War Draws Near

January 14, 1864.

Recently, Ernst had begun to rein himself in, because Prince Constantin was coming to Berlin.

Prince Constantin had come from Hechingen to Berlin on business. Constantin rarely left the countryside; whenever he did, something major was usually about to happen.

Ernst spent every day occupied with the grand undertaking of expanding his industries, shuttling between factories and schools. The study tour he had originally promised had turned into a permanent stay in Berlin, so he felt somewhat guilty and lacking in confidence.

Of course, Ernst knew that his own "little matters" were not worth Constantin coming to Berlin in person. It had to be some important military and state affair.

In Prussia, Prince Constantin held a status equivalent to that of a sovereign prince. Although the Principality of Hechingen had been incorporated into Prussia, its standing had been retained.

The Hechingen branch had traditionally produced Field Marshals. Constantin also held the nominal rank of Field Marshal and served in a post under the General Staff.

He had likely come to Berlin this time to take part in discussions of some major event and prepare for war.

Ernst's grandfather had participated in the war against Napoleon. Of course, at the time, Hechingen had fought as one of the many German states. Before that, Hechingen had even been a member of the Confederation of the Rhine, a puppet regime propped up by Napoleon.

Seeing the anti-French coalition on the European continent gathering overwhelming momentum, the old Margrave Frederick of Hechingen promptly switched sides and joined the victors.

After the war, Margrave Frederick turned to education and devoted himself to it until his death.

Later, after reaching a joint decision with Prince Karl, the ruler of Sigmaringen, Constantin joined Prussia. After all, they were both members of the House of Hohenzollern, so naturally they had no objections to answering Prussia's "call" to unify Germany.

If they succeeded, they would be meritorious founders of the empire in the future. If they failed, the worst outcome would be maintaining their status as princely states.

As members of the House of Hohenzollern, in a place like continental Europe where bloodlines and origins mattered greatly, their natural shared interests drew the two branches toward the increasingly powerful Prussian main line.

The new Hohenzollern Province, where Hechingen was located, lay in southwestern Germany. Princes stood everywhere here. To the east was a German state as weighty as Bavaria, while France lay close to the west. Surrounded by Baden and Württemberg, it held an extremely prominent strategic position.

As the birthplace of the House of Hohenzollern, it was itself an important military fortress, planted deep in Southern Germany where Prussian influence was weaker. Prussia therefore attached great importance to Hohenzollern Province.

As far as Ernst himself was concerned, the future war between Prussia and Austria would have little impact on his family. Hechingen was surrounded by Württemberg on three sides and the Duchy of Baden on the fourth. The main battlefield would be Bohemia, where Prussia bordered the Austrian Empire. Even if Austria and Prussia abandoned the script and launched surprise attacks, Württemberg and Baden would be the first to take the blows.

The Franco-Prussian War that came later would, barring surprises, also be fought mainly within France. Thus, his family would suffer virtually no losses throughout Germany's series of unification wars.

Before Ernst began his ventures, the Hechingen branch had been a traditional combination of military men and landed gentry. Its main income came from agricultural rents, real estate revenues from various places, and Prince Constantin's military salary. Even if war broke out, it would not threaten any important industries.

Moreover, Ernst's own factories were all in Berlin. Unless it became a World War, Berlin could not possibly fall.

As for the future, as long as he moved his industries to safe areas before the outbreak of the First World War, they would not suffer much impact. Even if the whole world changed beyond recognition then, it would not affect the wealth and privilege of the Hechingen Hohenzollerns.

As for grand words like saving Germany, Ernst said he could not afford to play that game. Europe was so fiercely competitive, and capable people were everywhere.

To make waves in Europe, one needed top-tier resources and intellect. A little place like Hechingen could not afford such a game. Even small countries like Bavaria and Belgium, which possessed a certain degree of influence and scale on the continent, had only barely secured tickets to enter.

Hechingen could only cling to Prussia if it wanted to make a fortune in the future and accumulate capital.

As Ernst pondered historical events, the Danish War was very likely drawing near—the Second Schleswig War. He needed to accelerate construction of the tobacco and lighter factories.

The military was a huge consumer of tobacco, and lighters, sacred tools of war, needed no further explanation. Thinking of the matches currently in widespread use, Ernst felt that kerosene lighters would still have a strong market.

Before the war began, he had to ensure large-scale production of both items, then use the natural platform of war to speed up their acceptance in the civilian market.

These soldiers came from all over the country. Once they returned to their hometowns, they would become natural advertisers.

While Ernst was still making plans, Constantin had already returned from the royal palace.

The place where Ernst lived in Berlin was actually ancestral family property. After the House of Hohenzollern rose to power in Brandenburg, the Hechingen branch had purchased an estate in Berlin as a liaison point. It now had a history of over a century.

Constantin stayed here whenever he came to Berlin as well. His carriage stopped in the courtyard, and the butler Keno urged the coachman to take it away.

"Ernst!" Constantin called Ernst's name warmly.

"Father, why have you come to Berlin? Has something major happened?" Although Ernst knew full well that his father had most likely come to Berlin on official business concerning war against Denmark, he still put on a puzzled expression.

"Yes, I came to Berlin to discuss certain matters with the royal family. Of course, I also took the opportunity to see how my son's undertaking is doing," Constantin said cheerfully.

Ernst felt somewhat ashamed. He had been busy with business in Berlin and had not returned to see his old father. Although they regularly communicated through letters, he had been away for nearly a year and had only returned once last Christmas.

"Father, I'll spend more time with you in the future. I became so concerned with business that I somewhat lost myself," Ernst said to Constantin.

"Enough. What would this bundle of old bones need someone at his side for? I came to Berlin this time because something major is about to happen, so don't overthink it." Constantin stroked Ernst's head and continued, "Still, you really have given me a few surprises. I never expected our family to have a talent for business. I had already prepared myself for the investment to vanish like a stone into the sea, hahaha..." Constantin teased.

"Father, is the kingdom preparing for war?" Ernst changed the subject.

"Yes, it is. But where did you hear such news?" Constantin asked sternly.

Before war began, such matters were confidential and could not be treated carelessly. Ernst was still a child, and the royal family would not have told him voluntarily, so Constantin asked with great caution.

"Father, you know that the kingdom's military is one of my most important customers. Recently, they have begun placing large orders for new supplies, and some factories around Berlin have started working day and night as well. That is clearly preparation for the military."

Seeing Constantin frown, Ernst stepped up his persuasion.

"Of course, some business owners have dealings with us, so we can hear a few bits of gossip. Besides, the kingdom's new chancellor is clearly no ordinary figure. The moment he ascended to the position, he declared that the great issues of the age would be resolved with iron and blood. Now, it is obvious that force is about to be used to solve the kingdom's troubles."

In just a few sentences, Ernst laid out his "guess."

Constantin looked at his son with gratification. "Well said. It seems the House of Hohenzollern has produced another outstanding talent, hahaha..."

After the laughter faded.

"The kingdom is contacting Austria and intends to use force to compel the Danish government to relinquish the two German states of Holstein and Schleswig. At present, the German Confederation has already sent troops into Holstein, and Prussia also intends to push for the independence of the Duchy of Schleswig," Constantin continued.

"Other countries on the continent are currently watching from the sidelines. The only nations truly capable of intervening are Britain, France, and Austria. The Russians are still licking the wounds of the Crimean War. The French also do not dare act rashly, lest the anti-French coalition of old reappear and trigger a continental war. Britain's navy will have the strength to intervene when the time comes, but the British would rather drag the Russians into the water. As for Austria, this time we will join the Austrian Empire in defending the interests of the German territories."

Constantin spoke with great fluency, but in truth this was a gamble. King Wilhelm I and Bismarck were taking advantage of the mutual scheming among the great powers to achieve a delicate balance internationally. At the same time, the Danes' new draft constitution had stirred German anger, providing an excuse for this war.

If national sentiment was used well, it could bring about what Bismarck had always emphasized: using iron and blood to decide the great international issues of the age.

Bismarck could unite the many states and free cities of the German territories under the banner of defending their interests, using righteousness to gather the strength of the German territories into one.

At the very least, in North Germany, Bismarck could spread Prussian influence and prepare for the future unification of the German territories.