Smuggled Trade

Although there was constant friction between France and the German Confederation, even leading to several tense standoffs, the French border remained virtually non-existent for merchants in South Germany.

Austrian goods could enter France without hindrance, and similarly, the latter's raw materials could flow into the former's territory.

Paul Steinkohl was a smuggler from Bavaria who had been working this route for many years. However, it was not until the Zollverein was established that he truly managed to rise above the poverty line.

At that time, Bavaria was not the heart of Germany as we know it today, but a completely rotten patch of land, often jokingly referred to as the "appendix of Germany."

Yes, it was exactly that kind of thing—dispensable, yet capable of killing you if it became inflamed. As a thoroughly agricultural state, it was destined to lag behind in this era of rapid industrial development.

To make matters worse, the Wittelsbach family, which ruled Bavaria, had a succession of monarchs who had no interest in economic development or power struggles.

Thus, the poverty of the Bavarians was arguably the worst in Germany, especially after the Zollverein was established, as a massive influx of Prussian agricultural products squeezed the already precarious Bavarian agricultural sector.

Although the Austrian Empire was constantly absorbing German refugees and providing them with job opportunities, many were still unwilling to leave the land of their birth. However, when agriculture could no longer sustain them, they had no choice but to turn to smuggling.

In reality, they were not the only ones smuggling; the governments of the three South German states were even involved in the trade themselves.

In the past, French goods were highly sought after, so they had no choice but to tolerate the French driving down the prices of their own goods,