Chapter 277: "The Plan to Vacate the Cage and Change the Bird"
The first town, Sweet Palace.
Yarman reported the latest developments in the war to Constantine: "Your Majesty, the war on the southern and northern fronts is nearly concluded. The southern front has successfully advanced to the north bank of the Limpopo River, and the native populations on the northern front have essentially retreated."
Constantine paused for a moment, his pen in hand, and inquired, "How is the Western Front?"
"The western front is still advancing. Due to the numerous rivers, it's taking a bit longer, but it's nearly reached the Kuanguo River Basin."
Constantine rose from his seat and gazed at the map of East Africa behind him.
"The war has progressed rapidly, but I wonder how the war in Europe will unfold. The French are gone, and the Italians are holding on. Nevertheless, even if the war ends, the future of Europe will undoubtedly be turbulent," Constantine said with a sense of nostalgia.
Constantine was well-acquainted with the endless conflicts in Europe throughout his lifetime. The map of East Africa before him, fully under Hohenzollern control, appeared exceptionally gratifying.
...
Kingdom of Italy.
After the surrender of the Royal Italian Navy, the Austro-Hungarian Empire's 50,000-strong army easily landed on the east coast of the Kingdom of Italy via troop carriers.
Subsequently, with the cooperation of the Pope's army, the coalition forces cut off the Kingdom of Italy's territory. Naples and Sicily were separated from the northern regions by force.
In response, the restoration movement in Naples initiated a rebellion, led by Francesco II, the former monarch of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
After the Kingdom of Italy unified the Two Sicilies, Francesco II had gone into exile in Rome. The Austro-Hungarian Empire, seeing an opportunity, made sure not to miss it.
At the same time, the Austro-Hungarian Empire took vengeance on the non-aristocratic bourgeoisie in Italy. Before the Kingdom of Italy's emergence, most of Italy had been under the direct or indirect rule of the Austrian Empire. Cutting off these supporters was crucial to the relatively smooth unification of the Kingdom of Italy.
Under the Austro-Hungarian Empire's orchestration, the Kingdom of Naples was the first to regain its independence, and the former allies of the Austro-Hungarian Empire resumed their rule.
The future of the restored Kingdom of Naples was indeed uncertain, but the Austro-Hungarian Empire remained unconcerned.
Franz's primary objective was the independence of Naples; as long as Italy remained ununified, it posed no significant issue.
Franz was not being miserly; rather, the Austro-Hungarian Empire was not the Austrian Empire. Currently, Franz aimed to claim Venice, transforming it into a German region.
This plan had been proposed by Ernst just two days prior.
"Austria cannot afford to lose Venice. Venice's significance is directly tied to Austria's future. With Hungary's rebellious tendencies and other ethnic separatist movements on the rise, the Austro-Hungarian Empire faces the constant threat of disintegration. Austria must strengthen itself," Ernst, fresh from Hechingen, had advised Franz.
"But where can I find enough Germans to fulfill this plan? The population of the Austro-Hungarian Empire is decreasing every year. Many are leaving because Hungary and the Slavic regions are too productive. The more people there are, the fewer job opportunities there are for Germans. Austria may have a relatively developed economy, but when job opportunities are limited, ordinary Germans naturally seek opportunities elsewhere," Ernst said.
Ernst's calculations struck at the heart of the problem. The Austro-Hungarian Empire experienced an annual outflow of Germans, and Franz was struggling to find enough Germans for this ambitious plan. He couldn't simply draw from the East African immigrants, as they were crucial to the East African project.
"The Austro-Hungarian Empire's population is declining due to emigration. Isn't that because Hungary and the Slavic regions are too productive? The more people there are, the fewer job opportunities for Germans. Austria has a relatively developed economy. When job opportunities dwindle, ordinary Germans naturally seek opportunities elsewhere," Ernst stated. "In this ongoing war, Italy is bound to fall. We can quickly relocate Italians from the countryside of Venice to East Africa. We'll endure some difficulties in East Africa, but it will ultimately help Austria. After the war, Austria can distribute these lands to soldiers, and the soldiers who own land will naturally increase the German population. The final outcome depends on your choices."
Franz found Ernst's arguments compelling. Although he had his doubts, he understood the dire situation Austria faced. Venice's large population, while an asset, had the potential to become a burden if it were not predominantly German.
"You have a point, but it's not going to be easy to establish the textile industry. The issue lies with raw materials. Still, since you're willing to give it a try, go ahead," Franz replied.
Raw materials were a minor challenge for East Africa. Cotton harvesting had already begun in East Africa, and Ernst planned to expand cotton cultivation further. He had no concerns about raw materials, but he did require additional manpower and equipment