Chapter 48 Engagement
At this point, Ernst finally understood. This Princess Karina should be the butterfly effect after his appearance, or maybe this universe is not a parallel universe of his previous life. , Well, no matter what, it is better to control the uncertain factors in your hands.
This Karina is the first person she has met in this world who is different from the people in history. Lenoir and others are not included. After all, the change in their fate was actively promoted by Ernst.
This Karina was born before the memory of her previous life was awakened, which means that Karina was born when Ernst was six years old.
When I was six years old, I was still a little kid. I spent all day in the manor as a demon king. At that time, I could not influence other people.
Moreover, Ernst had a premonition that something big would happen if he didn't marry her in the future.
Think about it, how much history have you changed since your awakening? One is the Hechingen Consortium and the other is the East African Colony, which indirectly changed the fate of a group of people.
Princess Karina of Austria had a high status, and the 19th century was an era when anything was possible.
Could it be staged, Her Majesty the Queen returning to Mexico to avenge her father, or perhaps inheriting the Habsburg throne and rebuilding the Roman Empire. (I didn’t mean it on purpose. Think about how unlucky Franz is. His brother was executed by the Mexicans, his wife was assassinated in Italy, his son committed suicide in love, and his future heir was shot dead by the Serbians.)
… …
Having said all that, Ernst also had some interests to consider. Ernst had been planning a colonial trade route from Prussia (German Empire) to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, through the Mediterranean and finally to the East African colonies.
In this case, Prussia does not have to worry at all and is just like home.
Italy was an ally of Prussia and could still be used before World War I.
Not to mention the East African colonies, I participated in the planning and construction, and my own words are king's law in East Africa.
Only the Austro-Hungarian Empire itself is the least influential. Now it would be great if the problem of political influence in the Austro-Hungarian Empire could be solved through marriage.
And the East African colonies were poor! Prussia (Germany) alone would definitely not be able to support it, and the equally large Austro-Hungarian Empire would have to be added.
It was a pity that so many resources were wasted when the Austro-Hungarian Empire disintegrated. Ernst was willing to be the successor.
“Father, just Princess Karina of Habsburg! We really don’t have much influence in Austria. With this marriage, the family’s industry can be better spread throughout the greater Germany. From the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean, we can improve the security of our own industry.”
This is true. If this goal is achieved, any conflicts in Europe will not affect Ernst’s great cause of developing East Africa.
A single German or Austro-Hungarian navy could easily be pinned to death in the sea, let alone a small commercial fleet.
The Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea are Germany's only two sea passages. Germany is slightly better. After all, the northwest corner is the Atlantic Ocean, but out to sea is a giant like the British Empire.
The overseas outlet of the Austro-Hungarian Empire is in the Adriatic Sea. Geographically, it feels worse than Germany, but the actual threat is not as big as that faced by Germany. It’s not that Ernst looks down on the Italians, it’s really The last naval battle at Lisa was so embarrassing.
If the British want to blockade the coast of Germany, it is very simple, but the Italians want to blockade the coast of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, unless it is a dream. After all, the Austro-Hungarian Empire can also directly threaten Italy from land, and in the future Prussia, Italy and Austria-Hungary will also form an alliance, and with Prussia as the mediator, the relationship will not be too bad.
"Well, okay, I will go to Vienna to discuss with the Habsburgs. Just wait for my news!"
After that, Constantine left for Vienna.
...
Meanwhile, Austria, Vienna, Schönbrunn Palace.
"Mother, is it too early to talk about marriage when Karina is so young?" Emperor Franz said helplessly to his mother.
"Humph, what do you know? You and your brother are not worried about each other. They have caused so many things after getting married. I don't dare to let Karina follow in your footsteps." Sophie said the Queen Mother.
When it comes to his marriage, Franz dare not speak. The relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law is a global problem, and even the emperor cannot escape it.
As for his younger brother Maximilian I, he went to the sinkhole in Mexico and still insisted on going his own way. He still doesn't believe his family's words and dreams of becoming an emperor. "This time, I must personally choose the marriage partner of my descendants. It was because I doted on you two brothers too much that I caused such a lot of trouble." Queen Mother Sophie said.
As he spoke, he took Ernst’s information from his hand and handed it to Franz.
“Look, how is the person I selected this time!”
Franz looked at the information and said: “The appearance is just a little more handsome than when I was younger, but the identity is not It’s too low. Karina is not bad even if she marries one of those kings’ princes, right?”
"What do you know? There are so many kings and princes to choose from, and there are only so many people in the European royal family. At the moment, I have not set my sights on him. Although this Ernst has a lower title, he is also a member of the Hohenzollern family. The orthodoxy, and Prince Constantine is the only one who will start out as a prince in the future.”
"And her mother passed away early. If Karina gets married, there will be no conflicts between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Ernst will also run an industry. I heard that the industry can be ranked among the top 30 in Europe. In the future, if Karina gets married, she will not have enough food and clothing. Worry, it’s good to be a princess.”
“How is your character, mother?” Franz asked.
“You can rest assured. I have investigated carefully this time. This Ernst is already sixteen years old, but he is more enthusiastic about his career. There are no messy scandals. I also have no trace of his life. I've seen it, he is indeed a man of action. , I just went to Venice a while ago to build a fleet and then returned to China.”
“And he has no bad habits and a regular life. It’s better to catch such an outstanding young man early. OK.”
"But mother, don't you really want to discuss this with your brother and sister?" Franz asked cautiously.
“Huh, don’t mention the two of them, especially Charlotte, who kept encouraging Maximiliano. If it weren’t for her, our family would be reunited now. If it were your brother There are three shortcomings, and I will never forgive her.”
In this way, the Mexican emperor and queen were deprived of their daughter’s guardianship rights, and at this time, Queen Carlotta was still crying, fussing, and hanging herself in France. Napoleon III kept his promise and sent troops to Mexico again.
After communicating with Prince Constantine who went to Vienna, the two families agreed to get engaged first and then marry Princess Karina when Ernst was in his twenties.
On November 3, 1866, the two families announced the engagement of Prince Ernst and Princess Karina. (Later generations called this event the reunification of the Hohenzollern family and the Habsburg family.)
Ernst and Princess Karina attended the ceremony and exchanged tokens of love under the influence of European tradition. From now on, Princess Karina of Habsburg will be Ernst's fiancée.
As a person who has lived two lives, Ernst does not have high requirements and can accept it as long as it is not too ugly. However, Karina does have a good foundation and will definitely be a great beauty in the future. At least in the eyes of the people of the time, the two of them were talented and handsome.
......
Now that he has determined his future marriage partner, Ernst has no choice but to ignore his future father-in-law's death. After all, Maximiliano I was too miserable. The throne that he got for free was actually the scapegoat for Napoleon III. It was nothing more than Maximiliano I who was entirely responsible for the French colonization of Mexico.
What is really bad is that the people of Mexico no longer trust the emperor. Under the influence of the Iturbide dynasty and the Americans fanning the flames, Maximiliano I cannot leave the palace and is forced to Taking the blame.
In particular, the various warlords in Mexico did not take Maximiliano I seriously at all. Among them, the Republican Juarez even regarded Maximiliano I as a thorn in their side and a thorn in their flesh.
Next year, when Maximiliano I was arrested and executed, Juárez was also a fierce man, and he would have Maximiliano I executed even if he offended the monarchs of Europe and the Habsburgs.
Ernst wondered if he could rescue his unlucky father-in-law. He first selected a group of outstanding students from the Hechingen students, pretended to be Indians, sneaked into Mexico, and finally brought Maximiliano to Mexico. Packing up and returning to Europe...
It is really feasible. If this thing doesn't succeed, I won't lose anything, but if it succeeds, I will definitely get good feedback.
Not to mention anything else, Habsburg will still have to take care of itself in the future, and the monarchs of various European countries will also look at themselves with admiration.
If Ernst wanted to develop East Africa, it would be indispensable for him to interact with other countries in the future. Otherwise, when the great powers divide Africa in the future, it would be ridiculous to have his home stolen.
Now, by establishing an image of safeguarding the aristocracy and supporting the monarchy system, in the future the royal families of various countries will always have to say a few good words for themselves in front of the governments of various countries, and the governments of various countries will also be afraid of them.
(End of this chapter)