Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Scientific Collection Methods
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Originally, Emperor Charles VI would have clung to power amid repeated defeats, eventually yielding control to the nobles before drawing his final breath.
But Franz's intervention had turned the tide with one victory after another, even crushing the rebellion outright. The timeline had twisted completely.
He had advanced to the brink of becoming a true Roman Emperor—the mightiest ruler in the history of the Holy Roman Empire, perhaps.
"Your Majesty, the nobles' unease is growing by the day."
"Just as you planned."
"Yes. Anxiety is essential for selling insurance. But creating this kind of situation is hard for either Theresia or me to pull off."
"Haha, of course. Something like this is only natural for me to handle."
Charles VI wanted Franz and Theresia to inherit his throne as flawless emperors.
But wresting anything from the entrenched elites without getting one's hands dirty was next to impossible.
Just look at Bavaria and the Palatinate—if they hadn't been swept clean, would confiscating their assets even have been feasible?
Theresia, in particular, needed to become a benevolent mother of a unified Rome. She couldn't afford to show a cruel monarch's face.
And Franz, freshly crowned King of Germany, should avoid dancing on the edge of the blade for now.
By process of elimination, only the Emperor could pressure the nobles here.
Besides, this wasn't baseless intimidation.
"We've thoroughly investigated Bavaria and the Palatinate, pinpointing noble houses deeply tied to the rebellion. We've pardoned most with ambiguous involvement, selecting only those beyond any doubt. No one can complain."
"How many houses?"
"Twenty-six in Bavaria, seventeen in the Palatinate. Nine of them with real influence."
"Perfect. Not too many, but enough to stir fear among the nobility."
Bavaria and the Palatinate were venerable electorates in the German sphere, home to countless noble families.
Including lesser nobles and knights, Bavaria had roughly two to three hundred houses, the Palatinate around a hundred fifty.
Selecting about ten percent as active collaborators in rebel electorates? That was downright merciful from the Emperor.
He had, after all, promised not to punish houses with only vague suspicions.
"Announce it tomorrow. Confiscate all property and lands from nobles irredeemably entangled in the rebellion. We'll let them keep their titles, but that might make them feel even more pathetic."
"Yes. What's the point of a title without land or wealth? It'll just deepen their misery."
"Hm... True, it will breed anxiety among the nobles. But it feels a bit too lenient, doesn't it? We need ways to amplify the fear."
"Of course. Theresia and I each came up with some ideas. Care to hear them?"
After hearing the terrifying schemes from his son-in-law and equally unflinching daughter, Charles VI slapped his knee.
He gathered the Privy Council and Treasury officials after about ten days, proclaiming the Emperor's merciful decree far and wide.
"How's the confiscation of the traitors' assets going? What's the reaction?"
"Yes. Most are relieved they weren't targeted and show no resentment."
"No noble will miss the meaning of punishing just forty-three houses. With Your Majesty clearly inclined toward leniency, no fool will court disaster."
"Good. And using this as an opportunity, I intend to correct the empire-wide rot in our lax financial system."
"...Pardon?"
At the Emperor's gesture, an attendant placed the report Franz had prepared on the table.
"This details the severity of usury in the empire. Investigating the rebels revealed they funded their folly with reckless high-interest loans. Digging deeper uncovered holes elsewhere too."
Nobles and moneylenders were inseparably entwined.
In the Holy Roman Empire, even great nobles carried twenty to thirty percent debt on average; for ordinary ones, over sixty percent had a third of their assets mortgaged—not an exaggeration.
True, nobles got far lower rates than commoners, but it wasn't negligible.
Especially now, with frequent wars and commerce shifting rapidly, more nobles borrowed heavily. Plenty lost lands quietly to auctions.
"Great nobles average five tenths interest—healthy enough. But below them, many pay eight tenths to over ten. With customary rates at six tenths, violators are everywhere."
The officials guessed the Emperor was laying groundwork to crack down on rampant noble extravagance.
A solid pretext to thrash the aristocracy—it made sense.
But the Emperor's words shattered their expectations.
"Thus, I'm putting the brakes on usury eating away at the empire's sound finance. Loans to nobles will be tiered by collateral; land-secured ones strictly capped at five tenths."
"Ooh!"
"...D-does that apply retroactively?"
See? Eyes changed instantly, proving debtors aplenty right here.
Tight legal caps might drive financiers out, choking cash flow—but not this time.
Franz's man, Wertheimer, was smoothly expanding influence in imperial finance, with promises of other perks secured.
"But shoving this through blindly would devastate existing creditors. So, to soften it, retroactive application requires immediate repayment of at least thirty percent of principal."
Nobles nodded eagerly, quick mental math in their favor.
Privy Council members were mostly great nobles, not drowning in debt.
Tighten belts, cut luxuries awhile—principal repayment was doable. Why refuse lower rates?
Great nobles rushed approval; the Imperial Diet, elector-dominated, unanimously praised and passed it.
Yet society-wide ripples defied their predictions.
"What? So many nobles in debt?"
"Most can't repay thirty percent principal? What is this?"
Obviously, forced rate cuts shrank new lending; creditors fought to recover old loans.
Europe's endless wars added volatility; two electorates rebelled, dozens of houses confiscated.
Who'd lend more now, with potential future purges looming?
Insolvent nobles defaulted en masse; aristocracy reeled from the harsh reality.
To soothe them? The court's property inheritance insurance!
The imperial house—Europe's richest, with an army that carved six duchies from France—stepping up to safeguard noble assets.
But nothing free, of course.
"Inheritance insurance premiums will scale with the house's assets and credit. But considering ironclad protection, it's no loss. Trust the court and sign up!"
Extremely, even war or rebellion wouldn't touch the insured heir's inheritance.
This wasn't a tax in disguise to suck nobles dry.
Just the court's lifeline to ease fears and solve real inheritance woes.
"...So court insurance means paying premiums regularly?"
"Semi-annually to avoid hassle. Subscribers get a gold imperial eagle emblem, direct from the court—a proud mark of our guarantee. Wear it boldly."
The court even pressured finance to offer five-tenth rates on loans for subscribers, waiving the thirty percent repayment.
Pay premium, slash interest—net win for nobles. Why hesitate?
"I'll subscribe!"
"Do I go to Vienna?"
"Set up branches in other cities!"
One catch: lifetime premiums, no cancellations.
No "tax" label, no aggressive collection—none foresaw it functioning like a new tax.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ In 1739, Austria stood at a turning point, bidding farewell to the old era.
Selling inheritance insurance to nobles exceeded expectations. To raid their pockets further, I developed more products.
"Certify with court standard measures! Regular renewals bring customs and long-haul trade perks!"
"Sponsor national defense regularly for patriot house certification! Top donors get Franz Military Academy interview slots!"
I rolled out badges, funeral funds, science talent sponsorships—but those two shone brightest.
Military academy churning officers, Austrian army's fame peaking in Europe—military prestige soared.
Top brass all my loyalists; academy drilled loyalty to the court. Graduates saw themselves as imperial knights.
Military as the court's iron arm? Academy grads became the fast track to court favor.
Next year's intake already dozens-to-one competition; nobles scrambled with bribes.
Defense fund with patriot perks and interview priority? Legit pretext, effective levy.
Fixed collections tallied a three percent effective rate.
Worth the hassle for three tenths from nobles? Absolutely.
Central budget gained breathing room; perfect stepping stone for real taxes later.
My twilight years? Taxing nobles feasible. My heir? Vastly smoother governance.
Sudden longing for my daughter, I turned my steps.
Theresia should be playing toys with her now.
"Papa! Dada!"
"Your Highness!"
"Archduchess! Hold the princess so she doesn't fall!"
Over two now, little Elisabeth babbled simple words, clutching her attachment doll everywhere.
Spotting me, she beamed, wriggled free of Theresia, plastered herself to me, and thrust the doll forward. Complex thoughts in my head vanished.
Ah, but I washed hands before entering.
Cleanliness guards' radar—post-enlightenment—spared no one, not even the Emperor.
"How's our princess these days?"
"Dada good!"
"Ah, having fun with the dada doll?"
She beamed at the doll—not resembling me at all—and nodded furiously.
Could the world hold another being so lovable?
Theresia smirked at my prolonged hug, then spoke haltingly.
"I thought about what you said before."
"What? Marriage?"
"Yeah. With our power growing like this, maybe unite internally instead of shipping kids abroad. No France, for sure."
"Obviously."
No clue if French Revolution hits this world, but either way, no "Habsburg harlot" fate for my girl.
"Any matches in mind? Oh, Prussia's pushing hard for one... Is he serious?"
Our daughter's not even two, folks.
Besides, doesn't Friedrich lack heirs?
At least have kids before proposing—that's just bizarre.
"Talk to Wilhelmina first."
I tossed the headache to Theresia, opting for irresponsible bliss.