African Entrepreneurship Records

  Chapter 48 Engagement

Having said that, Ernst almost understood that this Princess Karina should be the butterfly effect after he appeared, or maybe this universe is not as simple as the parallel universe of his previous universe, um, no matter what, let’s put It is better to control the uncertain factors in your hands.

  This Karina is the first person I have met in this world who is different from the history. Lenoir and others are not counted. After all, the change of their destiny was actively promoted by Ernst.

  This Karina was born before the memory of her previous life was awakened, that is to say, Karina was born when Ernst was six years old.

  I was a kid when I was six years old, and I was the devil in the manor all day long, so I couldn't influence other people at that time.

   Moreover, Ernst had a premonition in his dark center that if he didn't marry her in the future, something big would happen.

  Think about it, how much history have you changed since you awakened? One is the Hexingen 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 everything was possible.

   Could it be staged, Her Majesty the Queen returned to Mexico to avenge her father, or inherited the Habsburg throne to rebuild the Roman Empire. (I didn’t do it on purpose. Just think about how unlucky Franz is. His brother was executed by the Mexicans, his wife was assassinated in Italy, his son committed suicide, and his future chosen heir was shot by the Serbs.)

  …

  Having said so much, Ernst also has his own interests to consider. Ernst has 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.

  Among them, Prussia doesn't have to worry at all, just like my own home.

  Italy was an ally of Prussia, and it could still be used before World War I.

  Not to mention the East African colonies, they participated in the planning and construction by themselves, and their own words are the king's law in East Africa.

  Only the Austro-Hungarian Empire itself is the least influential, and now it would be great if the problem of political influence in the Austro-Hungarian Empire can be resolved through marriage.

  And the East African colonies are poor! Prussia (Germany) alone would definitely not be able to support it, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire of the same size should be added.

  It is a pity that so many resources were wasted when the Austro-Hungarian Empire disintegrated. Ernst was willing to be the successor.

"Father, let's be Princess Karina of Habsburg! We really don't have much influence in Austria. With this marriage, the family's property can be better spread throughout the Greater German region, from the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean Sea." Improve the security of your own industry."

   This is the truth. 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 is easily crushed to death in the sea, let alone a small commercial fleet.

  The Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea are the only sea passages for Germany, and Germany is slightly better. After all, the northwest corner is the Atlantic Ocean, but going 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 great as that faced by Germany. It’s not that Ernst looked down on the Italians. It's too embarrassing.

If the British want to blockade the coast of Germany, it is very simple, but the Italians want to block the coast of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, unless it is a dream. After all, the Austro-Hungarian Empire can directly threaten Italy from land, and in the future, Prussia, Italy, and Austria-Hungary will still There will be an alliance, and Prussia will mediate, and the relationship will not be too bad.

   "Well, well, I will go to Vienna to discuss with Habsburg, just wait for my news!"

   After finishing speaking, Constantine set off for Vienna.

  …

   Meanwhile, Austria, Vienna, Schönbrunn Palace.

   "Mother, Karina is so young, isn't it too early to talk about marriage!" Emperor Franz said helplessly to his mother.

   "Hmph, what do you know? It's not that you and your younger brother are not worried. After getting married, they made so many troubles. I dare not let Karina step into your footsteps." Queen Mother Sophie said.

  When it comes to his marriage, Franz is afraid to speak. The relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law is a worldwide problem, and even the emperor cannot escape it.

  As for his younger brother, Maximilian I, he went to the sinkhole in Mexico and insisted on going his own way. He still doesn’t believe his family’s words and dreams of being an emperor.

   "This time, I must personally choose the marriage partner of the younger generation. It was because I spoiled you two brothers too much back then that I made such a bunch of bad things." Queen Mother Sophie said.

   While speaking, he took Ernst's information from his hand and handed it to Franz.

   "Look, how about the person I picked this time!"

  Frantz looked at the information and said: "I look a little more handsome than when I was young, but isn't the status too low? Karina is not bad even if she marries the princes of those kings?"

"What do you know? There are so many kings and princes to choose for you, and there are only so many European royal families. At present, I don't like it. Although this Ernst has a lower title, he is also from the Hohenzollern family. He is orthodox, and Prince Constantine is the only one, and he will also be a prince in the future."

"Besides, her mother died early. If Karina married, there would be no conflict between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. This Ernst would still run a business. I heard that the industry can be ranked in the top 30 in Europe. In the future, Karina will have nothing to live on when she marries. Worry, it’s good to be a princess.”

   "How is your character, mother?" Franz asked.

"Don't worry about that. I have carefully investigated this time. This Ernst is sixteen years old, but he is more enthusiastic about his career. There are no messy scandals. I have also seen his life trajectory. He is indeed a man. A man of action, I just went to Venice a while ago to build a fleet and then returned home."

   "And he doesn't have any bad habits, and he lives a regular life. It's better to catch such an excellent young man early."

   "But mother, don't you really discuss it with your younger brother and younger siblings?" Franz asked cautiously.

"Hmph, don't mention the two of them, especially Charlotte, who kept encouraging Maximiliano at the beginning. If it weren't for her, our family would be reunited now. If there is something wrong with your brother, I will definitely won't forgive her."

   In this way, the Mexican emperor and queen were deprived of their daughter's guardian rights. At this time, Queen Carlota was still crying, making trouble and hanging herself in France, asking Napoleon III to keep his promise to send troops to Mexico again.

  After communicating with Prince Constantine who was going to Vienna, the two agreed to get engaged first, and in the future, Ernst can marry Princess Karina when Ernst is in his twenties.

   On November 3, 1866, the two families announced the engagement of Prince Ernst and Princess Karina. (Later generations call this event the reunion of the Hohenzollern and Habsburg families.)

   Ernst and Princess Karina attended the ceremony and exchanged tokens of love under the influence of European traditions. From now on, Princess Karina of Habsburg will be Ernst's fiancée.

   As a person who has lived for two lives, Ernst is not very demanding, as long as he is not too ugly, he can accept it, but Karina does have a good foundation, and she will definitely be a great beauty in the future. At least in the eyes of the people at the time, the two were talented and beautiful.

  …

Now that the future marriage partner has been determined, Ernst can't help his future father-in-law. After all, Maximilian I was too miserable. The throne that was picked up for nothing was actually the scapegoat of Napoleon III. It's nothing to blame for the colonization of Mexico on the head of Maximilian I.

  The really bad thing is that the people of Mexico no longer trust the emperor. Under the influence of the Iturbide Dynasty and the Americans fanning the flames, Maximilian I was forced to take the blame if he could not manage the palace.

  Especially the various warlords in Mexico did not take Maximilian I in their eyes at all. Among them, the republican Juarez regarded Maximilian I as a thorn in his side and a thorn in his flesh.

  Next year, when Maximilian I was arrested and executed, Juarez was also a fierce man, and he would execute Maximilian I even if he offended European monarchs and Habsburgs.

   Ernst wondered if he could rescue his hapless father-in-law, first selected a group of outstanding students from Hechingen students, pretended to be Indians, sneaked into Mexico, and finally packed Maximilian I back to Europe...

   There is really a sliver of feasibility. If this matter is not successful, I have nothing to lose, but if it succeeds, I will definitely get good feedback.

  Not to mention other things, the Habsburgs still have to take care of themselves in the future, and the monarchs of European countries will also look at themselves with admiration.

  Ernst wants to develop East Africa, and in the future he will have to communicate with other countries. Otherwise, when the big powers divide Africa in the future, it will be ridiculous to be stolen.

   Now, establish an image of maintaining the aristocratic class and supporting the monarchy. 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 wary.

  (end of this chapter)