Chapter 13: Internal Troubles (Part 1)

Vienna, Schönbrunn Palace.

In fact, according to Franz’s design, the Kingdom of Hungary was to be excluded to reduce resistance.

Unexpectedly, the Hungarians themselves had now proposed it. It wasn't just Franz who thought this way; the newly hired Special Advisor to the Austrian Empire for the Customs Union, Mr. Friedrich List, shared the same view.

(Joining the union refers to joining the German Customs Union.)

Friedrich List let out a long sigh and, mimicking the tone of an Austrian bureaucrat, said

"It is truly God’s blessing for our Emperor. With the Hungarians voluntarily withdrawing, the pressure to join the union will be much smaller."

"Compared to the Hungarians, the nobles and merchants in the Northern Italian regions are very interested in joining. Many have expressed a willingness to abandon protective tariffs for the sake of the union. If the German Customs Union only allows the Cisleithanian regions to join while rejecting Northern Italy, it will break these people's hearts."

The concept of Cisleithania will be used frequently from now on, so let me explain it.

Cisleithania includes the historical Kingdom of Bohemia, the Kingdom of Galicia (i.e., the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria), the Kingdom of Dalmatia, the Archduchy of Austria (including Upper and Lower Austria), the Duchy of Bukovina, the Duchy of Carinthia, the Duchy of Carniola, the Duchy of Salzburg, the Duchy of Upper and Lower Silesia, the Duchy of Styria, the Margraviate of Moravia, the County of Tyrol, Vorarlberg, as well as the County of Gorizia, Trieste, and the Margraviate of Istria and other territories along the Adriatic coast.

Friedrich List replied with a smile.

"Prime Minister, you are truly a kind man. However, the tariffs between Cisleithania and Italy should be considered an internal Austrian matter. As long as the government has the resolve, coupled with local support, we will have plenty of room to maneuver. Whether the Northern Italian regions join the German Customs Union or not, the actual difference is negligible."

"You are right, Mr. List. I will send someone to notify the Northern Italian side immediately and have them wait for our good news."

Metternich paused, then continued.

"You know, Mr. List, the economy of Northern Italy has been in a constant decline. If left unchecked, the people will inevitably suffer. At such a time, if dangerous elements were to stir up trouble, the populace would be extremely susceptible to incitement."

"Indeed, if the people cannot even afford to eat, what is the point of talking about loyalty to the Emperor or the country?" Friedrich List replied.

Prince Metternich shook his head and said softly

"Northern Italy’s agriculture is sufficient for self-sufficiency. The crux of the problem is not the farmers, but the merchants and nobles of Northern Italy; these people are always insatiable. They use those poor farmers and citizens to seek profit for themselves. Yet, in the end, it is not they who pay the price, but those poor souls."

"Then why do we still help them?"

"Helping them now is helping ourselves. If we cannot appease them, we must suppress them, and the Austrian Empire’s national strength is already stretched thin. That the Empire can grasp this lifeline of joining the union is all thanks to you," Metternich replied with a hint of helplessness.

"Mr. Metternich, thank you for your trust in me. Although I was born in Württemberg, I am also a subject of the Empire. Serving His Majesty the Emperor is the duty of every imperial subject."

The reason Friedrich List had become an Austrian sycophant was due to the high office and generous salary provided by Metternich.

They say power is the best aphrodisiac; compared to being a powerless U.S. Consul General in Germany, the status of Special Advisor to the Emperor of the Austrian Empire was clearly more alluring.

Moreover, Austria had a system of bestowing titles, and Francis II did not require Friedrich List to resign from his post as U.S. Consul General in Germany.

In other words, he was now a "double-crowned king."

More importantly, the corrupt life of the Austrian court was clearly better suited to Friedrich List.

The economist had adapted to high-society life shortly after his arrival—working during the day and attending wine parties and balls at night, surrounded by beauties; he had become so happy he forgot his home.

It is a strange thing about people: even if the workload is immense, if they are doing the work they love and fulfilling their dreams, they do not feel tired.

At this moment, Friedrich List was in exactly that state. Once, in order to realize the ideals and ambitions in his heart and to establish the German Customs Union, he had formed an organization called the German Commercial and Industrial Association.

At that time, List and the members of the association lobbied everywhere in the various states, hoping to establish a customs union. But the association’s petitions were met with contempt and reprimands; the Federal Diet would not allow them to use the word "German."

The reason given was: "There are no German merchants in this world, only merchants from Bavaria, Saxony, Württemberg, and other places."

He was even slandered as an "extreme dangerous element" and forced to leave his homeland for the New World.

Now, he had transformed into an official of the Austrian Empire—truly, the ways of the world are unpredictable.

Friedrich List was very grateful to Prince Metternich, not just because he used his power to help him recover his lost property and justice.

But also because Metternich gave him this opportunity—the opportunity to personally complete his dream.

A German Customs Union that includes Austria would be complete, great, and unstoppable.

The Germans would have their own fatherland and would finally be able to protect themselves between the hammer of France and the anvil of Russia.

As for the other ethnic groups in the Austrian Empire, Friedrich List did not actually care.

Because he saw that in Vienna, this melting pot of nations, ethnic conflicts were far less acute than he had heard. The cultures and ideas of different peoples intertwined to form a brand-new culture.

Furthermore, he firmly believed that with the continuous development of transportation and commerce, the exchanges between the ethnic groups within Austria would gradually strengthen, eventually forming a new nation.

As for language, he did not think it was a problem, because the difference between the High German he spoke and Northern German was even greater than the gap between Austrian and Danish.

List once described that Prussians spoke German as if they had a hammer in their mouths, while the Swiss spoke German without knowing how to use their tongues at all.

Now, not only had he become an Austrian official, but he was also deeply trusted by the Prime Minister and the Emperor.

Although His Majesty the Emperor did not seem to understand economics, that did not matter; what mattered was that the Emperor could provide him with this stage.

"Mr. List, Countess Summer has another ball tonight; don't work too late." Before leaving, Metternich reminded him kindly.

"Very well, Prime Minister."

After Metternich left, Kolowrat walked to List’s side.

"Mr. List, you know that although the Empire’s fiscal revenue grows every year, under Prime Minister Metternich’s leadership, the Empire’s debt is also constantly increasing. The Empire spends tens of millions of florins annually on maintaining stability, yet uprisings continue throughout the entire Empire and its surrounding areas, and they are even intensifying. Do you know why this is?"

"Count, why do you say that?" Friedrich List was somewhat angry; after all, in a sense, Prince Metternich was his benefactor.

(End of chapter)