14 October 1866, Heixingen.

Ernst finally formed its first fleet of its own, which was a big step for the Heshingen consortium, and as this fleet continued to expand, the route became more and more stable in the future.

It will bring great benefits to Ernst, and the purpose of building a fleet is not only a question of profitability, but also a question of whether it can be independent.

As the saying goes, if you rely on the mountains, you will fall on everyone. Relying on the Dutch will one day suffer a big loss, and that loss will be either today or tomorrow.

And having a fleet in his own hands means that he can personally participate in world trade, and overseas colonization relies on strong ships and cannons.

The ship is the hub connecting the world, and it is the most important means of transportation in the world after the advent of the Age of Discovery.

Today, the Heshingen consortium built its first fleet of its own, which was the first step not only in Ernst's own business, but also in the entire East African colony.

The population and materials needed by the East African colonies can be better transported through their own fleets, especially some items that used to be more troublesome, which the Dutch do not pull, and some materials that require high secrecy, if the Dutch take over, Ernst himself is not at ease.

Ernst, who had returned from Venice, was reading the newspaper at home when the old prince Konstantin walked in through the door.

"Ernst, you're 16 years old in the blink of an eye!" Prince Konstantin sighed.

"What's wrong? Father. Ernst asked, confused.

"It's nothing, it's just that you have grown up and have your own career, and it's just a moment of emotion." Prince Konstantin replied.

"Ernst, you are no longer a child, and you should think about your life's events!"

Hearing this, Ernst still doesn't know what the old man is thinking? Reincarnated, Ernst had been waiting for this day for a long time.

Ernst is not a person who speaks emotionally after living two lives, and the polishing of his life in his previous life has long smoothed out the edges and corners.

As a nobleman in this life, Ernst himself feels that free love is more nonsense, and now Ernst is also focusing on interests.

And marriage, especially the marriage of contemporary European aristocracy, is behind the output of interests, usually fine, busy with work, Ernst himself has no intention of thinking about these things.

Now that Prince Konstantin has said it himself, it is estimated that he has a plan, so he might as well push the boat down the river and see what his father thinks.

"Father, do you already have a candidate?" Ernst asked deliberately.

"Hehe, it's worthy of being my son, I know it." Konstantin smiled and took out a document from behind him.

"I'm old, I still want to take care of your marriage with my own hands, your mother left early, I pulled you up, so I naturally want to arrange your marriage."

Saying that, Konstantin spread out the information in his hand and said, "This time, there are three candidates, one is Princess Heidi of Sweden introduced by your aunt, one is Princess Martha of the Russian Empire, and the other is Princess Karina of Austria. ”

Ernst looked at the information and asked with a surprised expression, "Why are you so young?" The eldest is only twelve, and the youngest is only ten years old! ”

Prince Konstantin knocked Ernst on the head with his hand: "Are you very old?" ”

"Ernst, you're only sixteen, you don't think you're an adult! I didn't get married until I was twenty-six years old, so you have to wait a few years. ”

"These princesses are very young, but in a few years they will also be big girls, now of course you have to start first, while my old bones are still a little thin, and find a good family for you." Konstantin said.

"Don't be in such a hurry!" Ernst asked, puzzled.

"You know what? In recent years, there have been more and more crooked melons and cracked dates of European aristocracy, especially the royal families of various countries, and they don't know what's going on, and they always have accidents, that is, others dare not say it, I can see it in my heart, we didn't have so many things at that time, I will tell you this, you must not mention it to others. ”

"So, I'm looking for a healthy daughter-in-law, but I even checked the medical history of their parents, and finally found these three who are absolutely healthy and worthy of our Hohenzollern family."

When Ernst heard what his father said, he knew in his heart what he was talking about, that his poor nephew, Wilhelm II, was the victim, and although he escaped hemophilia, he was born with a paralysis that caused his left arm to shrink.

Thinking about this, Ernst instantly shuddered, if he remembered it well, because of the marriage of the British royal family, hemophilia, a hereditary disease that was brought to many European royal families along with Queen Victoria's descendants, including Germany, Romania (the Hohenzollern family is suspected to be the biggest victim. Greece, Croatia, Russia and Denmark......

Ernst didn't know how many children Queen Victoria had, after all, he hadn't looked for it carefully, and it wasn't something he could be a nobody to get involved with.

However, I was still worried about the royal family of the above-mentioned countries, looking at the two candidates on the profile, Sweden and Russia, well, it should be fine!

The information above is very clear about their parents' situation and relationship, after all, it is normal for close relatives to marry in this era.

None of the three candidates had anything to do with Britain this time, and Ernst continued to look down.

Suddenly, Ernst discovered something terrible? The three princesses told the truth, Ernst had never heard of any of them.

Among them, the Swedish princess and the Russian princess have a relationship with their mother, so they are involved, such as the former queen of Sweden Josephine is Aunt Ernst, the first candidate was chosen by her, and the second Russian princess is also her mother's sister and has such a relationship with the marriage of Russian nobles.

But the third one is not in Ernst's knowledge, Princess Karina, the daughter of the Mexican Emperor Massimiliano I, is 10 years old, and has lived in the Habsburg family since she was a child, and was raised by her grandmother, Princess Sophie......

？？？？ ……

Ernst's heart is full of question marks, this Princess Karina is too outrageous!

If I'm not mistaken? This Massimiliano I was the younger brother of Franz, now Emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the House of Habsburg.

I've heard the name of this Mexican emperor, but I don't remember that he had descendants in history?

If memory serves, Massimiliano I, because he had no descendants of his own, specially adopted the descendants of the former emperor of Mexico as adopted sons.

"Father, what's the matter with this Princess Karina?" Ernst asked, confused.

"This Princess Karina is the daughter of Massimiliano I, the child born to Massimiliano I and Queen Charlotte when they were still in Europe."

Isn't that right? Ernst wondered to himself that even if history was changed by the butterfly effect of his birth, it would be impossible for him to connect with the Habsburgs, right?

"Father, I don't understand, this Princess Karina has a lot of status in the Habsburg family, is Franz's niece, or the Empress Dowager Sophie, and her father is now the emperor of Mexico, how can he be more prominent than us in status and status, how can he intentionally contact us!"

Konstantin smiled and said: "This is not a good thing that Massimiliano I did himself, the whole Habsburg was against him going to Mexico to take office to Napoleon III, and as a result, this fool ignored the opposition of his family, and would rather give up his inheritance in the Habsburgs than go to the mud ditch in Mexico." ”

"Well, now that France has withdrawn its troops from Mexico, I heard that the situation of Massimiliano I is also getting worse and worse, and some time ago he and Queen Carlotta were lobbying in European countries to want countries to interfere in Mexican politics."

Ens said: "But what does this have to do with marriage? ”

"Isn't it so, Queen Sophie's own attention? When Massimiliano I went to Mexico, he made Sophie half angry, and she loved Massimiliano I the most since she was a child. ”

"Before Massimiliano I and Queen Carlotta went to Mexico, the situation in Mexico was turbulent, and Princess Karina was still young, so she was taken by Queen Sophie."

"Having met the two bad sons of Franz and Massimiliano I, the Empress Dowager Sophie is now a cup of bow and snake shadow, for fear that the descendants will be as unhappy as the two sons. So it is more strict in education. ”

"For example, Massimiliano I, who was raised too much back then, was originally a rice worm, but was provoked by Queen Carlotta to become an emperor, and as a result, he was planted with a big heel."

"Princess Sophie feels that it is the daughter-in-law's fault that her two sons have become like this now, so she is now choosing her grandson-in-law to pay more attention to her identity and ability."

Ernst nodded quickly when he heard this, ability is indeed very important.

"It's not easy to find such a person in Europe, there is no shortage of marriage partners in the Habsburgs, but the Empress Dowager Sophie has a stronger eye for ability and character this time, and finally chose you."

！！！

Ernst was a little embarrassed to be said, how could he say it so well.

"My son, of course I know it myself, needless to say, ability, achievement is the whole of Europe belongs to the first gear."

"Character is even better, never messed around, you must know that many nobles live in disorder, Ernst, there are no scandals among peers of your age, but it is rare outside."

"In terms of identity, our family is not bad, the Hohenzollern family is at its peak, and now Prussia and Romania are all our Hohenzollern family, and they are also the first gear on the European continent, and you will inherit my position as prince in the future."

"Although Karina's father is the Emperor of Mexico, his position is just Mexican self-esteem! His real value was that he was a member of the Habsburgs, and as a result, he had to give up his inheritance. Now the situation in Mexico is becoming more and more difficult to control, and everyone understands that there is no place for an emperor in Mexico. ”