Romanian Eagle

"Peace, not war."

"We want bread."

One after another, the slogans of demonstrations and demonstrations burst into the Hofburg Palace, which made Karl I, who was staying in the palace, restless.

The soldiers guarding the palace did not bring him much security. These bursts of slogans sounded like a life-threatening talisman, making him restless.

"Your Majesty, we still have to wait. The Prime Minister has already gone to get involved with these demonstrators. I believe they can understand the current difficulties."

Listening to the comfort of Earl Lawrence, the head of the court, did not reassure Carl I. It's just the torment of waiting, and I really need to find someone to chat to relieve it. Moreover, Earl Lawrence is loyal to the Habsburg family, and is also a suitable person to chat.

Carl I thought of the current situation as soon as he chatted, and he no longer maintained the demeanor of a king, and said a little angrily. "I know what you said, these people are just instigated, the real danger is the people hiding behind them. What do these people want, don't they know that the price of losing the empire will be very heavy. "

"Your Majesty, getting angry will not solve the problem. Please calmly think about it and face 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 expression is not very good, it seems that the negotiation with the crowd outside is not very good.

Carl saw what Earl Lawrence discovered, but he still wanted to know the result. "Prime Minister, how's the negotiation going?"

Facing the monarch's question, Prime Minister Heinlein saluted and replied: "Not ideal. These demonstrators demand that the Empire immediately cease the war, restore the army, and... and..."

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

Facing Carl's questioning, Heinlein said the final condition: "And ask Your Majesty to hand over the power to the people."

Heinlein's words immediately ignited Karl's anger, and he said with a cold face: "To the people? I think it is to the conspirators hiding behind these people. Czechs, Croats, The Slovenians are demonstrating for independence, the Hungarians are leaving the empire, and now even the Germans want power. Then they will change the political system and kick me out of the way, right? The empire is sorry for them, Everyone wants to leave him."

In the words of Prime Minister Heinlein,

It completely ignited the anger of Carl I, and the series of bad news made him out of control. After ascending to the throne, there was first disobedience from the army and the senators of the government, then the defeat of the war, and then the demonstrations of popular dissatisfaction. The outbreak of various problems in less than two years completely shattered his inner support. He has the urge to break the jar and let these mobs taste the taste of bayonet.

But the only reason in his heart prevented him from doing this, because after doing so. The nearly thousand-year history of the Habsburg family will also be wiped out, and no one will show mercy to the tyrant who ordered the shooting of the people, and it is still a destined tyrant. Everyone would come and stomp on him to improve their popularity. And Carl is not a fool, he doesn't want to be a stepping stone for these people at all, and he is also a person he hates.

Prime Minister Heinlein looked at the young emperor in front of him and vented his dissatisfaction. Having been a political figure for many years, the current situation has become a plaster, and I believe the emperor will understand this. Slowly Carl I's roar subsided. He also knows that venting his emotions will not change the current situation. What needs to be considered now is the continuation of the Habsburg family.

After taking a few deep breaths in a row, Carl still felt that his mind was in a mess. At this time, he looked at the prime minister in front of him and couldn't help but asked, "Prime Minister, in this situation, do you have any good advice?"

Facing Carl's question, Prime Minister Heinlein flashed a few thoughts in his mind and said: "Your Majesty, the current situation is very dangerous for the Empire and you. First of all, you need to appease the angry people, then let the Queen It is a good way to bring people to condolences to the elderly, children and the homeless. Moreover, more materials must be used this time, so that people all over the country can feel or see the benevolent side of the royal family, and there must be general publicity in the newspapers. In addition, it’s okay… it’s okay… let people spread rumors that I and the Minister of War are responsible for everything related to the government and the army, and the royal family is completely unaware of it.”

The words of Prime Minister Heinlein made Karl feel the old minister's enthusiasm for the Habsburg family. This is to use the reputation of himself and Archduke Friedrich to keep the royal family's voice. Thinking of this, Carl I couldn't help but stepped forward and said to the Prime Minister: "I can understand that you sent the Queen. You want me to imitate my great-uncle Sissy. But you go to the top to quell the public's anger? How can this be, it will destroy the Prime Minister you of."

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

"In addition to the measures to deal with the domestic people, Germany must be avoided internationally. We must find a way to make the Allied countries forgive us for starting the war. Both sides lost too much in this war. If we are not forgiven, the Allied countries will give us It has been demolished. So we have to act fast. First of all, the disputed area between us and Italy must be given up. In addition, the area of ​​Bosnia and Herzegovina that caused the war will be assigned to Serbia, and Transylvania, where the Romanian majority is the majority, has also agreed to give it to Serbia. Romanians. Also for Croatian and Bohemian autonomy."

The Prime Minister said a lot of conditions to agree to the Allied Powers, and Carl couldn't help but ask in shock, "Is it necessary to do this? Isn't this about tearing down the empire."

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

"Can this keep the empire?"

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

"What sacrifice?"

"Your Majesty needs to abdicate and let your son or brother inherit this position. In addition, you must let go of power. It's better to be like the Kingdom of Sweden and only keep your name and a few properties."

The words of Prime Minister Heinlein 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 it for a long time in this hot position. It's just that most of the wealth of the Habsburg family has to be handed over, and the Habsburg family is not in power. This is not his final say. After all, he was only the head of the Habsburg family, and based on what he knew about the rest of the family, it was completely impossible to accept. (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 Carl, waiting for his monarch to make a decision.

After a long time, when Prime Minister Heinlein thought that the emperor was going to fall asleep, Karl made his own decision: "Prime Minister, regarding the domestic part, you can follow your plan, but regarding the issue of foreign countries and imperial power, I will It has to be discussed with the rest of the Habsburgs, I hope you understand."

Karl's words made Prime Minister Heinlein look like he was a few years older. He bent over to Karl after performing a standard noble etiquette to meet the king and replied, "Yes, my majesty."

After sending Prime Minister Heinlein away, Carr invited members of the family to discuss his proposal.

"I object, this is absolutely not possible. The descendants of the Habsburgs must not be driven out just like that."

"Absolutely not, this is not acceptable."

Sure enough, when Karl said Prime Minister Heinlein's proposal, he immediately aroused overwhelming opposition. There are even those who claim that the Prime Minister is a spy and should be arrested and tortured.

Sure enough, power is intoxicating, completely disregarding its own dangers. In the face of the excited family members, Carl's character flaws were exposed, and he hesitated. Or rather, he flinched in the face of overwhelming opposition. In the end, the meeting about letting the Habsburgs let go of power was suppressed by anticlimactic.

When Prime Minister Heinlein heard the news at home, he sighed alone. His actions aroused the curiosity of his son Helifen Heinlein. "Father, why do you sigh about this? These Habsburg families are ruthless people. Take you, father, to calm these people."

It seems that he is very dissatisfied with his father's responsibility for the war.

Looking at his angry son, Heinlein said with a smile, "Who told you that I was the one who took the responsibility?"

Facing his father who was still smiling at this time, Helifen Heinlein thought that his home might be demolished by angry people in the future. Or the scene where his father was arrested by the Allies for trial, he couldn't help but question: "Isn't it?"

"no."

"why?"

Prime Minister Heinlein looked at his confused son and couldn't help worrying about the future development of his family. It seems that his son is really not expected to be in politics, so it's better to retire this time. Looking at his son who didn't quite understand, Prime Minister Heinlein explained it to reassure him.

"Actually, the advice I gave to His Majesty is my response to what is very likely to happen in the future. However, a bit of selfish advice is added to it, and that is to convict me and Archduke Friedrich."

"How selfish is this, I think you are asking for trouble."

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

"Of course I am alone, and I am truly convicted, but with the addition of Archduke Friedrich, I am free from the dangers of future political turmoil."

Seeing that his son still didn't understand, Prime Minister Heinlein asked directly: "How is Archduke Friedrich's reputation?"

"very good."

"I understand, father, are you planning to tie up with Archduke Friedrich and take advantage of the public's sympathy for him in order to get rid of possible reckoning in the future?"

"You finally understand."

"Then father, what do you do next?"

"Execute the emperor's arrangement."

When Austria-Hungary was in turmoil, the Habsburg family sent Queen Zita, who was from the Princess of Parma, to condolence to the people. And also contacted the Allied countries want to negotiate peace talks.

It's just that now facing the crumbling Austro-Hungarian Empire, I don't know whether the Entente countries want to talk to him or whether they want to talk to these ethnic regions with a tendency to split. Only the Entente countries know this.