On the other hand, the Austrian Empire's strength gave the common people a sense of belonging. Franz's victories had not been won for nothing, nor had the money spent on propaganda been wasted.
No one wanted to give up a relatively stable and prosperous life. Even those willing to take desperate risks had to weigh whether they could defeat such a powerful foe as the Austrian Empire.
When the risks far outweighed the rewards and life was still bearable, people naturally became cautious.
Then there were the economic ties binding California to the Austrian Empire. Once trade with the mainland stopped, many people would lose their jobs or even go bankrupt.
Merchants might be no good at war, but they were masters of gathering intelligence and trimming their sails to the wind.
In truth, communications were simply too underdeveloped at this time. Otherwise, Franz would have known what the colony's principal officials ate, wore, and said every day, as well as every minor transfer and redeployment.
Do not underestimate such miscellaneous things. As the saying went, before the provisions move, the troops move first. If someone wanted to rebel, they would have to distribute supplies in advance, and Franz could begin making preparations.
Franz was not overly worried about California at the moment, but Cuba's problems were far more complicated.
Even without the Americans stirring up trouble, it was already a hopelessly tangled account. This half-colonial, half-slaveholding society, with a dash of feudal elements thrown in, was simply absurd.
Black slaves, natives, native-born whites, and separatists had all gathered in one place. It was truly something else for 85 percent of a region's population to be dissatisfied with the status quo.
There were conflicts between black slaves, natives, native-born whites, and pure-blooded whites; conflicts between black slaves and natives; conflicts