The tide of history rolled relentlessly onward. After the Prusso-Danish War ended, Europe's situation underwent earthshaking changes, and reform seemed to become the mainstream of society overnight.
Apart from the Russians in their icy realm, still doing things their own way, most countries on the European Continent were carrying out social reforms. Austria was reforming, France was reforming, Prussia was still reforming...
Reform was good. With everyone occupied by internal reforms, no one had the energy to stir up trouble. Europe calmed down, as though it had returned to the age of Metternich.
Franz knew it was all an illusion. The conflicts had not vanished; they had merely gone into hiding for the time being. With the Russian Bear ever ready to shatter the international order, and John Bull fearing nothing more than a peaceful world, how could Europe truly remain tranquil?
The Austrian Government accelerated the pace of its internal cleanup. Today, one official received a disciplinary warning; tomorrow, another slunk home in disgrace. Every now and then, some unlucky soul was hauled before the courts by the Anti-Corruption Bureau.
Ever since the decree to purge the atmosphere of officialdom had been issued, officials had scarcely known a day of peace. Starting in March, nearly dozens of officials lost their posts every day for one reason or another, and one-tenth of them were sent to court.
As far as Franz knew, the government had still shown mercy. Otherwise, that number could easily have multiplied tenfold. Perhaps because they believed the mountains were high and the emperor far away, bureaucrats grew bolder the more remote their region was.
Take Dalmatia Province, for example. There was a mayor named Algaes who believed Latin was the finest language in the world, and so he had promoted Latin day after day, year after