After so many years of development, the Austro-Hungarian Empire's prosperity had not diminished in the slightest. It continued to sit firmly among Europe's five great powers, and in terms of economic conditions, it was not much inferior to France.
Europe's five great powers were now Britain, France, Germany, Austria, and the Soviet Union. Britain and Germany each had their own strengths and belonged to the first tier of European powers, while France, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Soviet Union belonged to the second tier.
The three second-tier nations each had their own shortcomings. France's main problems were population and resources; the Austro-Hungarian Empire's was its nationalities issue; while the Soviet Union's were its economy and industry. These were also the main reasons they could not stand shoulder to shoulder with Britain and Germany.
All three countries were doing everything possible to make up for their weaknesses, but such things were difficult to change in a short time. At present, Ernst only favored the Soviet Union. In a sense, the Soviet Union's problems were also the easiest to solve.
Vienna, Central Railway Station.
A train pulled by an internal-combustion locomotive slowly entered the station and came to a stop before the platform. The idle bystanders on the platform had been cleared away, leaving only guards and the Austro-Hungarian Empire's senior officials waiting there.
The door of one carriage slowly opened. After a short while, Ernst stepped down from the train and onto a carpet laid out in advance.
Quite a few people curiously examined the Rhine Empire's emperor. Ernst carried no airs about him. If not for this solemn occasion and his clothing, placed among a crowd, he would have looked little different from an ordinary old man.
Yet this unremarkable old man was the ruler of a nation with a