Lightning couldn’t tear through the heavy clouds, and after thunder rolled across the low sky, torrential rain poured down, as if the heavens were weeping for the misfortune of Mexico City. Inside the palace, Emperor Maximilian I sat quietly, motionless, as if he had entered a state of sage-like detachment, indifferent to joy and sorrow, with the outside world seeming irrelevant to him. “Your Majesty, we must leave! The enemy is about to surround the city. We won’t be able to escape if we wait any longer!” The anxious words of his guard brought Maximilian I back to reality. The sudden downpour had come at the right time, successfully delaying the rebels’ advance. Maximilian I shook his head and said, “No, Ferren, Mexico does not have a cowardly emperor. I will wait here for them. You all should leave.” Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Maximilian I did not make a last stand but instead dismissed his followers, choosing to face defeat alone. This decision was undoubtedly correct, allowing him to avoid the ugliness of human nature. Had he insisted on dragging everyone down with him, he would likely have experienced betrayal firsthand. Aside from a few loyalists, most people fled. Of course, those who stayed were not necessarily his die-hard supporters. Many had ties too close to sever. Without the emperor’s protection, they could only face exile abroad. If they had been following a different emperor, one who had allowed them to line their own pockets, going into exile might not have been so bad. But with this emperor, the benefits were limited even in the best of times. Now, even those considering escape had to think about their finances. After being accustomed to a life of luxury, it was hard to accept a life of hardship. In the eyes of many, Maximilian I, the deposed emperor, still held considerable value. Even though he was no longer in power, the House of Habsburg remained at its peak, and there was always the chance of a restoration in the future. At worst, they could secure a long-term meal ticket. After all, how could loyal followers of the emperor be left to starve? Unfortunately, Maximilian I was not an ordinary person, and he had no intention of fleeing. Despite his subordinates’ attempts to persuade him, he refused to seek refuge in the Austrian African colonies. This decision put many people in a difficult position. The rebels might hesitate to kill the emperor, but they had no qualms about killing his supporters. To bolster their sense of justice, the revolutionaries were bound to conduct a massacre. In the original timeline, they overstepped and caused Mexico to descend into chaos as a melee of warlords. The situation now was similar—revolutions always required bloodshed. These failed reformists were naturally the best sacrifices. They weren’t wronged as their biggest problem was incompetence. Birds of a feather flock together. Maximilian I was an idealist, and those who gathered around him were naturally like-minded idealists. They were all impressive when it came to boasting, but when it came to actually getting things done, they fell short. If they had been a bit more capable, they wouldn’t have let the rebels turn the tables. Not to mention, if they had carried out executions from the beginning, or if they hadn’t pardoned those political prisoners, the rebel army wouldn’t have grown so quickly. Now, five or six out of ten in the rebel leadership were people Maximilian I himself had released. The remaining four or five were the result of their unrealistic reforms. It’s worth noting that at the best point of the situation, the rebels were left with just a few guerrilla groups of a hundred or so people. If they hadn’t faltered at the critical moment, the rebels wouldn’t have stood a chance. “Your Majesty, please leave for now. We will have a chance to make a comeback later. Even Napoleon had his Hundred Days restoration, so why cling to this momentary gain or loss?” The middle-aged captain of the guard was truly anxious. Others could run, but he couldn’t. He had followed Maximilian I from Austria. As Maximilian’s guard, if he abandoned the emperor and fled back home, even if the Habsburgs didn’t trouble him, how could he hold his head high for the rest of his life? After this failed venture, his ambitions had nearly been extinguished. He no longer sought to make a name for himself and just wanted to enjoy a peaceful retirement. After all, he was only Maximilian I’s guard captain and wasn’t responsible for the collapse of the Mexican government. As long as he could safely escort the emperor back, it wouldn’t be considered a failure. Once back, he could continue to serve as the guard captain for Maximilian I, the abdicated emperor, playing the role of a loyal retainer. The Habsburgs would never mistreat a loyal servant. Through coercion and inducement, Ferren managed to gather a small team of a hundred, ready to escort Maximilian I to safety. Of course, this was all done in Maximilian I’s name, and any promised benefits would still be on this deposed emperor to deliver. There was no doubt that, no matter how down and out, Maximilian was still a significant figure. As long as he returned to Vienna, fulfilling these promises wouldn’t be a problem. He even prepared for failure, planning to take the emperor into the Austrian embassy. If the rebels dared to attack, it would provide the Austrian government with an excuse to intervene. Maximilian was still immersed in his defeat, naturally unaware of his subordinates’ actions. He shook his head again, remaining silent for a long time before saying, “Even Napoleon failed. Why would we succeed?” Ferren was dumbfounded. This stubborn, idealistic middle-aged man was not to be trifled with. He was completely set in his ways. Success was naturally a distant possibility and Ferren was merely looking for an excuse to escape. “Your Majesty, the rebels are only a day’s journey from Mexico City. Once the rain stops, they will likely lay siege. If we miss this opportunity, it will be difficult for us to leave.” Maximilian I continued to shake his head, seemingly determined to stay and ask the rebels why they revolted. ... The rebels didn’t march in the rain. Was it really out of consideration for the soldiers? The answer is no. Many people, including President Juárez, didn’t know how to deal with Maximilian I. The obvious opening left open was a deliberate one, inviting him to leave quickly, with the hope that he might even die of illness on the way, sparing everyone further trouble. There was no way around it as political struggles are complex. Don’t think that just because Maximilian I pardoned many of the rebel leaders, they would be grateful to him. Even if some gratitude existed, no one dared to show it in the face of reality. No matter what they truly felt, these individuals would publicly call for his execution with great fervor. Additionally, some people who had once supported Maximilian I found themselves harmed by the reforms and joined the opposition. These people, having suffered losses, harbored a deep hatred for Maximilian I. Not calling for his execution would be a disservice to the Mexican people. In the original timeline, Maximilian I was sent to the guillotine this way. But now, things were different—Austria had become a neighbor to Mexico. If Maximilian I were killed, who knew if the Habsburgs would let it go? What if they invaded Mexico under the guise of revenge? While everyone shouted slogans, no one truly wanted to fight Austria. Despite the French having withdrawn in disgrace, they had effectively dominated the Mexicans in battle, leaving a deep-seated fear. President Juárez didn’t want to keep the troublesome Maximilian I around but also didn’t want to provoke the Austrians over this issue. Unlike the French, who left after their defeat, Austria had established a foothold. While the Austrian colonies in Central America couldn’t swallow Mexico whole, it could still take a bite out of it. Juárez was no fool. He was attentive to international politics, especially when it came to understanding his neighbors. The United States wanted access to the Mexican market, the Confederate States had similar interests, and Britain, Austria, and Spain were all eyeing Mexico covetously. Previously, with the French in the way, these powers had all been very restrained. Now, this pressure fell on their shoulders. Juárez wasn’t confident that the reputation for driving out the French would be enough to deter these enemies. He would rather keep Maximilian I as a hidden danger than invite intervention from various countries over this issue. As the rain gradually stopped, Maximilian I remained in the palace, unwilling to leave this place of sorrow. The rebels were on their way to Mexico City, and the city was already in a state of panic. Ferren was struggling to keep his men in line. One impatient guard asked, “General, is His Majesty still refusing to leave?” Despite being merely the head of the guards, Ferren held a high military rank, as a lieutenant general in the Mexican Empire. Maximilian I had been quite generous in this regard. “Calandi, keep your cool. Send someone to monitor the rebels. The situation has changed, and if His Majesty refuses to leave the palace, we may have to forcibly escort him to the Austrian embassy. I’ve already arranged with the Austrian envoy that you and your families can obtain Austrian citizenship. The rebels won’t dare harm Austrian citizens.” Upon hearing Ferren’s explanation, everyone calmed down. The Mexican Empire was a semi-colonial and semi-feudal state, and the great powers had many privileges there. In dealing with foreign affairs, the Mexican government was always cautious. Comparatively, Maximilian I’s rule was the period when Mexico was most assertive internationally. Due to his background, Maximilian I had a deep understanding of European countries and wasn’t as fearful of them. Things that terrified government officials didn’t scare this emperor. In many cases, he could enforce the law, and even when foreign ministers intervened, he could handle it with composure. This was useless as it wasn’t possible for the emperor to handle everything personally. The usual privileges remained unchanged, and officials still feared foreign powers. With this protective charm, they could at least avoid retribution from the rebels. While they could wield the knife internally, the Juárez administration would never dare engage in massacres when dealing with foreign matters. Those still following Ferren were staunch royalists. To them, the emperor was the state, and following him meant they were not committing treason, so they felt no guilt. Many were betting on Maximilian I’s restoration, for one reason only: his lineage. The House of Habsburg had the power to restore him, and logically, there was no reason for them to abandon a crown already in their grasp. The conflict between Maximilian I and his family wasn’t something ordinary people could know about. The Habsburgs were too embarrassed to announce it publicly, and Maximilian was even more afraid to speak about it. As the rebels approached, chaos engulfed Mexico City, with looting, arson, and violence occurring at every moment, exposing the darkest sides of human nature. In the evening, a young soldier rode into the palace, shouting, “The rebels have entered the city!” With this news, the atmosphere in the palace grew tense. This time, Ferren didn’t seek Maximilian I’s permission and decisively ordered, “Let’s go, everyone, escort His Majesty to the Austrian embassy.” Regardless of Maximilian I’s willingness, he was forcibly put into a carriage and taken to the Austrian embassy in Mexico. The cramped Austrian embassy obviously couldn’t accommodate so many people, but that didn’t matter. They could just temporarily expand the embassy. Several nearby buildings were draped with Austrian flags, effectively becoming part of the Austrian embassy in Mexico. With the emperor present, the expansion of the embassy was entirely legal. The deed was done, and Maximilian I couldn’t fault his subordinates for taking the initiative, as they were simply being loyal. Austrian ambassador Kompten was almost grinning from ear to ear. After all, this was an achievement that had fallen into his lap, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Successfully sending Maximilian I back home would allow him to be in the good graces of the great emperor. Even if it failed, it would still create a pretext for Austria to intervene in Mexico. Kompten wasn’t afraid of the rebels, as no matter what, the Mexican rebels wouldn’t dare harm an Austrian ambassador. If they did, it would be tantamount to declaring war on Austria. This dire consequence was not something the new government could afford. After years of struggle, they had finally risen to power, and no one wanted to return to a life of hiding and running. Once Maximilian I was settled, the elated Kompten immediately promised everyone, “Don’t worry. From now on, you are the guards of the Austrian embassy in Mexico. We have already prepared the uniforms. You can change into them shortly. If the rebels dare to act, they are challenging the great Austria!” Clearly, Kompten had been well-prepared. As soon as he made contact with Ferren, he had a batch of uniforms sent from the Austrian Central American colonies. Now, by simply changing their clothes, their status instantly changed—from the Emperor of Mexico’s guards to the guards of the Austrian embassy. As for whether Austria had the right to station troops in Mexico City, that wasn’t something to worry about—it was a must! Even if they didn’t, Maximilian I could issue a temporary order. Regardless of whether the republican government led by Juárez acknowledged it, Austria had, at that moment, secured the right to station troops. Kompten skillfully demonstrated his competence as an ambassador of a large nation, quietly securing a privilege for Austria. A cheer erupted, as they were finally safe. Becoming the guards of the Austrian embassy meant they had weathered this storm. The only one who was despondent was Maximilian I, who lay alone on his bed, sighing.
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