Chapter 765 The Scenery Is Better Here

The flood of 1846 was also affected, but due to Franz's intensive management in the past ten years, it did not cause much damage in Austria.

However, the same flood is a different scene in Hungary. The Danube River wanders wantonly on the Hungarian Great Plains.

Sometimes it goes south, sometimes it goes north, overflowing pastures and fields, destroying houses and bridges, and even strong fortresses cannot escape its vicious hands.

However, this kind of thing did not attract too much attention from the Hungarian government and high-level officials. After all, this kind of thing has been going on for hundreds of years.

It still feels fresh on the first day, but after seeing too much, you will naturally become numb.

But this has become an advantage for Kossuth to use to discredit Austria. After all, conspiracy theories can always get people's special attention.

"That's right! The Austrians just want to flood us! The purpose of building those dams is to make us surrender!

And the Hungarians will never give in! We are descendants of the Huns! Descendants of conquerors! We are the real owners of this land! "

There was thunderous applause in the Hungarian Congress Hall, and even those unmarried nobles and commoners who were not qualified to set foot here were deeply inspired.

(Note: Civilians do not include serfs.)

In fact, the big nobles liked hearing these words, because they had another reason to go to Austria to ask for money.

"I object to your point of view! If you say that the Austrians' construction of the dam upstream is a conspiracy, then what is the purpose of their willingness to help us build the dam?"

Franz still has allies in Hungary, such as Prince Eltházy in front of him. He has become a shareholder of the Royal Hungarian Land Development Company. At this time, he naturally has to stand up and speak for his employer.

It's just that the prince, or the people hired by the prince, were of limited skill, and Kossuth quickly caught the loophole.

"Dear Prince, my dear compatriots. The Austrians helping us build the dam is naturally a conspiracy, and it is a more vicious conspiracy!

They are trying to make us become careless and let our guard down, and then they will look for the right opportunity to deliver a fatal blow to us. Believe me! Our kingdom! Our freedoms are at stake!

Only when we unite can we defeat the cruel and cunning enemy! I will continue to fight here. If I have to add a deadline, then I choose forever! forever! "

The venue erupted into warm applause again. Many people felt like there was a fire burning in their chests and wanted to shout loudly. However, no one dared to do so at this time, except Kossuth.

Potato late blight has also begun to appear in Germany and Austria, but its scope is small and its impact is very limited.

At this time, the wealthy Austrian Imperial Government even directly purchased all the soapy potatoes rotting in the ground at 70% of the market price, and then burned and buried them together.

Although the other members of the German Confederation did not have the financial resources of Austria, due to the big brother's proofing, the younger brothers did not dare to go too far.

Of course, it doesn't mean surpassing Austria, but it means that you can't look too ugly, at least you have to look like a human being.

In fact, some "cunning" people have begun to go to the headquarters of the German Confederation to redress their grievances, especially those small states with weak control.

At first it was all trivial matters, such as criminals who could not be caught, and debts that could not be recovered. But soon people began to report local evil forces, corrupt officials, and even religious conspiracies.

This caused panic in those small countries, because they were unable to find trouble with the big countries, but those big countries could use these small things to interfere in their internal affairs.

The most frightening thing is that all this is promoted by the people and is voluntary. But even if it was discovered, the governments of the small states would not dare to stop it casually, because the other end of the line was connected to the German Confederation.

Although theoretically the Confederation has no right to interfere in the internal affairs of each country, if the Confederation intervenes, even big countries like Prussia and Bavaria may not dare to openly refuse.

Because the other side of the German Confederation was the German Customs Union, other countries except the Austrian Empire simply could not afford such two-way sanctions.

However, most powerful countries did not realize this. They were just surprised that they could better control the small countries around them.

This has led to a trend. Small countries that once split and went it alone now have to consider reorganization and teaming up for warmth.

The person who promoted all this was naturally Franz. His head hurt every day when he looked at the large area of ​​​​colorful colors on the map.

But if you want to incorporate it, you must be prepared to go to war with the whole world. Britain, France, Russia, and Prussia will not allow the Austrian Empire to become a behemoth spanning Central Europe.

This year, apart from St. Stephen's Crown, only Italy was affected by the disaster, but this had little impact. After all, the crops were almost eaten by locusts before the flood came.

The biggest disaster in Italy now is the newly enthroned Pope Pius IX. Although the great powers are ignoring him, this guy just refuses to give up.

Since his coronation, Pius IX has issued several edicts every week, the highest frequency among all popes.

And he is no longer satisfied with the European continent. The Pope has begun to send his edicts to South and North America. Mexico and Brazil have received some strange orders.

In his letter to Tasan Anna, Pius IX first praised the latter's outstanding contribution to the cause of abolition of slavery, and then affirmed his efforts for peace in North America and the development of Mexico.

Originally, Tasan Anna was about to make him his confidant, but Pius IX signed at the end of the letter to ask the former to recover the tithes owed by Mexico over the years, which was not much more than 500 million pesos, which was probably the fiscal revenue of Mexico for three years at that time.

The content of the letter to Pedro II was similar. The final reply of the two rulers was no reply. After all, the Atlantic Ocean separated them. Could the Pope's inquisitors cross the ocean? If they really crossed that line, could they just let them go?

Franz himself also received a letter from Pius IX, asking him to go to the Vatican to meet the emperor.

After all, the matter of renegotiating the tithe with the Papal States was opposed by the whole country. Not only the church and the government opposed it, but also the nobles and civilians opposed it.

The former was because they could directly benefit from the tithes. In fact, the Austrian Empire's tithes could get 40% of the government, the church could get 40%, and the remaining 20% ​​was for the royal family.

If Pius IX's intention is followed, all tithes will be sent to the Vatican first, and then the Pope will personally decide on the distribution, under the pretext of hearing the Holy Judgment. In fact, it is uncertain whether the money can be returned to Rome.

Even if Pius IX is as selfless as he said, it is unknown how much will be lost during the transportation process.

Commoners and nobles also oppose this approach, because they see benefits from the tithes they pay in the hands of the Austrian government and the church.

At least the infrastructure and health system have been established over the years, the locust plague has been blocked, the flood has not broken the dam, and the cholera is just like a breeze blowing by without causing too much chaos.