The Scenery Is Better Here

The floods of 1846 had affected Austria too, but thanks to Franz's intensive flood-control efforts over the past decade, they had caused little damage within Austrian territory.

Yet the very same floods painted a different picture in Hungary, where the Danube roamed unchecked across the Hungarian Plain.

It swept south one moment and north the next, washing over pastures and fields, and destroying houses and bridges. Even sturdy fortresses were not spared.

However, this did not attract much attention from the Hungarian government or its high-ranking officials. After all, this sort of thing had been going on for centuries.

The first day brought a sense of novelty, but after seeing it often enough, people naturally grew numb to it.

Yet this gave Lajos Kossuth a useful opportunity to smear Austria. After all, conspiracy theories always drew extra attention.

"That's right! The Austrians are trying to wash us away with floods! They built those dams to force us to submit!

But Hungarians will never submit! We are descendants of the Xiongnu, descendants of conquerors! We are the true masters of this land!"

Thunderous applause filled Parliament Hall. Even the Single-Garment Nobles and commoners, who had no right to set foot inside, were deeply stirred.

(Note: commoners did not include serfs.)

In truth, the great nobles loved hearing this sort of thing, because it gave them another excuse to demand money from Austria.

"I disagree with your view! If you claim that the Austrians are conspiring by building dams upstream, then why are they willing to help us build dams?"

Franz still had allies in Hungary. One was the Prince Esterhazy standing before them. He had become a shareholder in the Royal Hungarian Land Development Company, so naturally he had to speak up for his employer.

Unfortunately, this prince—or rather, the people