Chapter 242: Nobility (Bonus Chapter)
Austria’s colonial strategy didn’t just start at this time; several years ago, the Austrian government had already started funding exploration teams to survey the African continent.
Aside from the inland regions, at least the basic situation of the coastal areas was known, so they wouldn’t be completely in the dark when they finally decide to act.
Not just in Africa, but the Austrian government also collected intelligence on many regions worldwide. This intelligence was gathered both by their own agents and purchased from middlemen.
In this era, exploration was also a business. Many private exploration teams sold the information they gathered to colonial governments in exchange for great rewards.
Selling information once or twice was common. As long as the price was right, everything was negotiable. Facing life-threatening risks in exploration naturally demanded adequate compensation.
For safety, Franz dispatched three infantry divisions this time. They were only tasked with securing the coastal regions and not venturing deep inland, which was sufficient for this purpose.
Guinea, being smaller in area, would soon be under Austrian control. The Congo region, however, was uncertain. In this era, the Congo included what would later be known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo.
The area was extraordinarily large, several times the size of Austria itself, so it was clearly impossible to occupy it with just a small number of people.
Like all colonial nations, they prioritized coastal areas, as the interior of Africa was not yet ready for development.
The plan was to first send a group of refugees there. With immigrants in place, they could establish port cities and then gradually develop the land.
As for how to govern these colonial regions, Franz decided to give bureaucrats the utmost autonomy to govern in whichever way was most profitable.
In the evening, inside a small tavern in Trieste, a group of patrons were chatting away. Occasionally, someone whistled at the flamboyantly dressed women near the counter, only to be met with eye rolls.
Most of these people made their living at sea and tended to behave vulgarly, but everyone was used to it and didn’t find it strange.
The women appearing here were naturally not upstanding people either, and all were veterans of the entertainment industry, their worldly experience was f**king rich as could be.
In summary, as long as the payment was sufficient, taking them back for the night was an option. Mere flattery couldn’t faze them; as the saying goes, “Prostitutes are heartless and entertainers have no righteousness.” These men who were their patrons yesterday, would turn into passersby the next day.
The teasing remained verbal, indicating that their pockets were empty; otherwise, they would have already taken action.
Those accustomed to making a living at sea were known for being straightforward, and the women in this line of work naturally didn’t mind. Money made one the boss, and there were instances where things were settled then and there.
……
Alcohol can embolden even the meek, and under its influence, all sorts of things can slip out. It’s not uncommon for a disagreement to escalate into a brawl in such settings.
The tavern owner, seasoned and shrewd, would simply watch these incidents unfold, only stepping in afterward to demand compensation, usually demanding double as a form of authority. Of course, if they encountered someone particularly tough, they’d just have to accept their bad luck.
A drunken middle-aged man blurted out, “Valen, with so many troops gathering here, are we going to war?”
Equally inebriated, Valen replied dismissively, “Nonsense, Tagore, when have you ever seen our navy go to war? Who could they possibly fight? Wait, are you saying the army and navy are going to war together?”
Their voices were loud and unguarded, something they wouldn’t normally dare, especially if they risked encountering naval soldiers who were drinking. Even a slight provocation could lead to a beating.
Despite the Austrian navy not being highly regarded or having notable achievements, they were still not to be disrespected by these men.
The geographical location and national policy of Austria meant that its navy had little scope for action and often merely served as a backdrop to the army. However, this did not mean that naval officers and sailors lacked spirit.
Military personnel always crave glory. The Austrian navy had been inactive for many years, largely irrelevant to most of Austria’s wars, leaving its sailors lamenting that they were born in the wrong era.
This changed after Franz ascended to power. He undertook a major reorganization and training of the navy and army, forcing the retirement of officers who were just idling. This signaled a shift in Austria’s national policy.
Under normal circumstances, the Austrian government wouldn’t focus on the navy, especially in peacetime. Strengthening naval training and increasing naval budgets in the absence of war was highly unusual.
There were rumors at the higher levels about establishing overseas colonies, leading many to believe that their opportunity had arrived. However, they ended up waiting for over four years. Despite intensified training and an increase in the number of warships, nothing further went on.
In such a situation, it was natural for the younger personnel to become restless. The slightest provocation could lead to fights and brawls.
Of course, while the fighting might feel satisfying in the moment, the aftermath was often tragic. If the military police didn’t catch them, it was manageable, but getting caught meant facing a long period of harsh consequences.
At that time, a few naval soldiers were also in the tavern, but they weren’t concerned with the ramblings of the drunkards.
The order for a joint naval and army exercise, involving a significant portion of the navy and even including three infantry divisions, had everyone guessing about whom they might be going to war with. However, no one could figure out the potential adversary.
Fighting against Britain or France? They knew they couldn’t win; even if the Navy doubled in size, it wouldn’t be a match. It was an absurd idea, and the Austrian government wouldn’t issue such a foolish order.
Attacking the Ottoman Empire? Everyone knew that was unlikely. The army had already accomplished its tasks, and Austria had obtained everything it wanted. The Ottoman government had even relocated its capital to Ankara. Pursuing further conflict with them would also have to consider the reactions of Britain and France.
A young man spoke softly, “Those directly involved are often confused, while bystanders see things clearly. Instead of guessing wildly, why not listen to what those drunkards are saying?”
The people who were arguing stopped and listened.
“Valen, you’re stupid! We make our living on the seas, don’t you know there are indigenous people out there in the world?
Our navy might not stand a chance against Britain or France, and even facing Spain is tough, but going out and bullying the natives? That’s no problem at all.
With the forces gathered here now, we could wipe out a few small countries overseas.” The man called Tagore said disdainfully.
Valen, not to be outdone, retorted, “Nonsense! Tagore, you fool. Don’t you know that the officials in Vienna have always looked down on overseas ventures? Or do you think you can change their minds?”
“Why can’t they suddenly see the light? Our Austria, no, our New Holy Roman Empire, is one of the top powers in Europe, isn’t it? What’s wrong with grabbing a few colonies?
These days, without a few colonies, it’s almost embarrassing to step outside. Maybe the bigwigs in Vienna got stimulated and had a change of heart,” Tagore argued.
Before long, the two drunks were arguing fiercely, wanting to settle their dispute with fists. But being too inebriated to actually fight, two men in the tavern stepped in and dragged them out.
……
A young man uncertainly asked, “What they said couldn’t possibly be true, right?”
The leader among the youths replied, “It’s more plausible than any of our guesses. We haven’t heard of any conflicts with other countries, so it’s not like we’re just going to randomly start beating up someone, right?”
An impatient man in grey clothes excitedly said, “If we’re really going to establish colonies, doesn’t that mean our chance to make a fortune has arrived?!”
In the eyes of many, colonies in this era symbolized wealth. For those eager to become rich, this was undoubtedly an opportunity.
The young man who seemed to be their leader scolded, “Shut up, Thorin! Stop talking nonsense. Clearly, this is an opportunity to achieve glory and success, not just about making money!”
Thorin quickly responded, “Yes, Captain!”
Clearly, this captain, likely of noble birth and originally destined for service in the army, looked down on those who spoke only of making money. Unpredictably, his fate had shifted, leading him to be sent to a naval officer training school instead.
When he heard the news, he almost collapsed. In this era, the Austrian Navy offered no real chance to make notable achievements. It was almost seen as a haven for the unskilled and unlearned, a place to waste time.
Fortunately, his luck turned with the change in Austria’s national policy. Now, he aimed to quickly earn military honors and secure a noble title.
After all, his family’s title wasn’t hereditary; they were nouveau riche, having risen to prominence only in his father’s generation. He could still claim to be the son of a noble, but the next generation wouldn’t be able to continue this pretense.
It was challenging to obtain a noble title in Austria, especially a hereditary one. After Franz ascended to power, he granted nobility to over a hundred individuals, most of whom were honored for their military service.
The others included several scientists, about a dozen engineers, and a few government officials. Apart from those granted hereditary titles for military achievements, the rest weren’t.
This wasn’t a caprice of Franz; it was an established rule. Non-hereditary titles could be granted freely by the emperor, but hereditary nobility based on military service required significant and commendable achievements.
This rule, set by Franz, had gained wide acceptance within the military.
Differentiating among them was a way to reflect their status. Conveniently, most of the nobility in Germany were military nobles, who were particularly keen on maintaining their status.
As part of the trade-off, Franz revoked the domestic major nobles’ right to confer nobility. This included several states as well; the nobles conferred by kings of these states had to report to the emperor for approval to obtain legal status.
Franz controlled the number of nobles. For hereditary nobility, the eldest son could inherit the title, but younger sons had to strive anew; otherwise, their next generation would be commoners.
This was even more the case for non-hereditary nobles. Continuing the tradition of the European continent, if the next generation did not make an effort, there would be no title to inherit.
Anyone ambitious wouldn’t be content with mediocrity; they would seize the opportunity when it arose.
Although Franz’s Nobility Law wasn’t implemented yet, it was not kept secret either; its content had already spread.
After all, colonies differed from the mainland. If the central government directly ruled them, the cost would be a major issue. If governance was entrusted to meritorious subjects, with the central government controlling only a few key areas and the rest managed by these subjects, administrative pressure would be much reduced.
The main reason it hasn’t been implemented yet is the uncertainty of successful colonization. If colonization proves profitable, nobles will naturally be willing to govern these territories.
Anyway, if the colonies weren’t profitable, even if the land was given away for free, the nobles would disdain it.
This is determined by the unique national conditions of the New Holy Roman Empire. There are already three kings of federated states within the country, and Franz doesn’t mind adding a few more overseas.
At least this could effectively curb corruption. Franz isn’t planning to levy heavy taxes in the colonies; a symbolic amount would suffice. The main goal is to expand the market for Austria’s industry and commerce; these people can’t just swallow their own money, right?
The collapse of the British Empire’s colonial system in later generations was due to attacks by the US and USSR, but the high cost of the bureaucratic system was also a significant factor.
To reduce governance costs, they even developed self-governing dominions. This measure was both a success and a failure.
It was successful in that it indeed reduced administrative costs and expanded the market for domestic industry and commerce. However, once the rights were released, they couldn’t be taken back, planting the seeds for the collapse of the colonial empire.
The autonomous government’s powers were controlled by local capitalists. Capital knows no borders, so it’s unsurprising for such things to happen.
Franz may not guarantee the prevention of such occurrences, but he can increase a sense of belonging and delay the collapse.
Relying on government bureaucrats to organize immigration isn’t promising, as seen with the Germans moving to America. Franz doesn’t believe Austrian bureaucrats can do much better.
It might be better to let nobles organize it themselves. If they succeed, he shares in their success; if they fail, no harm is done. Ennobling several families increases the chances of success.
It’s not that Franz underestimates African nations, but supporting any vassal state can make it one of the strongest in Africa, provided they avoid corrupt practices.
This lays the groundwork for future ‘thorns’ in Africa. Cultural traditions and economic interests are natural ties, uniting the colonies with the mainland.
As long as the populace’s loyalty to the motherland remains, independence seems unlikely unless they want to abandon their own legitimacy.
As long as the ruling class remains sane, they won’t commit such self-destructive acts.
Being a highly autonomous state under the New Holy Roman Empire, they wouldn’t lose any benefits, and the imperial government would continue to be the source of their status.
Conversely, these vassal kings would also become pillars of support for the emperor’s authority. Even if royal power declines in the future, to prevent the empire’s dissolution, no one would dare undermine the emperor’s doctrines.
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