Ernst's Change

The crisp morning air filled the land of Hechingen, carrying the scent of tradition from agricultural estates that pulsed with life.

Green tree-lined paths, meandering streams, and farmers diligently working the fields—the town and countryside of Hechingen blended seamlessly.

Ernst sat in his carriage, leisurely admiring the beautiful pastoral scenery. Though the Industrial Revolution was in full swing across Europe, the remote and quiet Hechingen remained largely unaffected, with no towering black chimneys or the roar of machinery.

Hechingen's population was neither too large nor too small. The streets were neat and clean, bustling with people but not crowded. Small stalls set up along the streets sold freshly harvested vegetables and fruits from distant lands. Some shops offered industrialized daily necessities, but the variety was limited.

At the street corner, a small newsstand sold newspapers. The implementation of compulsory education in Germany had made newspapers popular among the masses, and Ernst's grandfather had certainly contributed to this. Prince Friedrich, Ernst's grandfather, was an enlightened monarch. While he achieved little in politics, he genuinely fostered educational and cultural development in the Hechingen region, showing great dedication to arts and culture.

Many German intellectuals praised him. At least, the intellectuals in the Hechingen region benefited, making Hechingen a place with a relatively rich cultural atmosphere.

Today was the first day of Ernst's recovery, and the first time he had left the castle to see this new world.

"Tom, stop the carriage. Go get today's newspaper," Ernst instructed his servant.

"Yes, young master!" the servant, named Tom, replied respectfully.

The coachman slowly brought the carriage to a halt in front of the newsstand. Tom quickly alighted to buy the newspaper, and Ernst began to scan the information within.

Stuttgart Weekly (Fictional)

Hmm…

Stuttgart was an important city in southwestern Germany. Newspapers weren't a novelty, but Germany was not yet unified, and the newspaper industry was quite chaotic, with all sorts of local small papers.

However, Ernst still found newspapers of this era quite novel. Unlike the colorful publications of later times, the content in these papers was varied, with dense text and few pictures, lacking visual appeal. Ernst found it dizzying.

There were some discussions about municipal affairs, which he wouldn't detail here. Ernst didn't have a strong grasp of these matters, and being new to the area, he found it hard to relate. He continued reading.

New King Wilhelm I Appoints New Prime Minister for Prussia, Bismarck May Change Prussia – a straightforward, unadorned headline.

By this time, Hechingen had long been incorporated into the Kingdom of Prussia. However, Prussia's unification of Germany was still a distant prospect. Hechingen, along with neighboring Sigmaringen, belonged to the Hohenzollern branch. Years earlier, Prince Constantin and Prince Karl from the neighboring state had jointly pushed for the two principalities to join Prussia, serving as two tentacles of Prussian influence in the weaker southern German region.

The newspaper briefly outlined Bismarck's career: elected as a representative for the Berlin district at the opening of the United Diet of Prussia on April 14, 1847. In 1851, he served as the Kingdom of Prussia's representative at the Frankfurt Bundestag, soon after being promoted to ambassador, a post he held for eight years. In 1857, he was appointed ambassador to Russia. On September 23, 1862, he became Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Following this was an analysis of the new Prussian Prime Minister's personality and rhetoric, concluding with a prediction that Prussia was on the verge of great change.

The writing is quite insightful…

At least, that's what Ernst thought. Bismarck was indeed a key figure in German unification. He and King Wilhelm I, united in purpose, worked hand in hand to forge a unified and powerful Germany.

Ultimately, Hechingen had already bought its ticket for the future, siding with Prussia, and thus contributing to the grand cause of unifying the German states.

However, these matters were too distant for the young Ernst. His own fate was not truly in his hands. When the tide came, he would not be the helmsman, destined to be a lone boat drifting with the current.

Fortunately, his status was now different. He didn't have to struggle for survival in the harshness of this era like ordinary people. Perhaps he could go further and become a shaper of the times.

Within the grand backdrop of the current era, though turbulent, opportunities were also unimaginable. Possessing some foreknowledge of the future inherently meant one should strive for more.

Of course, the prerequisite was to integrate into the era's context. Otherwise, squandering good resources would leave nothing to complain about.

Ernst believed in matching one's ability to one's appetite. For himself, he should focus on cultivating his capabilities and grasping the pulse of the times, rather than indulging in endless fantasies.

Like in his previous life, Ernst scoffed at the many armchair strategists who claimed, "I could do that too." If such people were transported to this era and placed in high positions, how would they govern a country?

Facing history he knew well, one could speak freely online, but being in the thick of it revealed that things were far from simple.

For instance, in a country, if you unexpectedly knew some future intelligence, expecting your subordinates to obey your every word just by talking was unrealistic.

Facing various complex situations, it would be difficult to cope without systematic learning, especially regarding procedures and rules.

If you became a superior, what would you do on the first day? Who were your allies? Would those known geniuses act according to your wishes? All these were uncontrollable factors.

In his previous life, Ernst was an engineering consultant. He had never held a high position, and his experience in commanding others was practically nonexistent. Furthermore, his understanding of official documents was nil. Even a village chief might have more experience than him.

Fortunately, he was young and could still learn. Now that he had the conditions, he naturally had to actively integrate into his new identity.

As Ernst pondered, the carriage unknowingly returned to the castle. It rumbled over the cobblestone path and entered the courtyard. As he alighted, the old butler approached.

"Young master, the master instructed you to go to his study upon your return. He has something to discuss with you."

"I understand, Butler Keno," Ernst replied.

Following the directions from his memory, Ernst headed towards the study on the second floor. He ascended the wooden staircase and reached the long corridor on the second floor.

At the end of the corridor was His Highness the Prince's study. This study had a private balcony adorned with pleasing green plants and flowers. From the balcony, one could overlook the manor outside the castle. There was a rattan chair on the balcony where Prince Constantin would recline during his breaks, enjoying the sunlight to dispel his fatigue.

Ernst walked unhurriedly to the door and knocked. Knock, knock…

"Come in!"

He turned the handle and pushed the door open. Prince Constantin was seated at his desk, perusing documents related to the territory. Seeing his son enter, Prince Constantin removed his glasses and placed them on the table.

"You're here, Ernst. How are you feeling?" Constantin asked.

"Much better, Father," Ernst replied, standing respectfully to the side.

"Yes, I called you here today to ask if you have any plans or thoughts for the future."

"Uh…"

Ernst paused for a moment before speaking, "Father, I wish to travel and study on the continent."

Upon hearing Ernst's answer, a subtle smile touched Constantin's lips. He was pleased with his son's idea but feigned sternness as he asked, "As nobles of the German region, the Hohenzollern family has always focused on military matters. Why do you want to learn the ways of those English?"

Ernst felt a little nervous but calmed himself and began to explain slowly.

"Father, in my opinion, times have truly changed. In the Europe of the past, nobles held the most power. But now, with industrial development, the influence of capitalists is growing rapidly across Europe. The French have even established a republic. I believe it's capital that has given them such encouragement and courage. And why have capitalists accumulated such vast fortunes in a short period? It's precisely due to mass mechanized production..."

"Let me interrupt you there. They are nothing but clowns. Ernst, you overestimate them!" Constantin said dismissively.

"Father, please let me finish. Capitalists may not be able to change the situation yet, but their growth rate is alarmingly fast. Look at Britain's Bill of Rights, or the recent unrest in France... Our German regions will face the same in the future. Capitalists possess more advanced means of production than we do. Industrialization has accelerated their wealth accumulation. If we allow them to develop unchecked, they will pose a direct threat to noble rule in the future. Not to mention, how long ago was the Frankfurt Parliament? Such historical events will repeat themselves."

Constantin listened to his son's alarmist talk with a blank expression and asked, "Then what are your thoughts?"

He took the bait! Ernst rejoiced and began to explain to his father.

"I once heard an ancient saying from the East: 'If you can't beat them, join them.' Why can't we nobles also accumulate wealth using the capitalist model?"

"Aren't you afraid of separating yourself from the noble class? You know, as a high-ranking noble, the greatest taboo is lowering one's status."

"My dear father, please listen to me. 'The world bustles, all for profit; the world flocks, all for gain.' We nobles exist as a collective with shared interests. As long as the family prospers, people will naturally seek us out..."

After his lengthy persuasion, Constantin seemed convinced. In reality, the Prince, who had held a high position for many years, didn't really care about these matters.

He had his own vast estate, enough for Ernst to live comfortably for a lifetime. Being a second-generation heir who coasted through life was better than risking everything.

Though he said this, Prince Constantin's true concern was the continuation of the Hechingen lineage. It was rather strange; his own family line was a single descendant, and his son was also an only child. Furthermore, he had his son late in life. Constantin's greatest wish now was for Ernst to grow up quickly, get married, have children, and for him to hold his grandchild.

As for noble honor and the like, it was all nonsense. Constantin's father, Count Friedrich, had experienced the wars against Napoleon, only securing his victor's status by switching sides at the last moment. Although Constantin himself held a position in the kingdom, he had virtually no practical combat experience.

His son's health was also not very good (or so Constantin believed). It was better for him to inherit the family business honestly. Of course, he would never voice these thoughts aloud, as it would undermine his authority as a father.

The influence of the Prussian "roughneck" mindset was still present in this era. The Junkers of Northern Germany, especially those in Prussia, left a deep impression. Nobles were indeed keen on developing careers in the military.

Of course, an increasing number of nobles began to value cultural education, but most of their efforts were directed towards literature and the arts, with little emphasis on practical subjects. Some traditional, conservative nobles even held anti-intellectual views, believing that practical subjects were for the bourgeoisie.

Social interaction was paramount among nobles. To display their elegance and cultural refinement, they would generally study these cultural and artistic pursuits. Some even went so far as to fund artists to create works, ostensibly to showcase their appreciation for art (though they themselves lacked genuine discernment).

Consequently, Paris and Rome became the most esteemed centers of culture and art for nobles throughout Europe.

But who was Ernst? A former roughneck with a background in science and engineering. Would it be asking too much of him to engage in such pursuits? Moreover, influenced by his past life, he also felt that so-called humanities were rather useless.

Of course, things were different now. He had to dabble in these areas, as they were like the "dragon-slaying technique" for integrating into noble society. He thought this to himself, but Ernst's primary goal was to go to Berlin and realize some of his imaginative ideas. However, he certainly couldn't say that.