Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 054
Chapter Title: Inheriting the Throne (2)
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As Franz began to seriously involve himself in state affairs, the atmosphere in the imperial court changed dramatically.
And the imperial court before this Polish succession crisis and after it was bound to undergo even greater transformations.
If they won, Charles VI's authority would rise endlessly, but if they lost, he would forfeit most of the power he had accumulated thus far.
Yet Charles VI did not see this as a gamble.
Several years ago, when Franz had foreseen this very crisis and submitted a report predicting the conflicts surrounding Poland, urging preparations for war...
That was when he began to harbor ambitions that this position of emperor might truly elevate him to the stature of an emperor in name and fact.
Even if he couldn't achieve it in his own reign, perhaps Theresa and Franz's generation could inherit and accomplish it.
Of course, he knew better than anyone that it wouldn't be an easy path.
Who wouldn't want to tread the road that every emperor of the Empire had dreamed of at least once?
All who had challenged it had failed, and some had faced brutal retribution.
No matter how strong the Habsburgs were, they couldn't do it alone.
However, Franz boldly brought in the Hohenzollerns—their greatest rivals—as partners in this grand endeavor, and no one knew about it to this day.
And now, the time had come to completely overhaul the Empire's outdated system.
Barriers erected in the name of centuries-old traditions would stand in the way, but he had no intention of stopping.
To surpass nations like Britain and France, which were growing stronger by the day, the Empire had to be reborn.
And for that, they first had to win the coming war.
No matter what means it took.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Poland, which had dominated Eastern Europe in the early 17th century, had lost all of its former might.
"Looking at Poland's decline sometimes leaves a bitter taste, as if it could happen to anyone."
"I suppose it could."
There were countless reasons why Poland had gone astray, but the failure of centralization was always at the top of the list.
Centralization didn't necessarily mean absolute royal power.
What mattered was establishing an order that could unify the nation's full strength, and Poland had botched that process spectacularly.
The state was more like a confederation of local magnates, with weak royal authority and not even hereditary succession.
The local lords, who tightly controlled their regions, suppressed free economic activity by merchants and citizens, and the kings' efforts at centralization all ended in failure, leading to a slow decline... Huh?
Isn't this exactly like that so-called Roman Empire that's neither holy nor an empire anymore?
"Once this is over, Poland will be even more swayed by foreign powers than before—not just Saxony, but Russia too. In the long term, the nation might vanish altogether."
"That's right. In a few decades, it'll be inevitable—someone will suggest we just partition and swallow it up."
As the emperor said, Poland-Lithuania would later be amicably divided three ways by Prussia, Austria, and Russia, vanishing into the pages of history.
The infamous "Partition of Poland."
But that was far in the future, and a vast land like Poland, with its firmly rooted national identity, couldn't be carelessly swallowed without indigestion.
This was a blind spot in colonial rule that had become common knowledge by the 21st century, but in this era, the vast majority didn't give it a thought.
If the Polish nobles weren't fools, they surely knew that installing their own king would provoke Russia.
Yet they rejected the German August III and supported the Polish-born Stanisław.
That meant the identity as Poland-Lithuanian people was already firmly established.
Of course, no amount of fervor could change the fact that mighty Russia loomed right next door—Poland's fate was sealed.
"So Poland is ultimately charging toward catastrophe on its own."
"...France is promising strong support to lure them in."
"A country across the Atlantic sending troops all the way to Poland?"
"It doesn't make sense, but desperation narrows the vision."
There were certainly pro-Russian and pro-Saxon factions among the Polish nobility.
Objectively speaking, quite a few.
And if Stanisław became king, it would give Saxony and Russia perfect justification to intervene.
'Poland wants a Polish king!'
'Boo! Germans, get out!'
'How long must we endure Russian meddling? Russians, mind your own country!'
It was a harsh reality, but nearly every class in Poland had united to support Stanisław, who had sneaked in covertly.
Polish patriots fervently backed their fellow countryman Stanisław.
Pro-Russians pushed him to create a pretext for Russian intervention.
Pro-Saxons pretended to support him, believing Saxony would march in with troops.
The entire Poland was chanting Stanisław's name as one—it must have left even him bewildered.
[The true king of Poland is Stanisław alone!] [The one king Poland has awaited!] [By the solemn decision of the Sejm, Stanisław Leszczyński is officially proclaimed the new king of Poland-Lithuania!] Stanisław and his aides, who had braced for fierce backroom negotiations and bribes, stared blankly at the results.
"To think Poland craved a rightful king this much... It's so moving, I could cry!"
"Your Majesty! Congratulations!"
"...What? Am I really that great? Am I the sole hope to save Poland?"
He had contracted the incurable disease that politicians catch when faced with unexpected popularity or opportunity: megalomania.
"We nobles of Poland and Lithuania have suffered greatly under the oppression of false kings until now! But that long, humiliating era is finally over!"
"Hooray!"
"Saxony has lost its former strength, and Russia pretends to be mighty but is in chaos due to its newly crowned empress. They can never crush us!"
"Moreover, I've secured a promise that if anyone points a sword at Poland, France will shield us! With the support of Europe's strongest power, France, have no fear!"
Common sense revealed a slew of holes.
Russia was right next door, France far away—could reinforcements really come?
No matter how strained, could Saxony and Russia lack the capacity to send troops to neighboring Poland?
Doubts abounded, but Stanisław was already riding the tiger.
Getting off meant being devoured; he had no choice but to ride it to the end.
His noble supporters relentlessly cursed Saxony and Russia with one voice.
"We can't accept an utterly incompetent German lording over us!"
"Practice your reign of terror in Russia!"
Naturally, their reckless tirades were signals begging Russia and Saxony to attack.
[The nobles of Poland-Lithuania have insulted and driven out the rightful heir Friedrich August, depriving him of his rights in a heinous act. Thus, Her Majesty Anna Ivanovna, the great empress of Russia, decrees that Saxony's elector August III be supported to place a true king on Poland's throne.] Russian forces crossed the border, invading eastern Poland and marching on Warsaw.
Now, no one could stop it.
The War of the Polish Succession erupted even more fiercely and swiftly than in the original history.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Prussia, a peaceful state originally uninvolved in this war.
"You... you mad bastard, are you truly sane?!"
"I can confidently say I'm not insane, at least."
"And yet you pull this stunt?!"
The news of Stanisław's election as king of Poland reached Berlin swiftly.
With Russia gnashing its teeth, Poland was destined to be engulfed in flames.
France would seize the opportunity to declare war.
But Prussia could preserve its strength by staying neutral if it wished.
"You side with the Habsburgs to strike France? Then what was the point of babbling about delaying Wilhelmina's marriage?!"
"That was also arranged with the Habsburgs. Sister agreed readily."
"You lunatic..."
Friedrich Wilhelm began to seriously suspect his son had lost his mind.
Why wouldn't he?
A few months ago, with Austria poised to war with France, his son had suggested delaying the marriage to avoid entanglement.
At the time, Wilhelm thought his son had finally gained the savvy for pragmatic diplomacy and went along.
Postponing a set marriage bruised pride, but if it kept France and Austria fighting each other, a little lost face was worth it.
But then, out of nowhere, Friedrich declared he'd ally with the Habsburgs and attack France the moment war broke out.
"There must be a reason. If you're truly sane, spit out a proper one."
"Your Majesty, the German states must unite. Short-sightedness like yours will make a true German Empire a distant dream. Unless we decisively crush France and silence it, won't it constantly meddle when we absorb neighboring principalities?"
"...Absorb?"
"Look at Saxony. Tied as fellow electors, yet how weak and backward. With a plausible pretext, we could swallow it whole. The key is blocking French or British intervention."
Wilhelm could guess what his son was scheming.
It had to be putting into action that proposal Franz had floated during his Berlin visit.
"...But how does that connect to delaying Wilhelmina's marriage?"
"Sigh... Your Majesty, think. If Prussia and Austria seem tightly bound, will France declare war? Possibly, but less likely. To draw them in surely, we need to appear somewhat estranged."
"What... You hid that intent from me? You've truly gone mad."
"Forgive me, but haven't I been handling most state affairs already?"
The reason Crown Prince Friedrich could boast so boldly before his king father was crystal clear.
"You... you rascal..."
"Even bedridden, you crave your pipe, so I clean up after you myself. Where else is such a devoted son? Don't be so upset—I'm hurt."
King Wilhelm's health had deteriorated severely since last year, confining him mostly to his sickbed.
Yet, inseparable from tobacco, he demanded his pipe even in bed, and his son obliged.
Thus, Crown Prince Friedrich effectively ruled as regent, while Wilhelm merely received reports.
This was why Franz had pegged Prussia's participation at 100%.
"Your Majesty, worry not. I'll personally go cripple those frog-legs so they can't hop back. You just lie here and bask in victory."
"You'll go yourself?"
"Of course."
Wilhelm easily saw through his son's intent.
The future heir would lead troops, crush France on the front lines, and return triumphant.
While the reigning king lay wheezing in bed—how would the nobles react?
"You... surely you're not..."
"What, scared I'll seize the throne?"
"You bastard!"
Thwack!
His reflexive punch was effortlessly caught by Friedrich, who clicked his tongue.
"You've never been hit, so you wouldn't know, but fists hurt. I hear you struck your younger son recently too—listen when I speak gently. Even bedridden, if fists fly first, who'll happily fetch your pipe?"
Ignoring the crippled invalid who could barely walk, Friedrich's gaze was ice-cold.
Was this really the same boy who used to flinch at a shout just last year?
With anger, bewilderment, and a hint of fear in his eyes, Wilhelm stared at his son.
"You... are you truly sane?"
His voice trembled unconsciously at the end.
"Sane? Forgive me, Your Majesty."
In stark contrast to Wilhelm's quivering unease, Friedrich's tone was chillingly devoid of emotion.
"I discarded that long ago, living as your son."
With that, he gently took the pipe from Wilhelm's hand and set it on the table.
"Smoke after I'm gone. I dislike the smell, actually."
Friedrich turned and left.
The valet opening the door smoothly pretended to see and hear nothing, eyes shut.
'...Two of them. Those two joined hands long ago.'
Wilhelm finally realized: he too had been raising a starving lion, not just the Habsburg court.
His allies in the court were gone.