Chapter 122 István Széchenyi

Chapter 122 István Széchenyi

István Széchenyi was born in Vienna on September 21, 1791. His father was an enlightened nobleman, and his family had been loyal to the Habsburg family for generations.

Széchenyi once joined the army, participated in the anti-French war, and personally experienced the Battle of Leipzig.

Széchenyi clearly felt that the era of cavalry had passed, and cavalry without infantry support would be pathetic wretches, just like Marshal Ney and his poor cuirassiers.

If the Hungarians went to war with Austria, they would only sacrifice in vain like those brave French cavalry.

Moreover, the gap between Austria and Hungary was not comparable to that between the French army and the anti-French alliance, because even if it was a cavalry battle, Hungary was not sure of victory.

In addition, there were many forces opposing Hungary in the Kingdom of Hungary.

The most important thing was that after Hungary became independent, it would have to face the surrounding powers alone, so he always felt that opposing Austria was tantamount to seeking death.

After the war, Szechenyi traveled around Europe. He saw the strength of countries such as Britain and France, and also saw the crux of Hungary.

In 1830, Szechenyi published the book "Credit", which can even be regarded as a template for Napoleon III's later reform of French agriculture. The establishment of small long-term loans specifically for farmers was one of the driving forces of French agricultural reform.

Count Szechenyi has always been practicing his doctrine. In 1825, he established the Hungarian Academy of Sciences to develop new technologies and promote new ideas.

He demanded the abolition of the biggest obstacle to credit - the hereditary law.

Szechenyi realized that in order to realize the modernization of Hungary's agriculture, it was necessary to abolish serfdom, and proposed to abolish serfdom; abolish guilds and price limits, and make handicrafts more prosperous.

The prosperity of a nation is inseparable from a large number of educated talents, and Szechenyi regarded education as a major reason for promoting national prosperity.

So he funded the establishment of the Academy of Sciences, restored the Hungarian language, promoted the development of science, and promoted the development of society. Of course, Hungarian was the worst language he spoke.

He advocated that Hungary must develop its economy, and blamed the country's disasters on the nobility, urging them to abandon feudal privileges.

Szechenyi did just that. He built many roads, improved transportation on the Danube, allowing ships to reach the Black Sea, and built the first bridge on the Danube in Budapest.

All his wealth was invested. In 1839, the Szechenyi Chain Bridge would be built, and he was the first to connect Buda and Pest.

After Austria joined the German Customs Union in 1834, Szechenyi became more convinced that he was right.

Austria's economy took off directly without Hungary, while Hungary's economy was a gloomy scene without Austria.

Szechenyi once became one of the leaders in Hungary, and he demanded that Hungary join the German Customs Union for economic development.

His proposal also had a large number of followers, but soon a more radical reformer appeared.

Kossuth was once just a lawyer, but in Borony he suddenly remembered the idea of ​​issuing a communique, and vigorously advocated Magyar autonomy and rule over ethnic minorities in the country in the newspaper. His newspaper immediately caused a sensation and became very popular.

From then on, Kossuth's reputation was out of control, and his fierce reform speech also won him a large number of fans. After all, Szechenyi's reform seemed overly cautious.

At the same time, the great nobles also opposed Szechenyi as an outlier, hoping to use Kossuth to suppress Szechenyi, and according to past experience, people like Kossuth who were hot-blooded were more easily controlled by them.

At this time, Szechenyi also felt that he was being marginalized. When he was invited by the royal family, he seemed very excited because he had always hoped for a top-down reform.

However, after arriving in Vienna, he was a little disappointed. It turned out that the royal family only wanted to buy land in Hungary.

In Szechenyi's mind, the royal family usually bought land to build manors and villas, and he thought this time was no exception.

However, this time, Mrs. Sophie proposed to buy 300,000 hectares of land. According to the minimum price of five florins per hectare, Mrs. Sophie needs to pay at least 1.5 million florins at one time.

After deducting 40% of the 1.5 million florins that was handed over to the Hungarian government, the remaining 900,000 florins can be said to be earned for free. Szechenyi did not have to pay any price, but just gave the ownership of those wastelands to Mrs. Sophie.

The signing and the transaction went very smoothly. Szechenyi seemed a little bit unbelievable that the money he spent for so many years was earned back in one day.

In fact, Count Szechenyi also specially prepared gifts for Mrs. Sophie and the three archdukes. These gifts cost him a total of 9,000 florins, which now seem a bit embarrassing.

"Archduke, I have an unwelcome request. I hope you can find a way to promote Hungary's reforms and let Hungary join the German Customs Union. Hungary cannot do without Austria, and Austria cannot do without Hungary. Both countries are loyal to the Habsburg family."

At that time, the Hungarians believed that Hungary and Austria were two countries, but they were loyal to the same emperor at the same time.

Mrs. Sophie said with a smile as she opened her folding fan.

"You shouldn't say this to me, but to the men of the Habsburg family. Even if you don't want to tell them, you should go to the Prime Minister and tell him. I'm afraid I can't help with this kind of national affairs."

"Aren't you the only man in the Habsburg family?" Szechenyi cursed in his heart. When he thought of the famous idiots in the Habsburg family at this time, he felt helpless.

(Emperor Ferdinand I, the emperor's brother Archduke Franz Karl, the emperor's uncle Archduke Louis.)

Although Szechenyi was complaining in his heart, he still looked very humble on the surface.

Count Szechenyi felt that he should use his trump card to impress her with his talent.

Count Szechenyi took out several books from his bag and laid out his masterpieces one by one.

"What is this?" Madame Sophie was a little curious about what the man in front of her was going to do.

"These are all books I wrote. Please take a look at them one by one."

Mrs. Sophie really wanted to roll her eyes at him on the spot, but considering her image and cultivation, she held back.

Mrs. Sophie picked up a book, flipped through two pages, and said casually.

"It's well written. You are very talented."

Hearing Mrs. Sophie's praise, Szechenyi immediately felt that the opportunity had come.

"Then you must understand what I mean. As long as you do what I say, the Austrian Empire will surely regain its glory, and the people of the whole country will be grateful to you."

Mrs. Sophie was tired of the incessant lunatic in front of her. She waved her hand and two guards came forward and said to Count Szechenyi.

"The Grand Duchess is tired, Count Szechenyi, please go back."

"I haven't finished yet."

The two guards didn't care about Count Szechenyi's words, and directly carried him out and threw him outside the palace gate.

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