Franz's Private Soldiers

Tyrol, Royal Arsenal.

Although a sign for a lumber mill hung outside, the sound of wood being planed was completely drowned out by the roar of machinery.

In contrast to the snow-capped mountains, rows of factory buildings belched black smoke into the valley, filling the otherwise tranquil gorge with the thunderous noise of industry.

It was still snowing outside, yet the workers inside the factory were sweating profusely. The vast majority of them were landless peasants, descendants of soldiers, or disabled veterans and retired servicemen.

In addition, there were those who had entered the factory through examinations (requiring at least a primary school education), as well as skilled workers and weapons experts from other parts of the Austrian Empire.

The treatment of soldiers in this era was relatively poor, and there was certainly no such thing as insurance or pensions. After retiring, soldiers were usually either destitute or forced to join gangs to work as thugs.

Because these people generally lacked life skills, everything had to be started from scratch, but for a man in his thirties or forties, starting over was no easy feat.

Franz had grown tired of the infighting in Vienna and wanted to find a place to clear his head. As for the affairs in Vienna, Franz had temporarily left them to Sophie.

Although Sophie lacked a head for business, her status was high enough to be intimidating, which was sufficient to keep the place in order.

Franz had previously fired and punished many people, but these individuals were actually of little use; if anything, the efficiency of the entire system had improved once they were gone.

Franz spent another month or so constructing a brand-new framework to offset the impact of those losers leaving.

All Sophie had to do was maintain this system and deal