"Peace, not war."

"We want bread."

The sound of protest slogans reached the Hofburg Imperial Palace, which made Karl I, who was in the palace, feel restless.

The soldiers guarding the palace did not give him much security. The sound of these slogans was like a series of reminders, making him restless.

"Your Majesty, we still have to wait. Your Excellency the Prime Minister has already gone to deal with these demonstrators, and I believe they can understand the current difficulties. ”

Listening to the comforting words of Count Lawrence, the head of the court, did not reassure Karl I. It's just the torment of waiting, and I really need to find someone to chat with to relieve it. Moreover, the Earl of Lawrence was loyal to the Habsburgs, and was also a suitable person to chat with.

As soon as Karl I chatted, he thought of the current situation, and no longer maintained the demeanor of a king, and said in a somewhat angry manner. "I know what you said, these people are just being instigated, and the real danger is the people hiding behind them. What do these people want, don't they know that the price paid by the empire if it loses will be very heavy? ”

"Your Majesty, getting angry won't solve the problem. Please calm down and think about the proposals of these demonstrators. ”

As soon as Count Lawrence finished speaking, he found that the Austrian Prime Minister Heinlein, who had gone to negotiate, had returned. However, the prime minister's appearance was not very good, and it seems that the results of the negotiations with the outside crowd were not good.

What Count Lawrence discovered, Carl also saw, but he still wanted to know the outcome. "Prime Minister, how are the negotiations going?"

Faced with the monarch's inquiry, Prime Minister Heinlein saluted and replied: "Not ideal. These demonstrators demanded an immediate truce from the Empire, the restoration of its army, and the ...... And ......"

Prime Minister Heinlein said that he was stuck here, which attracted Karl's questioning. "And what?"

In the face of Karl's questioning, Heinlein said the last condition in his heart: "And ask His Majesty to hand over the power to the people." ”

Heinlein's words ignited Karl's anger at once, and he said with a cold face: "Give it to the people? I think it's handed over to the conspirators who are hiding behind these people. The Czechs, Croats, Slovenes demonstrated for independence, the Hungarians wanted to leave the empire, and now even the Germans wanted power. Then they're going to change the political system and kick me out of the way, right? The empire is sorry for them, and everyone wants to leave him. ”

Chancellor Heinlein's words completely ignited the anger of Karl I, and a succession of bad news made him lose control of his emotions. After ascending to the throne, there was first disobedience from the army and the senators of the government, then defeat in battle, and then demonstrations of popular discontent. In less than two years, the outbreak of various problems completely shattered the support in his heart. He had the urge to break the jar and let the mob taste the bayonet.

But the only reason in his heart made him unable to do so, because after doing so. The nearly 1,000-year history of the Habsburgs will also come to naught, and no one will show mercy to the tyrant who ordered the shooting of the people, and the tyrant who was doomed to failure. Everyone will come and stomp on him to raise their own popularity. And Carl is not stupid, he does not want to be a stepping stone to these people at all, and he is also a person he loaths.

Chancellor Heinlein looked at the young emperor in front of him and vented his dissatisfaction. Having been a politician for many years, the current situation is already a cure, and I believe that the emperor will understand this. Slowly, Karl I's roar subsided. He himself knew that venting his emotions did not change the current situation, and that the continuation of the Habsburgs needed to be considered now.

After taking a few deep breaths in a row, Carl still felt that his mind was very messy, and at this time he looked at the prime minister in front of him and couldn't help but ask: "Prime Minister, do you have any good suggestions for the current situation?" ”

In the face of Karl's inquiry, Prime Minister Heinlein said after a few thoughts flashed through his mind: "Your Majesty, the current situation is very dangerous for the Empire and for you. The first thing you need to do is to appease the angry populace, so it's a good idea to have the queen bring people to comfort the elderly, children and the homeless. Moreover, the materials used this time must be large, so that the people of the whole country can feel or see the benevolent side of the royal family, and the newspapers must publicize it in a big way. In addition...... It's OK...... Let people spread rumors that I and the Minister of War are in charge of everything related to the government and the army, and the royal family is completely unaware. ”

Chancellor Heinlein's words made Karl feel the old minister's enthusiasm for the Habsburgs, which was intended to use his own prestige and that of Archduke Friedrich to preserve the popularity of the royal family. Thinking of this, Karl I couldn't help but step forward and say to the prime minister: "I can understand the queen who sent me, you want me to follow the example of Uncle Sissi's grandmother back then." But you are going to take the blame and appease the anger of the people? How can this be, this will ruin you, Prime Minister. ”

In response to Karl's words, Prime Minister Heinlein bowed his head and replied: "This is the best and only feasible way." ”

"In addition to measures to deal with the population at home, Germany must also be set aside internationally. We have to find a way to get the Entente to forgive us for our mistakes in starting the war, which has caused too much loss on both sides. If we are not forgiven, the Entente will tear us apart. So we have to move quickly, first of all about us and the disputed areas of Italy must be abandoned. In addition, the region of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which caused the war, was to be given to Serbia, and Transylvania, where Romanians were the majority, agreed to be given to the Romanians. At the same time, the requirements for autonomy of Croatia and Bohemia must be met. ”

The prime minister said a lot of conditions to agree to the Entente, so that Karl couldn't help but ask: "Do you have to do this, isn't this going to tear down the empire?" ”

In the face of Karl's question, Prime Minister Heinlein said with a wry smile: "This must be done, at least we will keep Austria and Hungary." At least the Austro-Hungarian Empire was able to maintain its name. ”

"Will this keep the Empire?"

"There is a great hope of keeping the empire, but the royal family still needs to make sacrifices."

"What sacrifice?"

"Your Majesty needs to abdicate and let your son or brother succeed to the throne. In addition, power must be let go, and it is better to keep just the name and a few possessions, as in the Kingdom of Sweden. ”

Prime Minister Heinlein's words made Karl's hands and feet cold. It's not that he doesn't want to abdicate, in fact, he doesn't want to do this hot position for a long time. It's just that the vast majority of the wealth of the Habsburg family over the past generations has to be handed over, and the Habsburg family has no influence on power, which is not his own decision. After all, the Habsburgs were only patriarchs, and based on what he knew about the rest of the family, it was completely unacceptable. (At that time, the Swedish royal family had the weakest sense of existence)

"It makes me think again."

The Prime Minister stood quietly in front of Karl, waiting for his monarch to make a decision.

After a long time, when Chancellor Heinlein thought that the emperor was going to sleep, Karl made his decision: "Prime Minister, the domestic part can be carried out according to your plan, but on the question of foreign and imperial power, I must consult with the other members of the Habsburg, I hope you understand." ”

Karl's words made Chancellor Heinlein feel as if he were a few years older, and he stooped down to Karl and gave Karl a standard aristocratic courtesy to a king, and then replied: "Yes, my majesty." ”

After seeing off Prime Minister Heinlein, Karl summoned members of his family to discuss his proposal.

"I'm against it, it's absolutely not going to work. The children of the Habsburgs must not be driven out like this. ”

"Absolutely not, this is not acceptable."

Sure enough, Karl said Chancellor Heinlein's proposal, which immediately attracted overwhelming opposition. Some even claim that the prime minister is a spy and should be arrested and tortured.

Sure enough, power is intoxicating, completely oblivious to their own dangers. And in the face of the crowd of passionate family members, Carl's character flaws are exposed, and he hesitates. Or rather, he flinched in the face of overwhelming opposition. In the end, the meeting on the Habsburgs to relinquish their power was pushed down.

When Prime Minister Heinlein heard the news at home, he sighed alone. His actions aroused the curiosity of his son Heinlein. "Father, why do you sigh about this? These Habsburgs are ruthless people, and you will be able to pacify these people, father. ”

It seems that he was very unhappy with his father's responsibility for the war.

Looking at his angry son, Heinlein smiled and said, "Who told you that I took the responsibility?" ”

Faced with his father, who was still smiling at this time, Helifen Heinlein thought that his home would probably be demolished by the angry people in the future. Or the scene where his father was arrested and tried by the Entente powers, he couldn't help but question: "Isn't it? ”

"It's not."

"Why?"

Prime Minister Heinlein looked at his bewildered son and couldn't help but worry about the future development of his family. It seems that his son is really not in politics, so it's good to retire this time. Looking at his son who didn't understand much, Prime Minister Heinlein explained in order to reassure him.

"In fact, my advice to Your Majesty is my response to something that is very likely to happen in the future. But there is a bit of selfish advice added to it, which is to convict me and Archduke Friedrich. ”

"Where is this selfish, I think you are asking for your own hardship."

Seeing righteous rhetoric against his son, Prime Minister Heinlein felt that it was a wise decision not to let his son enter politics.

"Of course, I alone would be a real conviction, but with the addition of Archduke Friedrich, I am free from the danger of future political turmoil."

Seeing that his son still didn't understand, Chancellor Heinlein asked directly: "What is the reputation of Grand Duke Friedrich?" ”

"Very good."

"I see, father, you intend to tie up with Archduke Friedrich and take advantage of the sympathy of the population for him in order to get out of possible future reckoning?"

"You finally get it."

"So father, what are you going to do next?"

"Carry out the Emperor's arrangement."

In a time of turmoil in Austria-Hungary, the Habsburgs sent Empress Zeta, a princess from Parma, to comfort the people. It also approached the Entente countries wishing to negotiate peace talks.

It's just that now in the face of the crumbling Austro-Hungarian Empire, I don't know whether the Entente wants to talk to him or to these ethnic regions with separatist tendencies, and only the Entente themselves know.