Chapter 73: Hungary's Financial Struggles
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Leopold sneered and asked, "So, is the reason for calling us here today just to listen to a speech? I must admit that Mr. Kossuth's speech was impressive, but we've all heard this kind of speech before. How about trying something different?"
Kossuth's face turned dark and dreadful. He couldn't possibly say that he had previously doubted their loyalty and suspected them of being potential traitors. Now that the Austrian government has seized their lands, they are all in the same boat.
Everyone knows these things deep down, and it's better to leave them unsaid. If we break through that thin veneer, how can we continue to coexist?
Don't be fooled into thinking that these aristocrats, despite appearing to have suffered significant losses and a blow to their prestige, are now weak and vulnerable to be easily taken advantage of. In reality, their power and influence remain formidable.
"Duke, enough!"
"Austria has already raised its sword, and now what we need is unity. If you want to hold someone accountable, I can resign from my position. Gentlemen, whoever believes they have the capability to lead Hungary out of this predicament, I am willing to step down from the presidency and let a more capable individual take the helm!"
In anger, Kossuth simply threw down the gauntlet. The people present couldn't help but have a drastic change in their expressions. Being the President of the Hungarian Republic at this time was not an easy task, and at least Duke Leopold had no interest in it.
Everyone knows that being the President of the Hungarian Republic is not an easy job. In history, after the Austrian government decided to suppress the rebellion by force, the Hungarian government closed its doors, and then the revolutionary party led by Kossuth came to power.
Under the butterfly effect of Franz, the current situation in the Hungarian Republic is even worse, and no one wants to be the scapegoat. That's why Kossuth became the leader.
Due to his low popularity, Kossuth does not hold much prestige within the government, and many nobles do not regard him highly.
Seemingly childish in his act of defiance, it can also be seen as Kossuth's way of resistance.
Regardless of Kossuth's shortcomings and politically naive views, he is one of the founding figures of the Hungarian nation.
Sensing the unfavorable situation, another representative, Count Thallóczy, a nobleman, stood up and shifted the topic of discussion.
"Alright, let's not dwell on the past anymore. The urgent matter at hand is to think about how to deal with the current situation. We need to make a decision on whether to fight or seek peace!"
The "war or peace" debate is undoubtedly led by the revolutionary party headed by Kossuth. Most of these individuals are idealists and young university students, while the weak nobles and capitalists lean towards seeking peace.
Kossuth's face turned grim as he said, "Do we still need to consider this? The Vienna government is already moving to dismantle Hungary. Even if we can reach an agreement with Austria, Hungary will be left with less than 35% of its territory and less than 40% of its population. With such a diminished Hungary, if we remain under Austria, we won't even be able to maintain our current status. Are we going to sit idly by and watch the Austrians exploit us day after day?"
Kossuth also realized that he had been too naive in the past. Due to the opposition of the nobility, he couldn't resolve the land issue, and due to the opposition of emerging capitalists, he couldn't address the national question.
Indeed, the disastrous national policy of the Hungarian Republic was a result of the concerns of the emerging bourgeoisie regarding competition.
This has been confirmed in the Austrian Empire, where due to political advantages, almost all industries in the country were controlled by Germans. Hungarian capitalists also survived through tariffs and local protectionism.
Now that it's their turn to take charge, they naturally emulate this approach, as no capitalist can resist such temptation. In fact, they have even gone further and acted more excessively.
Under the impetus of self-interest, extreme nationalism has become the mainstream ideology in Hungary, which has caused great dissatisfaction among other ethnic minorities within the country. After the olive branch was extended by the Austrian government, everyone decisively changed sides.
Kossuth's words awakened the emerging bourgeoisie. For the sake of their own interests and survival, they had no choice but to support the government and engage in war with Austria. Only by winning the war could they obtain everything they desired.
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Although the chances of victory were low, they had already boarded the ship. The Austrian government might show some leniency towards the nobility, but there was no reason for them to spare the capitalists.
Throughout history, both past and present, the notion of "no merchant without deceit" has been deeply ingrained in people's minds. Killing the deceitful businessmen is considered the politically correct action.
I'm sorry, but as the earliest capitalists, they couldn't get any darker. They are the epitome of unscrupulous capitalists described in history books. Eliminating them not only brings wealth but also helps win the support of the people.
"Mr. Kossuth, Hungary is now surrounded by enemies on all sides. How should we wage this war?" Count Thallóczy asked with concern.
Undoubtedly, Count Thallóczy was deliberate in his words. As a prominent Hungarian aristocrat, he had no fear of any retribution from the Austrian government.
As long as the Habsburg family remained in control of Austria, they would not dare to harm the noble families. This was the advantage of having many relatives in influential positions.
Without the pressure for survival, the concerns of the major nobles differ from those of the capitalists. Their main objective is to limit the damage.
After speaking, Count Thallóczy opened a map that had been prepared in advance. The map clearly marked the position of Hungary, sandwiched between the three major powers of Russia, the Ottoman Empire, and Austria.
Undoubtedly, Hungary found itself surrounded by enemies. Russia and Austria were allies, and the Russian government openly announced its intention to assist Austria and Prussia in suppressing the revolution. Although they may not be direct enemies, their actions and alliances positioned them as adversaries to Hungary.
"Currently, we are facing a stronger enemy, but they also have their vulnerabilities. The Austrian government is currently engaged in warfare with the Kingdom of Italy, and that presents an opportunity for us," Kossuth proposed what he believed to be a reasonable plan.
Indeed, in theory, this does present an opportunity, a straightforward military strategy of picking off the enemies one by one.
However, Duke Leopold shook his head and sighed, saying, "Mr. Kossuth, this strategy lacks practical feasibility in military terms. The enemy is not foolish; they will not give us the luxury of time to pick them off one by one."
Kossuth chuckled and said, "Your Grace, as long as we have sufficient forces to hold off the enemy from other directions, it will suffice. Austria may be powerful, but it is also fragile. Once we achieve a victory, it will trigger a chain reaction, and the revolution will erupt once again!"
Everyone understood that Kossuth had circled around to the same point - it was all about money in the end!
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