Chapter 1591 - 1497: Republic
Chapter 1591: Chapter 1497: Republic
"Your Majesty——Your Majesty——"
The sharp cries of Count Salazar came from outside the study, sounding like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
Franz II frowned, threw his diary into the drawer, and before he could say "come in," the door was violently pushed open.
The court director nearly stumbled to his desk, his once neat wig askew, and the oil and sweat on his face streaked through the powder.
"Calm down," Franz II said sternly. "What happened?"
"Count Rinek has been killed!" Count Salazar’s voice trembled uncontrollably. "They’re parading his head in the streets... They’ve also occupied the Royal Armory, and now there are armed mobs everywhere outside.
"They might rush to Schonbrunn Palace soon. They will kill everyone..."
In his mind, "everyone" only included the Emperor and the nobles.
Franz II’s eye twitched, but he quickly maintained a rigid expression, loudly saying, "Tomorrow. The army York brings tomorrow can restore order, don’t worry..."
Marshal Ussum’s voice interrupted him: "Your Majesty, the Moravian Legion..."
Franz II’s eyes lit up, he eagerly walked towards the door: "Where is the army now?"
The chairman of the military committee bowed to him, but did not raise his head: "Your Majesty, we just received news, at least five battalions in the legion have mutinied."
"General Meckseli was attacked by armed insurgents in the northern suburbs and has now retreated to Sylvan Village. It’s said that there are mutinous soldiers involved in the attack..."
Franz II froze for a moment, suddenly slammed his cane on the table, and shouted angrily: "Those damn traitors! I’ll hang them!"
After a period of venting, he noticed that Marshal Ussum was followed by Count Speelman and Metternich.
He gritted his teeth and asked, "What other troops can be mobilized around Vienna?"
Ussum said softly: "The nearest won’t arrive for at least a week, Your Majesty."
Franz II hesitated for two seconds, then turned to his aide-de-camp: "Vienna is no longer safe, prepare the carriage, I must leave immediately!"
Metternich took a step forward and said: "Your Majesty, those rioters could storm Schonbrunn Palace at any moment. We must find a way to stabilize them and buy time."
"How do we do that?"
Metternich had obviously prepared and immediately said: "Promise them what they want..."
Nine o’clock in the evening.
At this time, Vienna would usually be under curfew, with streets quiet as a mountain, but the open space outside Hofburg was brightly lit by torches.
Hilt stood on a half-collapsed wall, raised the letter in his hand to the dense crowd around, and excitedly said: "This is a decree handwritten by His Majesty the Emperor! We succeeded!"
He solemnly unfolded the decree and read: "In the benevolence bestowed by Jesus, I wish to jointly decide the laws of the Empire with the people of the Empire, hence this decree:
"1. Immediately convene a Congress, with elections from representatives of all classes...
"2. Order the Finance Minister to draft a tax reduction plan, to be announced in three days...
"3. Pardon all those convicted for their words or writings..."
The end listed a long string of titles such as "Holy Roman Emperor, King of Hungary and Bohemia, King of Croatia."
The crowd was silent for a moment, then erupted into thunderous cheers.
Adorno left quickly after hearing "tax reduction" and returned to his residence.
He placed the flintlock gun in the corridor and gently knocked on Mrs. Brandt’s door: "Mrs. Brandt, I’m here to pick up Gretel."
After a moment, the door opened, revealing only his son’s small head.
Adorno handed him a loaf of bread distributed by others during the day and looked inside: "Where is Mrs. Brandt?"
"She said she was going to the revolution and told me to stay inside..."
The next day, all of Vienna was fervently discussing the Emperor’s decree.
Adorno was also pulled aside to recount yesterday’s assault on the Royal Armory, but he was too inarticulate to say anything.
In the end, it was a young noble who had earlier mocked the assault on the armory who spoke on his behalf, drawing rounds of cheers.
However, the relaxed and joyous atmosphere only lasted for most of the day before Adorno heard that the Emperor had fled Vienna overnight.
In the accounting room of the Royal Armory, Lucas clenched his fists and addressed the Liberal representatives gathered there:
"The Tyrant will not admit defeat; he must be gathering his henchmen somewhere, preparing to strike back against the revolution!"
Jaggen, Bergman, and others immediately voiced their loud agreement.
In contrast, the moderate Hilt kept his head down in a corner of the room, looking ashamed.
It was his strenuous persuasion yesterday that concentrated the protest crowd between Hofburg and the armory, allowing the Emperor and his ministers to draft new policies undisturbed.
This granted the Emperor the chance to flee.
Lucas gestured for silence and continued: "Since the Tyrant has betrayed the nation, we will respond with an entirely new country!
"I propose that we immediately establish the Austrian Republic in Vienna, convene a National Assembly, and bury the Habsburg Dynasty in the annals of history!"
The representatives in the room immediately raised their arms and shouted: "Long live the Austrian Republic!"
"Convene the National Assembly!"
"Long live freedom and equality!"
Nearly a third of the moderates and constitutional monarchists merely watched silently without voicing their support.
However, at this moment, the main revolutionary military force, the Students’ Army, was under the control of Lucas and others, granting them greater influence.
Quickly, they settled on a constitutional committee and scheduled the temporary assembly.
Lucas, looking serious, added: "The Students’ Army has already gone to pursue the Tyrant, but we must also prepare for a more brutal war.
"To ensure the Republic’s survival, we must organize an army capable of countering the Tyrant.
"I propose that we immediately recruit a National Guard from the citizens of Vienna and begin training as soon as possible."
The first full meeting of the Liberals continued until three in the afternoon, by which time Lucas’s voice was hoarse as he exited the accounting room.
A captain from the Students’ Army approached, saluting him with his hat: "Lieutenant Colonel Scheller, we have captured over 800 of the Tyrant’s executioners, but Pergen is still missing."
Yes, Lucas now served as a lieutenant colonel in the Students’ Army.
His first order upon taking office was to launch a citywide search for the Secret Police.
Lucas nodded: "Put these guys on public trial."
A week later, the Vienna Constitutional Committee was completed, and a list for the temporary National Assembly was compiled.
The preparatory group for the temporary assembly soon announced to the countries of Europe that the Austrian Republic had been formally established!