Holy Roman Empire-Chapter 1064 - 78: No Opportunity (Long - )

Chapter 1064 -78: No Opportunity (Long Chapter)

With the commissioning of the “Rome,” the smell of gunpowder in the world suddenly thickened. Tensions between Shinra and Britain, the two behemoths, made all nations tremble with fear, apprehensive that an inadvertent involvement could grind them to powder.

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Then, an interesting scene unfolded. After the Vienna Government and the London Government announced their naval construction plans, inaugurating the naval arms race, the rest of the world turned a blind eye.

It was not just the absence of “Super Battleship” constructions, even conventional warships rarely saw any new national projects. It seemed that everyone was determined to counter this “arms competition” through sheer disregard.

Thinking about it, it made sense. The advantage held by Shinra and Britain was long established. The naval strength of any one of them exceeded that of the next five countries combined.

With such a gaping disparity, no amount of struggle would avail, so they resigned themselves to fate. Why volunteer for aggrievance when overturning the situation was impossible?

Moreover, everyone wanted to follow suit but simply couldn’t. Britain and Shinra’s industrial strength allowed them to build Super Battleships, but that didn’t mean other nations could do the same.

...

Setting other problems aside, just the power systems were something nobody could handle.

It might seem that power technology had developed significantly given that the “Rome’s” power system had reached 23,000 horsepower. In reality, most naval ships’ power systems fell short of 10,000 horsepower.

The duplex steam engine equipped in the South Carolina-class battleships built by the Americans in the original timeline only produced 16,500 horsepower.

That was a development a decade later. At this critical juncture, only Britain and Shinra had made breakthroughs in steam turbine technology.

Falling behind in power meant also lagging in speed. When victory was viable, they couldn’t catch the enemy; when defeat was inevitable, they couldn’t outrun the enemy. Snail-paced battleships served no purpose other than wasting resources.

It wasn’t just the power technology that was subpar; armaments, fire control, armor, and a host of other technologies were all problems that hindered entry into the Era of Dreadnoughts.

Of course, if a country were filthy rich and disregarded expense and cost, their wealth could eventually produce results.

Unfortunately, the year was 1900, which was hardly suitable for the extravagance of the rich. Wealth coupled with technological backwardness was enticing prey for the great powers, essentially precluding the opportunity for extravagant military development.

The lack of followers made the arms race lackluster. Franz had hoped to profit by exporting dreadnought technology, but this left him greatly disappointed.

There was no choice; the nations of the world were too impoverished at the time. They couldn’t afford such an expensive toy, leaving only the wealthy British and Austrians to play the game.

Even the ambitious Tsarist Government fell silent after understanding the construction costs of the “Rome.” Other nations were even less forthcoming.

Perhaps it was the lack of an audience that left the Anglo-Austrian performers disheartened. In the subsequent competition, both governments spent more time on verbal sparring than on taking concrete actions.

There was no occurrence where one announced the construction of two ships today, the other three tomorrow, and then four the day after.

The Vienna Government announced a “five ships in five years” plan, and the London Government simply countered with a “seven ships in five years” plan. Taking the already commissioned “Rome” into account, the gap between the two nations was merely one ship.

The British were ahead, but they failed to secure an absolute advantage. After all, the primary base of the Shinra Navy was in the Mediterranean, granting them the benefit of geographical advantage.

Both governments showed “restraint” in their competition, to the great disappointment of the onlookers, who also breathed a sigh of relief.

Many wished for the downfall of the Anglo-Austrian countries, but few actually wanted them to go to war immediately, especially the smaller European nations which dreaded being collateral damage in a fight between these two “demons.”

The competition was not as intense as it could be, ultimately because the Anglo-Austrian rivalry had not reached a boiling point. The core of their conflict was about hegemony, with the focal point being currency.

The battle for world currency dominance between Divine Shield and pound sterling began twenty years earlier. While no clear victor had emerged, their respective spheres of interest were largely delineated.

Generally speaking, regions including the European Continent, Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia were within Divine Shield’s circulation area; whereas America, South Asia, and the Far East were dominated by the British Pounds.

Aside from the struggle for monetary hegemony, Britain and Austria had their fair share of clashes over overseas trade, though these were less intense.

Due to their industrial structures, the trade pattern was such that the British led in traditional sectors like the textile industry, while Shinra had the upper hand in emerging industries and agricultural processing.

Arguments over colonies were hardly worth mentioning. Shinra did not expand into India, nor did the British extend their influence in Africa, so neither crossed the other’s red lines.

Contention could accumulate, and a manageable conflict of interest now didn’t mean it wouldn’t escalate in the future.

Time was on his side, and Franz had plenty of patience to wait. It was the British who should be anxious.

Of course, given the United Kingdom’s unique system, the higher-ups in the London Government were unlikely to be too worried.

“Potential threats” remained just that—potential. For politicians, as long as no crises erupted during their term, everything was negotiable.

Whoever was in power, sustaining the glory of the Victorian Era was far more important than puncturing the window paper ahead of time and eradicating “potential” threats.

What’s more, because of the Holy Roman Empire, this “potential threat” posed such a significant danger to Britain as if someone had been diagnosed with “late-stage cancer.”

It was easy to start surgery, but difficult to leave the operating table. Winning the gamble could indeed add a few more years to one’s life, but the greater likelihood was ending up paralyzed in bed for the remainder of one’s days.

On the other hand, conservative treatment could keep one jumping around for a while longer. Although certain doom lay ahead, that was a concern for the future.

Given the rapid pace of the era’s development, medical technology might just break through in the last few months.

The current British Government was probably thinking along these lines; trying to contain and suppress Shinra while not wanting to directly sever ties, waiting for international situations to change.

…

No matter how many calculations, life had to go on. After more than twenty years at the helm of the Vienna Government’s Cabinet, it finally came time to take a bow this year.

Franz no longer needed to hold anyone back. The aged bodies of these old ministers no longer allowed them to continue battling for the Empire—transition was inevitable.

“Government transition” was a major event in any country, and Shinra was no exception.

In some ways, the arms race not escalating was also related to this transition.

Before the new leadership emerged, the Vienna Government’s primary task was to sort out domestic affairs. There simply wasn’t the energy to stir up trouble elsewhere.

This applied to Britain as well. A few months ago, the London Government had just completed an election. The British did not stir up any trouble this time; the folks in the London Government won re-election.

…

In the Vienna Palace, Franz was savoring art in the exhibition hall. Of course, that was an outsider’s view. In Franz’s opinion, the term “pretending to be cultured” was more fitting.

“Art,” this lofty concept, was not something that ordinary people could truly appreciate. Even Franz once doubted whether this was merely a scheme fabricated by the elite class to harvest the wealth of the nouveau riche.

Doubts aside, he had no intention of delving deeper. As the utmost apex of the ruling class, he had tremendous tolerance for anything that benefitted the rule.

Although he lacked artistic talent, it did not prevent Franz from being a great artist.

Thanks to the special status of being an Emperor, anything that bore his name became an artwork, whether it was calligraphy, painting, or other crafts.

Franz had no doubts that even his doodles could be sold for sky-high prices if put on the market.

But it was only a thought; as a wealthy Emperor, Franz had not yet degraded to the point of selling artworks for a living. The rare pieces that did circulate were given away as gifts.

Scarcity was valuable; any art piece that became numerous lost its worth. The value wasn’t the main concern—the loss of prestige was.

As an Emperor, Franz could be indifferent to the price of his works, but he could not afford to lose his prestige.

Watching Franz casually wielding his brush and practicing calligraphy on paper, Frederick hurried in and instantly felt distressed.

He, the Crown Prince, was nearly worked to death by the government transition, yet there stood Franz, acting as if nothing was the matter—anyone would feel frustrated.

But there was nothing he could do—just one sentence about “testing his abilities” was enough to block all his retorts.

Without any chance to rest, Frederick, panting, said, “Father, here is the final list of candidates. A total of forty-six people, with three to five candidates for each position in the Cabinet.”

“Hmm!”

“Just put it down for now, find a place to rest, and we’ll talk after I’m done,” Franz replied nonchalantly.

“Alright.”

The scene unfolding before him forced Frederick to accept a reality: the once diligent Emperor no longer existed.

Recalling memories of the past, Frederick suddenly realized that in the depths of his memory, he had seemingly never seen his father busy.

Even on the rare occasions when overtime was necessary, it was during special periods. Normally, Franz was an adherent of a four-hour workday and took vacations sporadically.

Yet, Frederick could never understand why such a leisurely father had come to be the symbol of “diligence.”

A short while later, the major task was finally complete. Franz set down his pen, stretched his shins, and then started to review the documents.

“Not bad, the details of the candidates are comprehensive, and the assessments provided are fair, with no incompetence slipped in.

It seems you’ve done your homework well; these candidates are top-notch in terms of achievements and political acumen.

Mark the names of those you prefer at the front, and at the next Imperial Parliament session, nominate them for election.”

Unlike the election of government leaders in other countries during the same period, Holy Rome practiced Emperor nominations, followed by an Imperial Parliament vote.

There were two qualifications for candidates: first, having sufficient accomplishments and exceptional political skills; second, they must be dedicated members of the Royalist party.

Especially the latter was crucial. A slight lack in capability could be tolerated, but any flaws in politics were inadmissible.

The Holy Roman Empire was vast and most certainly did not lack capable officials. According to Shinra’s constitution, emperor-nominated cabinet candidates could be provincial or higher-level officials.

Selecting a Cabinet Government from a few hundred people was already like finding a needle in a haystack, and there was plenty of choices.

Those who could climb to such a rank were no fools. Anyone lacking ability would have been eliminated in earlier competitions.

All had governed regions before, and any one of them in the Cabinet Government could ensure the government’s normal operations.

Otherwise, Franz would not have remained so indifferent and left everything to Frederick to handle.

After years of effort, the sub-states within Shinra’s borders had almost all been brought to heel by Franz. Any who harbored dissatisfaction, pressured by the general trend, dared not make waves.

Looking at the Imperial Parliament was proof enough; proposals personally presented by Franz had never been rejected.

Hearing that he was to take full responsibility, Frederick asked incredulously, “All the selections are up to me, isn’t that a bit too…”

Franz interrupted him with a wave of his hand before Frederick could finish his sentence: “There are not so many ‘somewhats.’ This work was going to be your responsibility sooner or later; it’s just a bit earlier now.

What you need to do now is select the best government team possible to ensure a smooth transfer of power.

Besides that, you must also pay attention to the ever-changing international situation. Recently, the number of laborers transported from France to Russia has drastically decreased.

It seems that the work force for the Siberian Railway is sufficient. If I’m not mistaken, it won’t be long before the Russians withdraw from France.

At this stage, the Tsarist Government probably understands that the reparations from the French are just a moon reflected in water.

Visible, but untouchable.

Having been weakened by the turmoil, the Tsarist Government won’t be fixated on France without enough benefits.

Whether they want to move south or push east, continuing to station troops in France makes no sense.

If it weren’t for the Siberian Railway, they probably would have backed off two years ago. It is already quite remarkable that they have dragged this out until now.”

The Russian Army could retreat, but the void they left behind had to be filled somehow.

France was a great nation with a long historical heritage. Despite the heavy blows of recent years, their pride had not yet dissipated.

In the past, the French and we had tangled for centuries, and it took great effort to finally suppress them, they absolutely should not be allowed to rise again.

The Russians had already done the dirty work, now what we had to do was spread anti-war sentiment in France, and once their fighting spirit had eroded, things could return to normal.”

Defeating a great nation was easy, but crushing one was hard. The longer the traditional culture, the harder it was to crush.

After so many years of struggle, the French still hadn’t given up resisting. The Russians were on the verge of collapse; if the Vienna Government hadn’t taken on the military expenses, the Tsarist Government would have been dragged down long ago.

Yet reality was cruel. The stronger the resistance the French showed, the more the Anti-French Alliance could not allow them to succeed.

This was when the advantage of having many allies became apparent. No matter how much France was tormented, there was no need to provoke international intervention.

The Russians had done everything, violent and otherwise. Having employed violence, it was now time for political tactics to take the stage.

Whether the French elite liked it or not, as long as they did not accept harmless treatment, France could not be normalized.

Only when anti-war sentiment became mainstream and the error of waging aggressive wars recognized, could France become a normal country.

Of course, maintaining an occupying force and restricting armaments were indispensable. Franz certainly didn’t want the French to rearm and cause him trouble again.

In this regard, the Russians had done well. They sent dissenters to meet God and put involuntarily involved families’ able-bodied workforce to work on the Siberian Railway.

Despite the French seething with hatred, they could not overturn the tide under the bloody suppression of the Russian Army.

Helplessly, the mountainous area of France was indeed too small. Faced with a Russian general who enjoyed setting preventive fires, the guerillas had little room to survive.

In the past few years, because of the forest burning, the Russian Army had to use up hundreds of thousands of tons of fuel annually. If Shinra were not the world’s leading oil producer, such consumption could not have been sustained.

As things stood, if the Russians kept burning their way, they would eventually eradicate the forests.

With a successful case in point, the others would follow suit. Shinra might not have much, but they certainly had plenty of oil.

There was no need to burn the mountains completely; just make a gesture, scare those intellectuals, and cut off their hopes.

Frederick, catching on, asked uncertainly, “Should we divide France once again?”

It wasn’t that Frederick was overthinking; rather, France had been greatly weakened in recent years, its economy a mess and its population in sharp decline.

If the Vienna Government wanted to carve up France again, just pulling in a few allies would ensure a high chance of success.

Franz sternly replied, “Stop your wild thoughts. France has already been settled once after the continental wars. Starting another maneuver now, on what grounds could we convince people to accept it?

Unless you want to face assassination attempts every time you step outside, when doing such a thing, there must be a justifiable reason that convinces the majority.

Besides, without France, do you think Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, Sardinia, and other countries would still be so reliant on us?”

Defeated in war and forced to cede territory, these were the norms of European society. Moreover, what was taken was Shinra’s ancestral land, which was completely justifiable by law.

Even if the French harboured a grudge, they could gradually digest and accept it. With the Russians serving as a massive scapegoat, not many blamed the Habsburg dynasty.

If there was another partition now, there would be nothing left to say. I reckon every French person would harbor an unending hatred for the Holy Roman Empire.

Unless Franz could eliminate all these people, he truly wouldn’t dare to step outside. Although he had many guards, who could guarantee their shoes would never get wet by always walking by the river?

Being the leader of the alliance wasn’t easy; the core of the Anti-French Alliance was the “French Threat Theory,” and without France as their common enemy, morale would quickly dissipate.

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