The War Court and Lap Pillow, Austria’s Mandate of Heaven

"Why don't you eat?" Thalia asked curiously.

In fact, Franz was too young to eat much at all. Moreover, the woman in front of her is obviously a nobleman, so she doesn't have any looks at all.

Rather than saying that she is not a lady, it is better to say that she is embarrassed.

Franz was a little curious about Talia's real identity, but he thought it would not be bad for him. After all, Mrs. Sophie must have investigated it, so he answered casually.

"Get fat and eat."

....

Emotionally speaking, Franz II was an "Italian".

He was born in Florence, the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, where he spent his childhood and youth.

His father was an extremely enlightened and benevolent monarch. At the beginning of his tenure, he abolished all forms of torture and the death penalty, implemented a substitute service system, lowered taxes, and encouraged industry and commerce, thus winning the support of the Tuscan people.

And that was probably the time when Franz II was most loved by the people in his life. As the future heir of the Grand Duchy, he could feel the enthusiasm of the people wherever he went.

Later, his uncle Joseph II encountered fierce opposition from the aristocracy due to radical reform measures, and finally died of depression.

Franz II's father was forced to accept the throne of the Holy Roman Empire. After arriving in Vienna, their family faced a treacherous political situation. Anyone could be an enemy, and no one could be fully trusted.

Franz II's father passed away suddenly two years after he ascended the throne. Franz II had to ascend the throne and proclaim himself emperor, and then met Napoleon, the evil star of his life.

Bad news, one after another, Franz II had to dissolve the Holy Roman Empire, but he was not crowned Emperor of the Austrian Empire in his life.

Perhaps, only Italy, only Tuscany, is the pure land in Franz II's heart.

Moreover, the daughter of Franz II is the Duchess of the Principality of Parma, Marie Louise who was married to Napoleon by him.

Franz II always felt that he owed his daughter, so he turned a blind eye to Marie Louise's chaotic private life.

This time it was certainly not her idea that Marie Louise sent someone to ask Austria to build a railway to Parma.

Maybe it was a lover of Marie Louise, maybe the tax revenue of the Duchy of Parma could not support Marie Louise's expenses.

As for the masters of other states in Central Italy, they are all related to Franz II himself, so it is really hard to refuse.

From the perspective of family interests, Austria has been operating in Italy for hundreds of years, and it has fought against France for a hundred years for this, sacrificing countless soldiers and spending countless money.

And ignoring the requests of the Central Italian states is very likely to make these states fall to France, Sardinia, or even the Bourbon dynasty of the Two Sicilies.

This is unacceptable to Franz II anyway, but at this time in Central Italy, there is nothing but gangsters and refugees. Industry and commerce are backward, and agriculture cannot be self-sufficient. It is a rotten land.

The mountains of Central Italy are both an obstacle to the construction of railways and a quagmire of governance.

Opponents and insurgents, as long as they run into the mountains, even if they send a hundred thousand troops to encircle and suppress, they can only return in vain.

Although the Vienna Conference recognized the Central Italian region as the sphere of influence of the Austrian Empire.

But as long as the Austrian Empire has any ideas of annexing the region, Britain, France, Russia, and Prussia will not sit idly by.

If it was changed to the past Franz II, he would definitely choose to ignore the request of the Central Italian state and lie down.

It's just that after the Austrian Empire joined the German Customs Union, the entire country was in a state of prosperity, which also gave Franz II a little more confidence.

So he decided to build only the railway to Parma. Other states cannot directly build railways to Austria, but they can go to Austria through Parma.

At the same time, three ports were opened to allow free trade between the Central Italian states and Austria, and only a symbolic tariff was charged.

This will neither give Britain and France an excuse to interfere, nor will Austria fall into a quagmire.

....

Both Metternich and Count Kororav gasped when they saw the emperor's decree. They were really afraid that the emperor would push the whole country to the brink of war in a moment of impulsiveness.

He was also afraid that the emperor would make an old mistake, so he just ignored it and lost the opportunity to gain the Central Italy region.

"Your Majesty is wise." Metternich said first.

"It's a perfect plan." Count Korolov followed up.

Franz II was also very satisfied with his plan and nodded repeatedly.

Then Friedrich List said.

"Your Majesty, there is no need for Austria to use its own money."

"What do you mean?" Metternich asked rhetorically. He felt that this dilapidated household in Württemberg was becoming more and more presumptuous, and he always sang against himself recently.

Friedrich Liszt explained to Franz II.

"I mean that we can lend money to the Central Italian states, and let them pledge tariffs and some powers. As far as I know, the rulers of the Central Italian states, unlike you, lack the art and ability to govern. We can take this..."

Kororav immediately understood the key. UU reading www.uukanshu.com

"You mean to let us send people to take over the power of the Central Italian states?"

"We just exercise power on their behalf, and then return power to them after they pay off their debts. It is more efficient for us to rule directly in the Austrian Empire."

Friedrich Liszt really only considered economic interests, but in the ears of Earl Korolav and Metternich, this was undoubtedly a huge conspiracy.

In Europe, it is common for merchants to ask princes and nobles to use tariffs or tax collection privileges as collateral.

"What a great idea. We can also send military advisors to train the army, so that we don't have to send troops into Central Italy to suppress the rebellion." Count Latour further said.

After all, no matter how powerful the Austrian army is, it is always an away game in Central Italy. Suppressing bandits is by no means a one-touch task, but it takes a long time to maintain a stable order.

Training local people to join the army can avoid this problem, and at the same time, it can also take the opportunity to control the army of the state, so as to actually realize the rule of Central Italy.

"Any better suggestions?" Franz II asked.

"No." Friedrich Liszt's opinion is the most beneficial approach to the Austrian Empire at this time.

"Then, very good. Metternich, you and Mr. Liszt, as representatives of our country, go to discuss with the ambassadors of the Chinese and Italian countries. This matter must be negotiated, which involves the future well-being of millions of people in Central and Italian. "

"I, Metternich, will definitely live up to my mission." Metternich saluted very gracefully.

After the imperial meeting ended, Franz II touched the head of his grandson who was eavesdropping behind him, and said, "My Italy is back again."