Making the Case

"Franz, what's been going on with you lately? Why have you fallen so far behind in your studies?"

Without waiting for Franz to speak, his mother, Princess Sophie of Bavaria, had already begun to erupt.

These were the aftereffects. As time went on, Franz's good-boy image had begun to crumble, and his declining grades were one sign of it.

"I'm sorry, respected Lady Sophie, but the courses you've arranged for me exceed what I can handle. There are so many nobles in Europe—whose workload is as heavy as mine?" Franz challenged.

"Franz, are you accusing me of abusing you?" Lady Sophie asked, her face darkening.

"Respected Lady Sophie, I don't mean to accuse you, but you know how heavy my course load is.

A person's energy is limited. With so many subjects, I simply don't have enough time to study. Now I have to attend military training as well, so my grades are bound to slip!

The best solution is to cut some unnecessary courses. That way, my grades can improve!" Franz said, his argument airtight.

"Is that so? Franz, do you think you've grown up and now have your wings, so you don't have to listen to your mother?" Princess Sophie said with a cold laugh.

Franz knew things had gone badly. It seemed he had still underestimated a mother's desire for control.

When mothers believed they were doing what was best for their children, they would often pursue it at all costs. It wouldn't be easy to persuade her now.

Still, he couldn't back down. Otherwise, things would only get harder for him from here on.

Franz said gravely, "Respected Lady Sophie, as the heir to the Austrian Empire, I need to learn things that ordinary people don't.

You're raising an emperor, not a learned scholar. Are all these complicated courses useful for governing this country?

If you think I'm slacking off, then you can try it yourself. I currently have twenty-eight subjects, and I also undergo two hours of military training every day!"

Princess Sophie fell into deep thought. European education was different: talking back to one's parents was quite ordinary, and as long as one had a good argument, parents would usually accept it.

Although the times were not yet very enlightened, the mainstream education system still aimed to produce obedient workers—that was what the ruling class needed. But Franz was the heir to the throne, and no one dared demand that his thoughts be shackled.

The longevity of the European nobility was, in fact, closely tied to their education. Though they were usually conservative in politics, that was a matter of self-interest. When it came to educating their children, the European nobility had always been very progressive.

After a moment, Lady Sophie more or less accepted Franz's reasoning, but her doubts remained. She asked, "What do you plan to do?"

Franz said gravely, "Respected Lady Sophie, I'm already sixteen. I'm no longer a child. I know exactly what I'm doing, and I understand what I need to do!

Theoretical knowledge is not the same as real life. I've lived in the palace from childhood, and everything I've seen and learned has been what you thought I ought to see.

But there are too many questions and loopholes in what I've been taught. You know how often I leave my tutors speechless with my questions.

I know nothing about what this world is really like, or what kind of state the Austrian Empire is in.

If I don't go out and see for myself, and learn the true state of this country, then in the future I'll only be able to follow my uncle's example and settle for being a puppet emperor!"

Princess Sophie's expression changed drastically. Franz was silently accusing her. But she was still of royal birth, and quickly suppressed her anger before saying:

"Franz, don't forget, you're only sixteen. There's plenty of time to learn about this country. What you need most right now is to study!"

Franz shook his head and said solemnly, "No, Mother! I don't have that much time. By the time you think I'm ready to learn about this country, I won't be able to see its true state anymore.

The bureaucrats have all sorts of ways to show me only what they want me to see. I won't be able to learn the real state of society!"

"Franz, you're too suspicious. The world isn't that bad. If you want to understand it, you can simply read the newspapers!" Princess Sophie said, her face pale.

"Mother, don't forget that suspicion is the most basic quality of a capable ruler! And as for the newspapers, surely you know about Austria's censorship laws?" Franz asked in return.

Understand the world by reading newspapers? Franz immediately thought of Yuan Shikai, who had been led astray by the newspapers and ultimately ruined.

Could something like that happen in Austria? Franz wasn't ready to draw a conclusion, but if the interest groups needed it, printing a newspaper would be nothing difficult.

Their eyes met. Neither was willing to yield, and they reached an impasse.

After a brief moment, Franz took the initiative to ease the tension.

"Respected Lady Sophie, have you noticed that the harvest has been poor in the German regions this year?"

"I've heard a little, but what does that have to do with you?" Lady Sophie asked in confusion.

Franz shook his head. "It has nothing to do with me now, but it will in the future! The poor grain harvest in the German regions means that local people's standard of living will fall. If the government doesn't handle things well, it could spark an uprising!

Although these uprisings would soon be put down, and word might not even reach Vienna, the conflict between the common people and the government would keep growing.

There won't be any problems in the short term, but as time goes on, disaster-stricken people will have no choice but to move to the cities to make a living, giving the bourgeoisie an even cheaper labor force.

Austria might even grow more prosperous, but the conflicts will keep piling up until, one day, they explode. Think of the French Revolution!"

"Franz, you're being alarmist!" Lady Sophie said, her face pale.

Franz said seriously, "No, I'm not! Respected Lady Sophie, I've studied the French Revolution.

In 1788, France suffered a drought, which reduced its grain output and made life difficult for ordinary people. Meanwhile, conflicts between the bourgeoisie and the nobility grew more severe, just like the conflicts between the Reform Party and the conservatives in our country now.

In the end, the government, representing the interests of the nobility, taxed the bourgeoisie, igniting the spark that set off the French Revolution and brought down the Bourbon Dynasty!"

"You're saying there'll be a revolution in Austria? Franz, do you think I'll believe that?" Lady Sophie said furiously.

Franz shook his head and said, "Respected Lady Sophie, this is only my preliminary personal judgment. I don't have enough information to tell whether there'll be a revolution in Austria. I'll need to gather more intelligence before I can make a judgment.

I think this subject is far more important than that huge pile of coursework. As the heir to the empire, I have a duty to understand the true state of this ancient empire!"