Legendary Figure-Archduke Charles

Chapter 3: Legendary Figure—Archduke Charles

After exhausting every argument, Franz finally managed to convince his mother and secure the right to arrange his own schedule. He still had to attend classes, but many of them had been cut back.

For instance, the lessons in religion, languages, and the arts—which Franz considered of little use—had all been reduced. If Sophie hadn't insisted, he would have cut back on politics, too.

The main problem was that the curriculum was still stuck a century in the past. It taught things like "the nobility is supreme" and "the spirit of chivalry is sacred"...

The imperial studies Franz was most interested in had been reduced to a watered-down version. All the intrigue had been removed, leaving only royal majesty.

For example: "The emperor gives a mighty shake of his frame, and all the heroes bow down, prostrating themselves in submission."

Was this how they trained an emperor, or were they trying to hoodwink the people?

If an emperor were truly raised to that standard, then given Austria's complicated circumstances, another head would likely be added to the monarchs' chopping block.

It was already 1846. If nothing unexpected happened, Franz would inherit this ancient empire in two years. He didn't have much time left.

Get involved in politics ahead of time?

That was clearly impossible. Anything that changed the broad course of history would add uncertainty to the future. Franz wasn't going to take any risks before ascending the throne.

Of course, even if he wanted to get involved, he couldn't. How much say could a sixteen-year-old kid possibly have in politics?

Even the fact that Franz was the Crown Prince couldn't make up for his glaring disadvantage in age.

That didn't stop him from making things happen, though. In many cases, pulling the strings behind the scenes was far better than charging into the fray himself.

For instance, Franz was on his way to visit a major figure: Austria's legendary Archduke Charles.

The most legendary commander among the Allies in the Anti-French War, he had defeated the French army time and again. He had been promoted to field marshal for his achievements at the age of just twenty-five, and was the only Allied commander Napoleon had ever feared.

If the inept Vienna Government hadn't squandered a winning hand, perhaps the Anti-French War would have ended early without waiting for the Russians to come to the rescue, and Austria wouldn't have lost the Netherlands.

A field marshal whose very existence highlighted the emperor's incompetence was naturally bound to meet a poor end, especially since Archduke Charles was a member of the imperial family.

Fortunately, this was the European Continent, and Emperor Franz I of Austria—the protagonist's grandfather—was not a particularly ruthless man. That was how this marshal, whose achievements had outshone his sovereign, had managed to remain active to this day.

A giant in military affairs was not necessarily a giant in politics. After using him to reform the Austrian army, his political enemies played a few tricks and made him resign and go home.

From then on, Archduke Charles devoted himself to studying military theory. He wrote military books such as Principles of the Art of War, On the Principles of Strategy in the German Campaign of 1796, and History of the German and Swiss Campaigns of 1799.

And so a great military theorist was made. Archduke Charles believed that military science consisted of two parts: strategy and tactics.

Strategy was the science of the supreme commander. Its task was to draw up plans for war and determine military operations. Tactics was the art of commanders at every level, subordinate to strategy.

Both strategy and tactics were made up of certain rules or principles. The most important principle of military science was to correctly calculate the forces and weapons available to achieve the intended objective. The forces deployed had to match the objective.

No matter how large the force, it could only produce the greatest effect if used at the decisive moment.

Therefore, the most effective way to win was to judge the timing correctly and concentrate one's forces at the moment when they could achieve the greatest effect.

Another key point was to gain an overwhelming advantage over the enemy at the decisive location. Forces did not refer only to the number of troops, but also included morale, the commander's ability, and the terrain.

He also divided operations into two types, offense and defense. He considered the offensive more advantageous, and pointed out that defensive operations were only meaningful when they were intended to transition to an offensive.

He also clearly introduced the concept of a reserve force, explicitly stating that whether on the offensive or the defensive, one had to keep a reserve force in hand to deal with sudden developments on the battlefield.

Archduke Charles believed that a commander's decisions could determine the fate of a country and the lives of millions. But commanders weren't born; they were made through knowledge and experience.

A true commander had to deeply understand the nature of war and carefully study its laws. Only by learning from practice and applying his own experience and that of others could he wield the various military principles with ease.

It would be a disgrace to a time-traveler not to make use of such a gifted military man.

Military reform wasn't just a matter of being right. The conservative forces in the army were often far more powerful than most people imagined. Franz knew this from experience.

Any reform would touch the interests of some people, so there would naturally be a backlash. Franz didn't think he could shoulder that burden yet.

For example, if Franz proposed reforming the staff system, he figured everyone would just laugh it off. Some might even whisper behind his back, "Go play somewhere else, kid."

If Archduke Charles put forward the same proposal, it would be different. Whether they agreed or not, everyone would have to sit down and give it serious thought.

"Your Highness, please wait a moment. The master will be out shortly!"

The butler spoke with impeccable courtesy, though there was a hint of unease in his voice. Franz wasn't just any archduke. Was it really all right to leave him waiting like this?

But to Archduke Charles, none of that mattered. As far as the imperial family's generations went, he was old enough to be Franz's grandfather.

And apart from that, given his influence in the imperial army, Franz had no choice but to show him respect. After all, Franz had come today under the pretext of studying military affairs.

"It's all right. I'll wait here. Oh, and have someone brew me a pot of tea. I don't feel like drinking coffee lately," Franz said with a slight smile.

He wasn't angry at all. The old man was going to kick the bucket next year anyway; there was no need to hold a grudge against a dead man.

Time passed in a flash. More than an hour went by, yet Franz was still sitting there drinking tea and reading the newspaper, without a trace of impatience.

"Little Franz, long time no see! You've grown so tall!"

A hearty voice rang out. Franz knew the newcomer had to be Archduke Charles; no one else there would dare speak to him that way.

"Your Excellency, Field Marshal, could you please drop the 'little' when you address me? I'm already sixteen!" Franz said helplessly.

"Is that so? My little Franz has grown up. What brings you here today?" Archduke Charles asked warmly.

Franz didn't pay any attention to the way Archduke Charles addressed him. Let him call him Little Franz. After all, Archduke Charles was his grandfather's brother.

"Your Excellency, I've read your military works and found them deeply enlightening. I've come especially to ask your advice!"

"Tell me, what is it you don't understand? What would you like me to explain?" Archduke Charles laughed heartily.

"It's your ideas about commanders. I've noticed that the imperial army falls far short in this regard, and hasn't really solved the problem," Franz said.