Chapter 49

Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW

Chapter 49: Controlling the Gun

"This problem can actually be easily solved."

Anna von Bismarck, sitting with her legs crossed on the couch, casually began her story while Prince Regent Redel and Chief Secretary of the Ministry of National Defense Ron listened attentively.

In 1807, the reforms by Stein and Hardenberg weakened the privileges of the countryside noble class, transforming the former Rural Junkers from god-like authorities in their territories to modern-day landlords.

In 1835-36, the prince regent started establishing a police system and reforming the judicial system, reducing the legal privileges of Junker landlords in their hereditary territories.

In 1837, the Great Judgment saw the prince regent abolishing all tax exemptions, requiring the 410 tax-exempt Jungerlords to start paying taxes.

On January 1, 1838, Prussia began comprehensive industrialization under state guidance, leading to a decline in agriculture. The interests of Rural Junkers were further reduced, despite special subsidies from the prince regent.

Between 1833-1838, only 95 newly ennobled Junkers were appointed in Prussia. During Prince Regent Redel’s reign, only Catherine and a few others gained land, with few appointments in the previous and current king’s reigns.

Many people categorize the Junker class into different types like wartime Junkers, rural Junkers, court Junkers, and parliamentary Junkers, but in reality, it’s not so clear-cut.

The father managed the ancestral estate of a large farm, with one son serving in the military and another son in the nearby city’s parliament. If this family owned enough land, their children could marry into the aristocracy and integrate into court society.

Some families rented out all their land and served in the military or government institutions for a long time.

When agriculture is not doing well, the entire Junker class can trigger a chain reaction, like the recent military wanting to declare war on Denmark. The smarter Junkers hope to use this as a threat to gain more benefits from the prince regent, they actually don’t want to fight.

The more aggressive group truly wants to start a full-scale war, believing they can quickly defeat Denmark and seize money, land, and military glory.

Anna lifted the red wine glass to her eyes.

"To solve this crisis, we must address the interests of the Junker class, especially their agricultural concerns. If we appease the middle-ranking Junker military officers, they won’t push for all-out war."

"Whether Marshall Steinmetz is pressuring you for concessions, genuinely confused, or simply itching for a fight, he is the troublemaker. He and his loyalists need to be dealt with. The military’s sword must obey orders, not act recklessly."

"You can gradually instruct Marshall Steinmetz to retire or take on a ceremonial role, promote the son of a marshal as a symbolic gesture of consolation, and start appointing members from other factions within the military. Use this opportunity to place more trusted allies."

Leader One rested his chin on his hands, thinking deeply. He had listened to Ron’s story before, and now he was hearing Anna’s. Both of them were looking at the problem from different angles.

Ron believed that the surge in popular opinion led to the military’s enthusiasm for war. The people desired a strong nation, glory in war, and the unification of Germany. Common citizens, professional soldiers, and junior officers hoped to gain land through war and rise in status. The senior officers also sought to benefit from the war.

Anna believed that it was the discontent of the Junker class that triggered the events. The Junkers used this to pressure the prince regent for concessions. They manipulated public opinion and fueled the military’s overall enthusiasm for war. If the Junkers were satisfied, this wave of war fervor would quickly fade.

Their common view was that direct war with Denmark was not feasible this time. Considering the international situation and Prussia’s national policy, they could only wage a proxy war. Prussia would continue to grow, bleed Denmark through proxy warfare, and when the time was right, strike Denmark forcefully.

Also, the marshal should step down. At 65, it was time for him to retire and rest.

Marshal Steinmetz had supported Leader One’s rise to power and their collaboration was going well. However, after the Great Judgment incident, the prince regent offended a large number of traditional nobles, parliament members, former tax-exempt Junker class, and liberal individuals due to his economic policies.

As a result, the marshal felt restless and acted impulsively. He believed the prince regent could not govern without the absolute support of the military. That’s why he initiated this plan to declare war on Denmark. As the Minister of National Defense, he should have immediately contained the irrational war fervor in the initial stages. However, the marshal allowed it to grow unchecked, and Chief Secretary Ron tried to intervene but faced opposition from the ministers.

The marshal’s mistake was… even without him, Leader One could still gain the absolute support of the military.

To rectify the situation, they needed to remove the influence of Marshal Steinmetz and his loyal supporters from important positions. They could redistribute power among other senior military factions, appoint a respected leader to stabilize the situation, increase military funding slightly to keep things in order, and the army would remain loyal to Leader One.

The marshal himself may not want to accept defeat, so he decided to promote his son, allowing the old marshal to retire peacefully. His eldest son Karl Friedrich Von Steinmetz is also quite talented, so he was promoted to the rank of a major general.

As for another respected and influential leader…

Ron searched through his mind and quickly came up with a person.

"General Wolf, a member of Gneisenau’s General Staff Department during the time of the Battle of Waterloo, led the cavalry in the final stage of the battle to chase the French army, disrupting the French rear seven times. With such outstanding achievements and rich experience, this esteemed old general is highly respected."

Leader One couldn’t remember at the moment, so he asked Catherine to check the archives and find out who General Wolf was.

When they looked at the archives, they found out that this elderly man, born in 1757, was once one of Europe’s top Magic Energy Knights. At eighty years old, he was still in relatively good health. Living to such an age in this era was not easy, making him a rare octogenarian.

Anna, the Chief Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, was replaced by an elderly person suffering from dementia who then became the Minister of Finance, gaining full control of the Prussian Ministry of Finance.

Ron, the Chief Secretary of the Ministry of National Defense, was replaced by an eighty-year-old retiree who had been retired for several decades and became the Minister, gaining full control of the Prussian Ministry of National Defense.

Next, Leader One would reorganize Marshall Steinmetz’s faction, filling the top positions with members from other factions to ensure stability. Moltke was appointed as Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Hans became the director of the General Staff Department’s Mapping Bureau, promoting officers who had been under Moltke’s command and students who had been taught by Ron, gradually gaining complete control over the military.

Finally, they needed to deal with the current war frenzy. Anna suggested giving benefits to Junker, but Leader One disagreed. He believed that Cabinet Secretary Schultz must have a better solution.

Since Cabinet Secretary was here, Anna and Ron, both of you should go back and do whatever you need to do.

…

Baron Schultz, "Anna comes from a Junker landowner background, she represents the interests of Junker landowners, so naturally she would suggest that solution. In reality, Junker has little influence. Although there are some issues in Prussian agriculture, with the self-adjusting ability of agriculture, the government does not need to make any concessions or come up with any measures."

"I think this event mainly involves the traditional aristocrats and emerging aristocratic capitalists. If you give benefits to these people, they can help you solve the problem."

"For example, if the marshal insists on a state of war and full mobilization, it will definitely severely harm the interests of capitalists. If you give some benefits, the traditional aristocrats and emerging aristocratic capitalists will clash, which will surely suppress those Junker in the military."

Leader One, "Stop talking nonsense. I want you to come up with a way to resolve the war frenzy among the civilians and the military without giving benefits."

Baron Schultz raised an eyebrow, "OK, first, complete the steps to control the Ministry of National Defense and the senior ranks in the military, then create some major news, preferably trending for several weeks, to cover up the war fervor. The grassroots soldiers and ordinary people are easily distracted; once they have entertainment, they will naturally forget about the war."

"What kind of entertainment can divert everyone’s attention from the war frenzy?"

"The Prince Regent of Prussia is looking for a companion. How about this idea? It seems like you don’t have a political marriage partner yet, and everyone in the country wants to see this match."

Leader One made a funny face and asked, "Can you arrange that for me?"

Baron Schultz also made a funny face and replied, "Yes, Your Highness."

At the palace gate, Anna and Ron met Catherine. Ron sensed tension between the two women and quickly made up an excuse to leave.

Anna and Catherine are arguing with each other.

"I was here first, Anna, you home-wrecker!"

"Catherine, you son of bitch!"

Neither of them realized that someone was about to "lose".