The Fox of France - Chapter 349: Collusion

Within a series of collaborative agreements between France and Austria, the most significant investment lay in the plan to construct a railway from Lubinshu to the Oder River. With this railway in place, copper produced in Lubin could be transported to the docks on the Oder River, loaded onto barges, towed by tugs along the river to the Baltic Sea, and from there, shipped across various parts of Europe.

This railway would optimize the utilization of Lubin’s copper mines, facilitating easier transportation of copper ore to smelters, along with other necessary raw materials. Moreover, state-of-the-art refining facilities and complementary power plants were set to be constructed in the vicinity. As per their plans, Lubin would swiftly emerge as the foremost copper production center in all of Europe, generating substantial annual revenue for Austria.

Yet, this plan encountered opposition from several quarters, a predictable outcome whenever such initiatives trigger shifts in profit distribution. When changes in profit distribution occur, individuals stand to lose out on their interests, often leading to dissatisfaction and anger.

It’s said that if the cake were made larger theoretically, everyone could potentially receive a significantly greater portion. Even if the distribution ratios change, those whose share proportionately decreases wouldn’t typically express significant objections due to the increased amount they receive.

However, this remains an idealized state. Even with a larger cake, during distribution, not everyone necessarily receives a larger portion. As Matthew’s Gospel mentions: “For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.” Likewise, a great philosopher in the Far East once remarked, “One of humanity’s fundamental laws is to take away what little the poor possess and give it to the affluent.”

Therefore, during the division of the cake, despite theoretical expansion, many end up receiving nothing at all.

Not only do they receive nothing, but those who receive nothing often bear the losses incurred in making the cake.

The first task in railway construction naturally involves land acquisition.

Originally, Lubin belonged to the Kingdom of Poland. After Poland’s demise, it became Austrian territory. However, land ownership mostly remained with Polish nobility.

In France, most land is already state-owned. The former landowners there either met the guillotine or ended up hanging from lampposts, making land acquisition quite straightforward. In the core territories of proper Austria, the land also belonged predominantly to the grand nobility, making fair and reasonable redistribution viable. But in Lubin, could Polish nobles be considered on par with the German-speaking nobility? Did they aspire to receive money justifiably, similar to the legitimate German speakers? How could that be possible?

Generally speaking, while bullying may not necessarily constitute the root of joy, it must be acknowledged that bullying, in itself, can bring actual happiness, even when it doesn’t involve profits. If one can exploit the weak while also reaping benefits, not indulging in such exploitation would be against “human nature.” Comparatively, though Polish nobles were unquestionably oppressors when facing Polish serfs, when confronted with those participating in such transactions, they immediately became feeble, pitiable, and helpless.

This helplessness could be understood as receiving no aid or as having the land appropriated without any compensation. Yes, without much compensation. Land expropriation occurred at an incredibly low price because, supposedly, the land was not fertile, yielding limited harvests, inherently lacking value. As to why the land didn’t yield crops well, that was indeed a quandary. Initially, before the discovery of the copper mines and the establishment of mines and smelters, the land here had reasonable yields. However, once the mines and factories were established, the land’s productivity gradually diminished, affecting not just crops but even the nearby rivers, witnessing inexplicable occurrences—mysterious deaths in the waters, ailments afflicting downstream residents, continuous mutations in riverside flora. Was it witchcraft or some unprecedented geological disturbance?

Anyway, the land there lost its value. Naturally, the prices offered by the Austrian nobles involved in the railway project for land acquisition were even less valuable than the land itself. Consequently, Polish nobles grew incensed.

However, the Habsburg nobility cared little for these Polish barbarians’ ire. In their view, the anger of Polish nobles was akin to “bald pates rushing upon crowns.”

Generally, the Habsburg nobility’s judgment was not entirely erroneous. Polish nobles, by and large, were indeed a bunch of spineless good-for-nothings. In this world, no regime could safeguard their interests better than the Polish Kingdom’s government. However, as Poland slid towards its demise, most nobles didn’t dare stand up and fight for their homeland, which rightfully belonged to them. Such cowardly individuals, even if enraged, what could they possibly do? At best, as the wise sage said, “Striking at the weaker ones,” taking out their frustration on the Polish tenants.

Under normal circumstances, this should have been the end result. However, the sudden involvement of certain forces altered the situation somewhat.

Firstly, the Pope’s investigation into Emperor Franz II weakened his authority significantly. Consequently, some nobles in Hungary couldn’t resist the urge to make some moves.

Previously, during the reign of Emperor Joseph II of the Holy Roman Empire, extensive reforms were attempted. He established German immigrant zones in Galicia, Bukovina, Hungary, and Transylvania, incentivizing the development of German noble properties and capital in those areas, prioritizing the appointment of Germans as civil and military officials. Protective tariff policies were implemented, encouraging industrial and commercial growth, augmenting state revenue. The Edict of Tolerance regarding religious policies was issued in 1781, followed by decrees that effectively abolished serfdom within hereditary estates.

However, Joseph II’s reforms encroached upon the interests of many nobles, especially in Austria, a multi-ethnic country where areas like the Austrian Netherlands, Hungary, and Bohemia had many individuals not particularly fond of the Habsburgs, constantly seeking independence.

Thus, during Joseph II’s campaign against the Ottomans, internal dissent erupted. Joseph II faced widespread rebellion and was compelled to annul most of the reform measures.

Now, Emperor Franz II seemed to be ensnared in a predicament. Clearly, the Pope wouldn’t cause trouble for an emperor without reason, especially using such pretexts. Well, engaging in unconventional activities was, after all, a hallmark of the Catholic Church. Internally, within the Church, there were more than a few priests indulging in such activities. Evidently, someone sought to utilize the Pope to strike at Emperor Franz II. Considering the circumstances in Europe, who else could so influence the Pope under his mitre was almost self-evident.

Since the French aimed to deal with Emperor Franz II, it would have been remiss of them not to cause a little turmoil. At that time, they weren’t aware that among the major shareholders of this project were French, specifically individuals from the Bonaparte family. Of course, this couldn’t be blamed on them. Who could have known why Joseph liked investing through multiple holdings? Thus, if you examine the companies investing in this project, they’re all Austrian companies. But a closer look at the shareholders of these companies reveals some French enterprises. And a further investigation into these French enterprises uncovers some lesser-known French companies, eventually leading to the surname ”

Bonaparte.”

Such practices weren’t uncommon in subsequent eras, but they weren’t frequent during this period. Coupled with the absence of modern investigative tools, how could those Hungarian rustics have known?

Because those Hungarian rustics remained unaware of these intricacies and were oblivious to the possibility of simultaneous cooperation for profit and mutual sabotage, some Hungarians began to mobilize. With these supporters behind them, the courage of Polish nobles rose, causing them to assert resistance against tyranny.

And indeed, they did resist. Not through direct uprisings—because those Polish nobles didn’t dare. Emperor Franz II’s assessment of them was entirely accurate; they were just a bunch of cowards! So, their resistance involved refusing to transfer land, adamantly becoming obstructions and, incidentally, creating trouble for the Lubin Railway in various ways.

Since these Polish individuals were so clueless, His Imperial Majesty naturally had to show them some force. Consequently, the Emperor’s police department swiftly attributed several unsolved cases from years past—like someone being robbed on a rural path or someone being killed by bandits in a certain area—to these obstructive landholders.

Naturally, His Imperial Majesty’s police department lacked evidence. However, what’s the difficulty with evidence? Detain them, and can’t we ensure there’s evidence? What? You’re talking about coercion in interrogations? That’s shameless slander. Otherwise, why don’t we strip the suspect naked and see if there are any new wounds? That spot? Oh, that’s a hemorrhoid, has nothing to do with us. Or should I fetch a doctor to provide a diagnosis?

His Imperial Majesty’s methods naturally caused… well, some of the obstructive landholders to soften, considering surrender. However, this also agitated the Hungarian nobles standing behind them, prompting their swift intervention.