Chapter 6 – War Approaches
January 14, 1864. Recently, Ernst had started acting more reserved because Prince Constantin was coming to Berlin. Prince Constantin had traveled from Hexingen to attend to some affairs in the city, and he rarely left the countryside. Whenever he did, it usually meant something big was happening.
Ernst spent every day busy expanding his businesses, going back and forth between the factory and the school. What was initially supposed to be a study trip had turned into a long-term stay in Berlin, so he felt a bit guilty and uneasy. Of course, Ernst understood that his own "small matters" wouldn't be enough for Prince Constantin to come here personally; there must be significant state or military affairs involved.
In Prussia, Prince Constantin's status was equivalent to that of a ruling prince. Although the Principality of Hexingen had been incorporated into Prussia, its position was preserved. The Hexingen branch traditionally held field marshal ranks, and Constantin was nominally a marshal serving at the General Staff. His trip to Berlin was likely about a major event, preparing for war.
Ernst's grandfather had participated in the war against Napoleon. Back then, Hexingen had been one of many German states involved, and it had previously been part of the Confederation of the Rhine that Napoleon supported. Once it became clear that the anti-French coalition was growing stronger, the old Marquis Friedrich of Hexingen switched sides just in time and joined the winning camp. After the war, Marquis Friedrich turned to education until his death. Later, Constantin and Prince Karl of Sigmaringen jointly decided to join Prussia, given that they were members of the Hohenzollern family. They had no objections to following Prussia's call for a unified Germany. If it succeeded, they would become heroes of the empire; if it failed, at worst they would keep their princely status. Since they were all part of the Hohenzollern family, and in continental Europe lineage mattered greatly, the natural interests of both branches made them lean toward Prussia's increasingly powerful main line.
The new Hohenzollern Province where Hexingen was located lay in southwestern Germany, surrounded by many other princes. To its east was Bavaria, a significant German state; to the west was the close border with France; and Baden and Württemberg enclosed it on all sides. Its strategic position was quite prominent. As the birthplace of the Hohenzollern family, it was historically an important military fortress, and it was situated in southern Germany where Prussian influence had been weaker. Therefore, Prussia placed considerable importance on the Hohenzollern Province.
From Ernst's perspective, any future war between Prussia and Austria wouldn't really affect his family. Hexingen was surrounded on three sides by Württemberg, and on the remaining side by the Grand Duchy of Baden. The main battlefield would be in Bohemia, on the Prussia–Austrian Empire border. Even if Austria and Prussia ignored the usual plan and launched a surprise attack, Württemberg and Baden would be hit first. The subsequent Franco-Prussian War would, barring any surprises, primarily take place in France, leaving his family essentially unscathed throughout the various wars of German unification.
Before Ernst began his ventures, the Hexingen branch was a traditional combination of military service and landowning, with most income coming from agricultural rents, real estate in different places, and Prince Constantin's army salary. Even if war broke out, none of these main assets would be threatened. Besides, Ernst's factories were all in Berlin, and as long as it wasn't a world war, Berlin wouldn't fall. Later on, before World War I, he could move his businesses to a safe area if needed, so that even drastic changes wouldn't harm the Hexingen Hohenzollerns' wealth.
As for any talk about "saving Germany," Ernst felt he couldn't manage it. Europe was far too competitive, full of capable figures. Trying to make a grand impact in Europe demanded top-tier resources and intelligence. A small place like Hexingen couldn't handle it. Even Bavaria and Belgium, which had more influence and territory in continental Europe, only barely got their foot in the door. Hexingen's only option was to stay close to Prussia to gain benefits and build capital in the future.
Thinking about events in history, Ernst realized that war with Denmark (the Second Schleswig War) was likely near, so he needed to speed up construction on his tobacco and lighter factories. Armies were huge consumers of tobacco, and lighters were practically sacred objects in wartime. Right now, matches were widespread, but Ernst believed kerosene lighters would also be very marketable. He wanted to ensure large-scale production of both items before the war began, then use the war—an ideal platform—to speed up their acceptance by ordinary people. Those soldiers came from all parts of the country, and once they returned home, they would become natural promoters.
While Ernst was still making plans, Constantin returned from the royal palace. Ernst's residence in Berlin was actually family property. After the Hohenzollern family rose to power in Brandenburg, the Hexingen branch had bought a manor in Berlin to use as a contact point. It had already been there for a hundred years, and Constantin always stayed there whenever he visited Berlin. As soon as Constantin's carriage pulled into the courtyard, Butler Keno urged the coachman to drive it away.
"Ernst!" Constantin greeted him warmly by name.
"Father, why have you come to Berlin? Did something big happen?" Although Ernst suspected it was for the impending conflict with Denmark, he feigned confusion.
"Yes, I came to coordinate with the royal family about a few matters, and of course to see my son's business," Constantin said happily.
Ernst felt a little guilty. He had been busy in Berlin this whole time and hadn't returned to check on his father, though they did keep in touch by letters. He had only gone back once for Christmas last year.
"Father, I'll spend more time with you from now on. I got so absorbed in my business that I lost sight of everything else," Ernst said.
"Alright, I'm an old man—why would I need someone by my side all the time? This trip to Berlin is because something big is brewing, so don't worry," Constantin said, patting Ernst on the head and adding, "But you've really surprised me. I never imagined our family had such a knack for doing business. I was prepared for my investment to vanish into thin air, hahahaha…" he joked.
"Father, is the kingdom preparing for war?" Ernst changed the subject.
"Yes, it is. But where did you hear that?" Constantin asked sternly. Before a war officially began, this sort of information was classified. Ernst was just a youth, and the royal family wouldn't have told him anything, so Constantin was cautious.
"Father, you know the army is one of my biggest clients. Recently, they've been purchasing a lot of new supplies, and some factories around Berlin have been working overtime. Clearly, they're preparing for the military," Ernst explained. Noticing his father frowning, Ernst pressed on. "Also, some of the business owners we deal with have leaked bits of inside news. And the kingdom's new prime minister is obviously not an ordinary figure. As soon as he took office, he declared that iron and blood would solve the era's major issues. Now it's evident that he's ready to use force to deal with the kingdom's troubles."
In just a few sentences, Ernst presented his "guesses." Constantin looked at him approvingly. "Well said. It seems the Hohenzollern family has produced another remarkable person, hahaha…" After laughing, he continued, "The kingdom is in communication with Austria, planning to use military force to make the Danish government give up the two German duchies: Holstein and Schleswig. The German Confederation has already sent troops to Holstein, and Prussia intends to push for Schleswig's independence.
"Right now, the rest of Europe is watching. The only countries truly capable of interfering are Britain, France, and Austria. Russia is still licking its wounds from the Crimean War; the French won't make a rash move for fear of triggering a repeat of the old anti-French coalition and risking a continental war. Britain's navy has the power to intervene, but the British would prefer to drag Russia into the mess. As for Austria, this time we plan to join forces with the Austrian Empire to protect the interests of the German region."
Constantin spoke in a steady flow. In truth, this was a gamble. Wilhelm I and Bismarck were using the intrigues among the great powers to maintain a delicate international balance. Meanwhile, the new Danish constitution had stirred outrage among Germans, providing the excuse for war. When used effectively, national sentiment could help realize Bismarck's long-promoted iron-and-blood approach to the major international problems of the era. By invoking the defense of German interests, Bismarck could unite the various states and free cities of the German Confederation under one banner, harnessing the greater German cause. At least in northern Germany, he could extend Prussia's influence and prepare for the eventual unification of the German lands.
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