"An era nad industrialization has arrived, and those unwilling to adapt will be crushed by the tis!"
As he left the dining room, Franz Joseph’s mind still echoed with the words spoken by Jero Bonaparte at the table. Although he was sowhat bewildered, he could sense an impending storm in Jero Bonaparte’s words.
If the Austrian Empire truly faces the predicant described by Jero Bonaparte, what should I do?
Franz Joseph unconsciously placed himself in the world described by Jero Bonaparte where nobility is in decline, finding himself utterly powerless to change it, a sense of helplessness overwheld him.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!" It wasn’t until the voice of Prince tternich reached Franz Joseph’s ears that he realized he had reached the end of the corridor.
"Mr. tternich, I..." Franz Joseph turned around, wanting to say sothing to Prince tternich, but in the end, he rely opened his mouth without uttering a word.
"Your Majesty, are you still worried about His Majesty Jero Bonaparte’s ’theory of nobility’s demise’?" Prince tternich instantly recognized Franz Joseph’s anxiety.
After hesitating for a mont, Franz Joseph nodded, acknowledging Prince tternich’s speculation.
"Your Majesty, from my point of view, you need not worry so much! So things, when they’re destined to co, will co! We cannot spend every day fretting over the future!" Prince tternich comforted Franz Joseph, "Besides, what His Majesty Jero Bonaparte said might not necessarily be correct!"
Hearing Prince tternich’s comforting words, Franz Joseph felt a slight solace in his heart. He nodded and answered Prince tternich, "You’re right!"
"However, I believe there is one thing His Majesty Jero Bonaparte said that is true!" tternich continued in response to Franz Joseph.
"Which statent?" Franz Joseph asked curiously.
"The pioneering countries of industrialization have already completed their transformation. If the Austrian Empire does not strive to catch up, we might beco the sacrifices of pioneering countries!" Prince tternich replied to Franz Joseph.
"But won’t excessive developnt hasten the demise of the nobility?" Franz Joseph still worried about the decline of the noble system.
"Your Majesty!" Prince tternich’s tone inadvertently beca stern, "If even the Austrian Empire no longer exists, how can the nobility, which depends on the soil of the Empire, continue to survive?"
Franz Joseph imdiately realized that his excessive worry about the demise of the noble system had led to a fundantal misunderstanding.
Nobility is indeed key to maintaining the Empire, but it is not the entirety of the Empire.
The destruction of the Empire would inevitably lead to the demise of the nobility, but the demise of the nobility would not necessarily cause the Empire’s destruction.
Worrying excessively about industrialization leading to the demise of the nobility, thereby refusing to develop, could lead to the Empire’s demise under external influences.
After all, even if the Austrian Empire maintains good relations with the French Empire, it still has two enemies: the Russian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia.
If the Austrian Empire relies on the French Empire for everything, its independence will gradually disappear.
If the Austrian Empire wishes to maintain a position of independence and strength within the system constructed by France (though this position is relative), it must possess strength that matches such a position.
Even if the Austrian Empire cannot defeat the Russian Empire, at the very least, it must have the capability to defeat the Kingdom of Prussia on its own!
"Regarding the issue of the Empire’s industrialization, I leave it to you to handle!" Franz Joseph said to Prince tternich.
In the entire Austrian Empire, the only person truly understanding the concept of industrialization was probably the Prince tternich before him, so Franz Joseph had no choice but to rely heavily on Prince tternich.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Entrusted by Franz Joseph, Prince tternich responded robustly to Franz Joseph.
An innate intuition told him that if he could handle this matter well, he could rid himself of the title of advisor and regain his forr stature.
Thus, Prince tternich assured Franz Joseph that he would use his ti in Paris to forge a path unique to the Austrian Empire.
However, Prince tternich also hoped that his son Richard tternich could assist him in compiling it, as Richard tternich had not only accompanied him to Belgium and Britain but also had in-depth research on France.
Faced with Prince tternich’s request to bring his son into the fold, Franz Joseph did not object.
If Richard tternich were a capable individual, Franz Joseph would certainly not mind appointing him as Pri Minister.
For Franz Joseph, it is not important who becos Pri Minister, but rather who can make the Austrian Empire stronger.
Back when Prince Felix Schwarzenberg was in power, didn’t he also try his best to et all of Felix Schwarzenberg’s conditions!
"Mr. tternich, I look forward to your morandum!" Franz Joseph responded to Prince tternich and then returned straight to his room.
After seeing Franz Joseph off, Prince tternich imdiately found the Royal Palace Chief Steward Mokar and asked if Mokar could summon his son Richard tternich to the Tuileries Palace.
"Your Highness, if it were soone else, I might consider it!" Mokar said to Prince tternich, "But if it is Mr. Richard tternich, then there is no issue at all!"
"My son is quite popular at the Tuileries Palace?" Prince tternich curiously asked Mokar.
"His Majesty is soone who enjoys being a teacher!" Mokar whispered to Richard tternich, "I once heard him say that the students he has taught include the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and your son!"
"We are deeply honored to be valued by His Majesty!" Prince tternich said in a complintary tone.
"Alright! Make sure not to tell others about this!" Mokar told tternich, "If His Majesty finds out, I would be in big trouble!"
"Certainly! Certainly!" Prince tternich nodded in agreent.
After parting with Mokar, Prince tternich returned to his room to await the arrival of Richard tternich, who arrived after about half an hour.
"Father, you called ?" Richard tternich asked Prince tternich with a respectful tone as he entered the room.
"You’ve grown up!" Looking at his son before him, Prince tternich reminisced about Richard tternich’s ti in swaddling clothes with great joy, and now twenty-five years had passed in the blink of an eye.
Richard tternich also nodded and then inquired about the reason Prince tternich had summoned him.
Prince tternich told Richard tternich that he had called him to help in drafting the Empire’s industrialization strategy.
"Father, accomplishing industrialization for the Empire would likely require substantial funding!" Richard tternich said to Prince tternich, "This funding is not sothing that can be achieved with just millions or even tens of millions of florins! It requires long-term investnts of billions, even tens of billions of florins to develop!
From what I understand, France has already invested no less than 1.5 billion francs just in the area of railways, with their bonds being nearly pan-European for fundraising! Fundraising in other sectors is even more extensive!"
When Prince tternich heard about the funds for France’s industrialization, he also ntally multiplied his own projected figures for industrialization.
"I know that relying solely on the strength of the Austrian Empire will not accomplish this monuntal feat, so I plan to invite France to assist the Austrian Empire with industrialization!" Prince tternich responded to Richard tternich, "The financial power of the French Empire is second only to the Kingdom of Britain, and with their help, our path will be much simpler."
"If His Majesty is indeed willing to allow the French Empire to finance it, then that would be ideal!" Richard tternich told Prince tternich about his discussions on financing with His Majesty Jero Bonaparte at the train station.
However, Richard tternich did not tell Prince tternich about the issue concerning Hungary.
"If it’s just financing, then the Austrian Empire will have to bear a large amount of interest!" Prince tternich said to Richard tternich with a frown, "Is it possible to attract so companies to set up branches in the Austrian Empire? The Austrian Empire can offer lower prices than French labor!"
If His Majesty Jero Bonaparte were also in the room, he would certainly be shocked by Prince tternich’s "astonishing" words.
Because Prince tternich’s thinking had completely "transcended" the tis, using cheap labor to attract foreign investnt to achieve initial capital accumulation.
This is entirely the idea of 20th-century industrial transfer, where developed countries shift so low-value-added industries to the Third World to lower costs, then use the cost savings earned abroad to placate the dostic proletariat, thus dividing them internally.
"This is indeed a good plan!" Richard tternich nodded in agreent.
Even among groups like French workers who work tirelessly, their wages rank among the highest in Europe.
The neighboring Kingdom of Britain’s factories are infamous for replacing workers every three years, while French factories may be exhausting, but at least the turnover isn’t as fast as in Britain!
If Austrian Empire workers are indeed cheaper than French ones, it could attract nurous entrepreneurs to invest in Austria!
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