Franz had always been remarkably patient. He usually carried himself with effortless ease, but this time, he truly could not stand by and watch.
Even Bismarck himself might not have known how terrifying this economic nuclear bomb was. It was a comprehensive repudiation of the German Confederation's existing economic system.
If Franz still did nothing, even the course of the world might shift.
To minimize losses, Franz had immediately cut off the German Confederation's foreign trade network.
Only Franz could do this. Other than the Austrian Empire, not a single state in the entire Confederation was qualified to do so.
But if they spent weeks, or even months, debating it before acting, they might have legitimacy—but the losses would be real as well.
Franz would not chase an empty reputation only to suffer real disaster. The Austrian Empire's actions might seem overly domineering, and the damage to itself would not be small either.
Yet perhaps many people were hoping the Austrian Empire would do exactly this. Besides, for the greater whole and the long term, what Franz did brought more benefits than harm.
This time, the Austrian Empire ought to suffer a little too.
Still, Franz's actions could be considered responsive to public sentiment. Not a single country stepped forward in opposition; only a few critics loudly cursed the Austrian Empire for running roughshod over others and interfering with the market economy.
Franz had heard such words so often his ears were practically callused. There was nothing new in them at all; even the theoretical models were much the same.
This turmoil was manageable for those distant trading partners. As long as Franz handled things thoroughly, by the time they reacted, it would already be over.
But the Russian market was not so easy to deal with, because parts of