Holy Roman Empire

At the Vienna Palace, Franz glanced at the contents of the newspaper and knew that the title of “Grandmother of Europe” would no longer belong to Queen Victoria. Or at least, not in the same way.

For the foreseeable future, the British royal family would be too preoccupied with their own troubles. While it might not lead to a political crisis, the prospect of forging political marriages would become significantly more difficult.

To make the information published by the French newspapers seem like a coincidental discovery, Franz naturally avoided explaining the actual transmission pathways of the “royal disease.”

The prevalence of the “royal disease” was still relatively new. Based on current cases, the only conclusion that could be drawn was that all patients shared blood ties with Queen Victoria.

Given that many European royal families were already struggling with issues of succession, they would instinctively steer clear of Victoria’s descendants for safety’s sake. Even marrying beneath one’s station would seem preferable to the threat of extinction.

After taking a moment to gloat over Britain’s misfortune, Franz chose not to dwell on the matter further. In situations like this, the more action one takes, the more likely it is to expose their hand. Franz had never underestimated the capabilities of a sovereign nation.

…

At Buckingham Palace, Queen Victoria had not lost her composure like this in many years. Even during the defeats in several foreign wars, she had managed to restrain her emotions.

But now, her self-control had been shattered. In this society steeped in religious sentiment, the idea of a “curse” carried devastating implications. Being labeled with such a term was enough to unsettle anyone.

The mainstream newspapers exercised restraint, avoiding overly inflammatory content. Under the public relations efforts of the British government, many even published statements from medical experts debunking the rumors.

However, the street tabloids were a different story, doing whatever they could to grab attention. Medical explanations could hardly compete with the sensationalism of a “curse” in capturing the public’s interest.

Some tabloids went as far as to link Queen Victoria with witchcraft, spinning a series of scandalous stories.

Official denials had little effect. The public delighted in reading such tales of witchcraft, especially when they involved the Queen.

While British newspapers might hesitate to go too far in their fabrications, those on the European continent faced no such constraints.

Titles like “The Queen and the Witch: An Untold Story,” “The Witch’s Curse,” and “God’s Punishment” appeared in continental publications, spreading far and wide.

As the saying goes, “The law does not punish the masses.” With so many papers publishing similar stories, the British found themselves unable to retaliate effectively.

In terms of ideology, France has always been at the forefront of Europe. Coupled with longstanding Anglo-French tensions, criticizing the British has become a routine activity for French media.

Regardless of the truth, public opinion directly labeled “royal disease” as a “curse,” blaming it on the misdeeds of the British, claiming their royal family was cursed as divine punishment.

Even Austrian media didn’t sit idle. Like most bystanders enjoying the drama, they joined the discussion.

Good words about the British? Unthinkable. The British were so widely disliked that their royal family garnered no sympathy. Any newspaper that refrained from kicking them while they were down was likely bribed.

Meanwhile, in the midst of this chaotic wave of public opinion, Austria’s future economic planning conference began quietly in the Vienna Palace.

Prime Minister Felix stated, “To date, over 98% of the farmers who applied for land redemption have fully repaid their land purchase debts.

In recent years, the expansion of the domestic market has significantly driven industrial production, largely due to increased rural consumption.

However, this wave of growth is nearing its end. From now on, the growth rate of the domestic market will gradually slow.

If our domestic enterprises cannot keep pace with the times and actively expand into overseas markets, they will face elimination in the next round of competition.

From a developmental perspective, our economy is about to enter a new phase. The overall industrial production technology in our country is no longer inferior to that of any other nation.

Continuing to protect the domestic market will no longer stimulate economic growth, it will only cause our enterprises to stagnate in their comfort zones.

Following Friedrich List’s theory of national economics, we have now reached the third stage of economic development: opening markets, embracing challenges, and initiating an era of free trade.”

Previously, Austria had always adhered to a trade protectionism policy. Austria successfully completed its industrial revolution by relying on its domestic and colonial markets.

Today, Austria stands as the world’s largest industrial nation, possessing the confidence and capacity to participate in international competition.

Continuing with trade protectionism is clearly outdated, and a new round of economic reforms is imperative.

“Isn’t it a bit too early to implement a free trade policy now? Many domestic enterprises have not yet had time to shift their mindset. We should give them more time,” opposed Tofuchs, the representative of the Kingdom of Lombardy.

This concern is understandable. Compared to other regions of Austria, Lombardy’s pillar industries are concentrated in light manufacturing, primarily in cotton textiles and silk production, with some reliance on handicrafts.

In a free trade era, these industries would face the greatest impact, especially the cotton textile industry, which is a core sector for the British.

Austria’s strengths are primarily in emerging industries. When it comes to traditional sectors, Austria does not hold a clear advantage over Britain and, in some cases, lags behind.

The problem lies in the complacency of many companies, particularly in traditional industries. Their reasoning is simple: if profits can be made without effort, why bother innovating?

This attitude is precisely what Franz does not want to see. Market-driven survival of the fittest is inevitable. Companies that fail to recognize progress and merely aim to profit without innovation are destined to be eliminated.

Prime Minister Felix’s expression darkened, “Give them more time? How much more time have we given these companies? As early as 1865, the central government issued a public notice, urging companies to continuously reform and innovate, to keep up with the times.

In 1870, the central government again warned domestic enterprises, urging them to improve their competitiveness. But what results have we seen after all these years?

On one hand, they demand that the government not interfere in the market, and on the other, they want the government to implement trade protectionism. Have our domestic companies fallen so low that they only survive by shamelessly begging for help?

The government has given them time, but who gives the nation time? With international competition so fierce, national development is like rowing against the current—if we do not advance, we fall behind.

Instead of wasting energy on these complacent, unambitious companies, we should concentrate our efforts on supporting the more vibrant emerging industries.

Market competition is becoming increasingly brutal. This is an inevitable law of human development. If companies cannot withstand the challenges, then it is better for them to close sooner rather than waste social resources.”

Opening the market and entering the era of free trade is both a challenge and an opportunity.

The problems facing the Kingdom of Lombardy are not unique as many Austrian enterprises face similar issues. These companies fear direct competition from the international market, becoming obstacles to free trade.

However, with the rise of emerging industries, their share in the national economy is growing, and the call for free trade is getting louder.

By now, the voices advocating for free trade in Austria have surpassed those supporting trade protectionism. Seeing the timing of reform as ripe, the Austrian government decided to move forward with economic reform.

Tofuchs hesitated but remained silent. He still had integrity and could not lie with his eyes open.

Even though he was the representative of the Kingdom of Lombardy, standing in the government’s position, it was impossible for him to blindly speak for capitalists.

Currently, it was just a high-level economic conference, and the representatives of the capitalists had not yet earned the right to attend so the atmosphere was relatively calm.

Once the implementation phase began and the discussion expanded, things would likely get heated.

Franz was certain that once the economic reform discussions expanded, the supporters and opponents of free trade would clash intensely, and perhaps even a physical altercation might ensue.

But this was nothing compared to what would happen outside of government meetings, where capitalists would hold their ground more fiercely. The real battles would happen in the public domain.

Franz understood the situation, but he would not interfere. Dividing the bourgeoisie had always been his established national strategy. As long as the bourgeoisie was not united, the monarchy’s power would remain secure.

At present, everything is progressing smoothly. Due to conflicting interests, capitalists from emerging industries and traditional industries often clashed, and this economic reform was just a small glimpse of that broader conflict.