The next day, everyone was in a much better mood, having slept off any negative thoughts regarding the horrific but accurate retelling of war that Bruno had shared during the previous evening’s dinner.
And Franz Joseph had wanted to personally meet with Bruno, who had made a significant investment into Serbia’s meat industry, one that gave him a significant amount of control over it. Because of this, Bruno found himself in Franz Joseph’s personal quarters, where he sat across the Austrian Kaiser face to face at his desk.
The man was quick to break out an offer of an expensive drink, which Bruno politely declined due to the early hours of the day. After which Franz Joseph just blatantly came out and said what needed to be said, since Bruno was not willing to stand on ceremony with him.
“I want to know why you have decided to approach the Serbian government with the funds necessary to invest in their attempts to circumvent our sanctions by selling their meat elsewhere. I have considered you a friend of Austria, and the House of Habsburg up until this point, but now I get the feeling you are deliberately acting against our interest, and I want to know why?”
Bruno scoffed when he heard this accusatory statement and was quick to roll his eyes as he dismissed it entirely.
“Frankly speaking, your majesty, whoever advised you to engage in economic sanctions against the Kingdom of Serbia either doesn’t have your best interests in mind, or is an absolute moron…. To put it simply, this isn’t a battle you were destined to win. In fact, you could say the deck has been stacked against you from the start.
I invested in Serbia’s meat industry because if I had not done so first, the French would have gladly taken the opportunity to do so. Either way, with or without my interference, Serbia would have circumvented your sanctions and made a profit off of their international trade of pork. While the only ones who would have suffered would be you and your people.
By getting involved, I have claimed a large degree of authority over where this pork ends up, and at what price. I have also stolen all the profits from the French who would have surely used it to fund their war efforts, which would one day soon be wielded against our two nations.
I have done you a significant favor, and you repay me by accusing me of being an enemy of your family?”
The Austrian Kaiser’s eyes narrowed at Bruno after his rather confident statement. He then folded his hands together and was quick to ask the next question in his mind.
“You say you have done me a significant favor? How so?”
Bruno honestly felt like he had been rather clear in this regard, but chose to elaborate further and more blunt.
“As I said, I am now effectively in control of Serbia’s meat packaging facilities. Without my say, that meat can’t be packaged and transported to other nations. In other words, if you drop your sanctions and tariffs. Plentiful amounts of cheap pork will flow through Austro-Hungary and into the German Reich, where they will reach all the way to Russia. Never once entering the borders of France.
Thus, ensuring that this little trade war of yours ends in all of our favors. As our three empires will have a substantial supply of inexpensive and high-quality pork for our citizens to eat. And when the people are happy, you don’t need to worry about pesky things like revolts.
And by convincing you to drop these foolish little sanctions and excessive tariffs. Serbia slowly begins to fade away from French influence and control, which they have been trying to curry for ages now to escape from your sphere of influence….”
Frankly speaking, this last part was utter bullshit. This was a long con that the Serbians had been playing for a very long time. Their ties to France were solid, especially in regards to their military. There was no turning back. War would break out between Austro-Hungary and Serbia sooner or later.
But profiting off of Serbia’s international pork sales and using this as a means to bring Russia and Austro-Hungary together. That was the ultimate goal of Bruno’s by getting involved in this stupid trade war.
After all, the biggest factor in preventing Russia from joining forces with Germany, Austro-Hungary, and Japan was Serbia. As both Russia and Austro-Hungary had disputes over the nation. But, if these disputes could be slowly solved over the course of the coming years, starting with uniting over the trade of Pork, then maybe, just maybe the League of the Four Emperors could replace the name of the Central Powers in this life.
Either way, Franz Joseph was blown away by Bruno’s foresight, and proactive action in what he had stated was a losing battle for the Habsburg’s attempts to control Serbia. Because of this, the Austrian Kaiser was heavily suspicious of Bruno’s goals in getting involved with this matter.
After all, he was the faithful subject of a foreign monarch. And was already an absurdly wealthy man. Was Bruno really driven by such meager profits to act on the Habsburgs’ behalf? He was naturally quick to voice his suspicions to the man in question.
“I’m not exactly sure how wealthy you are, but I have quite a bit of understanding in this regard. Even if my estimations aren’t precise, there is no reason that such meager profits should compel to you interfere in this trade dispute. So tell me what your real ambitions are in this matter, and maybe I will believe you aren’t as hostile to me and my family that I think you are!”
Bruno sighed heavily and shook his head. Naturally, he wouldn’t admit the full truth that this was one of many subtle manipulations to get the Habsburgs and Romanovs to come together and unite against France.
Because of this, Bruno voiced a different reasoning for doing everything that he had done. And while truthful, it was a mere byproduct of his primary ambitions for acting on this trade dispute.
“As I already stated, stealing the profits from the French, and preventing them from using this as a means to properly arm themselves, was definitely a goal of mine when I decided to interfere in this matter. But though you may not believe me, my primary interest in all of my endeavors has always been and always will be for the good of the German Reich and its people.
Contrary to what you might think, I actually care about my fellow countrymen. And the struggles they go through in their daily lives. Making sure ones subjects are properly fed should be a primary concern of every monarch.
But we don’t live in an ideal world, and not every Kaiser cares so much about the citizens of his empire. Some would rather spend their days trying to force other nations into bowing before them and the power that they wield.
And at the end of the day, someone has to care about the people and their wellbeing. Though I was not born into a proper position to do so, I will always strive to make life better for my fellow Germans. Whether that is by protecting them from the aggressive actions of hostile nations, or by ensuring that each day they are properly fed.
Though I can not fathom the complexities of international diplomacy that a man born with the divine right to rule must undergo with each passing day. I am sure that there are still lessons that can be learned from those least expected. Wherever you may find them…”
After saying this, Bruno got up from his seat and thanked the Austrian Kaiser for his hospitality, leaving the room behind, all while leaving the man in a state of deep contemplation.
Was there really such an altruistic man in this world? And if so, was he truly capable of reaching such a position in life while maintaining his principles? Could a wealthy man truly by so selfless? If so, then how did he acquire his wealth? It was truly a paradox.
Or was it simply that Bruno just gaslighting him into believing that the man had no ulterior motives for his actions? Frankly speaking, Franz Joseph couldn’t tell if Bruno was a Saint sent by God to save his people, or a disciple of the Devil sent to unleash the four horsemen from their slumber.
Either way, he was an interesting character, and one that was better off kept close by his side, rather than making an enemy of. Especially over something as stupid as involving himself in a trade dispute.
