Chapter 420: "Look, This Is a Slave!"
Leopold II shouted in anger, "What exactly are they trying to do?!"
Marquis Hartmann, uncertain, replied, "Your Majesty, the Hungarian separatists have always been looking for an excuse to rebel. This could very well be their way of humiliating Vienna. If we don't handle this properly..."
Hungary, though a part of the Austrian Empire, had always maintained a strong sense of independence with its own "little court," managing its own finances and government officials separately. Despite Austria's attempts to appease Hungary with favorable policies, the separatists there stirred up trouble every year.
Joseph, seeing an opportunity in this, decided to blame the Hungarians for the current unrest. And the Hungarian separatists certainly wouldn't be able to defend themselves publicly—unless they wanted to explain it from a prison cell.
That afternoon, Austria's most influential ministers gathered in Emperor Joseph II's bedroom to discuss how to handle the situation. The anti-Prussian faction, led by Kaunitz, and the pro-peace faction, led by Count Frentz, were clearly divided.
Joseph II, now so ill that he could barely speak, struggled to raise his hand, signaling the meeting to begin.
Count Lakam, representing the peace faction, spoke first: "Your Majesty, there is little standing in our way of reclaiming the Southern Netherlands. Continuing to drain our resources in Silesia is utterly pointless."
An anti-Prussian minister immediately countered, "Count, if we fail to make a strategic breakthrough now, you know as well as I do that it will be nearly impossible for our country to marshal enough resources to fight Prussia again in the near future. Reclaiming Silesia will become an unattainable dream."
"It's precisely because we've wasted too many resources that we should stop the losses as soon as possible!"
"Listen to the people's voice!" Baron Ferrari held up a list. "When everyone heard that Field Marshal Lacy had won a victory, they donated 35,000 florins to the front line in just one day! And now you want to negotiate peace with the Prussians? Then, please go and return all those donations to the people yourself."
"What victory? It's all just rumors!"
By now, these high-ranking ministers all knew that there was no "Great Victory at Legnica"—it was merely a rumor spread by the Hungarians to humiliate Vienna.
"No, that is the hope of all Austrians," Baron Ferrari declared passionately. "They all believe it to be true!"
Count Frentz, thinking of the benefits promised by the British, joined the fray: "Are we really going to continue this war based on a mere rumor?"
Marquis Lange said in a deep voice, "Unless you can take everyone to see the situation in Silesia for themselves, there will always be those who firmly believe Legnica has already been reclaimed. Furthermore, negotiating peace would damage Field Marshal Lacy's reputation."
Indeed, just yesterday they were celebrating his great victory, and today the government would refute it, claiming he hadn't achieved anything—Lacy's political and military career would be over.
Frentz quickly retorted, "In fact, Field Marshal Lacy himself supports a ceasefire."
Count Lakam added, "I've been to the front lines at Legnica. Given the current situation, our army simply won't be able to reclaim Silesia before the treasury collapses."
Foreign Minister Baron Thugut glanced at Kaunitz and then spoke up: "The French Crown Prince has officially stated that they are willing to increase their support for the Silesian campaign. The intervention of French forces will help us defeat the Prussians, just as it did in the Southern Netherlands."
Baron Ferrari immediately followed up: "Right now, the entire nation is basking in the joy of victory. You all know what it would mean to retreat at this moment!"
He pointed southeastward. "The Hungarian separatists are the ones who most want us to make peace with the Prussians!"
Reclaiming Silesia was ultimately Austria's greatest political imperative. With the anti-Prussian faction growing increasingly vocal, the pro-peace faction found it difficult to get a word in.
At that moment, Kaunitz, who had remained silent, suddenly stepped forward. He tilted his head back at a 45-degree angle, gazing at the ceiling, clenched his fists, took a deep breath, and began to recite loudly:
"Perhaps you have all heard a poem that has been circulating among the people lately— 'If We Do Not Fight' If we do not fight,
The Prussians will kill us with their bayonets,
And then, they will point to our bones and say,
'Look,
This is a slave!'"
The room fell silent. The pro-peace faction hung their heads, while the anti-Prussian ministers' eyes blazed with intensity—some even seemed on the verge of tears.
This poem struck straight to the heart!
Everyone was suddenly reminded of the humiliation of Silesia being taken by the Prussians.
Especially the last line—it filled them with anger, making them want to rush to the front lines and press their flintlock muskets against the heads of the Prussians, shouting, "Austrians are not to be trifled with!"
This was the "secret weapon" Joseph had provided to Kaunitz—a short poem that had, in later generations, inspired countless patriotic soldiers to fight fiercely. In any country facing foreign invasion, it would have the effect of a bombshell. So Joseph had taught the poem to Kaunitz, instructing him to recite it at the right moment to turn the tide.
On his sickbed, Joseph II suddenly shuddered, raising his emaciated right hand, making a "ugh ugh" sound.
Leopold II hurriedly leaned in to listen, and after a moment, he straightened up and addressed the ministers: "His Majesty says we must reclaim Silesia at all costs. Immediately negotiate with France for assistance and send reinforcements to the front lines."
Seeing his father's lips move again, Leopold added, "Austria will achieve victory!"
Baron Ferrari immediately raised his arm and shouted, "Victory to Austria! Long live His Majesty the Emperor!"
The other anti-Prussian ministers echoed the call with fervor, and soon, even Count Frentz and his supporters found themselves joining in: "Long live His Majesty the Emperor!" "Reclaim Silesia!"
In the current atmosphere, no one dared mention peace again. The Emperor would undoubtedly throw anyone who did back to the countryside to feed pigs.
...
Joseph listened as the crowd outside recited loudly: "And then, they will point to our bones and say,
'Look,
This is a slave!'"
He breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that Kaunitz had won the battle at Schönbrunn Palace, and France's strategic investment in the Southern Netherlands wouldn't go to waste.
Given Austria's current strength, they needed French support to defeat Prussia. This meant he could start negotiating terms.
However, France would need to provide Austria with some real support; otherwise, once the hype of the "Great Victory at Legnica" died down, Vienna might still opt for peace.
Now that Hanover and Prussia were withdrawing from the Southern Netherlands, Joseph's Guards could be freed up to make a grand appearance in Silesia.
Of course, they couldn't conquer all of Silesia—that would severely weaken Prussia and potentially enable Austria to reassert dominance over the German states.
The plan was to help Austria reclaim just one province of Silesia. Exchanging one province for the Walloon region in the Southern Netherlands would be a win for Austria in terms of both territory and political influence.
But getting involved in a major war against Prussia would require detailed strategic planning—they needed to be able to capture one province without suffering significant losses and be ready to withdraw at any moment...
Joseph was deep in thought when Aimant knocked and entered with an elderly man.
Joseph recognized him as the old butler of the Delvaux family. A sense of foreboding rose in his heart.
Sure enough, after the butler respectfully greeted him, he lowered his head and said in a somber tone, "Your Highness, the lady... has passed on to the Kingdom of Heaven..."
(End of Chapter)
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