningful if it was scheduled to be turned into an offensive.
He also clearly put forward the concept of reserves, stating clearly that no matter whether it is for offense or defense, it is necessary to leave a reserve in case of emergencies on the battlefield.
Archduke Karl believed that the commander-in-chief was important for the fate of the nation and the lives of millions of people, but that the commander-in-chief was not born, but was created by knowledge and experience.
A true commander-in-chief must deeply understand the essence of war, carefully study the laws of war, and learn and apply his own experience and that of others in practice in order to be able to apply various military principles with ease.
It would be a disgrace to the reputation of the traveler if such a gifted military man were not utilized.
Military reform, not just correctness is enough, the conservative forces in the army are often stronger than ordinary people think, this Franz is well aware of.
Any reform has to offend the interests of a part of the people, the backlash is naturally inevitable, such a pot, Franz said he can not afford to carry.
For example, if Franz put forward the reform of the staff system, it is expected that everyone will laugh it off, and there are even people who will say behind their backs: the bear child aside to play.
If the Archduke Karl is different, no matter whether we agree or not, we have to sit down and think about it.
“Your Excellency the Grand Duke wait for a moment, the master will come out in a while!”
The butler said courteously, with a few apprehensions in his tone, Franz was no ordinary Archduke, was it really good to leave him out in the cold like this?
However, to Archduke Karl, these are all floating clouds, in terms of seniority in the royal family, he is Franz’s grandfather’s generation.
Putting these aside, with his influence in the imperial army, Franz had to give him a face, because today Franz came to visit under the pretext of studying the military.
“No matter, I’ll just wait here, by the way make me a pot of tea, I don’t want to drink coffee lately!” Franz said with a slight smile
He was not angry at all, anyway, this old man was going to receive his box next year, there was no need to bother with a dead man.
Time rushed by, more than an hour passed in a flash, Franz was still there drinking tea and looking at the newspaper without a trace of impatience.
“Little Franz long time no see, you have grown so tall!”
A bright voice rang out, Franz knew that the person coming was Archduke Karl, besides him no one here dared to talk to him like this.
“Honorable Marshal Sir, can you remove that little word when you address me, I’m already 16 years old!” Franz said helplessly
“Really? My little Franz has grown up, what is it that you came over to see me today?” Grand Duke Karl asked with concern
Franz didn’t care about the details of Grand Duke Karl’s speech, little Franz is little Franz, who asked Grand Duke Karl to be Grandpa Franz’s brother?
“Your Excellency Marshal, I have read your military writings, and I have a deep understanding of them specially came to ask for advice!”
“Speak, what do you not understand that you need me to explain to you?” Grand Duke Karl said with a loud laugh
“It’s your philosophy about commanders in chief, I found that the Imperial Army is doing a very inadequate job in this regard, and has not solved the problem in a substantial way!” Franz opened his mouth and said
……
(End of chapter)