Vienna

Prime Minister Felix said with a sad face: "Your Highness, the Hungarian rebellion is now over. However, there were some nobles who did not participate in the rebellion, but the land was divided in the war.

If we follow the previous Land Redemption Act, the Austrian government now has to pay a total of Rp 2,370 million in land redemption money. ”

(1 guilder = 11.69 grams of silver)

"Why are there so many?" Franz asked in surprise

You must know that after this rebellion, nearly seven layers of nobles in Hungary have been finished, including those who have already received boxed lunches and those who have been deprived of their titles in the rebellion.

Felix explained: "Your Highness, none of the great nobles of Hungary participated in the rebellion, and nearly half of this ransom was paid to them.

In addition to this, there are some enlightened nobles in the country, who are willing to give up their land, and also need us to pay a ransom.

In addition, there were some nobles in Italy who were loyal to us, and their lands were also divided in the war.

The total of these bits and pieces adds up, and it is initially estimated that we will need Rp 2.37 billion for land ransom, and if there are still people who continue to give up their land, then this number will increase. ”

Franz rubbed his forehead, and in order to encourage the nobles to give up their land, this ransom was assessed according to the market value. If converted, this is equivalent to 550 million taels of silver.

This money is obviously not something that the Austrian government can take out all at once, although the Austrian government now has a lot of assets in its hands because of the raid.

However, these immovable properties are not equal to cash, and there is no way to realize them in the short term, and the Austrian government is still poor.

According to the Land Redemption Act, the land ransom paid by the peasants was collected by the government, which was responsible for compensating the nobles who gave up their land directly.

This huge debt fell on the head of the Austrian government. Franz could not have paid this huge debt in one go, and it was even more impossible to repay the debt, which was at stake in the credibility of the government.

Franz asked with concern: "How much land ransom can we collect each year?" ”

Prime Minister Felix thought for a moment and said, "It's about Rp 180 million." ”

The 180 million dong is not only for these lands, but also includes a large amount of land confiscated by the government, as well as the land of the nobles.

If only these lands were to be ransom at the rate of 30 percent of the output, the maximum would be 40 million or 50 million rhine guilders.

After thinking about it, Franz reluctantly found that farming is really not a good deal, even if it does not calculate the cost of capital and time, it will take more than ten or twenty years to be able to return to the capital.

The land ransom money collected by the government may not be enough to cover the interest cost of the funds.

Franz thought for a moment and said, "Pay in installments, explain it to the nobles, tell them about our difficulties, and let them understand it."

The enlightened aristocracy who voluntarily gave up their land in the country paid half of their ransom money first, and the rest in installments over twenty years.

Several of the great nobles of the Hungarian region told them that the government would not pursue the small actions of this rebellion, but as a penalty for the ransom of the land, it would be extended to forty years of instalments.

The rest of those with pigtails should be warned, and the payment time of their ransom money will be extended, and if there is no problem at all, they will be dealt with according to the disposal plan of voluntarily giving up the land! ”

Franz finally felt it - it was the uncle who owed the money.

After a revolution, the interest groups in Austria were also reshuffled, and these nobles who were forcibly bought by land were naturally the losers.

The money was in the hands of the Austrian government, the land was in the hands of the peasants, and they had no choice at all.

Before that, the Austrian government was afraid of them, because each of the great nobles had a large amount of land in their hands, serfs, and a large group of small and medium-sized nobles attached to them, who could arm thousands or even tens of thousands of troops at any time.

Now, this situation has changed, the serfs are free, no longer under their control, and the small and medium-sized nobles attached to them have suffered a heavy blow.

The toothless tiger is left with only the tiger's might. It was because Franz was also a member of the Remembering Interest and was unwilling to break the rules.

"Yes, Your Highness!" Prime Minister Felix replied

On the issue of cracking down on local elites, the Austrian cabinet and Franz are on the same side.

The so-called installment payment, however, does not include half a cent of interest, and is paid over forty years, but in fact it is not even enough interest.

Even if it is paid in installments, it is unknown when the money will be paid, and as long as the payment is completed within the promised period, it is not a breach of contract.

The specific situation depends on whether these nobles are smart people. If you are willing to cooperate with the government's actions, then everything is good, and the Austrian government will pay back the money as soon as possible.

If they continue to work against the government without knowing whether they live or die, it is estimated that they may not be able to see this money in their lifetime.

Not everyone was so optimistic, Metternich frowned on the side, and only after half a sound did he hesitate to say: "Your Highness, so many nobles suddenly have no land and no source of income, and it is not easy to transform.

If we can't find a way out for them, I am afraid that it will become a hidden danger to society in the future. ”

This is a real problem, it is impossible to make all the nobles become capitalists, and they will lose money in business.

Don't expect these people to go bankrupt, just honestly become workers, and go to work in the factory in peace.

It is more likely that after bankruptcy, they will join the revolutionary army in an attempt to break the social order and redistribute social wealth.

The Minister of Education, Count Leo, thought for a moment and said: "Our Ministry of Education can hire some nobles to serve as language teachers, and most of the nobles can be competent, but this requires an increase in salary!" ”

For the same position, the salary package between the nobility and the non-aristocracy is also different, and do not think it is surprising, this is the general status quo on the European continent.

"This is just a drop in the bucket, a small nobleman with no ambition may accept a teaching position, but it is impossible for the vast majority of nobles to give up their shelf and become a village teacher!" Felix shook his head and said

Archduke Louis proposed: "Why don't we open up colonies, let them colonize overseas, and save them from stopping at home?" ”

In the Metternich era, Austria did not open up colonies overseas, which does not mean that Austria did not have the strength to open up colonies.

As one of the top four powers in the world, it is not difficult to acquire a colony overseas as long as the government is free.

Watching Britain and France attacking cities and plundering land overseas, and even small countries like the Netherlands and Portugal have colonies, how can the nobles in Austria not be hot?