Holy Roman Empire

Chapter 68: Zero Risk, High Returns

At this point, he cannot be allowed to back down. With a determined expression, Rothschild spoke, "Your Excellency, there are many innocent civilians who were involuntarily dragged into the rebellion and have now been arrested. They all have families to support. I wonder when they can be released?" Marshal Radetzky chuckled and said, "That's indeed a concern, but rest assured. We are in the process of screening and evaluating the situation, but it will take some time. As for the welfare of their families, we have a solution. The Venetian municipal government has already started distributing rations, and everyone will receive a portion of food. They won't go hungry!" To determine who are the real rebels and who were coerced into joining them is not something that can be accomplished overnight. The enemy is about to launch an attack, and at such a critical moment, stability takes precedence. Marshal Radetzky is not willing to take risks, and Emperor Franz is even less inclined to take chances. That's why the Vienna government chose to evacuate the people immediately. Anyway, most of these people are workers, so even if there are mistakes, it doesn't matter much. The government can simply compensate them with a salary and then arrange for their placement in state-owned factories, which should be enough to appease their grievances. With a little guidance, their hatred can be redirected towards the rebel factions. After all, if it weren't for these groups dragging them into this mess, none of this would have happened in the first place. The government is indeed righteous. Even if there are mistakes, they still provide salaries, don't they? Plus, they also offer employment opportunities. Compared to being under the mercy of capitalists, working in state-owned factories is much better. Without a point of comparison, there's no harm done. People are practical, especially ordinary folks who worry about their basic needs every day. They will naturally choose to align themselves with whoever provides a better life. This has been confirmed. The serfs who initially ignited the revolution in the Venetian region have now become loyal supporters of the Habsburg family, haven't they? Is it because of the serfs' defection that Marshal Radetzky was able to easily suppress the Venetian rebels? As long as they assist the government army in quelling the rebellion, they can be rewarded with land distribution. Who would refuse such an offer? The revolutionary party boasts about lofty ideals, but when it comes to concrete measures, they have never truly considered the interests of the lower-class people. Whether it's independence or republicanism, it doesn't help fill their bellies. Under Franz's strong insistence, the Austrian army rigorously carried out the policy of suppressing the rebel party and distributing land. In addition to land distribution, the government also thoughtfully allocated the farming tools and food confiscated from the rebellious nobility. The rural areas in the Venetian region have now stabilized, and the remaining nobility who managed to escape are also being cautious, fearing any association with the rebel party. With the forced emancipation of the serfs, these newly liberated farmers are closely watching the nobility, hoping that they too would join the rebellion, leading to the redistribution of their lands. That's also why the noble class, after witnessing the ruthless actions of the Austrian government, refrains from emerging. They have been thoroughly frightened. Unfortunately, the Austrian-controlled Italian region has always been unstable and has not been well-regarded within the Austrian Empire. The political situation there is heavily suppressed, and they have little say in matters of governance. Under the leadership of Marshal Radetzky, there was a ruthless crackdown in Venice, and blood nearly flowed like a river. Surprisingly, the Vienna government showed no reaction, considering it a lesson taught to the Venetians with bayonets, making it clear who is in charge. In just over a month, nearly seven layers of nobility in the Venetian region were stripped of their titles, and nearly eight layers of capitalists had their homes raided. Many of these individuals either fled or met their demise. For the remaining capitalists, this is an extremely rare opportunity. With so many competitors out of the picture, it would be foolish not to seize the market. Regardless of who rules over Venice, they will always require the capitalists to pay taxes. As long as they don't rebel, their position is generally secure. The Austrian government's ruthlessness in this operation was a result of certain individuals taking things too far. They believed they were powerful enough, thinking that providing funds and weapons to the revolutionary party was no big deal.

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Well, actually, these things can still be done as long as one is careful and cautious enough not to get caught by the Austrian government. It's just that these individuals were too arrogant. The blame lies with them for being too audacious. What's the point of emulating the French and getting involved in social movements as if they're afraid of not being connected to the revolutionary party? Now that the Austrian government is cracking down, they have gathered enough evidence to prosecute them, with a whole stack of incriminating documents. Those who survive are the smart ones. Seeing the connection between the Rothschild family and the Radetzky family, the capitalists, eager to resume production and seize the market, are now nominating Rothschild as their representative to negotiate. Upon hearing Marshal Radetzky's words, Rothschild realized that trouble was brewing. However, he still persevered and continued to strive for a solution. "Your Excellency, since the outbreak of the rebellion in the Venetian region, the local economy has suffered severe damage. If we cannot resume production quickly, it is feared that this year's tax revenue will be affected!" Marshal Radetzky looked at him and smiled, then calmly said, "Rothschild, isn't that obvious? Due to the effects of the war, the local economy has suffered a devastating blow. I have already reported to the Vienna government, requesting the exemption of this year's taxes. Do you think that by releasing the people, you can guarantee that tax revenue in the Venice region will not decrease this year?" Rothschild hesitated in his response and said, "No!" He didn't dare to make that promise. If the tax revenue in the Venetian region this year reaches one-fifth of previous years, it would be considered a blessing from God. What about the remaining deficit? We can't expect them to pay to make up for it, right? "They are not like the Thirteen Factories1, engaging in the business of tax farming!" Marshal Radetzky persuaded, "I understand your purpose. We are about to engage in war with the Kingdom of Sardinia, and in order to ensure stability in the Venetian region, these individuals cannot return until the investigation is completed. “I understand your desire to expand production and seize the market. There's no need to rush. Once we defeat the Kingdom of Sardinia, your gains will be even greater. “Since the capitalists in the Lombardy region have sided with the Kingdom of Sardinia, as the defeated party, they no longer have the right to exist. I believe you can fill the void they have left behind!" This is a clear implication that as long as Austria wins the war, the main commercial circles in Northern Italy will be dominated by Venice. Rothschild, struggling to control his emotions, said, "Your Excellency, what price do we need to pay for this?" "It's simple. All you have to do is create a provocation in the Kingdom of Sardinia, prompting them to launch an attack on Venice ahead of time," calmly replied Marshal Radetzky. Rothschild’s joy was evident as this presented a low-cost, high-return, and risk-free investment opportunity. Even if they failed, they would only have to spend a small amount on propaganda expenses. But if they succeeded, everyone's industries could double or even multiply several times over. ______________________________________ 1. In this context, "Thirteen Factories" refers to a group of Western trading companies operating in Canton (Guangzhou) during the Qing dynasty in China. They were granted a monopoly on foreign trade, including the collection of customs duties. The phrase implies that the mentioned group of people or businesses being referred to are not authorized or capable of engaging in similar tax-collecting activities like the Thirteen Factories.