Franz did not rush to express his position, and it was not so simple to integrate all the nationalities of Austria together, and it was estimated that except for the civilians at the bottom who did not know what the nation was, the vast majority of people would find it difficult to accept.

If you can't get everyone's heartfelt approval and get a nominal Austrian family out, the final result may be very embarrassing.

Nationalism originated in Europe in the 18th century, a nationalist movement initiated by the bourgeoisie in order to break with theocracy and feudalism.

The victory of the bourgeois class revolution from 1789~1871 and the establishment of the nation-state system were driven by nationalism.

Southeastern Europe is relatively conservative, and nationalism is almost always born under the ideological export of the great powers.

For example, Hungarian nationalism, which was exported by the French, is just getting started, and it is only after they have absorbed ordinary people that the Hungarian nation will really take shape.

In the middle of the 19th century, in order to launch a war of aggression, the tsarist government set off "pan-Slavism", and nationalism spread to the Balkans, which was the trigger for the world war.

"Mr. Karl, if we create an Austrian nation, what about the existing nation?

Shall we withdraw from the German regions and create a separate Austrian Reich? Prime Minister Felix asked with a frown

The window paper was pierced, and the atmosphere in the room was instantly depressed.

"Austria became independent from Germany when the Holy Roman Empire fell in 1806, and now we can establish the Holy Roman Empire again?" Carl asked rhetorically

"It is impossible to unify the German regions, Austria can be independent from the German regions, but we cannot abandon Germany, this is a matter of principle.

It is obviously not advisable to replace all the nationalities in Austria with one nation, even if we do not agree with it, but it is still feasible to downplay the concept of nationality and emphasize Austria. Metternich said solemnly

Franz frowned, sure enough, everyone was in opposition, and the crisis of the multi-ethnic state had not yet been recognized in this era, and for a long time, governments were still using national contradictions to cover up class contradictions.

At this time, Franz had to express his position, and Chancellor of the Exchequer Karl could not support it alone, and if he did not support it, the Austrian nation would be in vain.

"We can look at this matter separately, all the nationalities of Austria together constitute the Austrian Empire, and the Austrian nation can also be all Austrians.

The construction of a nation that everyone agrees with, and gradually replacing the dozens of nationalities in Austria today, will greatly reduce the national contradictions in our country.

If nothing else, at least the Hungarian rebellion that is happening now could have been avoided. ”

"Your Highness, even without nationalism, careerists can also play other banners, and there will be no shortage of excuses as long as they want to.

Is it worth it that we will lose our leadership of the German region? Archduke Louis asked, embarrassed

His words are already very polite, if you put it another way, you will spray - fools, cowards, traitors.

Austria is based on the Germans, and this will not change until national integration is achieved. To abandon Germany now is to abandon the basis of domination.

"No, Grand Duke Louis! Who said we were going to give up the leadership of the German regions? Franz asked rhetorically

Without waiting for anyone to answer, Franz continued: "Although the German region is a plate of scattered sand, it is located in the heart of Europe, and whoever controls it will control the continent.

Unfortunately, however, we do not have the strength to unify the German region, and the European countries will not tolerate the unity of the German region.

In this context, Austria, the leader of the German Confederation, was in fact only in name, facing the challenge of the Prussians internally and the pressure from all countries externally.

And our harvest is only in name, but in fact Austria has benefited from many German regions?

From an investment point of view, the resources we have invested in the German region over the years have been in a net loss, but on the contrary, the Prussians have benefited a lot.

That being the case, why not temporarily abandon our investment in Germany and move on to other regions with higher returns on investment?

As for the German region, we only need to retain Austria's influence, and it is not just our family's business to maintain the balance in the German region, and we will divide part of the responsibility to our allies, so that everyone will not be idle and have nothing to do. ”

That's right, Franz wanted to shift Austria's strategic focus. If you continue to fight in the German region, there will be Prussia on the inside, and the French on the outside, making a woolen yarn?

Don't look at the bunch of Austria's little brothers in the German region, wave your arms and respond with a wave of your arms, as long as Franz dares to reveal his ambition to unify Germany, the plot will soon take a 180-degree turn and become the enemy of the world.

Specifically, we can refer to his ancestor, Maximilian the Great, who expressed his ambition to unify the German region, and then ended tragically under the joint efforts of the French and domestic princes.

At that time, the Habsburg family was an empire on which the sun never sets, much more powerful than Austria now, annexed the Kingdom of Spain at its peak, and occupied most of Italy, the Netherlands, and Belgium were all family territories.

As for whether he would be kicked out of the German region for engaging in the Austrian nation, Franz was not at all worried.

The German princes were not stupid, and with Austria and Prussia holding each other in check, their lives would be better, and if one was the only one to dominate, then it would be their end.

After so many years of mergers and reorganizations, everyone knew that the balance had to be played, and the North German states moved closer to Prussia, and the South German princes fell to Austria.

The implication of Franz's words is clear to everyone, it is nothing more than to abandon the long-standing policy of continental balancing, anyway, now that the "Metternich system" has collapsed, the price that Austria needs to pay to rebuild it is too great.

"Your Highness, are you ready to shift Austria's strategic focus to Italy?" Metternich asked with concern

"No, Austria's next strategic focus is at home, as for Italy, we can just cripple the Kingdom of Sardinia and make an example of it!" Franz shook his head and said

Listening to Franz's answer, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Italy is not so easy to move, and it also involves Britain and France.

It's just to take the Kingdom of Sardinia, then there is no problem, this is sent by the Kingdom of Sardinia itself, and Austria can't be allowed not to fight back, right?