The Hungarian patriotic poet Sándor Petőfi, who accompanied him and was also one of the leaders of this Hungarian revolution, could not hold back. “Count, are you going to stand by and watch Hungary be destroyed? Even if the chances of success are slim, something must be done! For God’s sake, you must do something for this country at this time!” István shook his head with a wry smile and said, “My only regret is that I did not stop you all. If I had been firmer in the first place, this situation might not have happened. You’re right, I have to do something now, but not by joining the government. Don’t be in such a hurry to say no, wait until I finish talking. If talking about military command capabilities, I’m only average. Whether Duke Leopold or Marquis Thallóczy, they are all much stronger than me in this area. For military matters, I suggest you seek their help. As far as propaganda is concerned, Kossuth, you are much better than I am. You don’t need my help there. I, as a person, have the sole virtue of knowing my limits. I won’t meddle in government affairs. I will only be responsible for coming forward to coordinate the relations between the ethnic groups. It is at this point, Kossuth, that you too should put away your damned nationalist theories!” Kossuth was so angry that he almost lost control. If it weren’t for the fact that he desperately needed István’s support at this time, he was afraid that he wouldn’t be able to resist rushing up to him and giving him a beating. This guy was just too much of a pain. Spewing nonsense was bad enough, and he had to keep rubbing salt in people’s wounds. If he had a choice, Kossuth would not want to promote nationalism either, but his supporters would not agree! The capitalists needed cheap labor, and the majority excluded from rights were precisely the cheap labor left for the capitalists. Kossuth’s nationalism excluded not only minorities but all the lower classes. Apart from these 500,000 to 600,000 capitalists, nobles, and the middle class, the rest were targets for oppression. Of course, on the surface, this division only excludes ethnic minorities, while Hungarians are excluded based on factors such as wealth, titles, and cultural level. Theoretically, all these people had the potential to obtain political rights, provided that one first made a fortune. Only after one became wealthy would one have political rights. Otherwise, forget about it. Nobility is something you’re born into, predetermined from the moment you’re born. Access to cultural knowledge isn’t something poor people can afford. How can you afford to study without money? And Hungary doesn’t have compulsory education. The high-ranking members of the revolutionary party, including Sándor Petőfi, who came from the lowest classes, were not really at the bottom of society. At least they had the economic means to afford an education. His mother was a serf, but had served as a nobleman’s maid, and was considered an educated servant. His father was a butcher, but a small capitalist with business acumen. In the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, He Jin was also a butcher. Why doesn’t anyone mention that his family monopolized the meat supply in most of Nanyang County? One’s position determines one’s standpoint. They may sympathize with the plight of the lower class, but their class position dictates that they cannot sacrifice their own interests for the sake of the lower class. From István’s perspective as a high-ranking aristocrat, it is only natural for him to seek assistance on military matters from fellow aristocrats such as Duke Leopold and Marquis Thallóczy, who also come from noble backgrounds. Kossuth, however, sees this as a trap. Given the current dire situation, who can guarantee that these aristocrats won’t switch sides? Even if the Austrian government encroaches on their estates, there is still a possibility of compromise between the two sides, probably over price. The nobility naturally leans toward a monarchical form of government, and this class-based attitude is unlikely to change. Having achieved his goal, Kossuth did not stay to be humiliated even further. He did not even get a sip of water, nor did he expect István to provide meals. “Mr. Kossuth, what shall we do now?” Petőfi asked expectantly. There was no solution. Kossuth was unreliable and Petőfi even more so. His talent was poetry. His most representative works are “National Song” and “John the Valiant”. “Liberty and love; / These two I must have. / For my love I’ll sacrifice my life. / For liberty, I’ll sacrifice / my love.” He was the original creator of these words, which were very popular among intellectuals. However, he also had the traits of a literati. He typically lacked practical experience. There was no way around it. Born in 1823, the 25-year-old Petőfi was too young to be burdened with the fate of a country. “I have already contacted the Kingdom of Sardinia. Now we can only hope that they will quickly defeat the Austrian troops in Venice and force the Austrians to divert their forces.” Kossuth made no mention of asking the Ottomans for help. This could not see the light of day, especially not in front of Petőfi, who would certainly oppose it if he said it out loud. …… Bohemian Army After receiving orders from Vienna not to attack Budapest within reach, Julius was thrown into a state of confusion. This was very unreasonable. A young staff officer asked indignantly: “Commander, what is Headquarters thinking? Not to let us attack Budapest, could it be that they plan to solve this by negotiations at this point?” “This question can only be answered by the Austrian government. Perhaps the Ministry of War might have some information as well. Our duty is simply to follow orders!” Julius thought for a moment before answering. His greatest strength was his ability to wholeheartedly carry out the tasks assigned to him by his superiors. Even if he had doubts in his mind, he would not let them interfere with his mission. “Commander, doesn’t that mean we have nothing to do right now?” Another young officer complained. No fighting meant no military exploits at all. Of Austria’s four great armies, the Bohemian army had the best geographical position, with Budapest within reach. Taking it would be its greatest contribution. The Chief of Staff, Jelačić, spoke calmly: “Do you all feel bored without battles to fight? Then go and spread propaganda slogans for me. Start by establishing military control over the surrounding areas and liberate the serfs. That’s part of our mission this time as well!” Indeed, Franz entrusted the liberation of the serfs to the army. In these times, it’s not easy to deal with the nobility, especially the Hungarian aristocracy, who have grown accustomed to their privileges. Without the use of force, their words carried little weight. “Make sure to control your subordinates well. Our purpose here is to liberate Hungary and bring happiness to its people. Anyone who dares to violate military discipline will be executed,” Julius declared sternly. As loyal hounds, their allegiance naturally lies with the Emperor. This time, they came as “liberators” to win the hearts of the Hungarian people on behalf of the Emperor. Upholding good military discipline was a good starting point.
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Been playing Victoria 3 recently, it gives me some drives to continue reading this novel again 😁
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