Chapter 21 Ambrosius
Vienna, Schönbrunn Palace.
Today, a miscellaneous Grand Duke came here. He was about to become an observer sent by the Austrian Army to Brazil. One of the purposes of his trip was to say goodbye to the current patriarch of the Habsburg family.
His name was Carl Ambrosius, but as a country nobleman, poverty still limited his imagination.
Ever since, the first time he entered the palace, he lost his way.
But as a member of the Habsburg family, he also has his own pride and must never bow to others.
Looking around, he quickly attracted the pointing fingers of ladies and maids.
"Ah, who is this person?"
"You can tell he's a country bumpkin right away."
"Although he is a country boy, he is quite handsome. Who can keep him and let him see the world?"
Then a group of women laughed together, but a sharp-eyed maid saw something and reminded them.
"Look, that's the royal coat of arms."
Immediately, the women who were teasing just now quieted down and dispersed.
Some have given up, but others are more excited.
What they didn't know was that Carl Ambrosius's family only had one hundred and fifty acres of land, not even a carriage, and could not provide the kind of life they wanted.
Archduke Karl, the largest landed aristocrat in the Austrian Empire, owned three million acres of land. The gap between the two was 20,000 times.
Ambrosius finally found someone he could ask for directions to, a young woman approaching with a child under her arm.
Those who can do this in this palace must also be members of the royal family, Ambrosius thought.
"Talia, don't you know how to ride a horse? It's so uncomfortable to hold me like this." Franz complained.
"My little Grand Duke, I'm just an unlucky tutor and nanny. If I ride a horse in the palace today, you can collect my body tomorrow. You won't get the money you win from me." Thalia was Franz was so annoyed that his chest rose and fell.
Yesterday, Thalia had been informed that His Majesty the Emperor would meet with Archduke Franz today.
Thalia came to Franz's room very early today, and the latter said he wanted to take a nap.
Thalia agreed readily when she saw the time, and then she fell asleep in Franz's room.
When Thalia woke up, she found that the scheduled time had passed.
So, they could only march quickly with Franz under their arms.
Thalia was in a hurry when a man suddenly appeared from the corner. He knelt on one knee and stretched out his hand to hold Thalia's other hand and said.
"Well done, this beautiful young lady, I think"
Before the man could finish his words, Thalia kicked him in the face.
"I don't want to! Goodbye."
"Thalia, someone actually approached you." Franz teased.
"You damn brat." Thalia choked Franz.
"I just want to ask for directions. Is it so difficult? The greeting method my father taught me doesn't work." Ambrosius sighed.
Finally, a passing guard told Ambrosius that the Hall of Mirrors was not in Schönbrunn Palace.
So Ambrosius hurried to the Hall of Mirrors.
In the Hall of Mirrors, on the throne, there was an old man and a young man sitting. The old man was Emperor Franz II, and the young man was the child he had just met.
Franz also waved to the unlucky guy in front of him.
Ambrosius was very excited to see the emperor and described his excitement.
However, Francis II had no interest in listening.
However, he was a little surprised when he received the resume from the royal steward.
This country bumpkin, who looks slovenly (his face is a little dirty because he was kicked by Thalia) and has never seen much of the world, is actually rated so highly in the military academy.
What is even more incredible is that the person who made the evaluation was none other than the legendary figure in the Austrian military, Archduke Karl, his younger brother, and one of the most disgusted people in the world.
Although Franz II was at odds with his brother Archduke Karl, he knew very well that his brother had a higher eye than his own and would never praise anyone easily.
Being praised by Archduke Karl is enough to prove that the young man in front of him has extremely outstanding abilities.
Franz also saw Archduke Karl’s comments, and Franz still remembered Archduke Karl’s evaluation of his eldest son Albrecht, “Giving him two armies is murder.”
The implication is that Albrecht can only command an army at most.
Historically, Albrecht was a victorious general. In the Battle of Custozza, he led 80,000 Austrian troops to defeat 120,000 troops commanded by King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy. Italian Army.
Being a military observer seems to be wronging him.
Austrian military observers usually mean traveling at public expense.
After some thought, Francis II decided to follow the cabinet's advice.
Awarded the rank of major general and sent abroad as an army observer.
When Archduke Ambrosius heard the result, he couldn't help but feel sad.
But it would have been very good for him, without this thin blood relationship.
I am afraid that the rank of general without real power is beyond his reach.
Most graduates of military academies start as captains. He no longer knows how far ahead of others he is.
Ambrosius also had another purpose for this trip, which was to help him become a matchmaker.
His family was very poor and there was no way he could marry a real princess, and his bloodline was inherently impure. If he married another commoner, his descendants might not even have the status of nobles.
Even though his family has declined, he and his father still attach great importance to their own bloodline and cannot accept that their descendants will no longer be nobles.
Of course, Ambrosius also had confidence. His grades in the military academy were very good, and Archduke Karl also said that he would become a pillar of the Austrian Empire in the future.
Ambrosius felt that he was a promising general. Although he had no money now, he had a very good future. In addition, he was also a disciple of Archduke Charles.
However, Ambrosius also knew that His Majesty the Emperor was at odds with Archduke Carl, so he did not dare to mention this relationship. He just asked the patriarch for help as a junior in the family.
But Francis II didn't care about Ambrosius.
He waved his hand, indicating that he could leave to take up his post.
But before taking two steps, Ambrosius stopped again and turned back.
"For the sake of Queen Theresa, for the sake of God, please, Your Majesty, even if it is a disabled or sick princess."
Ambrosius's ancestors were descendants of Queen Teresa, so he had the status of a member of the royal family.
There are indeed some princesses in various countries who are disabled or sick, but even so, their families will ask for a generous gift.
And Francis II happened to be a very stingy emperor (maybe he paid too much war reparations.)
Ambrosius's actions shocked Franz. He couldn't understand how a good man could suddenly become like this.
In fact, Franz underestimated the obsession with status among people at that time.
Franz looked at Franz II in confusion and thought, "Does Austria not only have the system of conferring officials, but also the system of conferring marriages?"
Franz II had seen this kind of thing so often that he was already used to it.
He said slowly.
"You are still young, and the current financial situation of the Austrian Empire is not good. Nowadays, young people have real talents and learning, and many big families are willing to provide a generous dowry for their daughters. You still need to work hard."
In short, just ignore it and find someone who can give you money.
Amfrosius's disappointment was palpable. He did not choose to continue to pester him, he chose to leave.
Looking at Ambrosius's back, Franz decided to help him.
Perhaps it was time to use the traditional skills of the Habsburg family, and a new colonial plan emerged in Franz's mind.
This is a transitional chapter, paving the way for the subsequent plot, so stay tuned.