"The French Empire is willing to provide the Austrian Empire with so assistance within its ans, as long as the Austrian Empire can afford the interest!"
After Jero Bonaparte said this, Richard tternich imdiately realized that all the questions Jero Bonaparte had previously asked him were rely to pave the way for this statent.
As the monarch of a vast empire, Jero Bonaparte’s disregard for his own image in personally inquiring whether the Austrian Empire had the intention of "attracting investnt" (a term not yet in use at this ti) was indeed a surprise to Richard tternich.
However, Richard tternich did not resent Jero Bonaparte’s behavior, which was filled with the stench of money.
In this era of the 19th century, as capitalism was on the verge of monopolization, the power of financial capital, represented by exchanges (not limited to the Paris Stock Exchange here), was already beginning to implicitly rival royal power, even for a hereditary aristocracy like the Austrian Empire that couldn’t ignore the strength of financial capital.
Compared to a monarch like Jero Bonaparte, who was steeped in the sll of money, his own monarch Franz Joseph seed like a ruler who had traveled through ti from the last century to the Habsburgs.
In him, Richard tternich saw no trace of this era, as if he were a zombie living in this ti.
Despite feeling ashad for his own irreverence towards his monarch, Richard tternich showed no inclination to repent.
Especially after he assud the position of Secretary at the Austrian Embassy in France, Richard tternich beca increasingly averse to the environnt within the Vienna Court.
But I digress, Richard tternich himself, though not resentful of Jero Bonaparte’s actions, likewise did not have the conditions for "attracting investnt."
After all, he was at best an ambassador, while Minister of Internal Affairs Bach was the one truly controlling the lifeline of Austria’s economy.
At this mont, Richard tternich felt an overwhelming urge to climb to greater heights.
Back then, Bach was just an ordinary lawyer (Bach in 1848 was still part of the Austrian Empire), and it was only due to the patronage of the late Pri Minister Felix Schwarzenberg (who died in 1853) that he climbed to the position of Minister of Internal Affairs.
He had far better conditions than Bach, and he should have been able to climb to a much broader horizon.
"Ambassador Richard? Ambassador Richard?" Just as Richard tternich was lost in his thoughts, Jero Bonaparte’s voice reached his ears, interrupting his reflections.
"I’m sorry! I got distracted!" Richard tternich apologized to Jero Bonaparte.
"It’s nothing!" Jero Bonaparte shook his head and once again asked Richard tternich, "Mr. Richard, what do you think of what I just said?"
"Your Majesty, I believe I am not qualified to discuss this issue!" Richard tternich reiterated once again, "Your Majesty, I am rely an insignificant ambassador! For this issue, you should send soone to inquire of Minister Bach!"
"Ah, Bach!" Jero Bonaparte said with interest to Richard tternich, "If I am not mistaken, he is not a noble!"
"Yes!" Richard tternich showed a hint of surprise on his face; he never expected the Emperor to know Bach.
"I must say, he is indeed a rare talent. Under his division, the entire Kingdom of Hungary has been broken down into small regions!" Jero Bonaparte began to critique Bach’s policies, "The Bohemian bureaucrats he leads have a firm grip on the entire Hungarian region, strengthening Austria’s control over Hungary!"
"If Minister Bach knew he could receive such an evaluation from you, he would, without a doubt, be very delighted!" Richard tternich said to Jero Bonaparte.
"But!" Jero Bonaparte changed his tone and said to Richard tternich, "While his thod indeed enhances Austria’s control over Hungary, it simultaneously plants a hidden danger!"
"What hidden danger?" Richard tternich instinctively asked.
"He has turned Vienna and Hungary into two opposing entities!" Jero Bonaparte sharply pointed out the flaws in Minister Bach’s policies: "Your high-pressure policies in Hungary certainly aid in its managent, but a relentless high-pressure policy will only push those originally loyal to the Empire to the opposite side.
A certain Emperor once said, ’Who are our enemies, who are our friends, is a major question a regi has to face in order to sustain itself!’"
Jero Bonaparte shalessly appropriated the words of a great man from several decades later and then reinterpreted them.
Under Jero Bonaparte’s guidance, Richard tternich instinctively pondered the problems faced by the Austrian Empire from the perspective of a Pri Minister.
Who are their friends? Who are their enemies?
Richard tternich turned his gaze to Jero Bonaparte, believing that this ruler before him must have recognized the issues faced by Hungary.
"Your Majesty, what problem do we face in Hungary?" Richard tternich asked Jero Bonaparte.
"This question..." Jero Bonaparte dragged out his words, ending the topic under Richard tternich’s expectant gaze as the sound of a distant train whistle approached, "The train is coming soon!"
Richard tternich’s gaze dimd slightly, then he collected himself, stood up straight, and showed a dignified expression, ready to welco Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria and Duchess Elizabeth.
General Vayan, who was standing behind Jero Bonaparte, also cautiously turned around and waved to his adjutant behind him.
Seeing General Vayan’s action, the adjutant also waved backward, and a military band stepped onto the platform.
As ti went by, the whistle of the train got closer and closer, and Jero Bonaparte said lightly to the back, "Get ready!"
Upon hearing Jero Bonaparte’s instruction, the military band put their mouths on the instrunts, ready to play the spirited "Marseillaise" as soon as the train stopped.
When the train was less than 200 ters from the platform, it gradually slowed down and then smoothly stopped in front of the platform.
As the train door opened, Emperor Franz Joseph of the Austrian Empire and his fiancée, Duchess Elizabeth, got up and slowly walked toward the train’s door, followed by the delegation that accompanied them, including Prince tternich (advisor), Prince Windischgrätz (advisor), Count Baur, etc.
The inspiring "Marseillaise" resounded on the platform, its vigorous lody like thunder splitting the gloomy sky, causing Franz Joseph to feel an inexplicable disgust, making him stop involuntarily.
"What is it?" Duchess Elizabeth, Franz Joseph’s fiancée, asked softly upon seeing his state.
Franz Joseph paused, then forced a stiff smile and said to Elizabeth, "Nothing! Let’s go!"
With that, Franz Joseph resud his steps and continued forward.
...
"Welco to Paris, my brother!" Just as Franz Joseph stepped out of the train, he was imdiately embraced warmly by Emperor Jero Bonaparte of the French Empire as a gesture of goodwill.
"Thank you!" Franz Joseph responded to Jero Bonaparte as customary.
However, if you observed Franz Joseph’s eyes carefully, you would notice a hint of resistance flashing through them; he genuinely did not want Jero Bonaparte to greet him this way.
In Franz Joseph’s view, only legitimate monarchs could use such etiquette, while the Bonaparte clan itself was a usurper.
If the Austrian Empire did not need to rely on the lonely French Empire, Franz Joseph would never have co over.
For Franz Joseph, this eting was rely a routine political engagent.
Moreover, he personally did not believe he shared any common traits with Jero Bonaparte.
After the two monarchs finished embracing, they simultaneously released each other.
"The journey must have been exhausting!" Jero Bonaparte said insincerely to his monarchical brother before him, "Did you encounter any unexpected events along the way?"
Franz Joseph maintained his stiff expression, shook his head, and responded to Jero Bonaparte, "Nothing happened!"
Ever since Franz Joseph entered the borders of France, he had received strict protection along the way.
It was only after Franz Joseph and Elizabeth took the train out of Strasbourg that the officials and generals in Strasbourg breathed a sigh of relief.
"That’s good!" Jero Bonaparte nodded with satisfaction, then turned to look at Princess Elizabeth, standing beside Franz Joseph, dressed in a white court gown.
At that mont, Elizabeth looked like a princess from a fairy-tale world, prompting Jero Bonaparte to praise, "Which fairy-tale world did you run out from, Princess!"
"Your Majesty!" Princess Elizabeth smiled charmingly as she bowed to Jero Bonaparte and introduced herself to him.
"Oh! So, it’s Princess Elizabeth!" Jero Bonaparte showed a sudden realization, then reached out and gently tapped Sisi’s hand, "Welco to Paris!"
Subsequently, Jero Bonaparte released Elizabeth’s hand and said to the delegation behind him, "On behalf of all the mbers of the Cabinet, the Legislative Corps, the Senate, and the Parliant, I welco your arrival!"
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