Chapter 14 Internal Troubles (Part 2)

"A general led two brigades of troops to chase 800 fleeing rioters from Genoa all the way to Rome, but in the end, hundreds of people escaped, and only 26 prisoners were captured, with nearly 1,000 casualties. The most important thing is the matter of Sardinia and the Pope. Why should the Austrian Empire pay for it?" Count Korolov said indignantly.

There is no division-level unit in the military system of the Austrian Empire. An infantry brigade has two infantry regiments, about 5,000 people.

"Prime Minister, it is also for the stability and unity of the empire's periphery. As for the military operations, I don't understand. You might as well ask Count Tural for his opinion."

Count Latour wanted to get under the table or hide in a corner without being discovered.

This military operation in Italy seemed like a farce performed by a group of third-rate screenwriters and extras, constantly hitting the face of the Austrian military.

And Count Tural didn't want to get involved in the fight between Metternich and Count Korolov at all.

However, after hearing what Friedrich List said, he knew he couldn't escape.

"Ten thousand against eight hundred, the advantage is huge, General Li Qi may have been careless. Although the process was a bit tortuous, the final result was that our Austrian Empire won." Count Tural replied awkwardly.

"Tural, let me say it for you. Prince Metternich accepted bribes from General Li Qi, so this incompetent general can repeatedly escape the punishment he deserves. More than 100,000 soldiers and civilians died because of his incompetence. If the coffins were connected together, they could just be laid from Vienna to Budapest."

Friedrich List was a little unbelievable, but seeing Count Korolaf's indignant look, it didn't seem fake.

In fact, he had heard a lot of rumors about Prime Minister Metternich in Vienna recently, such as accepting bribes, being a playboy, and using his personal relationship with the emperor to influence the government.

"Do you have evidence?"

"Of course." Count Korolaf said, throwing a document in front of Friedrich List.

"It records in detail the private gifts received by Prince Metternich and his family over the years."

Friedrich List took out his glasses from his jacket pocket and looked through the document carefully.

Just two pages later, he was shocked. The document records all the black materials of Metternich since he served as a diplomat in Dresden in 1801.

The bribes received include: gold, silver, horses, real estate, mansions, jewelry, artworks, factories, ships, and weapons.

The amount is so large that it is unbelievable.

In fact, Metternich was punished for others to a certain extent.

For example, if someone wants to bribe the emperor, the emperor will naturally not accept the bribe directly, so Metternich is needed as a white glove.

For example, the property confiscated by Prince Eltházy should have been sold into the treasury.

But Franz II liked it and did not want the money to enter the treasury, so after a series of operations by Metternich, it became royal property.

Friedrich List in the Hall of Mirrors was shocked, and Korolov knew it was time.

"I know it's hard for you to accept it for a while, but that's the fact. Also, Mr. List, do you know why Prince Metternich is so keen to join the German Customs Union?"

"Isn't it for the Empire and His Majesty the Emperor?"

"Mr. List, you are an expert, don't you find the business opportunities in the German Customs Union?"

"Business opportunities?" Friedrich List was a little confused for a while, because in his eyes, the German Customs Union was full of business opportunities, how could he know which business opportunity Korolov was talking about.

"Mr. Count, the Austrian Empire has not officially joined the German Customs Union. And there are business opportunities everywhere in the alliance. I don't know what you mean?"

"Of course it's the railway franchise."

This really shocked Friedrich List, you know, there is only one railway in Austria at present.

In 1824, Franz Anton received a 50-year special license from the government, allowing him to build a 139-kilometer (about 86-mile) horse-drawn railway line.

The line will connect Budějovice along the Vltava River in southern Bohemia and Linz, a Danube port city in Upper Austria 48 miles to the south.

Although Anton obtained the exclusive franchise for the railway, the imperial government asked him to pay a huge return as a condition.

Even so, Franz Anton still made a huge profit.

Seeing that investing in railways was so profitable, the entire German region went crazy.

The small and medium-sized countries in the German Confederation were particularly enthusiastic about this, and they quickly invested in railway construction to prevent important trade routes from passing through neighboring countries and bypassing them.

This was in stark contrast to the anxiety of the German countries to control the emerging trade lines and the crazy investment in railway construction.

In Austria, there was no sense of tension at all.

Only in 1830 did engineer Franz Xaver Rep team up with banker Salomon von Rothschild to apply to the government for approval of a more ambitious steam locomotive railway project.

This line would connect Vienna with the iron and coal mining areas in northern Moravia and the Galician salt pans further east.

Once the railway is opened, Moravia, Silesia, Galicia and Bukovina will be connected.

However, His Majesty the Emperor rejected this proposal, citing the possibility that the black smoke emitted by steam locomotives could cause pneumonia.

Now, Korolov, the Minister of Finance of the Austrian Empire, brought up the matter again.

Has His Majesty the Emperor changed his mind? Friedrich List immediately realized that this was a great opportunity.

Coming from Count Korolov, these words were highly credible.

"And the Minister of Finance of the Austrian Empire will not take my money away, will he?" Friedrich List thought to himself.

"But we still have to sign a formal contract." Friedrich List said to himself.

He also thought that now was a good time for the Austrian Empire to join the German Customs Union. If he could obtain a certain important franchise, wouldn't it be a great success?

He became the general manager, married a beautiful woman, and reached the pinnacle of his life.

"Sign a contract? Mr. List, I mean to sell the railway franchise. His Majesty the Emperor is interested in restarting the railway construction plan in Austria recently. Even if His Majesty the Emperor doesn't want to, Metternich will bring it up again."

Friedrich List was a little confused. The Emperor allowed the construction of the railway. Shouldn't we seize this opportunity to find a high-quality route and take a gamble?

"My Lord Count, shouldn't we seize this opportunity to invest in the construction of railways? This is a career that serves the country and the people, will benefit future generations, and can make a lot of money."

Korolav waved his hand and smiled, "Have you ever seen a gambler who always wins?"

"No, what do you mean?" Friedrich List asked in confusion.

"No matter how lucky a gambler is, his luck will run out one day. But the casino owner will make a profit no matter what."

"You mean, selling the railway monopoly license?"

"Yes, the railway market is very good now. But who can guarantee that it will always be like this? Instead of betting your life and property, it is better to sell this opportunity. At least we can guarantee that we will make a profit." Korolov looked at Friedrich List with expectation.