Holy Roman Empire

Chapter 573: Threats and Enticements

Andreas’ speech was indeed moving, even to the point where his own words touched him. However, it was of no use. Most of the crowd consisted of ordinary people who didn’t care much for grand ideals. They were far more concerned about their immediate interests.

With a crowd of over ten thousand, the collective intelligence seemed to drop. While the people at the front could clearly hear Andreas’ speech, by the time it reached those at the back, it had been distorted, taken out of context, and “artistically” embellished.

Seeing the chaotic crowd, Andreas reluctantly admitted to himself that reasoning with them was futile.

If he had the energy to convince every single person individually, there might still be a chance to sway the crowd with his silver tongue. But clearly, that wasn’t possible as there were too many people outside, far more than he could handle.

After a moment of hesitation, Andreas finally made his decision, “Colonel, order the soldiers to disperse the crowd!”

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As it turned out, the military was far more effective at maintaining order. All of Andreas’ efforts at persuasion had been in vain, but once the army stepped in, the crowd was quickly dispersed.

The dispersal of the protesting crowd didn’t mean the matter was over. The military could maintain stability only because the Prussian government had promptly bought off the soldiers.

For most ordinary people, discussions about ideology, the bigger picture, and lofty ideals were less effective than offering tangible benefits.

The Prussian government promised the soldiers a substantial settlement package, job arrangements for their families, and salaries no less than what they were currently earning. With the officers’ reassurances, military morale was quickly stabilized.

In reality, it would be difficult for unrest to break out anyway. The Prussian army implemented a policy of stationing troops away from their home regions, so most of the soldiers stationed in the Rhineland were not locals.

When their own interests were not at stake, appealing to higher principles could still be effective. These soldiers might sympathize with the local populace, but they would certainly not disobey orders because of it.

However, Andreas couldn’t use the same approach. The Prussian government was willing to spend money to maintain the army’s morale because the number of soldiers wasn’t overwhelming. There were only a few thousand stationed in the Rhineland, and even with their families, the total number was only tens of thousands.

But the number of ordinary civilians was much larger. The relocation funds allocated from above were limited, and there was no way to properly resettle everyone.

Such a large-scale relocation was not something a single individual could accomplish. It wasn’t just a matter of convincing the general populace but also the need to first persuade the local bureaucrats.

Thinking about how most low-level civil servants were locals, Andreas sighed helplessly. If even he was reluctant to give up the Rhineland region, how much more so these people?

Dragging his weary body into the meeting room, he picked up a cup, took a sip of water, and tried to soothe his hoarse throat.

“Everyone, please take a seat. You all know the situation. The Prussian government has already made its decision and selling the Rhineland is a done deal.

You’re all aware that the French have been eyeing us with hostility for a long time, and the Rhineland has constantly been under immense military pressure.

The current international situation is very clear: our greatest enemy is Russia. While confronting the Russian Empire, we simply cannot hold on to the Rhineland.

Rather than letting the Rhineland fall into French hands, it’s better to sell it to Belgium or the German Federal Empire. At least it will remain in German hands.”

At this point, Andreas even forced out a few tears.

“I know this outcome is hard for everyone to accept. Frankly, I can’t accept it either. But for the sake of the country, we have no choice.

A Russo-Prussian War could break out at any moment. Once the war begins, we won’t be able to spare any troops to defend the Rhineland. Its fall would be inevitable.

Britain, France, and Austria have already formed an alliance. The British and Austrians don’t want to see the French annex the Rhineland, but they won’t turn against France over this issue either.

Now, Britain and Austria are urging us to sell the Rhineland. While this is partly a way to suppress us, it’s mainly to prevent France from expanding further into Central Europe.

The Prussian government has no choice. If we refuse Britain and Austria, we will have to face French pressure alone.”

Everyone lowered their heads and remained silent, using their quietness to show their protest. Andreas felt a sinking sensation in his chest. Everyone understood the logic, but when it came to personal interests and the sacrifices required, it was much harder to accept.

The Prussian government had promised to resettle them properly. But in reality, it was just an empty promise. There’s only so much room in Prussia. Where would all the positions come from to accommodate them?

Even if they could be resettled, it would be in poor and remote areas lacking officials. How could that compare to the prosperity of the Ruhr region?

Beyond economic interests, the emotional attachment to one’s homeland is another significant factor. Not everyone is willing to uproot their lives, and many who are dissatisfied with the Prussian government might even hinder its efforts.

Whether Belgium or the German Federal Empire, both were once part of the Holy Roman Empire. In terms of ethnicity and cultural traditions, they were considered their own people. Changing allegiance to a different ruler wasn’t entirely unacceptable.

If Andreas weren’t already in a high-ranking position, he might feel the same. Despite Prussia’s greater strength, the living standards of Prussian citizens are actually among the lowest of the German states.

High military expenditures have consumed funds that should have been used for public welfare. Due to the country’s debt, Prussian citizens are burdened with high taxes.

For many people, as long as the rulers were still their own people, could guarantee everyone’s interests, and there was no political discrimination, why follow Prussia to the bitter end?

The rise of nationalism has influenced many people. In recent years, Prussia has tried to de-Germanize its identity, but the Rhineland, surrounded by other German states, has been the least affected by this.

The “Greater Prussia” ideology is really just a variation of the idea of a unified Germany but with a different focus. The cultural traditions remain closely related.

Austria can boldly declare its goal of uniting the German lands because of its strength. Even if the Austrian government didn’t make such claims, the other states would still remain cautious.

Prussia, however, is in a different position. If the Prussian government doesn’t shift its focus and follows the same unification strategy as Austria, who knows if Austria will eventually swallow Prussia through political means?

Many are aware that the Habsburg monarchy’s military prowess is unimpressive. The dynasty’s rulers throughout history have been more skilled in politics and diplomacy.

Looking through the history books, one can see that most of the Habsburg Empire’s expansions were achieved through diplomacy, while conquests by force were much rarer.

For other European countries, Austria’s threat pales in comparison to the military strength of France. However, for the German states, especially after the rise of nationalism, the greatest threat has become Austria, with its expertise in political diplomacy.

The upper echelons of government understood what was going on, but the ordinary people at the bottom couldn’t see so far ahead, including most low-level officials who lacked such a long-term vision.

No matter how well Andreas put it, abandoning the Rhineland region would harm their interests and that was an unchangeable fact.

Patriotism is present in everyone, but which country they are patriotic toward is hard to say.

Even within Prussia, there were idealists who believed that the German states should unite to form a powerful empire that would dominate the world.

Franz’s efforts to promote the German Unification Committee have laid the theoretical groundwork for this idea. The committee even has its own newspaper, the German Unification Daily, which spreads the idea of a united Germany across the German-speaking lands.

Naturally, this kind of newspaper was banned by the Prussian government, but since its headquarters were in Frankfurt, beyond Prussia’s control, a few copies still managed to circulate secretly.

After all, they can sway whoever they can, and idealists are never in short supply. The more the government tries to suppress it, the more curious and rebellious youths become interested.

Sometimes, data can be misleading. According to the propaganda from the German Unification Committee, if Prussia, the German Federal Empire, and the new Holy Roman Empire were to unite, this unified German Empire would instantly become the strongest in the world.

On paper, that might seem plausible, but politicians know well that it’s impossible. If they did merge, the newly formed empire wouldn’t grow stronger but would instead fall into internal conflicts and external crises.

There would be constant power struggles internally, and externally, it would face hostility from all European countries. There’s a 99% chance it would be attacked by everyone and eventually collapse.

In any case, the idealists believed it. These people often expressed similar views, influencing many others. Many people came to believe that the various German states were their own people.

This situation is highly unfavorable for the relocation efforts, just like during the relocation of Silesia when many chose to stay behind.

The Ruhr region presents an even bigger challenge. Many capitalists there want to leave but simply can’t. While factories and machinery can be relocated, raw materials for industries cannot.

This is especially true for the steel industry. There aren’t many places with such naturally favorable conditions. For their own interests, these industrialists have no choice but to remain.

These people refusing to leave will naturally persuade workers and skilled personnel to stay as well, because without them, who will do the work?

As the region with the strongest bourgeoisie in the Kingdom of Prussia, relocation isn’t as easy as it sounds. Andreas could already feel the pressure. Judging by the reactions of his subordinates, he knew this would be a troublesome task.

He slammed his hand on the table and demanded, “Why is everyone silent? Normally, you’re all quite capable, but now, at this critical moment, you’re all acting like you’ve lost your voice?”

An older man set his cup down on the table and replied irritably, “Mayor, what do you want us to say? As a group of people being abandoned, are we not even allowed to remain silent?”

The Ruhr region is Prussia’s largest industrial area, and as its administrator, Andreas also served as the mayor of Bottrop.

“Mr. Andrew, I understand this decision by the government has hurt your interests, but for the sake of the country, we have no choice.

Time is of the essence now, and whether you accept it or not, you must pull yourselves together and ensure the flawless execution of the government’s relocation plans.

The Prussian government has already ordered that the entire Rhineland region be placed under military control. Your task is to convince the public and organize an orderly evacuation of personnel.

Anyone who slacks off will be treated as a traitor. If you think I’m joking, you’re welcome to try.

“The first group to complete the relocation will see their supervisors and all executing officials promoted by two ranks, along with a cash reward of 500,000 marks.

I’ve made the situation clear to you all. How you choose to proceed is up to you.

Oh, and by the way, the families of government officials will be among the first groups to evacuate. If you plan on running, you’d better do it soon. If you wait too long, it’ll be too late.”

Andreas wasn’t under any illusions that he could persuade these seasoned bureaucrats with words alone. The most effective method, after all, was still a combination of threats and enticements.

His clever plan was to evacuate the officials’ families first, cutting off their path of retreat.

It proved effective indeed. Upon hearing this, the previously silent crowd could no longer sit still.

“Run?” Don’t be ridiculous. With martial law about to be enforced, where could they escape with their families? They knew full well that if they even tried to flee, they’d likely be made an example of.

One quick-thinking middle-aged man immediately spoke up, “Mayor, it’s understandable that the public doesn’t yet grasp the government’s difficult decision to abandon the Rhineland.

As government officials, it’s our duty to take the lead. I suggest we go home and mobilize our own families first. Once someone sets an example, the rest of the work should be easier.”

The speed at which he changed his stance was impressive, but that’s typical for bureaucrats. If they didn’t have such skills, how could they have risen to these positions?

Weighing the pros and cons is instinctual for them, and since they were already tied to Prussia’s chariot, they might as well figure out how to gain some political gains from it.