Chapter 710: Going Their Separate Ways (Part 1)

Vienna, Schönbrunn Palace.

Despite frequent disasters, powerful enemies, and lingering conspiracies and crimes, Schönbrunn Palace is still as warm as spring all year round.

A seal occupied the doghouse and was sleeping. A group of blue gazelles not only drank up the water tank next to the doghouse, but also aimed at the dog food in the food bowl.

Even though Ludwig (the St. Bernard dog raised by Mrs. Sophie) had a good temper, he couldn't help but protest. Why would a seal sleep on land and herbivores eat dog food?

"Woof! Woof!"

Ludwig just barked twice and woke up a passing auk. The latter rushed over and bit the former's butt.

Ludwig, whose butt was bitten, could only run away whimpering

Lakshmi Pai and little Maria each rode their own ponies and ran wildly inside and outside the palace. Although it was called "running wildly", the speed was not fast, but occasionally they would still smash some equipment and scare some palace people.

As they grew older, Franz's friends had grown up. Although they were still in the same position, they were playing more and more excessively.

If they were not in Schönbrunn Palace, they would be more unscrupulous. Riding and hunting could not satisfy them at all.

In fact, the families behind them were also dissatisfied. Franz was about to come of age. Many people speculated that he might serve as Vice-King in Tyrol and concurrently as Minister of Colonies.

In fact, the Austrian Empire itself did not have the position of Minister of Colonies. Later, when there were colonies, it was also concurrently held by the Minister of War.

However, Count Latour, who served as Minister of War, knew nothing about overseas colonization and handed this power to the navy.

As the Admiral of the Navy, Friedrich also had no interest in this, so he gave this position to Franz.

Then, as the colonies of the Austrian Empire grew stronger and stronger, Franz's power grew stronger and stronger, and he had more and more money.

The heads of the major families were not fools. When Franz left Vienna, it was time for them to prove their worth.

So it was very necessary to find a good job for the future important members of the family, or the next generation of patriarchs.

California and Namibia are undoubtedly the two places with the most money, but the danger is also self-evident. Almost every year, officials die in an accident.

A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall, let alone these favored ones. Some of the small and medium-sized nobles who are ready to stand with Franz have begun to move to the Tyrol region.

These people think that His Majesty Ferdinand I is in his prime and can continue to be emperor for at least another 10 or 20 years.

This means that Franz will have to stay in Tyrol for at least 10 or 20 years. During this period, he needs to be familiar with government affairs, and he will definitely need some capable helpers.

So it is the wisest choice to bet at this time. After all, in 10 or 20 years, as long as you are not too stupid, you can get familiar with others.

In the Austrian Empire under the system of bestowing official titles, it is a very meaningful thing to get familiar with the future emperor.

At this time, Austria has both the system of bestowing official titles and the system of examinations, but there will be an interview anyway. Some small officials can be arranged with money and face, but senior officials can only be appointed by the emperor himself.

Franz will be a good emperor in the future, and almost no one in the Austrian Empire at this time will doubt this.

(This is mainly due to the overwhelming propaganda and hype. The government, the church, the media, especially the lower level prefers the legend of heroes and emperors, the middle level talks about the law, and the upper level often only talks about interests.)

Franz's popularity has been very high in history. This is also due to the peculiarity of the current emperor Ferdinand I in some ways. People think it is impossible to get worse.

It is different at this time. People are not looking for a less bad thing from the extremely bad things, but they really know strong and excellent.

It is not surprising that young people occasionally have one or two amazing things, but it is very difficult for things to get better and better instead of anticlimactic.

The nobles and bureaucrats are well aware that few plans and decrees in this world can pass the test of time, but Archduke Franz's plan seems to be correct at least for now.

Some people think that the future of the Austrian Empire may be overseas, such as Count Kolarov. At this time, Akadov Leibsteinski asked Franz for a position in the Central American colony.

In fact, Akadov himself was very dissatisfied with this, because he was a top student in the military academy, and as the heir of the Leibsteinsky family, he should not go to the wild land of Central America.

Especially when Richard Metternich wanted to take over Franz's business in Vienna.

In Akadov's mind, this was a timely help, and Franz's industry in Vienna was more profitable than that of a local governor.

The most important thing was that Akadov felt that Richard Metternich dared to take it, so why couldn't he take it if he was not afraid of death?

Count Korolav certainly knew that Franz's business in Vienna was huge, but also very dangerous, and the former felt that his eldest grandson did not have the ability to take over this hot potato.

In addition, Count Korolav did not think that the so-called wild land of Central America was unimportant. As the Minister of Finance, he knew very well the flow of funds, and this colony, which was not so dazzling at this time, received the most investment.

Opening the map, you will know that this is a battleground for military strategists, but at this time, most people in the world focus their attention on Europe and Asia.

But in fact, the economic and strategic status of America is constantly rising, and facts have proved that the Anglo-Saxons can't defend their backyard at all.

As the old rival of the French, the Austrian Empire naturally cannot be left behind.

In fact, the Austrian military has always had a plan, that is, when the French invade Mexico or California, the main force of the Austrian army will cross the Rhine and fight them directly on the European continent.

As for why it is to cross the Rhine instead of passing through the Swiss mountains or the Kingdom of Sardinia?

The situation where Austria and France crossed the Swiss mountains to attack each other could only exist in the Middle Ages, because the local transportation was too inconvenient, and it was impossible to pass a sufficient number of troops, and it was also very difficult to maintain supplies.

In the increasingly large-scale modern wars, this is a complete act of seeking death.

The French want to go to war directly in Italy through the Kingdom of Sardinia, but the question is whether the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was destroyed by Napoleon once, is willing to believe the former?

In fact, since the 16th century, the competition for building fortresses on the French-Sardinian border has never stopped.

In fact, both the Austrians and the French wanted to bring the war to the other side's homeland, and this would have to go through the Kingdom of Sardinia, but the latter would obviously not agree.

Because once the border is opened, the biggest possibility is that the two sides will fight directly on the land of the Kingdom of Sardinia.

Moreover, it is easier to invite gods than to send them away. These two gods will not leave unless they turn the Kingdom of Sardinia into a scorched earth.