The eldest son needed training, but the second son could not be left idle either. As the times continued to change, the old system of colonial governors was gradually becoming outdated. Just look at the Spanish colonies, there was chaos everywhere. Although foreign interference played a part, the real reason was that their system of governance could no longer keep up with the era. The Holy Roman Empire’s colonies remained relatively stable for now, mainly because Franz had granted fiefs to a number of nobles overseas. These nobles, each with their own interests to defend, worked tirelessly to suppress any local unrest. It was, without question, an archaic form of feudal rule. But its only advantage was that it inspired enthusiasm among those under it, pushing them to develop their territories with all their might. With the dual bonds of the feudal hierarchy and shared interests, the system could easily last one or two generations without issue. Even after three or four generations, as long as the Empire remained powerful, things would probably stay under control. But beyond that, there were no guarantees. Human loyalty could not withstand the erosion of time. The longer it went on, the more heavily self-interest began to weigh on every decision. At present, the colonies were still economically backward and had no choice but to depend on the homeland. This dependency made relations close, almost familial. But as the colonial economies grew stronger, that closeness would inevitably weaken. When the day came that the colonies no longer wished to serve merely as sources of raw materials and markets for imperial goods, conflict between the two sides would naturally arise. The central government, no matter how impartial it tried to be, would always lean slightly toward one side when resolving disputes. Once or twice would not matter much, but after ten or so instances, resentment would begin to fester. Rather than waiting for relations to deteriorate to the point of separation, it was better to address the issue while ties were still strong, granting the colonies greater autonomy. Clearly, the governor system could no longer meet these new needs. In another timeline, the British had tried to reform their colonial administration in a similar way, but due to a lack of cohesion, they ultimately left openings that the United States and the Soviet Union would later exploit. Since the governor system could not work, the feudal approach would continue instead. Following the Empire’s tradition, Franz decided to establish federated states from the colonies. Even if things eventually fell apart, at least the losses would remain within the family. In truth, implementing a feudal model in the colonies was not Franz’s original idea. After the wave of colonization began, both Spain and Portugal, as well as Britain and France, had experimented with granting noble titles overseas. However, opposition at home was so strong that what should have been real feudal holdings turned into hollow titles. With the exception of a few minor nobles who actually received land, most only got nominal titles. The right to govern the land was kept firmly in the hands of the central government. And if everything was just for show, how could anyone expect those nobles to give up their comfortable lives in the homeland and go struggle in the wilderness of some distant colony? After the rise of the Holy Roman Empire, other nations had witnessed firsthand how effective the Empire’s feudal nobility could be. Some even considered imitating the system. But by then, the global situation was already settled. The bourgeoisie and the bureaucratic class stood firmly in opposition, blocking the monarchs at every turn. A king could grant one or two titles, but large-scale enfeoffment was completely out of the question. Their reasoning sounded noble enough: the colonies belonged to the nation and to all its citizens, not to any one individual. Therefore, no one had the right to seize them for themselves. With that one statement, all the achievements of the colonizers were erased, as if the colonies had simply fallen from the sky. Anyone with a bit of insight knew the truth. While the government certainly played an important role in colonization, the true driving force had always been the settlers themselves. “The colonies belong to the nation and to all its citizens.” On the surface, this claim seems to defend the interests of the people. In reality, however, another sentence should be added: “The benefits of the colonies belong to the bureaucrats and the capitalists.” The root of opposition lies in the distribution of interests. According to the Holy Roman Empire’s system of enfeoffment, the central government controls only the major cities and key ports, while the remaining lands are granted to those who have rendered meritorious service. The areas that no one wants are reserved for the emperor. The groups that benefit most are soldiers and settlers. Those who are lucky become landed nobles, while the less fortunate still receive a small piece of land they can call their own. Bureaucrats and capitalists also profit, but compared to those who rise suddenly with the emperor’s favor, their share is clearly smaller. Jealousy drives people to madness. With the mindset that “if I cannot have it, others should not either,” opposition is inevitable. However, the German lands are unique. Years of feudal wars among the princes have left the nobility-led military in a position of great strength. Moreover, a generous emperor willing to share spoils helps suppress the bureaucrats and capitalists at home. Other countries are different. Take Britain as an example: high offices are occupied by civil officials, the military is tightly controlled, and without a strong monarch, the system of enfeoffment cannot be implemented. The armed forces can only pick up the scraps, while ordinary settlers become the targets of exploitation. Being plundered for so long would be unbearable for anyone. In the original timeline, the collapse of the colonial empires was not only caused by the interference of the United States and the Soviet Union. The most important reason was that bureaucrats and capitalists took too much for themselves. Especially in the later stages, as nationalism awakened and the cost of colonial rule increased, these same elites continued to seize the majority of profits, leading to losses in the colonies. Economic strain forced colonial governments to cut spending, which directly harmed the interests of soldiers and settlers. When even the smallest share disappeared, no one was willing to fight for the empire anymore. Without people willing to serve, the colonies descended into chaos, and the cost of maintaining them kept rising. When ordinary citizens realized that the colonies not only failed to bring profit but also caused financial losses, they simply chose to abandon them. By the time the bureaucrats and capitalists, as the vested interests, realized the danger, waves of independence had already begun. The colonial empires were beyond saving. With such lessons before him, Franz had to prepare in advance. Since the Holy Roman Empire already had many constituent states, a few more would hardly matter. Abolishing overseas colonies and turning them into federal states was something only Franz could accomplish. No one else had the strength or authority to take on such a heavy responsibility. … Hofburg Palace Holding a document in his hands, Franz spoke in a solemn tone, “This is the appointment order for the Governor of Central America. I will ask you one last time, Peter. Are you truly ready?” A federated state could not be created in a single step. The internal troubles of the empire could still be handled by Franz himself, and the granting of fiefs was nothing new. If others could receive titles, then naturally the emperor’s own son could as well. The difference lay in the size of the fief and the degree of autonomy it held, which were both far greater than usual, even though the rank itself remained the same. For a prince to hold the title of Grand Duke was nothing unusual in the Habsburg dynasty. According to the constitution of the Holy Roman Empire, as long as the emperor granted approval, a Grand Duke could establish his own state within the empire. Allowing a royal prince to found a federated state still placed it under imperial authority. It was neither a division of the realm nor an act of treason. History had many such precedents, and the people would not have strong objections. The loudest protests would come from those whose interests were harmed, namely the capitalists and bureaucrats. Yet even they would only complain in private. When it came to taking real action, none of them had the courage to resist. As for the local nobles, the creation of a federated state would not strip them of their lands or privileges. Their rights remained untouched, and the only change was that they now had one more ruler above them. They might feel displeased, but as vassals bound by duty, they could not openly oppose the emperor. However, being the emperor’s son could only earn respect, not loyalty. True loyalty depended on political skill. Franz understood that moving too quickly carried risk. Although he trusted the son he had personally trained, he was not reckless enough to push beyond the limits of what was safe. The post of “Governor” was an ideal transition. If Peter performed well, he would become king in due time. If he failed, he would simply return home and live a comfortable life as a noble. The Habsburg family was prosperous, and there was no shortage of heirs. If one son failed, there were still grandsons who could take his place. As long as Franz was alive, he could guide them all as he saw fit. Among the empire’s territories, only the nearby regions of the Middle East and Africa were to be directly incorporated into the homeland. The colonies in the East Indies and the Americas were better suited to become autonomous federated states under imperial rule. In a sense, this was also a way of spreading risk. For the royal family, having several crowns across the world was another form of protection. Peter, filled with confidence, declared, “Do not worry, Father. I have been preparing for this day for many years.” Indeed, he had. From the very beginning of the colonial expansion, Franz had envisioned establishing overseas federated states. When raising his sons, he trained them as future rulers, not as idle nobles. After years of preparation, the time had finally come. Peter could hardly contain his excitement. He was already in his middle years, and if the plan was delayed any longer, he might grow old before his new kingdom even took shape. Looking at his spirited second son, Franz felt proud, though his expression remained calm and cold. He said, “When you arrive in Austrian Central America, you will have five years. I do not care what methods you use, but within that time you must bring the region fully under your control. If you succeed, you will be crowned as the future King of Central America. Let me give you one last piece of advice. Unless absolutely necessary, do not resort to methods that go beyond the rules. The rules may restrict you, but they also protect you. As a ruler, you have the power to change the rules, but you must never be the one to break them first. Of course, there is one exception. If your life or royal authority is in danger, then all rules can be rewritten. Apart from that, you must make your own judgments based on the situation. No one can make those decisions for you.” ... Appointing Peter as Governor of Central America was only the beginning. The positions of Governor of the East Indies, South America, and Alaska were still waiting for Franz to decide upon. However, given the situation, Franz chose not to replace all colonial governors with his sons at once. Nothing could be done in a single leap. By appointing only one prince, the level of public controversy would remain manageable. If he replaced all colonial governors with royal princes at once, even the most naive observer would see what he intended to do. Before Britain, the greatest external threat, was completely dealt with, Franz would not risk provoking internal conflict. Even if he was confident in suppressing all opposition, that was not the time for such a move. When a tiger hunts a rabbit, it still uses all its strength. The same applied to dealing with Britain. Some people might be useless in governing, but when it came to creating trouble, their talent was unmatched. No one could predict how much damage could result from a single careless mistake.
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