August 2, 1799.
All roads in the small town of Mödling, south of Vienna, were filled with French soldiers standing tall and proud, while the townspeople nervously hid in their hos, peeking out from window slits to observe the situation on the streets.
This city, known as the "City of Music" and the hotown of renowned musicians such as Beethoven and Schubert, had now beco the focus of all Europe.
Because a ceasefire agreent affecting all of Europe would be signed here, a brutal war involving hundreds of thousands of soldiers on both sides, with over a hundred thousand casualties, would co to an end.
Officials from the warring nations such as Prussia, Baden, Bavaria, Milan, Parma, and Modena had long arrived at the largest square in the town. They, along with hundreds of journalists, were looking towards the southern avenue, waiting for the appearance of the most important figure.
The tall and imposing soldiers of the French Royal Guard Grenadier Battalion rode into the town, the clatter of their horses’ hooves on the cobblestone streets mingling with the orchestra’s rendition of "Glory and Victory," filling the air with a solemn and murderous atmosphere.
Inside the white carriage surrounded by grenadiers, Louis Charles gazed listlessly at the unremarkable small town through the carriage window, involuntarily recalling the grand scene when he and General Surt accepted the Austrian Army’s surrender in Presburg.
When the flag embroidered with the Habsburg family crest was handed to him, and tens of thousands of Austrian soldiers marched past him, consecutively throwing their weapons to the ground, he felt like a war god descended upon the world!
He originally thought the ceasefire agreent would be more grand and exciting, but unexpectedly, it turned out to be so ordinary.
"Dear brother," he finally couldn’t help but turn to Joseph, "why aren’t we signing this important agreent in Vienna? You know, General Surt’s army can enter Vienna anyti without even firing a shot; there are only a thousand or two frightened soldiers there."
Joseph smiled and said, "Because I don’t want to foster unity among the Austrians."
"Ah? What does that have to do with it?"
Joseph patiently explained to his brother, "For example, if a person was caught stealing outside and got beaten up by his neighbors, this would only make his family feel ashad and hate his actions.
"But if his neighbors barged into his house and smashed so things, then his family would imdiately forget about the theft and unite to discuss how to retaliate against the neighbors."
He gestured towards Vienna, "Now the people in Vienna are all talking about how their Emperor recklessly started a war, only to be disciplined by the French.
"But if we entered the city, they would start hoping His Majesty the Emperor would help them drive out the invaders."
Charles was used to his brother’s constant display of foresight, and he nodded thoughtfully.
As the carriage passed by Mödling’s church, he couldn’t help but ask, "If you’re worried about Austria regaining strength, why not station troops here directly?"
"Because oppression will surely provoke resistance," Joseph replied unhurriedly, "For a major country like Austria, no matter how devastating the defeat, as long as their internal unity holds, they can quickly rally their strength.
"But a long period of decline and numbing erosion can completely exhaust the vitality of an empire.
"Oh, you better not ntion these words to mother, it might upset her."
Historically, Austria was defeated multiple tis by Napoleon over twenty years and even beca a junior partner to France at one point, but still managed to summon a force of 250,000 during the seventh Anti-French Alliance and eventually achieved victory at Waterloo.
"I will, brother." Charles nodded firmly, suddenly brightening, "So, are the fifth and ninth clauses of the ceasefire agreent also for this purpose?"
"That’s right." Joseph praised, "You’re learning quickly."
Finally, people in Mödling Square saw the golden iris flag, and a French officer shouted loudly, "Attention—"
The soldiers on both sides of the road imdiately stood straight, raising their guns in salute.
The carriage stopped in the center of the square. Joseph got out of the carriage, first waving to signal the officials from various countries, then ignoring the waiting royal representative, Duke Leopold, and heading directly to the west side of the square where journalists gathered.
He climbed onto a marble railing of a flowerbed, like a street corner speaker, spread his arms, and shouted, "As everyone knows, Austria was lured by the evil British to launch this war that brought calamity to all of Europe!
"Let’s first observe a mont of silence for those who died in the war, whether they were French, Badenese, Parmans, Prussians, or Austrians."
All the journalists were taken aback, especially the Vienna journalists who were ready to record the brutality of the French conquerors, not expecting the Crown Prince of France to not boast about his resounding war achievents but to instead call for a mont of silence for the dead, even including the Austrians who perished.
Hmm, Joseph was all too familiar with such propaganda tactics, demonstrated nurous tis by politicians of later ages.
Boasting about how formidable the French Army was, or how great he was, under such circumstances, would only generate resentnt.
What he intended was to direct the resentnt towards the Habsburg family and the British.
After a minute, the band, upon Eman’s instruction, appropriately played a low and mournful tune.
"I know so might think those fallen Austrian soldiers deserved it," Joseph continued, "However, I must tell everyone, they were also ordinary people, just like every French soldier, having their families and living simple and happy lives. Before stepping onto the battlefield, they were rely farrs, painters, or gardeners.
"What grudge did they have against France, or Venice, or Baden?
"Absolutely none!
"It was those greedy powerholders, in order to pile up a few more gold coins in their endless treasuries, who drove countless innocent people onto the bloody killing fields!
"I can’t help but ask, why did such a tragedy occur, and how should we avoid similar mistakes in the future?
"When another evil country uses their Devil’s whispers to tempt slaughter, how can we discern, and pin them to the cross!
"This is an issue that must be pondered by the people of France, Baden, Prussia, and Austria who all suffered from the war’s hardships..."
All the journalists were frantically taking notes, fearing to miss any word.
anwhile, the officials from various countries, more distant, were seriously considering the words of the Crown Prince of France.
Standing afar, tternich couldn’t hear Joseph’s speech, simply frowning in contemplation, "What exactly was ignored...
"The Dresden Treaty? Right, why did the French specifically ntion this in the ceasefire agreent?"
The Dresden Treaty was the agreent signed with France after Saxony’s defeat.
He imdiately instructed his aide beside him, "Find a copy of the Dresden Treaty imdiately!"
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