Those who deserved execution were executed, those who deserved exile were exiled, and those who deserved dismissal were dismissed. Throughout the entire year of 1887, the Austrian government was busy purging parasites and confiscating illegal assets. With the conclusion of the massive anti-corruption and anti-crime case, a total of 10,286 criminals were executed, 96,412 people were exiled, and countless others were fined or warned. This included 1,274 corrupt officials uncovered within the government, 7,421 who voluntarily turned themselves in, 76 heinous offenders who were executed, and 376 officials who were exiled. All individuals involved were dismissed from their posts, and 47.56 million guilders in illicit funds were confiscated. Frankly speaking, the amount involved was much less than Franz had anticipated. The average amount per person was just over 5,000 guilders, clearly indicating that the pigs had not yet been fattened. No wonder people liked targeting the Jews. Compared to confiscating Jewish assets, the corruption of bureaucrats was child’s play, not even on the same level. Of course, this was also related to the Austrian government’s strong anti-corruption measures. Most people did not dare to offer bribes directly, and the threshold for interest transfers was too high, blocking many paths to wealth. The purchasing power of the guilder was still impressive. For frontline public servants, bribes of even a few hundred to a thousand guilders were out of reach, as their power was limited. Even if someone offered gifts, it was usually just a few guilders, or a dozen or so, at most a few dozen guilders. With such a small amount of money, it was obviously impractical to go through a large network of interest transfers. As a result, their gray income could only come from the profits shared from above. After all, they were the direct operators, and to ensure transactions proceeded smoothly, their silence had to be bought. What they received was not cash but mostly various discount cards and vouchers, many of which were distributed under the guise of departmental benefits. Legally speaking, this did not constitute bribery. Their real crimes were failing to report what they knew and dereliction of duty. This was also the main reason why so many officials turned themselves in. After all, if they voluntarily confessed before being exposed, the charge of “failing to report” would be dropped. If their dereliction of duty did not cause serious consequences, dismissal from public office would be the end of it. Although many people were involved, the ones whose families were actually raided were essentially those senior officials with serious problems. Calculated this way, the confiscated 47.56 million guilders was not a small amount at all. The average amount confiscated per person reached as high as 135,000 guilders. Had the anti-corruption case broken out just a few days later, it would have amounted to half a ton of gold per person, a clear sign of massive corruption. Franz was quite satisfied with this result. Compared to the situation at the start of his reign, when “nine out of ten bureaucrats arrested still left some slipping through the cracks,” this was a fundamental transformation. The case had concluded, but its aftereffects were just beginning. The most immediate impact was a dramatic improvement in public security. Although it could not be said that people left their doors unlocked at night, at the very least, racketeering and loan sharking vanished without a trace. Even street thugs became a rare sight. Harsh reality taught the hot-blooded youths that dabbling in organized crime came at a price. Becoming a gang boss meant having one foot already in the grave. In a sense, this amounted to a massive legal education campaign. The Austrian government forged the authority of the law with the lives of over ten thousand criminals, reversing many unhealthy social trends. All of Europe was shocked by Austria’s bold actions. Even the momentum behind the anti-Semitic movement was suppressed as a result. The mass execution of over ten thousand people was enough to make many people’s scalps tingle, and public opinion was highly divided. Supporters argued that the Austrian government had upheld the dignity of the law and that the executions followed formal judicial procedures, making it a model for the whole world to emulate. Opponents contended that the Austrian government had shown no respect for life, denied the criminals a chance to reform, and trampled on human rights. The two sides were locked in fierce dispute, battling each other through newspaper articles, and turning debates and academic seminars into their battlegrounds. To be fair, the Austrian government did spend money on public relations. Without that, the forces supporting the rule of law would have long since fallen into a disadvantage. As a result, the total amount of foreign capital entering Austria in 1887 fell by 46% compared to the previous year. In contrast, capital outflows increased by 21.2%. This was mainly because Jewish capitalists were retreating. While outsiders might not have noticed, those directly involved understood very clearly. The Austrian government was indeed very friendly toward ordinary Jews, but behind that friendliness was a desire for national assimilation. Toward those who obstructed national integration, there was absolutely no leniency. This was especially true of Count Witters, an old acquaintance, whose methods were even harsher. If someone could be arrested or not, they were arrested. If someone could be executed or not, they were executed. All were severely punished, without a single case of mercy. This can be seen clearly from the lists of those executed or exiled. Although everything was handled according to Austrian law, the problem was that the number of Jews on those lists was a bit too high. There were indeed capitalists who fully abided by the rules, but they were a tiny minority. Most capitalists, to varying degrees, had stepped into gray areas. The investigation team clearly gave them special attention. Many hidden problems were unearthed. Even though they knew they were being targeted, they were powerless to change it. Compared to other European countries, this was still a place where rules were followed. If they wanted to avoid being treated differently, the solution was very simple. They only needed to abandon their heritage and actively assimilate. In fact, the Jewish community in Austria had already split long ago. This sudden crackdown only made the divisions even clearer. Those who left were simply the ones unwilling to accept the status quo. Ordinary people, for the most part, did not want to continue wandering, since there was no clear path ahead if they left. … London Prime Minister Gladstone asked, “What do you all think of the Austrian government’s bold actions this time?” Most people focused only on the anti-corruption case itself. The experts and scholars in the public sphere also paid attention only to legal issues, but things looked different in the eyes of politicians. Foreign Secretary George replied, “This is related to the national assimilation policy that Austria has been implementing, which can be traced back as early as 1820. However, it was only during Franz’s era that these policies were greatly expanded and developed. Overall, the various ethnic groups within Austria have integrated quite well. The only trouble remaining is with the Jewish population. Even if the wave of anti-Semitism had not erupted across Europe, the Austrian government sooner or later would have taken action against those Jewish capitalists who obstructed national integration. As for the anti-corruption case that broke out later, it was in fact merely a political maneuver by Franz. He took advantage of the situation to purge the bureaucratic ranks and strengthen his control over the country.” Those who held high office were all sharp-minded. The benefits of national integration were obvious to everyone at a glance. However, knowing was one thing, but no one intended to follow Austria’s example. If true national integration had been pursued, the British Isles would have long since been united as a solid block. In reality, including Gladstone’s cabinet, every British government throughout history had tried to resolve this issue, yet all had ultimately ended in failure. There was no way around it. If everyone fully assimilated and became part of the same group, it would no longer be easy to exploit them so excessively. That would effectively cut off the capitalists’ source of profits. Chancellor of the Exchequer Hugh Childers said, “These are all political matters. What I want to talk about is the economic side. I do not know if you have noticed, but during this anti-corruption and anti-Semitic campaign, the Austrian government acquired a massive amount of funds. The exact amount is unknown, but it is clear that they gained the most from this anti-Semitic movement. Where this money will be spent is something we need to watch closely.” This was an inevitable result. On one side was the shearing of the sheep, and on the other side was slaughtering the sheep for meat. The difference in profits between the two approaches speaks for itself. International competition is not only about strength but also about financial resources. If a rival gains wealth, it is certainly not good news for Britain. Upon hearing this bad news, Prime Minister Gladstone furrowed his brows and muttered to himself, “Is an arms race bound to happen again?” After the anti-Semitic movement ended, Austria was not the only one with full coffers. To be precise, the governments of all European countries had gained wealth. Generally speaking, when faced with this situation, everyone tends to spend the money. Where exactly it will be spent is difficult to predict. However, one thing is certain. As soon as someone takes the lead in developing armaments, it will immediately trigger an arms race. First Lord of the Admiralty Sir Astley Cooper Key said, “Prime Minister, the French government has recently announced a new shipbuilding plan. According to the plan, within the next three years, the French Navy will add three new battleships, seven destroyers, four cruisers, and twenty-four various other warships of different sizes. Based on recent naval shipbuilding practices, the Austrians will likely maintain a comparable number of capital ships to the French. If nothing unexpected happens, it will not be long before the Austrian Navy also announces a shipbuilding program. When that happens, the pressure on the Royal Navy will increase significantly. To ensure the Royal Navy’s maritime supremacy, the Admiralty plans to build six new battleships and ten destroyers…” Faced with the opportunistic First Lord of the Admiralty, Prime Minister Gladstone patted his forehead and thought to himself, “This is a mistake.” Before he could speak, Chancellor of the Exchequer Hugh Childers interjected in opposition, “No, if we follow this plan, France and Austria will inevitably continue to increase their shipbuilding numbers. When that happens, an arms race will be unavoidable. Although the government has recently come into a large sum of money, that money has other purposes. We cannot afford to waste it on a meaningless arms race.” First Lord of the Admiralty Sir Astley Cooper Key chuckled, “How can you say it’s meaningless? If we drain the financial resources of both France and Austria in an arms race, they will not have the ability to do anything else. Otherwise, where do you think they would spend that money? Austria’s Near East Development Plan, France’s African Development Plan and the Large-Scale Agricultural Development Plan—these are all initiatives that could enhance their national power. If we don’t deplete their financial resources and use the arms race to weaken them, over time, will we still be able to maintain our advantage?” This was a reality that had to be faced. Britain, with its limited land area, had very limited development potential. To maintain its dominant position, it had to constantly suppress its competitors. Otherwise, in the long race of national development, it would eventually fall behind. This could be seen from recent developments. First, Austria’s total economic output surpassed Britain’s, and soon after, France’s economic output exceeded Britain’s as well. Although it was only the domestic parts of these economies, it still drew the attention of the British elite, who now regarded the two nations as the biggest competitors.
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https://postimg.cc/gallery/PwXsBkC (Maps of the current territories of the countries in this novel made by ScH)
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