Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: Traces of the Storm (3)
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The launch of the Patriot Bonds—our affectionate shorthand—went far smoother than expected.
No need to belabor the point that this was all thanks to my good fortune in marrying well.
Dig into 18th-century national finances, and one fact stands out starkly.
Compared to the 19th or 20th centuries, government budgets back then were bizarrely small—practically mom-and-pop shop levels.
Sure, the Industrial Revolution exploded GDP on a whole other scale, but even setting that aside, early 18th-century treasuries were laughably tiny.
Immature tax systems and shaky administrations played a part, but the real culprit? The nobility's tax-exempt status.
France might've dodged the Revolution if they'd just squeezed a measly 10% from their aristocrats. Need I say more?
No matter how prosperous the nation or fertile the lands, if the nobles hoard it all and keep their purses shut, the treasury stays anemic.
In my past life, the moment the War of the Austrian Succession erupted, Theresa had wrung funds from the nobles, claiming the state's coffers were bare.
Austria's overall GDP barely budged, but scraping a bit from the aristocracy nearly doubled central government revenue.
Even then, the center only absorbed about 5% of Austria's GDP.
A quick back-of-the-envelope calculation shows that's lower than Britain, France, or even Prussia.
"So you're saying we need to pry money out of the nobles if we want to toughen up?"
"...Exactly. The ideal fix would be scrapping their tax exemptions outright, but that'd spark a revolt overnight."
"Mm... Yeah, not very realistic."
Deep down, I'd love to slam them with a land tax, but that'd kick off one of the Empire's cherished folk traditions: peasant revolts.
Unless I fancy a civil war, the smart play is to take it slow and steady.
"But Franz, no matter how gently we reform, we'll have to draw the sword eventually."
"When that time comes... we'll probably use something like what we did this time."
"Planning to create a second Bavarian Elector?"
Even a temple dog recites poetry after three years; imagine a wife who's shared half a lifetime with you.
Theresa pierced right through my intent and chuckled softly.
"Smart thinking. Or instead of manufacturing a pretext at home, we could use something abroad?"
"War makes a fine excuse, but the fallout could be massive."
I also double-checked the rationale behind a few other policies she'd pushed this time.
"Was granting those Balkan principalities special favors really just to boost your popularity?"
"As if~ That's the pretext. I set it up to make your job easier."
"Meaning you know what I'm planning."
"Of course. I'm your wife, but also your star pupil—your very first."
She smiled adorably, tapping the Balkan map with her finger.
"Got a new Elector in mind? Serbia? Bulgaria?"
"Right on cue. If you've thought that far, you probably guess my pick too."
"Bulgaria maximizes the 'defend against the Ottomans' rationale, but it risks constant clashes with them. You don't plan to fight the Ottomans anytime soon, though?"
"The Ottomans will suffer enough from Britain and Russia's squabbles. Tossing Bulgaria in would muddy the math."
Impressive—she'd already mapped this out?
The more we talked, the more convinced I grew that I could hand her chunks of domestic affairs.
Looking back, even in my past life, Theresa's issue was a catastrophic lack of experience at first. Later, she outshone me in statecraft.
Maybe her true talent was swiftly grasping others' strengths and absorbing them.
"That leaves Serbia naturally? Strongest pro-Austria faction, secular archbishop instead of a prince—minimal pushback from the other electors, and 'winning over the Orthodox' is a slick justification."
"Right. And when appointing Electors for major imperial decisions, we'll add a clause to consult the Balkan principalities thoroughly."
"Brilliant. It frames it as embracing the whole Balkans, not just the Serbian archbishop. What about the other slot?"
"Save it for the next round. These things shine brightest when you hold fire."
For now, I'm stashing it for Italy's eventual fold into our fold, but if the stars align, why not add another Elector and gift one to the homeland?
Long-term, the Elector title shifts from power base to honorary pinnacle for the nobility anyway.
"Back to square one, then: how do we grow the central treasury? The nobles won't fork over a dime willingly."
"Start subtle—squeeze where it doesn't feel like taxes."
Easy does it, bit by bit.
Time's on my side, and plenty of shots remain.
I pondered briefly, then decided to tackle another long-brewing issue.
"Theresa."
"What? Dropping your voice like that always means trouble's coming."
"With our second on the way—and bound to have a third, fourth—we need to talk."
"Fourth? Try tenth."
No succession woes like Charles VI's, thank goodness, but more kids means facing Habsburg traditions head-on.
"How do you want to marry them off?"
"Hmm..."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ [Let others wage war, you happy Austria, marry! (Bella gerant alii, tu felix Austria nube!)]
This pithy verse captures the Habsburg creed down through the ages.
I'm all for it—happy marriages? No parent says no.
But one botched match, and it's a lifetime of scorn ending on the scaffold? Can't have that.
We must hash this out.
A wholly new shadow of worry settled in Theresa's eyes as she stroked her swollen belly.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Strangely fortuitous: the Austria-France war injected massive vitality into Europe's stalled powers.
As time passed, warfare grew ever more advanced and intricate—but in gradual steps.
Armaments varied slightly by nation—muskets chiefly—but performance was broadly comparable.
Until this bombshell hit.
Double- and triple-checked, no change.
⚠️ URGENT INTEL ⚠️ - French musket vs. Austrian: ~3x effective range gap confirmed
- Lethality incomparable. French lines collapsed before closing
- Austria: ~40k new rifles produced; full army rearmament imminent
War buffs—or total novices—know what a 3x range edge means.
Intel confirmed, and Britain, Netherlands, Spain, Russia—all summoned their gunsmiths for frantic grilling.
"Figure out Austria's new rifle yesterday!"
"Money no object—churn out matches now! Urgency max!"
"First to produce gets a noble title!"
But new rifles don't pop out on demand.
"...Need a sample to even dream of replicating."
"Send spies to steal one from Austria..."
"And if caught?"
Even fearless Britain holds its breath.
Russia and the Ottomans—practically neighbors—dare not dream.
Snagged stealing? Instant casus belli.
Ottomans went paranoid, desperate not to give Austria any pretext.
"Franz Stefan, that devil incarnate, might seize any trifle to pick a fight. Seal lips tight; monitor Bulgaria closely."
Britain wary, Russia courting, Ottomans sweating.
No hype—this was reality, shockingly real.
"Just pay Austria and buy the guns outright?"
"If not enough, slash tariffs, hand over concessions..."
"Snap out of it, fools! Unless Austria's lost its mind, it'd never sell."
In this era, 3x range is an uncrossable chasm.
Charge in to 'prove range doesn't matter'? Become France 2.0.
Most nations fretted Austria—flush with absolute power—would eye fresh prey post-France.
Then.
"Prussia has inked a tech pact with Austria for Franz cannons and Franz rifles!"
"...?"
"Supply from Austria's Wertheimer arms factory, exclusive for 10 years barring production hiccups. Prussia commits to full army rearmament within 3 years. Grateful anew for His Majesty's generosity."
Out of nowhere, a bombshell from the unlikeliest spot.
Common sense: hoard asymmetric wonders like this.
Exporting?
"Friedrich blackmailing Charles VI? Otherwise, what the...?"
"Or reverse? Probe what Prussia surrendered deep."
10-year exclusivity is huge, but not enough alone.
Britain, Spain, Russia would match it in a heartbeat.
And flaunting full rearmament? Suspicious.
"All agents on deck! Dig every Prussia-Austria secret pact!"
"Bribe or break into Franz- or Theresa-friendly nobles—get intel!"
Frenzied probes yielded zilch decisive.
No Franz-Friedrich letters; no Prussian envoys summoned.
Then Europe's sleuthing halted abruptly.
"To bolster our navy, Prussia commences regular drills at the Ems River estuary this year!"
Blatant 'Netherlands, step off or die' threat.
"Navy drills" with 99% infantry?
War winds down, Prussia goes feral—like bad sushi.
As Friedrich sowed tension in lax Europe, Franz launched Austria's structural reforms.
"The Court will issue new bonds absolutely guaranteeing noble inheritances, assuaging Bavarian and Palatinate jitters."
Inheritance tax first, masked as rights protection.
Austria transformed quietly, away from prying eyes.