Did Maximilian have what it took?
The answer was: yes!
So long as they were not born lacking, anyone raised and trained by the imperial family would certainly surpass the vast majority of ordinary people in ability.
Yet ability often came hand in hand with pride, and that pride needed to be tempered. Only after one had sheathed their edge could their abilities truly be brought into play.
Maximilian had simply never encountered setbacks. Pampered by Empress Dowager Sophie, the first half of his life had been smooth sailing, and this had nurtured the sharp edge of idealism within him.
Idealism was a monarch's greatest enemy. Once infected by it, the best possible outcome was becoming a rubber stamp; for the worse outcome, one need only look at the Maximilian of history.
Franz sneered. "This is the plan you prepared? My foolish little brother, has water gotten into your brain?
"Rule according to your plan? Do you think Mexico is not chaotic enough, so you want to add fuel to the fire, drown the country in blood, and send yourself, the emperor, to the guillotine while you are at it?"
Franz was not merely lashing out. Maximilian's plan truly was unreliable; its core governing philosophy was actually liberalism.
Was liberalism something just any country could play with? Even Franz did not dare implement liberalism in Austria—or rather, no monarchy anywhere in the world dared implement this kind of liberalism.
Maximilian said dissatisfiedly, "My brother, what makes you say my plan will not work?"
Franz did not answer directly. Instead, he asked, "Very good. You have learned to question things. That is progress.
"Unfortunately, it is still far from enough.
"Since you are planning a governing program, then tell me: what is Mexico's greatest social contradiction? What are its strengths and