Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 088
Chapter Title: Omen
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Around the time smallpox inoculation using cowpox began in earnest in Vienna...
The Pope's proclamation, urging people to embrace cowpox inoculation as a divine blessing, spread across Europe.
Though the Pope's authority had waned, his influence over the Catholic world remained immense.
Especially now, with Pope Clement XII's stature rising steadily, the response from dioceses throughout the various nations was enthusiastic.
Everyone could easily imagine how much the Church's prestige would soar if smallpox could truly be eradicated.
Vienna, the first to undertake the effort, steadily increased adoption rates through close collaboration between the imperial court and the Church.
But not every nation was quite so proactive, of course.
"That bastard Franz released the secret for free? No way in hell!"
Louis XV, King of France—who styled himself the highest monarch in Catholicism—lightly dismissed the Pope's proclamation and opted to sit back and watch.
"Are we some vassal state of Austria? We gonna do whatever they say? The Pope's naive, swallowing that Franz's nonsense hook, line, and sinker."
"Your Majesty, reports from the Cabinet Noir indicate that Vienna really is inoculating citizens on a massive scale with this cowpox method."
"......"
"They say you just make cowpox lymph and inoculate with it, but there are quite a few precautions for handling and administering it. Still, they're offering to send technicians to teach the technique to any interested nation... Shall we really ignore it?"
"That's exactly what they're after. They'll strut around pretending to help, then demand something in return for sure."
The fact that Franz had multiplied the Austrian imperial family's assets several times over was now known throughout Europe.
No money-grubbing miser like that would release such a monumental invention for free.
He'd spouted some sentimental nonsense about his children, but Louis XV wasn't buying it.
"But Your Majesty, if it really works..."
"Then we can jump on it later. Smallpox cycles periodically anyway—we'll see results soon enough."
France decided for the time being to observe the situation, but others reacted even more vehemently.
One such was Britain.
"What? Not just the Habsburgs, but the Papacy's backing it too?"
"Yes. The Pope is officially calling for participation worldwide."
"What a joke. What does that Pope know to be making such a fuss!"
"Exactly! If smallpox were something that could vanish so easily, why have hundreds of thousands died needlessly all these years!"
"Prime Minister! We should just ignore it!"
Britain's Parliament, which prided itself on the noble tradition of reflexively opposing anything from the Papacy, united in a rare chorus of voices.
Parliament so rarely spoke with one voice that the Prime Minister had no need for further deliberation.
"Rome spreading superstitions isn't exactly new. We'll ignore it, as the honorable members wish."
"Cowpox pus? Cow pus, of all things. And don't we already have the superior variolation method?"
"Indeed, indeed."
"Still, to be safe, we'll pour out criticism and satire claiming the Catholics and Austrians are up to foolish nonsense."
"The Anglican Church will gladly join in."
Variolation was highly lethal, hard to manage, and spread slowly—but it was still superior to cowpox, in their eyes.
With conclusions drawn from the start, Parliament launched a propaganda campaign branding the Habsburgs and Papacy's efforts as grotesque folly.
Caricatures of the Pope and Austrian nobles turning into cows after cowpox injections plastered city walls, and even bishops subtly mocked Franz from the pulpit.
"Humans are the pinnacle of creation, fashioned by God in His own image. Injecting impure matter from an animal's body is a barbaric custom fit only for savages."
With the atmosphere thus set, no one dared voice the opinion that maybe, just maybe, it might work.
Scholars from the Royal Society and Oxford urged caution, however.
"Still, just in case, we should prepare an environment for inoculation..."
"You lot! Are you Papist worshippers? Planning to research that devil's trick?"
"N-no! We won't! Never again!"
The cautious voices crumbled instantly before the invincible logic of "Are you Papist sympathizers?" and vanished from London.
Britain's stance swayed the Netherlands toward opposition as well, and in the end, Protestant nations—with one exception—adopted cowpox inoculation rejection as national policy.
Prussia being that lone exception.
"Cowpox method? The royal family will lead by example! All nobles, follow suit!"
"Y-Your Majesty, even so..."
"Think about it. No matter how brave an army, one smallpox outbreak renders it useless. I will create an army immune to smallpox faster than anyone else."
No one raised objections when framed as part of his strong-army policy.
Thus, Europe saw opinions clash and gradually take shape, though some nations saw no debate at all.
The Ottoman Empire, for one.
"That Franz's trick with the Pope is a scam! All who accept the Devil's mark shall be beheaded without exception!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Inform the Sheikh ul-Islam plainly. Injecting impure cow pus into the body defiles the form God granted us—a violation of the sacred law!"
If this cowpox method truly conquered smallpox...
Then Franz Stefan—the incarnation of Satan who inflicted irrecoverable wounds on the Ottoman Empire, nay, Satan himself—would become humanity's hero.
They couldn't allow that. No way.
This wasn't mere jealousy or rage-fueled pettiness.
In a state where the Emperor's authority was already shaky, elevating Franz to global hero status would spell disaster.
The man branded Satan by the Emperor achieves the feat of saving humanity from smallpox?
Wouldn't doubts erupt everywhere that maybe he wasn't Satan after all?
After defeat in war, irreverent whispers already questioned the Emperor's responsibility. How much more would they milk this?
"Mark my words! The cowpox method mocks God. Accepting it is tantamount to praising Satan."
"...However, Your Majesty. Shouldn't we prepare for the off-chance it's real?"
"Unlikely, but... if it is, we'll just claim they're lying."
Wasn't it old news that Christians spouted falsehoods?
With Catholicism involved, the smallpox eradication debate transcended medicine.
The Ottoman Empire had nowhere left to retreat.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Vienna's smallpox vaccination rollout went even smoother than expected.
With the bishop and I taking the lead, no one complained about "cow pus" nonsense.
Opponents were branded as aligning with those vicious Muslims, and everyone rolled up their sleeves demanding inoculation.
Offering it free regardless of status tapped into the "get it before supplies run out" mentality, proving highly effective.
Given all that, it was only natural that my brother Karl—appointed overseer of the mass inoculation plan—grew ever more confident.
"Brother, at this rate, we'll wrap up Vienna in no time."
"Good to hear. How about reactions from other countries? Britain and the Netherlands still off in their own world?"
"Pretty much. They think accepting it means submitting to Catholicism. But we've got requests from Italian states and Spain for technicians."
"Prioritize the city-states bordering northern Italy. Coordinate with their churches so the people know it's the Habsburg court bestowing this grace."
The Holy Roman Empire ought to at least unify those scattered Italian city-states.
Especially for states like Venice, trembling at the thought of Austrian annexation—this was the perfect opportunity to subtly ingratiate ourselves.
"Already sent technicians you trained to Venice. The method's free, but preserving cowpox lymph and inoculating before efficacy fades requires proper systems, right? Turns out that's pretty profitable too."
"Exactly. Knew you'd figured that out."
"Wertheimer got the cardinal's approval and set up a company in Rome. All future smallpox-related profits funnel straight to us."
The patent was free, but building the infrastructure to implement it? Never free.
In an era without refrigerators, maintaining cowpox lymph potency, sterilizing cleanly, and vaccinating hundreds of thousands? No easy feat.
That infrastructure was pure profit—accept "donations" on the surface, skim real revenue behind the scenes. My original plan.
He grasped it without me spelling it out, executing flawlessly.
Setting up in Rome for symbolism? Perfect touch.
Brother, you were never meant for war.
"My pride and joy! Administrative genius Karl! Knew you had it in you!"
"I did good, right? Looks like I really do have a knack for this, like you said. Making money's addictively sweet."
"Told you. You shine at a desk, not the battlefield. Wertheimer's Jewish, yet Rome approved? Proxy director?"
"We did appoint a co-director, but he loosened some tongues too. Said he's Jewish but inspired by His Holiness's noble will, eager to support the Papacy and Habsburg's grand vision. Lavished flattery, backed by 'sincere' gestures."
A merchant's words gain power as the listener's purse fattens.
He already understood 18th-century rules—no need for my input.
Karl Alexander, the non-belligerent. Unstoppable.
"Still, vaccinating all of Vienna will take time. Smallpox might hit before then, so nail initial responses. You know what I mean?"
"Of course. We're dividing Vienna into districts, tracking vaccinated and unvaccinated areas. Minimize deaths to tout this as our success, right?"
"...Brother, why couldn't you show this insight on the battlefield?"
"What? I've never been to one. You told me to stay away from military stuff."
"Just a figure of speech. You're killing it—keep it up."
Some nations puffed up from pride or politics, but I ignored them entirely.
Wonder how long they could hold out. Better if they dragged it out for some petty amusement.
And as expected, the midpoint evaluation arrived swiftly.
The near-annual smallpox baptism.
Spanning late 1738 and early 1739, outbreaks ravaged Europe's major cities, inflicting heavy tolls as if by appointment.
Despite desperate containment, London tallied around 2,000 deaths; Paris similar.
Countless shops and workshops shuttered short-term, causing massive economic damage.
And around the same time...
"Your Highness! This outbreak's fatalities in Vienna total 37. All from districts not yet fully vaccinated."
Vienna, which suffered nearly 2,500 deaths last year alone, saw casualties drop to a seventieth.
No need to boast or advertise far and wide.
I simply stated the court's position, short and clear.
Britain and the Ottomans welcome aid anytime they desire. No way they'd grab it this quick. Would ruin the fun.
Hoping for some creative responses.