Internal Troubles (Part 1)

Vienna, Schönbrunn Palace.

In fact, according to the design of Franz, the Kingdom of Hungary region was to be excluded to minimize resistance.

Unexpectedly, the Hungarians themselves proposed it now. In truth, it was not only Franz who thought this way, but also the newly hired special consultant for the alliance, Friedrich List.

(Joining the alliance refers to joining the Zollverein.)

Friedrich List let out a long sigh and spoke in the tone of an Austrian bureaucrat.

"Truly, God bless our Emperor. With the Hungarians withdrawing voluntarily, the pressure to join the alliance will be much smaller."

"Compared to the Hungarians, the noble merchants in the Northern Italy region are very interested in joining. Many have expressed a willingness to abandon protective tariffs for the sake of the alliance. If the Zollverein only allows the Cisleithania region to join while refusing the Northern Italy region, it will break these people's hearts."

The concept of Cisleithania will be used frequently in the future, so let me explain it.

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

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 Italy region joins the Zollverein or not makes little practical difference."

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

Metternich paused and continued.

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

"Indeed, if the people cannot even afford a meal, what is there to speak of regarding loyalty to the Emperor or the country?" Friedrich List replied.

Prince Metternich shook his head and said softly.

"The agriculture of Northern Italy is sufficient to be self-sufficient. The crux of the problem lies not with the farmers, but with the merchants and nobles of Northern Italy; these people are always insatiable. They exploit 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 are we still helping them?"

"Helping them now is helping ourselves. If we cannot appease them, we must suppress them, and the current strength of the Austrian Empire is already stretched thin. That the Empire can grasp this straw of joining the alliance is thanks to you." Metternich replied with some 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 an imperial subject."

The reason Friedrich List became an Austrian sycophant was due to the high official positions and generous rewards given by Metternich.

They say power is the best aphrodisiac; compared to that powerless position of US Consul General to Germany, the status of Special Consultant to the Emperor of the Austrian Empire was clearly more attractive.

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

In other words, he was now a "double crown winner."

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

This economist had adapted to high-society life not long after arriving; working by day and attending banquets, balls, and socializing with beauties by night, he had already forgotten his home.

It is strange how people are; even if the workload is immense, if one is doing the career one loves and fulfilling one's dreams, one will not feel tired.

At this moment, Friedrich List was in such a state. Once, in order to realize the ideals and ambitions in his heart and to establish the Zollverein, he had founded an organization called the German Commercial and Industrial Association.

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

The reason was, "There are no German merchants in this world, only those 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 Zollverein that possesses Austria would be complete, great, and unstoppable.

The Germans would have their own motherland and could finally 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 philosophies 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 German and Danish.

List once described that Prussians speaking German sounded like they had a hammer in their mouths, while the Swiss speaking German did not know how to use their tongues at all.

Now, he was not only an official of Austria but 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 was important was that the Emperor could provide him with this stage.

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

"Very well, Prime Minister."

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

"Mr. List, you know that although the Empire's fiscal revenue is growing every year, under the leadership of Prime Minister Metternich, the Empire's debt is also constantly increasing. The Empire spends tens of millions of Florin every year on maintaining stability, yet uprisings continue to occur throughout the Empire and its surrounding areas, and 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 a benefactor to Friedrich List.