Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 068
Chapter Title: Scent of Rome (2)
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The wine was fragrant, and the conversation flowed as naturally as water, keeping the laughter constant.
I was tempted to crack open another bottle, but that might leave me reeking of alcohol, so I decided to hold back.
"How about the agreement? Shall we proceed as I proposed before?"
"I have no objections, but I've only heard about it through my sister, so I'm not clear on the details. Could I take a look at it here?"
"Of course."
An organization capable of swiftly handling the Empire's major affairs.
The public viewed it as Friedrich's reckless outburst, but this was entirely my brainchild.
The existing permanent conference system made it nearly impossible to resolve the issues encircling the Empire.
In truth, the Imperial Diet had been utterly useless during the Polish succession dispute and the war with France.
Anyone could see the need for a more agile response mechanism.
The hesitation stemmed purely from fears that it might birth something perilously close to centralization.
The grand theater Friedrich and I had staged was designed precisely to dispel those anxieties.
Friedrich poured himself another glass of wine, sipping it as he read the draft I'd brought.
⚙ Imperial Draft ⚙ The Holy Roman Empire has thus far squandered its national strength on countless foreign wars and internal divisions. In this rapidly shifting international landscape, such fragmentation dooms us to obsolescence. Thus, we shall establish a body to swiftly deliberate and address matters vital to the Empire's security. The subcommittee allocations, as defined in the Imperial Diet Charter, reasonably reflected economic power, military strength, and contributions to border defense.
"A total of 100 votes, with decisions by majority rather than unanimity... the calculation formula looks pretty intricate?"
"It has to yield the right composition. But basing it on three clear axes—economy, military, and frontier defense—makes the method transparent and equitable."
"Indeed... even Austria and Prussia combined fall woefully short of a majority. This might even spark talk that Austria conceded far too much."
No.
It wasn't just possible—it had to happen, or those cowards wouldn't back my proposal.
A committee swayable by a single power like Austria or Prussia? It would stink of dictatorship to high heaven.
But if even their alliance couldn't scrape a majority?
"Saxony can't defy us in practice, so adding them... hmm, still just 42 votes. We'd need Palatinate or Hesse-Kassel to push past 51."
"Exactly. What does that make you think?"
"Gathering 51 votes won't be easy. If the electors split, the free cities and lesser princes become decisive wild cards."
Exactly. They had no choice but to see it that way.
Some fine-tuning might occur, but the initial vote distribution looked roughly like this.
⚔ Vote Distribution ⚔ 🏁 Austria: 21 🏁 Prussia: 13 🏁 Saxony: 8 🏁 Bavaria: 11 🏁 Palatinate: 7 🏁 Hanover: 7 🏁 Hesse-Kassel: 6 🏁 Others (Ecclesiastical, Free Cities, etc.): ~27 The ecclesiastical electors, free cities, and assorted minor princes held roughly 27 votes.
This setup ensured other electors and lesser princes delusionally believed they clutched the casting vote.
Major decisions couldn't pass without their aid—not for Austria, nor Prussia.
"The crux is that even the top three—Austria, Prussia, Bavaria—can't muster a majority together. Add the strained Austria-Prussia ties and Prussia's rift with Bavaria, and most will dismiss any triple alliance."
"True... but doesn't this leave us with little real power, as Your Highness noted? We hold the most votes, yet it feels little changed from the current Diet."
If Prussia—the second-largest vote-holder after Austria—reacted this way, the others would echo it.
No one could pierce my scheme.
It was engineered that way from the outset.
"Your Highness, the other princes aren't idiots. Any whiff of ulterior motives, and they vote no."
How to avoid seeming deceptive?
Present a contract with zero deception intended. Simple, no?
"No... I get it, but weren't we supposed to trick them?"
"No need now. What could we even achieve launching the committee immediately? To them, it's a brake on Prussia's rampage. First, let them savor dominating the Empire's core policies."
A committee's decisions derive authority from enforceable votes.
When Prussia—the Empire's mightiest after Austria—meekly bowed to mediation, the committee's prestige would pierce the heavens.
"'At first' implies change? We could tweak the formula later, but backlash?"
"We touch nothing. Votes shift naturally."
"...Hmm."
Friedrich's baffled look had me stifling laughs.
"Care to guess? There's one sly clause tucked in."
"Hmm... flaw in the formula?"
Enough with the formula fixation.
Granted, vote counts are hyper-sensitive; all would pore over it early on.
"Here's the answer: 'In cases of major changes—from principalities shifting, war, or disasters akin thereto—the vote composition may adjust.'
"What? That's sly? It's obvious."
The world's logic works that way. Contracts blindside with the 'obvious.'
"This lets readjustment if wars spawn new principalities. Say Balkan states emerge and join the Empire?"
"Balkans? Ottoman turf... Ah!"
Sharp minds latch on fast.
Perfectly reasonable—thus devastatingly effective.
Austria/Prussia shoving vs. systemic auto-adjust? Night and day.
"Russia's primed for Ottoman war. Ottoman's freed up post-Safavid. They itch to reclaim Austrian gains from the last treaty—not just Russia."
Past life: Austria warred Ottomans to recoup French losses; Ottomans fought for Belgrade, Banat.
Austria lost unexpectedly, vomiting territory and the stain of last Western power felled by Turks.
This time? Preparations worlds apart—victory assured.
"Securing Adriatic and Balkans naturally reshapes votes. Like so..."
"...Huh?"
Conservatively: Austria + Prussia + Saxony + new states = 49-50.
My bought minors toss 1-2 votes? Over 51.
"Short seven votes? Ottoman war fills it. Too myopic before."
"Gambling to outsiders."
Victory-premised planning? Madness.
90%+ sure thing? Game-changer.
Polish war, Ottoman loss: dissected failures into error logs.
Joseph groomed over aged Eugene; Moritz recruited.
Minimal French war drain; academy officers deploying next year.
Ottomans: no butterfly effects yet—tactics, supply, commanders match my intel.
90% win? Conservative.
Theresia state-ready? I reclaim researcher life, past memories fueling.
Austria's power soaring vertically, a fantastical vista.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Nearly a day of fierce debate birthed the Imperial Conciliation Committee draft.
Princes' delegates, tense outside, sighed relief at Friedrich's sour exit.
Franz followed, shaking his head wearily, handing over the draft; they swarmed like bees.
Regensburg's lamps blazed through the night, fueled by experts' heated discourse.
— Delegate As Austria and Prussia grow ever stronger, this committee harms us not at all. We must accept. — Analyst Milder than the initial pitch—Prussia and Austria at a third each. Votes dispersed far more. Prussia alone? Impotent. Even allied? Miles from majority. — Expert Swift arbitration on wars or feuds alone elevates the Diet's authority beyond compare. — Cautious Voice All well, but a few more safeguards wouldn't hurt. "See? Inciting Franz was spot on."
Bavarian Elector Albrecht, awaiting results in Regensburg, crowed in triumph.
"Precisely as Your Electoral Highness foresaw. Prince Franz truly believes the Diet must stand firm."
"Habsburg craves the status quo—stable imperial succession. Content now; they fear overreaching losses."
Classic downfall: overgreed.
Franz? Wisely content post-French victory—unassailable heir, now cementing support sans excess.
The draft earned rave reviews from princes.
"Realpolitik: Austria rallies Bavaria, Palatinate, Hesse-Kassel? 45 votes. Still shy of majority."
"Saxony's teetering, tugged by both sides—neither dominates."
Every scenario balanced on a knife's edge, sans wild assumptions.
Non-compliance risks? Absent. Both Austria and Prussia signed off; no table-flip from Prussia.
Prussia leapfrogged Bavaria as #2—net gain.
Friedrich swallowed it knowingly.
"Leash the mad dog Friedrich first. We accept."
"Naturally. Can't wait to see his face when the committee rolls back tariffs and tolls."
"Self-inflicted wound? Hahaha!"
The Holy Roman Empire's Diet gained teeth for the first time.
They laughed merrily, collaring themselves.
Today, too—a happy ending for all.