Chapter 418: It's Hard to Go From Luxury to Frugality
Chapter 419: It's Hard to Go From Luxury to Frugality
"Long live His Imperial Majesty!"
"Silesia will forever belong to Austria!"
"Exterminate the Prussian bandits! His Imperial Majesty's glory shall illuminate Silesia!"
"Crown the King of Silesia..."
Outside Schönbrunn Palace Square, a tide of excited cheers surged into the second-floor meeting hall.
Leopold II, who was discussing armistice plans with Count Frentz and Baron Thugut, frowned. He took a few steps to the window and saw a dense crowd surging towards Schönbrunn Palace in the distance.
He turned to his attendant beside him. "What are they shouting? What's going on?"
The attendant hurried out to inquire, and soon returned with a guard officer, bowing deeply. "Your Majesty, it seems people are celebrating a great victory."
The officer promptly replied, "Your Majesty, there are reports that Marshal Lacy crushed the Prussians at Liegnitz and advanced the front lines southwest of Breslau..."
Thugut nearly burst out laughing, quickly holding his breath and lowering his head. Breslau was deep within Silesia, its capital. Currently, the Austrian army was stalled at the Liegnitz border, unable to advance a single step. The rumor-monger hadn't even bothered to think, practically declaring Lacy had swept through an entire province.
Leopold II glared at his foreign minister, remarking with irritation, "I hadn't paid any mind to those rumors, but I never expected anyone would actually believe them."
Listening to the increasingly loud cheers, he irritably told the officer, "Why are you still standing there? Send someone to dispel these rumors immediately, then disperse the crowd."
Of course, the rumor of the "Great Liegnitz Victory" had been spread by Baron Alfons, Joseph's ambassador to Austria, under Joseph's explicit instruction. But this was merely an appetizer.
Inside Schönbrunn Palace, Baron Ferrari, a staunch anti-Prussian minister, was waving a copy of the "Vienna Daily" in his hand, shouting from the staircase, "A magnificent victory! Silesia has never been so close to returning!"
He distributed the newspapers to the dozens of nobles before him. "Take a look, it's all written right here in the paper."
"Oh, and I suggest everyone donate to Marshal Lacy's grand army. I'll start by donating 300 florins."
The nobles immediately flipped through the newspapers, excitedly discussing. "Marshal Lacy is incredible! He killed four thousand Prussian dogs!"
"They really won a battle, how splendid!"
And those nobles who had already seen the morning news were already instructing their servants to fetch money. "For Silesia, I'll also donate 300 florins."
"I'll donate 500 florins to the heroes of Liegnitz..."
In an era without the internet, newspapers were the most authoritative source of information. Especially for such major events, no one would doubt them – after all, the Secret Police rigorously vetted every single word.
In fact, let alone the late 18th century, even in the early 20th century, courts would sometimes use newspaper content as evidence for their judgments.
Thanks to Ferrari's fervent promotion, Schönbrunn Palace quickly erupted in a frenzy. While nobles with military backgrounds were skeptical of the news, no one dared voice a word of doubt at that moment – they would most likely be beaten by the zealous crowd.
The officer tasked with dispelling the rumors was about to leave when Baron Thugut suddenly had a thought. He frowned, stopped the officer, then leaned close to Leopold II and whispered, "Your Majesty, I fear it would be unwise to directly refute these rumors now."
"Oh? Why?"
"Consider, Your Majesty, what would Baron Duden tell the people outside..."
Leopold II paused, his brow furrowing instantly. 'Indeed, what could they say? That the great victory was a rumor, that Austria wasn't as mighty as claimed? That Lacy had been fighting at Liegnitz for almost a year with a hundred thousand troops, still bogged down at the Silesian border? That everyone should just disperse because Silesia wouldn't be recovered anytime soon?'
Due to His Imperial Majesty's reforms, Austria was already in a state of unrest, with various factions seething with resentment. If the government were to publicly declare such incompetence now, it would immediately spark major turmoil. Especially the independence-leaning nobles in Hungary, who had been waiting for just such an opportunity; they might well be emboldened to start a rebellion...
Such was human nature.
If Austria had always been weak, people would have grown numb to it. But if someone suddenly told them that Austria had risen, that its celestial army was invincible, their expectations would immediately soar. At that point, trying to make them accept the reality of Austria's weakness again would only plunge them into anger and despair.
"Wait!"
Leopold II wiped a bead of cold sweat from his brow, quickly calling out to the officer. He then instructed his attendant, "Summon the ministers. This matter requires serious discussion."
Count Frentz, a pro-British minister standing nearby, immediately grew anxious. "Your Majesty, if we don't dispel the rumors, how can we sign an armistice agreement with Prussia?"
He knew very well that if everyone in Austria believed Marshal Lacy had recaptured Liegnitz, then Austria's only course of action would be to seize Breslau in one decisive blow.
Anyone who dared propose peace at such a time would inevitably be branded a traitor by the entire nation.
Even if they claimed Austria's finances were strained and a temporary armistice was necessary, then after both countries withdrew their troops, where would the Liegnitz that Lacy supposedly captured be?
'They couldn't possibly say it was given back to those wretched Prussians, could they?'
Leopold II waved his hand irritably. "The armistice will also be discussed at the Privy Council meeting."
With that, he slammed the door shut and left.
Just after noon, Viscount Malte, the "culprit" behind the fake news, was brought before Leopold II by Marquis Hartmann, the head of the Austrian Secret Police.
The unfortunate news censor, however, only knew that a merchant named Kugel, seeking to clear his nephew of smuggling banned books, had treated him to a full day of entertainment at "Red Boots."
Malte's attendant and Harper, the assistant news censor, were subsequently interrogated. The former stated that he had been robbed and tied up in an alley, only to be rescued that very morning.
The latter claimed he had seen a note signed by Malte, which was why the "great victory" news had passed censorship.
Under Leopold II's urging, the Austrian Secret Police became exceptionally efficient, placing the preliminary investigation results on his desk by noon the following day.
"That Kugel's hometown is Szolnok; he arrived in Vienna three years ago," Marquis Hartmann reported. "He acquired the 'Life and Truth' newspaper a week ago, and the fake news originated from that very publication."
"According to Viscount Malte's attendant's testimony, one of the men who robbed him inadvertently spoke with a slight Hungarian accent."
"It must have been these same individuals who forged Viscount Malte's signature."
Leopold II's expression turned grim as he stared at the report on his desk. "So, this matter involves the Hungarians?"
"It appears so, Your Majesty."
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