Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 036
Chapter Title: A Prodigy Emerges
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In the end, the answer from the emperor's mouth was a foregone conclusion.
"Strengthening imperial authority... It's a sweet notion, truly, but no emperor in history has ever pulled it off."
"Back then, other nations hadn't centralized their power either. Things are different now. We're the ones falling behind."
"True enough. That's certainly correct."
Without a strong central force to unify national power, decline was inevitable.
Whether that center was a king like in France or a parliament like in England didn't matter.
What counted was integrating military, finances, diplomacy, and administration under complete national control.
"Very well. I'll review this report more thoroughly, and the moment the festival ends, we'll get moving. That should suffice, right?"
"Yes. More than enough."
"To prepare all this, we'll need to appoint you not just to the Finance Committee but to military affairs as well. Eugene would approve, so how about creating a spot for you on the War Council next month?"
"No, Your Majesty. Pushing too hard like that would tip off foreign powers that you're preparing something."
As he'd said moments ago, for a decisive victory, they had to avoid drawing France's aggression as much as possible.
Appointing him as one of the military academy overseers was one thing, but slotting him onto the War Council? Anyone would see Charles VI gearing up for war.
At minimum, drawing foreign eyes to military matters was unwise.
"But the Finance Committee alone will have its limits, won't it?"
"Then place me on the Privy Council instead. The pretext could be that I need to familiarize myself with diplomacy to properly tutor Archduchess Theresa..."
The Imperial Privy Council was one of the emperor's top advisory bodies, deliberating and supporting foreign policy and diplomatic strategy.
It wielded considerable influence over domestic politics too, making it more substantive than the War Council.
Above all, as the emperor's son-in-law, learning diplomacy over military matters would look far more plausible.
"So, in other words, you want to wrap up war preparations without drawing too much attention."
"Yes. That's why I brought it up now, when we still have plenty of time."
"Understood. Honestly, it burdens me less that way too, so no reason to refuse."
"On that note, one more thing. As noted in the report, for a crushing victory, we need as many allies within the Empire as possible. The most crucial is the Electorate of Brandenburg."
If Prussia could hold off France, they could smash Sardinia swiftly and then hit France from both sides.
"I've heard you and Friedrich get along well. But that's not enough to pull Brandenburg in, is it?"
"Precisely. So if I'm on the Privy Council, I'd be grateful if Your Majesty entrusted Brandenburg diplomacy to me. Do that, and the moment war breaks out, I'll bring them in as allies."
"...I do have some plans regarding Brandenburg myself."
That's exactly why I'm rushing this, father-in-law.
The current King of Prussia had his eyes on the Duchy of Berg, near modern Düsseldorf.
Charles VI knew it too, dangling Berg to secure Pragmatic Sanction approval—but slyly avoiding putting it in writing.
When the Berg dispute erupted later, Prussia demanded Austrian support, only for Charles VI to play dumb: "No such clause in the contract, is there?"
Enraged, Prussia vowed never to trust Austria again.
Charles VI had seen his British-level swindle as clever at the time, but in hindsight, it was a classic case of shortsighted greed.
Back then, maybe, but now? He could say it plainly: Father-in-law, that's not how diplomacy works.
"Your Majesty, considering the massive gains we'll reap from war with France, we should boldly toss Brandenburg a bone. They want Berg—let's seal the deal now."
"But if they grow stronger, they might eye our strongholds."
"All the more reason to pit them against France. Besides, Brandenburg's too far from France now. Berg fixes that geographically—close enough to threaten France more than their current lands, but not bordering it."
"Hmm... That's a fair point."
"Prussia's aggressively promoting commerce too. I've already dangled a lure to the Elector: with the booming Ostend Company helping, secure Baltic trade dominance. Bundle that with Pragmatic Sanction approval and the Berg accord, and they'll be tied to us for good."
Pragmatic Sanction ratification, Berg settlement, trade cooperation.
Plenty to handle, but he could bundle it all.
"...Handling that many issues means the Elector of Brandenburg's direct involvement. Negotiating through proxies could get messy."
"That's why I'll take it on."
"You mean...?"
"Yes. I'll go to Berlin."
Winning over none other than Friedrich Wilhelm I, the original paranoia poster boy.
He had to show that level of sincerity.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ About a month later, word that he'd be heading to Berlin naturally reached Friedrich too.
He used the excuse of staying to align opinions, planting himself in Vienna.
For him, it was a chance to expose Friedrich to foreign envoys—nothing bad about that.
Yes, let the world see how promising the potato overlord was.
Especially since Charles VI would soon officially announce his Privy Council appointment, needing someone to divert attention.
Looking the part of a heavyweight was good, but too rapid a rise invited checks.
One might say the Privy Council was just advisory, but its symbolic weight was immense.
It meant direct access to the emperor—higher than Finance or War Council members, and constant communion with His Majesty was no small privilege.
A young upstart like him gaining elder statesmen's status? Not turning heads would be weirder.
So, he stuck close to Friedrich, naturally showcasing him abroad.
It wasn't hard—France, Britain, Netherlands, Russia—all fixated on how the military academy would train talent.
Prussia's crown prince visiting in person? Bound to draw eyes.
"So, officer training starts next year?"
"Yes, that's the goal. Cadet applicants are overflowing; now we're selecting commoners for technical roles."
"I see. An unconventional approach—curious what it'll yield."
French ambassador Count Polignac, desperate for intel, bombarded him with academy questions lately.
"Curriculum matters too. Any decisions yet?"
"Still debating. Discussed with Crown Prince Friedrich recently—lots of new insights, so more talks with Prince Eugene ahead."
"Ho... Brandenburg's quite interested, eh?"
"Probably the most. Friedrich's exceptional—conversations teach me tons."
Prussia's military prowess was legendary, so the ambassador bought it without doubt.
Had Prussia seemed indifferent, he'd suspect ulterior motives.
"...That talented, is he?"
"No exaggeration—just facts. Even Prince Eugene praised his rare gifts."
Europe's top commander heaping praise? Polignac's eyes narrowed slightly at the hype.
"Ha... Prince Eugene too generous, perhaps?"
"Doubt it—he's the soul of objectivity. I sought his counsel once; he called my tactical judgment hopeless. Haha!"
"...I see. Knew he was gifted, but not this much."
"I'd love to get closer if possible, but Brandenburg's wary of outsiders. Hard to bridge that gap."
Toss the bait; they'd dig themselves.
France's spies were near-world-best.
Oddly, Austria felt light on rumors—but maybe that proved their stealth.
Anyway, a serious probe would reveal Friedrich's meteoric rise.
Following a king all-in on military expansion? A transcendent commander ascending? Terrifying.
And verifiable facts, no rumors.
Austria built the academy knowing this; Prussia sent its prince to gauge the reality.
That'd be France's takeaway.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ France wasn't the only nation anxious over recent geopolitics.
Great Britain.
Still surging, but the Spanish war's near-failure left them glum.
Holding Gibraltar was fine, but the Panama blockade's flop hurt.
Not just failure—squandering fortunes on quinine, to no effect? Fatal.
Treasury wasn't crumbling, but politicians' careers were at risk.
Especially Ambassador Robinson, key in the quinine push, now cornered.
Meeting Franz, who'd brokered the damn deal, lamentation spilled naturally.
"Lately, attacks from home keep mounting."
"...Pardon? What did you do wrong?"
"Obvious. Poured national funds into useless bark, harming the realm."
"But your parliament urged buying it! Blaming the faithful servant now?"
Exactly—that's what grated him too.
Hailed as savior when promising bulk quinine; now finger-pointing post-failure.
Franz apologized profusely, bowing deeply.
"I'm sorry. Unintentionally caused you harm."
"Sigh... No. Who could've known it'd fail? At least we learned quinine works on some fevers, not others—not zero gains."
"Yes. Isolate early symptoms, tailor treatment— it'll work."
"But losing 4,000 troops and officers? No excuse. Officers hit hardest."
Epidemics struck peasant and noble alike.
Admirals, noble officers—many fell to fever.
Someone had to pay; Robinson drew the short straw.
Infuriating, but politics gonna politic.
Then, unexpected salvation arrived.
"I feel morally responsible too, so here's useful intel: Spain's pushing two key demands in the upcoming treaty."
"Two? Gibraltar ownership?"
"No. They know you'll never yield Gibraltar—just posturing. Real targets: Queen Isabel wants Parma Duchy for her eldest, Don Carlos."
The Farnese line in Parma lacked heirs; Spanish royals, via marriage, stood to inherit.
Isabel craved quick recognition; she'd push relentlessly.
"Spain also fears you exceeding trade quotas to their colonies. The rest are bargaining chips—these two are core. Prep counters early."
"I-is that true? Where'd you...?"
"We're allies now. Money loosens tongues—plenty more where that came from."
"...Thank you. If true, invaluable."
In negotiations, hide true aims, bait with decoys.
Knowing foes' real goals? Victory before talks start.
Truth unverified, but one hit meant huge edge.
Enough to save his career?
Robinson, near-despair, grasped the lifeline.
No alternatives.
"If this sways the talks, I'll never forget the debt."
"Nonsense. Technically, I wronged you."
Not his fault—could've ignored. Yet helping like kin... Politically dumb, humanly touching.
Decades as diplomat, forgotten warmth stirred his heart.
"Your Highness reveals new sides endlessly. What—or who—teaches you?"
"Learned heaps from your country. I'm the student, really."
"Haha, so humble too."
Franz muttered it was true... but Robinson took it as praise, basking in the warmth.
He'd never know it stemmed from hard-earned experience.