Chapter 146: Purge of the Bureaucracy
The debate over the course of action is present in any idealistic nation. It’s an unsolvable dilemma, with no clear right or wrong, only what is most appropriate.
At present, both the Balkanists and the Southern Germanists have valid reasons for their positions.
From a development perspective, the Balkans has more fertile land and abundant resources, which could accelerate Austria’s economic growth. Meanwhile, the Southern German region provides the population that Austria needs the most.
Both are essential, but considering the issue of ethnic integration, Franz is inclined to prioritize the Southern German region.
Once the Southern German region is annexed, the Austrian Empire will become more stable. The government can promote ethnic integration by encouraging various ethnic groups to live together and accelerate the process.
In Franz’s view, the best way to expedite ethnic integration is through intermarriages. The birth of a child from an intermarriage represents the recognition of two families, and it can influence the stance of many relatives and friends.
With a higher number of intermarriages, the next generation will be of mixed ethnicity, and these individuals will be the most significant products of ethnic integration, with a naturally higher level of identification with the unified nation.
Metternich spoke slowly, saying, “Whether to move westward or southward, this issue must be approached with caution. The international situation is ever-changing, and even if we make a decision now, unforeseeable circumstances may force us to abandon it.
Russia may potentially take action against the Ottoman Empire, but it’s not guaranteed that they can swiftly conquer them. The Ottoman Empire has withstood numerous Russo-Turkish conflicts, so we cannot assume Russia’s success.
What we need to consider is the reaction of Britain and France. If they choose to enter a war in support of the Ottomans against Russia, then we might have opportunities, whether we decide to expand westward or southward.
However, if Britain and France abstains from the conflict, our ambitions in both regions could prove to be mere dreams, as they may intervene if we seek substantial gains in the Balkans.”
The historical Crimean War was full of coincidences. Louis Napoleon Bonaparte had just come to power in France and needed a military victory to consolidate his position. The British were hoping to weaken Russia to protect their interests in the Mediterranean.
At the same time, Russia was seeking control of the Black Sea Straits, which threatened British and French economic interests. When the governments in London and Paris discussed this, they decided to take action.
This led to the brutal Crimean War, which was, to put it bluntly, a disastrous conflict. Whether on the British and French side or the Russian side, more soldiers died due to logistical issues than on the battlefield.
No matter how historians try to downplay it, the fact remains that when soldiers go to war, their biggest enemies are often not the enemy’s forces but diseases and logistical problems.
It was a brutal war, and in the end, all sides were greatly damaged. Russia suffered defeat on the Crimean battlefield, but it managed to regain its footing in the Caucasus, defeating the Ottoman Empire there, which left the Ottomans in a dire state.
The final outcome of the war was no reparations and no territorial changes. Ironically, the Ottoman Empire, the apparent victor, suffered the most and revealed its inherent weaknesses, making it a prime target for the subsequent division by the major powers.
Britain and France achieved a strategic victory by pushing Russia away from the Black Sea and disrupting the “Three Emperors’ League,” effectively ending Russia’s dominance in Europe.
Franz agreed with Engels’ assessment, describing the war as a “grand comedy.”
Under his butterfly effect, will history change, and where will it lead?
What if the Russians choose to change the battlefield? For instance, focusing on the Caucasus as the main attack direction, launching a preemptive attack on Bosporus, or even advancing through the Balkans.
There are so many “what ifs,” all of which are possible. With the Russian-Austrian Alliance, Austria wouldn’t turn against Russia. The Russians have more strategic flexibility now.
This could set off a chain reaction. If the Russians act preemptively, before Louis Napoleon Bonaparte completes his restoration efforts and the French government remains embroiled in internal strife, it’s unlikely that even John Bull would be able to enter the fray.
Without Britain, France, the Ottoman Empire fighting against Russia, Austria has no opportunity to expand westward to follow its planned expansion in the Balkans.
“Mr. Metternich is correct. It’s too early to make strategic decisions at this point. What we need to focus on now is addressing internal issues within the government.
The first issue is the lack of execution capability within the government. From the central government to local authorities, there is a prevailing problem of insufficient execution capability, which is the biggest problem in the current government.
If officials cannot effectively implement the government’s orders, then what use are they? The Austrian government is not a retirement home for them. Officials with insufficient abilities, a lack of commitment to their work, and those attempting to coast along should be sent home to grow potatoes as soon as possible!”
The debate over the course of action couldn’t be resolved quickly, so Franz decisively chose to change the topic. Domestic issues had been on his mind for a while, but he hadn’t found the opportunity to address them.
In 1848, the government was too busy with the war to focus on these matters, only briefly addressing them and cracking down on a few bureaucrats with clouded minds.
In 1849, the government was still overwhelmed with various issues, and Franz, who had recently ascended to the throne, needed to ensure domestic stability. It was during this time that he initiated compulsory education, introduced a creative civil service examination system, and identified Austria’s core industries.
Now that the government had some free time, Franz certainly wouldn’t let the cabinet sit idle. With no other pressing matters, the purification of the bureaucracy seemed like a good course of action.
Anti-corruption measures are powerful tools, but Emperor Franz couldn’t openly call for them. The Austrian government was riddled with corrupt officials, making it easy for everyone to be on edge.
In fact, since Franz ascended to the throne, the Austrian bureaucracy had become cleaner to some extent. Faced with a strong emperor, many individuals had consciously reined in their behavior.
When the upper echelons of the government became more virtuous, it inevitably had an impact on the middle and lower levels. Those who could enter politics were not fools; they knew when to act wisely.
During the reign of Emperor Ferdinand I, he was unable to handle state affairs, and power fell into the hands of the governing commission.
A group of power-hungry officials engaged in internal struggles, trying to win over subordinates as quickly as possible. In such a chaotic environment, it’s unlikely that they would go to great lengths to combat corruption.
It’s not about wielding a heavy-handed approach, but rather improving the execution capability of the government. Emperor Franz wasn’t planning a major crackdown; he simply intended to remove incompetent officials from their positions.
If someone happened to be unlucky and got caught for corruption, then there’s not much that can be done. Austria is a nation governed by the rule of law, and those who break the law must face the consequences.
Compared to corruption, incompetence can be even more frightening. Being both corrupt and incompetent is a grave offense.
It doesn’t take much; just sending one percent of the incompetents back home and making examples out of a few unlucky ones will help curb Austria’s governance issues.
The idea of eliminating all corrupt officials with a radical approach isn’t something Franz is considering. In a well-established empire like Austria, interest groups have long been intertwined.
As an emperor, every time he strikes at a small group of those who act without restraint and defy authority, as long as he has a suitable excuse, people will be quite cooperative.
However, if he were to try to eliminate all the interest groups in one fell swoop, and the situation became desperate, they might even consider changing emperors to protect their interests.
Franz can’t expect bureaucrats to have unwavering principles, but as long as they don’t cross certain boundaries, he would be quite tolerant.
Good officials are valuable, but even corrupt ones can be useful. In fact, sometimes even those who are less competent can be retained, as long as they are placed in appropriate positions where they can contribute unexpectedly.
“Very well, Your Majesty,” Prime Minister Felix responded.
He was already preparing to push for the performance assessment system, which is a measure designed by the Austrian government to prevent officials from becoming lazy or unproductive.
The standards for this assessment aren’t very high; as long as an official can fulfill their duties within their scope of responsibility and follow the government’s rules and regulations, they are considered qualified.
If, on top of that, they achieve significant results, then congratulations, they’re on their way to a promotion.
Conversely, those who fail to follow the government’s rules and regulations and can’t present noteworthy achievements will be identified as incompetent and subject to removal.
Developing the economy is a political achievement, promoting ethnic integration is a political achievement, popularizing compulsory education is a political achievement, and implementing the government’s directives effectively is also a political achievement.
The scope is quite broad, and any achievements in a particular area are considered political accomplishments.
The Austrian government aims to target officials who are both disobedient and incompetent.
If the central government instructs you to promote the use of the Austrian language, and you instead promote local dialects, it would get you into trouble.
Checking your wallet is inevitable when you’re a target of the government. If problems are found, it serves as a good example to make others behave.
How many officials lose their positions or get promoted as a result doesn’t concern Franz too much; he cares more about the ultimate outcome.
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