Chapter 34: Chapter 33: Concerns and Decisions (2)

Pilsen, Bohemia, Austrian Empire

“Your Imperial Highness, I have something of concern that I need to talk to you about.”

Duke Kristoph had a serious expression when he asked the Crown Prince. The Duke had mostly just answered the inquiries of the Crown Prince in the meeting that it stunned the Crown Prince and Count Karl when Duke Kristoph speak out of concern.

“What is it, Duke? I hope I can give an answer and assurance to your concern.”

“It is about the Asian friend you bring with you, Your Imperial Highness. You know that this would be something you need to answer someday your highness, regarding your relationship with her. Many nobles would not accept her in Austria. Even for decades, the Emperor has advanced strides in making the empire less discriminatory between classes, but her existence is a foreigner from the far east. People had prejudiced even the ordinary citizens of our empire in terms of the people from the east.”

The Crown Prince is speechless at what just the Duke had spoken to him. H knows that this issue would be someday brought up to him but he tried to delay it as much as he can. He still doesn’t know how he would manage this issue. On one hand, is his personal affair while on the other is the affair of the state.

“I…”

“You don’t need to defend yourself from me Your Imperial Highness. I just want to ask you what actions would you take from here to ensure her safety and Austria.”

The Duke knows that the Crown Prince is uncomfortable with this topic so he tries to alleviate the pressure slightly from the Crown Prince. The Duke heard from his son, Count Karl Alexander, that the foreign girl, Lin, is kind and a good woman for the Crown Prince. For he is genuine concern about what actions would the Crown Prince would do. He wants the Crown Prince to be able to balance this issue and his personal life, and marriage to the royal family always need to be beneficial for the empire.

“I’m still too young for the discussions of marriage and we had still a lot of problems to face so the talks of marriage should be after we resolved all of this. And regards to Lady Lin, we are just friends Duke and I would like to maintain that relationship in the meantime. The nobles would not dare to oppose my friendship with Lin. Her father, Akira, is essential in our relations with the eastern countries who would we sign a treaty within a few days.”

“Ohhh… I see Your Imperial Highness. I’m sorry for my remarks Your Imperial Highness.”

“It’s fine Duke. I know you are not the only one who is concerned about my well-being, and for that I give you my thanks.”

“The honor is mine, Your Imperial Highness.”

Fortunately, the topic had ended in an amicable manner. Everyone is genuinely happy that the issue didn’t blow out of proportion. They still had a lot of things that needed to be discussed and deliberated and they still need to maintain an air of calmness and harmony between them.

Especially for Crown Prince Justinian who is the main man in the issue, he realized that his relationship with Lin needs to be addressed immediately and it is not good to drag it out longer. The public would question him sooner about this issue and if handled incorrectly may tarnish his reputation and popularity with the people. He knows that his name and position are still on shaky grounds with all the problems he faces.

“Your Imperial Highness… Father… I think it would be better if we talk about the Austrian press and railway lines in Austria. I think our railway system would not be enough for the incoming war against the Ottomans. In regards to a possible Hungarian rebellion, we had enough railway tracks to immediately deploy and encircle the rebellion. But in terms against the Ottomans, it would be very hard to provide a stable and efficient rear and logistics for the eastern and southern front.”

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Both the Crown Prince and the Duke look towards the map with the railway lines and roads written. There is truth in what the Count had just said regarding the railway system. There are still a lot of deficiencies and lacking roads and railways so that the soldiers can mobilize and deploy immediately. The combined arms and defeating the enemy in detail would only be effective if there are enough space to maneuver and the means for that maneuver.

One of that is good roads and railway systems that Austria is lacking. In the western and northern parts of the empire, there are a lot of good infrastructure, roads, and railways because of the rapid modernization and development in this area which is near the heart and capital of the empire, Vienna. But in the eastern and southern parts of the empire, there are fewer railways that connect the region for large-scale military deployment.

These would hamper the Austrian’s mobility which the Austrians are hoping that they would excel at. With a smaller army, they need to defeat the enemy in detail with their concentrated force while smaller detachments delayed the other enemy forces. For in order for the army to effectively performed the plan, a lot of things are needed in order.

Crown Prince Justinian thinks about how to alleviate these issues as these would surely plague the military movement in the future. It is also impossible to be able to create more good roads and railway lines for the army. It would take a lot of time to create these infrastructures like surveying the land if it is suitable for construction and whether it will be defendable or not.

“We can’t do anything right now about that. We can only hope to the ministries of railways and infrastructure can create more before the time comes. We can only expand the number of horses used by the military before the war. There are also vehicles that we can purchase from vehicle companies so that we would have more for faster deployment. The airship fleet can also be expanded and transport can be included in their mission.”

Crown Prince Justinian can for now, give an alternative so that the army can still conduct their planned movements even if there are fewer roads and railways on the eastern front. He trusts the Duke that he would take into consideration these problems during the General Staff meeting in making the strategic and tactical operation during the invasion. The Duke is holding a high position in the Austrian General Staff and can give suggestions and plans for the military operation.

“Duke I hope that you can prepare these things before the rebellion starts. We need to really win this war and it needed to be very convincing to make the German Empire have second thoughts about attacking our rear. Even if we can recruit a million troops next year, we would still be outnumbered two to one by the Ottomans. Our army here might be well-trained but the other armies of the empire might not be on par and ready against the Ottomans.”

“Don’t worry Your Imperial Highness. I have already contacted the General Staff and other military commanders of the other armies. Everyone is really training their men very hard after knowing that it is your orders. Many are trying to impress you before you even sit on the throne. You had the full support of the Austrian military Your Imperial Highness.”

“That’s a good thing to hear Duke. I’m really happy that the military is trying its best to be in shape. I’m very saddened years ago knowing the status of the military but now I’m proud of what it achieved. We need to maintain this momentum so that we can make this country great again.”

“Yes, Your Imperial Highness. The soldiers would be happy to hear that you are happy and proud of them.”

The meeting continues amicably and most of the problems and issues are discussed by the Crown Prince, Duke, and the Count. Even the press in which the Crown Prince has secretly a few of them is brought up in the topic.

They knew how important what would the media release to the public, especially for morale and propaganda. The media always give the news to the public even if it is good or bad, sad or happy, and can benefit or not. With that, Crown Prince Justinian had already created a few media outlets and continued to support it in secret. These media have sprawled across the entire Austrian empire to spread the things that are good for the country.

He had created these media groups in order to release news and ideas that is from him or that can benefit the empire. Like when making the citizen understand more the concept of internationalism to fight against the rise of nationalism. Also, distorting some ideas like freedom and liberty, which can give birth to new ideas and problems for the people. What Austria needs now is stability and security, and adding other things would only be bad for Austria which is building its strength.