Prime Minister Felix is also a representative of the Austrian hawks, and he also agrees with Franz's views.
The Hungarian issue will be resolved sooner or later, and it cannot be resolved by compromise. Longer pain is worse than short-term pain, so the Hungarians revolted and solved the problem directly by force.
Historically, Austria has also done this, but the Vienna government did not do it thoroughly, and finally showed mercy to the nobles.
In this way, although he won the support of the aristocratic class, he also lost a good opportunity to completely solve the Hungarian problem. Franz naturally has to learn a lesson.
During this period, the Hungarian nation had not yet formed, and the current Hungarian nation only had the 500,000 people who had vested interests, and the remaining 13 million people had no nationality.
The Hungarian nation was only truly formed until the dual empire was established. During this period, the Hungarian nobles and capitalists did not think that the people at the bottom were part of them at all.
Not to mention the people at the bottom. A group of illiterates work hard every day to survive. Who still has the energy to care about what a nation is
Even during the Hungarian rebellion in 1848, when they held high the banner of nationalism, they themselves did not understand what nationalism was. Most of the so-called Hungarian people did not speak Hungarian at all, let alone Hungarian culture.
Nationalism was actually exported to them by the French, whose main purpose was to disrupt Austria so that France could achieve its strategy of dominating Italy.
This can be reflected in many places. The southern European region has not completed the integration of ethnic groups, and the Vienna government should bear the direct responsibility. If it were not for their inaction, there would not be so many bad things in the future.
"His Royal Highness, the situation in Austria is unstable now. If the Hungarians turn against us at this time, our military pressure will be too great!" Foreign Minister Metternich objected.
Franz smiled slightly, knowing that Metternich has always liked to use political means to solve problems, which is a good thing and a bad thing.
Using political means, Metternich created Austria's 30 years of glory, maintained its status as a great power in the European continent, and also accumulated many contradictions that could be solved at one time.
For example, during the Galician revolution in 1846, the Vienna government could solve the problem at one time. As a result, the government chose to compromise with the aristocracy, and the contradiction remained.
"I know, but once this opportunity is missed, the Hungarians will probably continue to spend with us, and now the Vienna government has become their scapegoat, bearing the anger from the bottom people for them.
Austria is old, and we have too many internal conflicts. If it is not completely resolved, this empire will be dragged down sooner or later.
The current military pressure is great, and it is not impossible to solve it. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will communicate with the Russians as soon as possible, we need the support of the tsarist government.
If the situation continues to deteriorate, I would rather compromise with the French and with the Prussians than with the rebellion at home! "
Franz expressed his dissatisfaction with Metternich's previous ruling and told everyone his determination to suppress the rebellion.
This answer is similar to the political proposition of Prime Minister Felix. Historically, because Vienna was lost, the domestic situation was even more critical. At that time, the Vienna government decided to abandon Northern Italy.
However, Marshal Radkis refused to implement the order of the Vienna government, did not withdraw his troops from the Italian region, and insisted on suppressing the revolution.
The current situation has not reached that point, and the price Austria needs to pay is much smaller. The big deal is to admit that the Kingdom of Sardinia is the sphere of influence of the French.
At this time, the domestic situation in France was also chaotic enough. As the cradle of the revolution, the banner of the revolution was flying in many French cities, and it was simply unable to wage war with foreign countries.
Not to mention the Kingdom of Prussia. The domestic situation is not much better than that of Austria. The Great Revolution of 1848 did not lack them.
If the two rivals were not unlucky together, 1848 would be the end of the Austrian Empire, and Austria at this time would be broken.
…
"His Royal Highness, in the current situation in Austria, we must carry out an internal reform, and the issue of serfs is an inescapable issue." Chancellor of the Exchequer Karl pierced the window paper.
All the people present were nobles, as members of the vested interest group, but this reform is to cut their flesh, and many people's faces are not very good.
However, everyone understands that it is no longer possible for Austria to not reform, and no one speaks out against it.
Franz knew this reform plan, and he could only propose it himself. Otherwise, if these people were to preside over the reform, it would be another incomplete reform.
"The abolition of serfdom is the trend of history. The biggest question now is what will happen to the lives of the serfs after the abolition of serfdom
For this situation, everyone knows that the solution is to allow the serfs to acquire land and ensure their basic living needs.
But now the land is owned by the owner, and Austria has no extra land to give them. The road before us has actually been traveled by the British and the French.
Either a redemption of the land of the nobility or the forcible expropriation of the land of the nobility through revolution, I don't think anyone wants to be forcibly expropriated, so we really only have one option. "
There is no doubt that Franz still knew where his ass should sit, and stopped when he asked the question, waiting for the response of the cabinet members.
If nothing else, the Schwarzenberg family, where Prime Minister Felix belongs, has 470,000 hectares of land. Now not only has serfdom been abolished, but their land has also been abolished. No one will be happy if they change it.
"His Royal Highness, it is easy to abolish serfdom, but to deprive the nobles of their land, this is..."
Before Grand Duke Louis could finish speaking, Franz interrupted: "I didn't intend to forcibly deprive all the nobles of their lands, and doing so would be too violent.
In view of the current situation, I think it can be divided into two situations. All the nobles who participated in the rebellion or provided assistance to the rebels will be deprived of their land and nationalized.
This part of the land will be leased to farmers, and they will be allowed to redeem, and the ownership of the land can be purchased by instalment.
And the nobles who are still loyal to the emperor naturally cannot be treated so rudely. I recommend buying land from everyone, but not forcing it.
But in return, after the abolition of serfdom, nobles who refused to redeem must provide serfs with jobs, turning them into farmhands or workers, to avoid social unrest.
In order to ensure the stability of the country, the land rent in the whole country shall not exceed five layers of annual income, and after the reform is completed, the nobles must also pay taxes! "