Prince Metternich witnessed with his own eyes the drastic change in von Bismarck's expression and eyes in a short period of time (from a perfunctory smile to outright hostility). He was a little confused as to why von Bismarck would treat him, who was half buried in the ground.
The old man showed so much hostility.
Alas, today’s young people really don’t know how to respect the elderly!
Prince Metternich couldn't help but feel relieved, and then he looked away from von Bismarck and turned to look at the train stopped on the platform again.
At this moment, Franz Joseph in the carriage was assigning tasks to his carefully selected "young men". Archduke Albrecht and General Benedek were placed at the front of the coffin, and Interior Minister Bach and Archduke Rainer were placed at the front of the coffin.
The middle part of the coffin, and the rear end of the coffin were responsible for Franz Joseph and Richard Metternich.
When Franz Joseph handed over the task to everyone present, most of them immediately opposed the emperor's decision, and the most fierce opposition was Archduke Albrecht and General Benedek.
"Just leave the matter of carrying Count Radetzky's coffin to your Majesty! Your Majesty only needs to direct it, and you don't need to do it yourself!" Archduke Albrecht said to Franz Joseph immediately.
"Your Majesty, His Excellency the Grand Duke is right!" Benedek also echoed, "If the old marshal in heaven knows that you are doing this, he will definitely not agree to your arrangement!"
Franz Joseph certainly understood the reasons for Albrecht and Benedek's objections.
They were afraid that they might be accidentally injured while carrying Count Radetzky's coffin.
At that time, the ministers of the empire and those who are jealous of them will blame them for the emperor's injury.
By then, Albrecht and others will be in endless trouble.
“Count Radetzky’s coffin should be carried by our fellow ministers!
There is no reason for an emperor to carry the coffin of his ministers!" Minister Bach also expressed objections to Franz Joseph personally carrying the coffin of the old marshal.
At present, three of the five people summoned by Franz Joseph expressed opposition, and Franz Joseph could not help but be a little shaken.
He turned his attention to Archduke Rainer, who was also a member of the Habsburg family, hoping to get some support from him.
However, when Franz Joseph looked at Archduke Reiner for help, Archduke Reiner subconsciously avoided Franz Joseph's gaze.
In order to gain the support of Archduke Reiner, Franz Joseph had no choice but to ask Archduke Reiner, "Leiner, do you think I should follow their advice?"
"Your Majesty, I..."
Seeing that he could no longer stay out, Archduke Rainer had no choice but to bite the bullet and replied to Franz Joseph, "I believe that the fact that you personally carried Count Radetzky's coffin is conducive to uniting the empire.
Good thing about unity!
If the subjects of the empire knew this, they would be overwhelmed by your kindness and wisdom.
A smile appeared on Franz Joseph's lips, just when he thought Archduke Rainer supported him.
Archduke Rainer’s next words directly shattered Franz Joseph’s illusions, “But I think what Archduke Albrecht, General Benedek and Minister Bach said is right!
Your Majesty, as the monarch of a country, you really should not put yourself in such a situation!
If anything happens to you, I will be dead!"
After that, Archduke Rainer bowed to Franz Joseph.
After hearing Archduke Rainer's response, the smile on Franz Joseph's face immediately disappeared.
He glanced at everyone present with stern eyes and responded with a hint of anger, "You all think so!"
Everyone present could feel Franz Joseph's calm anger, and they couldn't help but tremble in their hearts.
No one dared to speak, and they faced Franz Joseph's gaze with silence.
Franz Joseph looked at them one by one, and then his eyes stopped on Richard Metternich.
"Richard Metternich, do you have the same idea as them?" Franz Joseph asked Richard Metternich in a strong tone.
After hearing Franz Joseph's inquiry, Richard Metternich subconsciously wanted to tell Franz Joseph that he had the same idea as theirs.
However, the next second Richard Metternich remembered his old father's opinion of Emperor Franz Joseph's character.
"Our emperor is like a stubborn donkey!
If you cannot suppress his every move with a strong attitude (similar to Prince Schwarzenberg), then you can only succeed by following his ideas!
Now, the person who could suppress him with force has died, and everyone can only choose to follow his ideas.
If your ideas are different from his, then you can only choose a roundabout way to make him listen to your suggestions!
Remember, you must not conflict with him!"
Therefore, Richard Metternich decided to abide by the teachings of his father Metternich and not be consistent with Bach and others.
After all, both Albrecht and Bach had enough political capital to veto the emperor's decision.
The reason why they accepted their fate did not entirely depend on the emperor's own will.
Take Bach for example. As Minister of the Interior, he can be said to be the financial steward of the entire Austrian Empire. Under his leadership, the Austrian Empire's finances gradually got rid of the previous situation of being unable to make ends meet.
Even though the Austrian Empire is still in a period of borrowing money to survive, the national debt of the Austrian Empire is more sought after by the international market than before.
Therefore, the emperor would not depose them on such a small issue.
And his (Richard Metternich) political capital is far inferior to Bach and others. He must be careful and careful to accumulate political capital.
This chapter is not over, please click on the next page to continue reading! Therefore, agreeing with the emperor on certain occasions is also a necessary step to accumulate capital.
After thinking about this, Richard Metternich decisively replied to Franz Joseph, "Your Majesty, I do not agree with the statements of Minister Bach and Governor Albrecht!"
Richard Metternich's sonorous and forceful reply made Franz Joseph's eyes light up.
Bach's expression was slightly stiff, and he hurriedly "reprimanded" Richard Metternich loudly, "Mr. Metternich, please don't incite the monarch to do something unethical!"
Franz Joseph, who finally had a helper, was naturally unwilling to let Richard Metternich back down. He hurriedly said, "Minister Bach, please don't go to the line like this!"
"But... Your Majesty!" Minister Bach protested in a low voice, and Franz Joseph greeted him with a stern look.
Afterwards, Richard Metternich continued to speak eloquently, "Your Excellency Bach, I do not think that the emperor carrying the coffin for Count Radetzky is something that is not in line with court etiquette!
I remember that when His Majesty the Emperor was touring Galicia, he also washed the feet of the Galician peasants!
If it is not in line with etiquette for the emperor to carry the coffin of a minister with outstanding merits, then is it even more in line with etiquette for the emperor to personally wash the feet of peasants?"
Bach hesitated and could not refute, because it was Bach himself who suggested that the emperor wash the feet of the Galician peasants and thereby regain the hearts and minds of the Galician people.
Today, Richard Metternich uses this incident to refute Bach.
After a while, Bach explained to Richard Metternich, "Mr. Richard, that's just a part of the foot-washing ceremony [1]!"
However, Bach's explanation is obviously somewhat unreasonable.
Even in the foot-washing ceremony of Maozu Festival, the emperor's role was only the organizer of the entire foot-washing ceremony, not a participant in the foot-washing ceremony.
Of course, this does not mean that it is illegal for the emperor to attend the foot-washing ceremony in person.
It's just that since the Middle Ages, emperors/kings have seldom participated in such activities in person, and have mostly acted as hosts. This is also an unspoken rule by default.
"Minister Bach, you are a bit arrogant!" Franz Joseph's voice showed displeasure after hearing Bach's strong argument.
Bach came to his senses and apologized to Richard Metternich, "Your Majesty, I was rude!"
"Nothing!" Franz Joseph responded lightly, and then continued, "I think Mr. Richard Metternich (Richard Metternich felt happy when he heard this title) was right.
Wrong, back then I could stoop down and wash the feet of the serfs in Galicia!
Why can't you bend down and carry the coffin of old Marshal Radetzky today?
Minister Bach, do you think Count Radetzky should not enjoy such preferential treatment?"
At this point, Franz Joseph's eyes suddenly became sharp, like a sharp sword piercing Minister Bach's heart.
Minister Bach was instantly stunned by Franz Joseph.
To be fair, Minister Bach still has a certain amount of respect for Count Radetzky.
Because there are few pure soldiers in the Austrian Empire who do not interfere in politics like Count Radetzky, the vast majority of soldiers in the empire are more or less connected with politics.
When they were appointed governors by the emperor, they often had their own set of governance methods and policies. These methods and policies sometimes conflicted with Vienna, which would cause certain difficulties in Bach's work (already dead
Heinau is a typical example. When he was the governor of Hungary, he allowed his soldiers to bully the Hungarians.) Bach was most troubled by these people.
Therefore, governors like Count Radetzky who fully obeyed Vienna's instructions were the most favored by Bach.
It was precisely because of Radetzky's assistance that Bach was able to better govern the Lombardy and Venetian regions.
【1】Foot-washing ceremony, called foot-washing ceremony by Catholics, is a religious ceremony held by some Christian sects.
