Chapter 1049: The Austrian Emperor’s Political Show
Just when Jérôme Bonaparte and Achille Fuld were happy about the government's victory at the Bourbon Palace, an unprecedented grand ceremony was being held in Vienna hundreds of kilometers away in France.
Welcome ceremony.
The hosts responsible for this welcoming ceremony were the two most distinguished people in the entire Austrian Empire—Emperor Franz Joseph and his wife Empress Elisabeth (Sissi).
At this moment, Franz Joseph and Princess Sissi were standing on the train platform in the suburbs of Vienna with a group of imperial ministers, princes, and envoys from all over the world, waiting for the arrival of the train.
Time passed minute by minute in a long wait, and the train that was originally scheduled to arrive at the scheduled time was indeed nowhere to be seen. This made Franz Joseph on the platform couldn't help but show a hint of impatience and uneasiness. He was very afraid of the train arriving.
An accident occurred halfway.
Empress Elisabeth, who was standing next to Franz Joseph, felt the emperor's nervousness through the left hand held by Franz Joseph, and softly comforted him, "Your Majesty, relax!
The train is just late!”
Hearing Queen Elisabeth's voice, which was as refreshing as the spring breeze, Franz Joseph's uneasy mood was slightly relieved.
He couldn't help but whisper to his wife beside him to express his gratitude, "Thank you! Sissi!"
"Your Majesty, please wait patiently for a moment! The train will arrive soon!" Queen Elizabeth said with relief again.
"Um!"
Ten minutes later, as the train whistle sounded in the distance, everyone on the platform understood that the train they were waiting for had arrived.
The Chancellor of the Seal, who was responsible for assisting the emperor in organizing the reception, hurried to the rear of the envoy and shouted to the guards, "The band! Where is the band?"
The royal orchestra belonging to Schonbrunn Palace obeyed the call of the Lord Privy Seal and appeared in front of the Lord Privy Seal. The Lord Privy Seal ordered the band strictly, "As soon as the train stops, you will start playing!"
Another point is that the sound you play must be loud!
We must ensure that the emperor and empress can hear clearly!"
"Understood!" the leader of the palace band replied immediately.
"Okay, you guys get ready now!" The Lord Privy Seal waved his hand and ordered the band to seize the final preparation time?
Then, the Lord Privy Seal walked forward quickly and soon came to Franz Joseph's side.
"Your Majesty!" the Lord Privy Seal saluted Franz Joseph respectfully.
"How are things arranged?" Franz Joseph asked in a calm tone.
"Your Majesty, everything is ready! Just wait for the train to arrive at the platform!" the Lord Privy Seal replied to Franz Joseph.
"Um!"
When the train with the Habsburg emblem (a double-headed eagle wearing a crown) stopped in front of the platform, impassioned music - "God bless Franz" - came from behind Franz Joseph.
(It can also be called "Ode to the Emperor").
At the same time, after hearing the music coming from the platform, the Austrian Imperial Guards not far from the train platform also filled the salute shells into the Franz 1856 Bronze Cannon (Little Napoleon Cannon) under the order of the commander.
Reprinted) gun barrel.
"Boom" "Boom" "Boom"
After several loud noises, all the salute shells were fired into the sky, and colorful colors appeared in the sky.
Under the splendid salute and high-pitched music, a middle-aged man dressed in pure white general's uniform, with a Grand Cross hanging on his chest and collar, got off the train with a sad face, and then respectfully bowed to Emperor Franz Joseph
A military salute was performed.
"His Majesty!"
Franz Joseph also returned a military salute to the middle-aged man, and asked with a slightly sad tone: "General Benedek, is Count Radetzky's coffin still on the train!"
"Your Majesty, Father Radetzky (the Austrian Empire's troops in Venice called Radetzky Father Radetzky, and Benedek did the same)..." Benedek realized that he had said something wrong.
He quickly stopped and changed his words, "Count Radetzky's body is in the carriage!"
Franz Joseph knew that the soldiers and generals of Lombardy and Venice generally loved Count Radetzky, and even Franz himself respected generals like Radetzky, so he did not criticize Benedecki.
Ke blamed him for the mistake in address.
"Please let the soldiers in the carriage carry out the body of the old marshal!"
Franz Joseph first gave Benedek such an order, and then he suddenly remembered that he had rarely seen Radetzky since 1849, and he couldn't help but recall the meeting with Marshal Radetzky in Venice.
In the clip, he was moved by the scene and called out to Benedek, then took Elizabeth's hand and walked quickly onto the train in front of everyone's surprised eyes.
The soldiers who were preparing to carry the coffin in the carriage were very surprised when they saw the emperor and empress suddenly coming in. They hurriedly saluted Franz Joseph and the empress.
Franz Joseph returned a simple salute and came to Radetzky's coffin.
"I want to see the old marshal, okay!" Franz Joseph asked the soldiers beside him.
"Your Majesty, we..." The soldiers were a little at a loss. In principle, the coffin was heading to the "General Hall" (the "General Hall" of the Vienna Military History Museum, where the funeral of Marshal Franz Joseph Radetzky was held.
) cannot be opened before.
"Open it!" Benedek, who followed the emperor, ordered the soldiers.
Compared to the emperor who was far away in Vienna, the soldiers obviously obeyed Benedek's orders more. Under Benedek's instructions, the soldiers opened the coffin lid.
Radetzky's body appeared in front of Franz Joseph. At this moment, he was wearing a pure white military uniform covered with medals, lying peacefully in the coffin as if he was asleep.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! It was this general with a loving face like an old father who, when the Austrian Empire was in danger, made the decisive decision regardless of his 80-year-old age.
He took over the task of saving the Austrian Empire from domination in Lombardy and Venice.
Under his wise leadership, the imperial army defeated the Kingdom of Sardinia with a small number and defeated the large number, saving the empire's rule in the Apennine Peninsula.
At the same time, when the empire needed it most, it sent a small army to support Vienna.
Looking at the dedicated old marshal in front of him, Franz Joseph felt an impulse in his heart. He felt that he should do something more for Radetzky.
So, he turned his attention to Benedek and asked with a pun, "General Benedek, I want to know if you can support the weight of Marshal Radetzki now!"
Hearing Franz Joseph's composition, Benedek's heart froze, and he understood that this was a test from the emperor.
If he passes the test, the emperor is likely to grant him the position of governor of Venice and Lombardy.
"Your Majesty! Although my level is not as high as Marshal Radetzki's, I am willing to give it a try!"
Although Benedek said, "Give it a try," Franz Joseph heard a hint of "Who else would it be?" in his tone.
"Then General Benedek, would you like to accompany me to send Count Radetzky the last part?" Franz Joseph sent an invitation to Benedek.
"Of course, Your Majesty!" Benedek readily accepted Franz Joseph's invitation.
Queen Elizabeth, who was standing aside, naturally heard something about her husband. She whispered to her husband, "Your Majesty, Grand Duchess Sophie..."
"Sissi, I am the emperor of the empire!" Franz Joseph responded to Princess Sissi without any doubt.
Looking at her tough-minded husband, Elizabeth's mouth showed a pleased smile, "I obey!"
Subsequently, under the order of Franz Joseph, Benedek got off the train and read out Franz Joseph's order in front of everyone.
“By order of His Majesty Franz Joseph, I have specially summoned Interior Minister Bach, Governor of Bohemia, Archduke Albrecht, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Austrian Empire Richard Metternich, and Governor of Hungary, Archduke Rainer, to come and have an audience.
!”
The people whose names were called by Benedek were stunned for a moment subconsciously. They didn't understand what the emperor wanted to do by calling them over at this time.
The vast majority of ministers and envoys in the crowd also did not understand Emperor Franz Joseph's intentions. Only a few people understood the emperor's intentions.
One of them was Prince Metternich. When he heard that his son Richard Metternich was fortunate enough to be one of the names on the list, he couldn't help but feel happy for Richard Metternich.
Because whether it is Interior Minister Bach, Governor of Bohemia Albrecht, or Governor of Hungary Archduke Rainer, their ages are generally around 30-45 years old. This age can only be regarded as teenagers for a politician. However, they
That each of them can hold a high position at this age is enough to show that the emperor attaches great importance to them.
The fact that Richard Metternich had the honor to stand with them shows that the emperor had planned to let Richard Metternich leave his assistant position and move him to a more powerful position.
"Whoever's name is called, please go to the train immediately!" Bemedek repeated again.
Richard Metternich whispered to Prince Metternich standing next to him, "Father, I'm going!"
"Yes!" Prince Metternich responded calmly.
Albrecht, Bach, Richard Metternich and others followed Benedek into the carriage.
Prince Metternich, who was standing in the crowd, looked at Richard Metternich with a happy smile on his face, and then praised in a low voice, "Your Majesty, you did a good job!"
After speaking, Prince Metternich involuntarily glanced at a middle-aged man in a suit not far away.
At this moment, the middle-aged man showed himself to be completely opposite to Prince Metternich. Through his eyes, Prince Metternich could even see the evil and violence hidden under these eyes.
This middle-aged man is none other than Prussian Ambassador to Austria von Bismarck.