Chapter 1406: The Swiss Confederation
Austria's Minister of Finance, Count Stadion, immediately seconded, "Your Majesty, in fact, we only need to expand the size of the 'State Council,' perhaps by increasing its members to 200, and allowing influential lawyers, writers, and merchants to join. That should be enough to counter the influence brought by the French Chamber of Deputies."
The "State Council" he referred to was established by Joseph II during his reforms, structured somewhat like the British House of Lords, and overseen by a Prime Minister.
However, after Leopold II ascended the throne, he swiftly sidelined this institution, replacing it with a series of "Court Councils," such as the "Court Council for State Affairs and Foreign Policy" and the "Court War Council," to wield actual power.
Thus, in the minds of the Austrian people, the State Council symbolized enlightenment and democracy.
Little Cobenzl, however, frowned. "Perhaps we'll still need to hold elections, even if only formal ones..."
Count Spielmann immediately shook his head. "That will only make those elected feel they have public support, daring them to disregard His Majesty's wishes!"
Count Stadion added, "We also have to consider the attitudes of the noble councils in Hungary and Bohemia..."
The debate raged for three days, until Franz II finally adopted a compromise—
The State Council would be expanded to 300 members, but these members would be chosen through so-called elections held only among the four to five thousand individuals designated by the Emperor. Concurrently, the State Council's powers were further restricted, essentially limiting it to discussing decrees, with the timing of its meetings decided solely by the Emperor.
August 9, 1800.
Switzerland.
In a villa west of Basel, Metternich frowned, shaking his head repeatedly as he reviewed the documents newly arrived from Vienna. "Allowing lawyers and journalists into the State Council, and letting them participate in discussing decrees? Count Cobenzl is practically destroying the Empire!"
His secretary, Friedrich von Gentz, who sat opposite him, cautiously remarked, "I believe, this is merely a means for His Imperial Majesty to stabilize public sentiment..."
Metternich maintained his elegant posture, but his voice sharpened. "His Imperial Majesty must never show weakness, not even the slightest hint of it! That will only embolden those who seek to disrupt order, encouraging them to take further risks! Whether Bohemian, Hungarian, Styrian, or Moravian, they all need an emperor who is powerful and possesses an unshakeable will. His Majesty must make every individual in the Empire understand that the Emperor's authority is absolute and supreme, and no one should harbor any other notions!"
Gentz nodded, looking at him. "Then, shall I draft a remonstrance for His Majesty?"
Metternich raised a hand to stop him. "No, I'll bring it up when His Majesty summons me for a report, after I've concluded matters here. That will give my advice more weight."
His secretary, however, appeared worried. "But, today, the 'Seven-Man Committee' of Basel seems rather unenthusiastic about joining the Confederation."
Metternich rose and walked to the window, gazing at the distant, faintly visible Rhine River. "I will persuade Vienna to allocate additional funds. As long as I secure the support of Baron Boisville, the others won't be difficult to deal with."
Indeed, Austria's previous intervention in the Swiss situation had not provoked France's displeasure. Vienna had learned through various channels that France not only had no interest in the impoverished and chaotic German-speaking regions of Switzerland but also wished to see the trade routes there unaffected by unrest.
Thus, Metternich immediately advised Franz II to invest resources in forming a "Swiss Confederation" among the northern Swiss cantons.
Although "confederation" and "federation" might seem similar, their implications are poles apart.
A confederation is merely a loose alliance, with the central government holding virtually no sway over its constituent states. But if it transforms into a federation, it means that a significant portion of Switzerland will form a highly unified nation.
At that point, Switzerland could not only serve as a robust barrier against France's northward expansion, but later, when the time was right, it could also demand that France return cantons such as Bern and Solothurn.
To this end, Franz II allocated 600,000 florins to Metternich, along with promises of various aid for the future Swiss Confederation, dispatching him to Switzerland to advance the matter.
Metternich then leveraged the previous riots in the northern Swiss cantons—where some had demanded "annexation into France"—to threaten Zurich, Basel, Schwyz, Uri, and others. He argued that Vienna's aid couldn't support so many cantons individually, and if they didn't unite further, they might not be able to withstand the next uprising.
Currently, Zurich, Schwyz, and Uri had already agreed. Zurich, as the Swiss capital, stood to gain the most from forming a federation, while the economies of the two poorer cantons, Schwyz and Uri, were highly dependent on Zurich, leaving them no choice but to comply.
Only the wealthiest canton, Basel, remained hesitant, primarily concerned about having to "subsidize" other poorer cantons after unification.
Several days later, after lavishly spending 150,000 florins in bribes, Metternich finally "persuaded" Basel's seven-member political core, and the merger plan passed in the assembly.
Metternich then departed for Zurich, preparing to personally preside over the negotiations for the northern cantons to form the Swiss Confederation.
Meanwhile, on a road beside the "Ruins of the Roman Thermal Baths" north of Bern, a carriage from Basel was moving swiftly.
The two Basel councilors in the carriage were staunch proponents of "joining France." The recent parliamentary resolution to join the Swiss Confederation had greatly displeased this faction, so they dispatched representatives to France's "Upper German Province" to seek assistance.
Councilor Frenno glanced at the direction of the sun, then at the already renovated, historically rich thermal baths, and asked his attendant with a frown:
"Cedric, are you sure this is the right way?"
The attendant replied, somewhat helplessly:
"Sir, the roads outside Bern have been rebuilt. We now have to detour around the baths to enter the city."
He muttered to himself, 'If we were entering from the east, we'd have to pass by the Roman Grand Theater.'
At two in the afternoon, the carriage finally entered the city district of Basel. The two Basel councilors then saw busy artisans everywhere.
Some were leveling the ground, while others carried huge "iron rods" over ten meters long, carefully fastening them onto transverse wooden beams.
Councilor Gosselin asked, perplexed:
"What are they doing?"
"You must not have been to Paris, have you?" Frenno remarked. "This is a steam railcar, the most advanced technology capable of carrying forty or fifty people, speeding several times faster than a horse-drawn carriage! After this became the provincial capital of Upper German Province, Paris immediately planned for steam railcars within the city. It's said that constructing just half a kilometer costs hundreds of thousands of francs."
Gosselin was so envious that tears nearly spilled from the corners of his mouth.
'Damn you, Boisville, you're the one who personally tore apart Basel's promising future!' he cursed fiercely in his mind.
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