At the Vienna Palace, ever since the news of Mexico City’s fall arrived, Franz has been dealing with troubles. Although Maximilian I was not well-regarded within the Habsburg family, this did not include Archduchess Sophie and Archduke Karl. Maximilian might not have been a good emperor, but he was a good son. During his time in Vienna, he behaved well and was much loved by the two of them. Upon hearing about the troubles in Mexico, they came to inquire about the situation. Despite Franz’s repeated assurances that Maximilian was safe and currently at the Austrian embassy, they remained uneasy. Now, every telegram related to Austrian Central America had to be personally reviewed by Archduchess Sophie, and she even sent a telegram to Governor Hümmel in her name. This made Franz quite annoyed, but given the circumstances, he couldn’t say much. Parents’ deep love for their children can sometimes lead them to do unreasonable things. To have a few peaceful days, Franz unhesitatingly chose to tour the country. Of course, this was limited to mainland Europe, as Asia, Africa, and America were too far, and long-distance travel in this era still posed risks. Just as Franz departed, Alexandrovich’s European tour reached its final stop in Vienna. The long-awaited opening of the Imperial Palace suite at the Austrian Grand Hotel had finally happened. It wasn’t easy, considering that since its completion, it had hosted fewer than ten guests and sometimes didn’t open even once a year. In fact, whether it opened or not didn’t make much difference, as room fees weren’t collected anyway. Traditionally, when royals visit each other, the host is responsible for all arrangements. Of course, Franz still hoped for more visitors to stay, as this was also a form of advertising. This is how the Austrian Grand Hotel’s status was elevated, claiming to be the world’s premier hotel. Despite being far from recouping the investment, the hotel’s performance growth rate remained impressive. From its opening until now, annual revenue has tripled and continues to grow at a rate of 30-40% each year. The Imperial Palace suite was originally built to palace specifications, with luxury beyond description, and its garden landscapes were uniquely stunning. However, the newly arrived Crown Prince Alexandrovich showed no interest in these beautiful sights, overwhelmed with deep sorrow. Franz’s reason for traveling naturally didn’t need to be explained to the outside world, so Alexandrovich mistakenly assumed that Franz didn’t want to meet him. Every action of the emperor carries political significance. Franz’s unwillingness to meet him signaled that the Austro-Russian alliance had reached its end. For Alexandrovich, this was terrible news. It meant that his European tour was a failure. Although relations with various European countries had been eased, it couldn’t offset the impact of the Austro-Russian alliance’s collapse. With the emperor absent, Crown Prince Alexandrovich also lost interest in upcoming diplomatic meetings. After tentatively proposing a loan, which was rejected by the Austrian government, negotiations ended. A wonderful misunderstanding led to a wasted opportunity for high-level contact between Russia and Austria, which could have resolved their conflicts. When Franz’s daily records were declassified a century later, this misunderstanding was revealed and listed by historians as the 19th century’s biggest “political blunder,” sparking renewed debates in the academic world. Franz, who was inspecting Württemberg, naturally didn’t think much about it. He couldn’t possibly turn back to Vienna just because of Alexandrovich’s visit. That would be undignified. It would be a different story if Alexander II himself had come. A crown prince meeting a crown prince is perfectly appropriate, and Franz left his son in Vienna. Even if he was a bit young, he was still the Austrian crown prince, of equal standing, fully capable of handling the reception. For discussions, Austria’s Foreign Ministry was available. With the advent of telegraphs, Franz didn’t need to travel with government officials. Purely in terms of distance, Württemberg wasn’t far from Vienna. With Austria’s developed transportation, it was possible to leave in the morning and arrive by evening. Not only is Württemberg relatively close, but all of Austria’s European territories are not far from each other. Even the most distant, Cyprus Island, is only a little over a thousand kilometers from Vienna. With such a short distance, it is theoretically possible to reach within three days. Of course, this is only in theory. Under normal circumstances, using ordinary transportation would take about ten days. Franz’s national tour definitely does not include islands like Cyprus for a simple reason—seasickness. Traveling by special train, it takes no more than three days to reach any major city in Austria from Vienna. This is why Franz could embark on an impromptu journey, knowing he could return to Vienna promptly if needed. As it turned out, the youthful Alexandrovich could not withstand the wait. After a week in Vienna without seeing Franz return, he decided to head back home. No one could have predicted that this seemingly inconspicuous European visit by Alexandrovich would mark the beginning of the Austro-Russian alliance’s collapse. A simple misunderstanding led the Russians to believe that the Austrian government had decided to abandon the Austro-Russian alliance, prompting the Russian government to lean towards the British. But that was all in the future. Franz’s so-called inspection was actually more about sightseeing and leisure. If it were a genuine inspection, he wouldn’t start with these smaller states. Despite being the Holy Roman Emperor, he has limited say in the economic development of the individual states. Such were the unspoken rules. Franz didn’t interfere in matters that weren’t his concern. As long as he was assured that the economic development of the various states was going well, that was enough for him. As an emperor, ensuring national peace and prosperity was enough to secure his position. Ambitious individuals were always a minority, and in peacetime, these people were at most just all talk. Compared to other European countries, the German region remains relatively conservative, with Austria being a stronghold of conservatism. Many new ideas originate here but fail to flourish. The main reason Paris became the beacon of the free world and the holy land of revolution was that Parisians were more receptive to new ideas, with emotion often overriding reason. If one were to study history, one would find that France had become the battleground for European thinkers, with Paris being the first testing ground for any theory or ideology. ... In Mexico City, upon receiving the notice of leave from Ambassador Kompten, the soldiers who had been eating bread for days let out a cheer. The Mexican government had the power to prevent its citizens from doing business with the Austrian embassy, but not the courage to obstruct the movement of Austrian embassy personnel. Groups of two or three ‘Austrian soldiers’ appeared on the streets of Mexico, and these men knew the area well. Even if they weren’t locals, they had lived there for many years. When they were following Maximilian I, they had picked up quite a few bad habits. In the Austrian embassy, they naturally didn’t dare to be unruly, but now that they were out, they had no reservations. Of course, this doesn’t mean they were entirely without morals. In fact, under Maximilian I’s restraint, these guards were generally decent, albeit a bit hot-tempered. As part of the first group to take leave, Captain Mikkel and a few colleagues immediately decided to improve their meals, having had enough of eating bread continuously. … With a loud “bang,” a palm slammed heavily on the table. Captain Mikkel roared, “What do you mean, you won’t sell to us? Why not? I’m not refusing to pay!” The restaurant staff stammered through an explanation, but this only fueled Captain Mikkel and his companions’ anger rather than easing it. This anger wasn’t directed at the waiter, but mainly at the Mexican Republican government. Unfortunately, he was in front of them and was caught in the crossfire. Captain Mikkel had recommended this restaurant, and now it was making him lose face. He lifted his gun and sneered, “Cut the crap and get me my steak.” With a gun to his head, the server didn’t dare refuse and quickly nodded in agreement. This action clearly angered the other patrons, and a few young men in military uniforms came over to argue. They appeared to be about 17 or 18 years old, just the age when one fears nothing. “You bunch of scoundrels, how can you force people to sell? If they don’t want to do business with you, that’s their right!” The words “scoundrels” and “right” completely infuriated Captain Mikkel. They were staunch royalists, and the fact that they didn’t betray Maximilian I at the last moment was proof of their stance. They despised liberalism. Compared to reasoning, they preferred using their fists. Without hesitation, Captain Mikkel and his companions immediately resorted to violence. Soon, the young men who had stood up to them were left on the ground groaning in pain. With the fight over, no one bothered Captain Mikkel and his companions as they ate. As for the agents from the Mexican Republican government sent to follow them, they pretended to see nothing from start to finish. As long as there’s no major trouble, it’s best not to bother the higher-ups with these minor issues. When it comes to foreign soldiers, even if they commit crimes, their superiors also don’t have the authority to deal with them. Handling it well brings no credit, but mishandling it could make someone a scapegoat. As a country transitioning to a semi-colonial society, it’s hard for the Mexican Republican government not to be timid. If it were just this, the matter would pass. Daily clashes in Mexico City with foreign powers are numerous, usually resulting in Mexicans getting the short end of the stick. It’s just that the protagonists this time are different. Regardless of what these soldiers were before, now that they’re wearing Austrian uniforms, they are Austrian soldiers, and the Mexican government can’t do anything to them. However, the young men who suffered didn’t agree to let it go. After leaving with injuries, they didn’t want to just let it slide. Instead, they thought about revenge. “Koller, we can’t just let this go. If we don’t retaliate, these bastards will only become more arrogant!” Koller responded, “Kend, what do you plan to do?” Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, Kend sneered, “Of course, it’s…” He made a throat-cutting gesture, and their conversation came to an abrupt halt. Despite their youth, they’ve been baptized through blood and fire and are members of the radical faction within the Mexican Republican government. After a pause, Koller slowly said, “We must be cautious with this, not leaving any traces, and it would be best to frame…” ... Captain Mikkel and his companions, still wandering outside, were unaware that they had been targeted. They were looking for entertainment everywhere. There were many soldiers in the embassy, and they had to take turns resting. Leave was hard to come by, and if they missed this opportunity, they’d have to wait until next month. Around midnight, already quite drunk, they were supporting each other as they headed back. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to stay out, but their wallets couldn’t handle it. With such a small military salary, they couldn’t afford to squander it. Occasional indulgence was fine, but they weren’t in a position to live a life of debauchery. “Bang, bang, bang…” Gunshots rang out, and the group instantly sobered up, immediately dropping to the ground and returning fire in the darkness. Thanks to the tense situation, the Mexican Republican government had increased its vigilance, and the gunfire attracted the attention of patrolling police. Captain Mikkel escaped by the skin of his teeth, but his companions weren’t so lucky. Of the eight men who had gone out, three were dead and two were wounded. This was just the beginning of the conflict. Several other soldiers returning home suddenly found their residences occupied by new owners, leading to more fierce confrontations. In just one day, these soldiers on leave caused over a dozen shootings in Mexico City, resulting in dozens of casualties. Ambassador Kompten was pleased rather than angry upon receiving the news. He no longer had to worry about lacking a pretext for intervention. With so many shootings, the Mexican Republican government had to provide Austria with an explanation. As for the deceased, Ambassador Kompten could only regretfully express the need to seek justice for them. After all, these people had been issued Austrian citizenship by him. Especially concerning the matter of homes changing owners—these were “Austrian citizens” whose properties had been forcibly taken. This matter could not simply be brushed aside. Ambassador Kompten was a clever man. Since the Austrian army had not yet arrived, it was not the right time to provoke the Mexican government. If they were pushed too far and decided to retaliate in a last-ditch effort, it could end disastrously. In his view, finding an excuse to intervene and then politically blackmail the Mexican Republican government under the threat of military force was the best course of action. If the army were to outright crush Mexico, what role would diplomats like him have? To avoid excessively provoking the Mexican Republican government, Ambassador Kompten initially downplayed the situation, focusing solely on the shootings and demanding that the Mexican government hand over the perpetrators. The matter of ordinary Austrian citizens’ properties being seized and even the horrific massacres that wiped out entire families was temporarily not pursued. In fact, the Mexican government was entirely unaware that these people had become Austrian citizens. Originally, Ambassador Kompten had hesitated about granting these soldiers’ families Austrian citizenship, as many did not meet the standards. Now, there was no need to hesitate—they must be Austrian citizens. Even their relatives who perished during the purges could become Austrian citizens. The greater the number of casualties and the more significant the property loss, the stronger the justification for demanding compensation in the future.
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