Chapter 426: Return to Europe
May 7, 1873.
Before he even had a chance to settle back into East Africa, Crown Prince Ernst was already setting off once more for Europe. This time, he would be traveling aboard the Lion, a merchant vessel that had been refitted as an armed escort.
Along with him was a battalion from the Royal Guard, whose primary function would be ceremonial—essentially, an honor guard. Every one of them had been handpicked from the elite ranks of the Guard. Regardless of their combat skills, they were chosen for their striking appearance and stature. Fittingly, Hechingen had commissioned the very best tailors to handcraft their uniforms with meticulous care.
The battalion sent by the Guard totaled 3,000 men, primarily infantry and cavalry. However, there was no need to transport horses all the way to Austria. Hechingen had already coordinated with the Austrian military to borrow theirs.
Before departure, Constantino sighed with a hint of regret:
"This time, I won't be going to Vienna, but the reputation of our House of Hechingen must not be tarnished. This is a great opportunity to showcase East Africa. At the very least, we must ensure the Austrians see we're not a weak nation. So don't skimp—splurge where you must."
"Don't worry, Father. Besides the commercial talks, the main reason for this trip to Vienna is to marry Karina. This is a major life event for me. I wouldn't dare treat it lightly," Ernst reassured him.
Ernst was known for spending with discipline and purpose—always investing where it mattered most. This practical nature was actually what Constantino found worrisome. In normal circumstances, this trait was an asset. But among European aristocracy, where appearances and prestige were everything, Ernst's personality often seemed out of place.
But Constantino misjudged Ernst. He wasn't stingy; he simply believed in putting money where it had the most strategic impact—East Africa. If East Africa could rise in strength, even if Ernst dressed in rags, the European aristocracy would be forced to respect him. That was the confidence true national power gave.
Rather than throwing lavish parties to win favor in Europe, Ernst preferred to invest in East Africa's development. Besides, his own circle of contacts included the Prussian royal family, the House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (including Romania), the Austrian royal family, and Swedish nobility. These elite circles weren't swayed by money alone—they measured worth in terms of real power.
"Alright," Constantino nodded. "Just a reminder—since I won't be able to attend your wedding in Vienna, I hope everything goes smoothly."
One of them had to stay behind to oversee East African affairs, so Constantino would remain. Most of the wedding logistics in Austria would fall to Archduke Ferdinand (formerly Emperor Maximilian of Mexico).
As such, the wedding would be held in two parts: one in Austria, and another in East Africa. First Town had already added the prince's wedding to its official schedule.
With a sharp whistle, the Lion let out its call, signaling the formal departure of East Africa's state visit to Austria.
This was a state visit, not merely a wedding entourage. Ernst had other tasks to handle and was expected to stay in Europe for at least six months. The wedding was scheduled for the end of the year.
Before the wedding, Ernst's main job was to hunt down deals—buying factories, equipment, and steel for East Africa's massive railway construction projects.
After the economic crisis hit, many factories in the German states went bankrupt. Their equipment sat collecting dust, and prices were in freefall. Steel, coal, and railway companies suffered the worst losses—exactly the sectors East Africa needed the most.
As spring turned to summer, the Somali cold current began to strengthen, drawing surface waters from the equator northward. Combined with the shifting trade winds, conditions were perfect for a fast voyage from East Africa to the Red Sea.
Just a few days later, Ernst's fleet had crossed the Red Sea and entered the Mediterranean. The relatively calm seas of the Red Sea and Mediterranean made for a smooth journey.
May 22, 1873.
The East African fleet arrived in Trieste.
Standing on the deck, Ernst couldn't help but reflect. Compared to last year, Trieste had clearly lost some of its vibrance. The streets were quieter, foot traffic had thinned—Austria's economic woes were impossible to ignore.
With the Hechingen Consortium leading the charge in aggressive market dumping, a wave of East African goods had hastened the spread of Austria-Hungary's economic crisis into neighboring countries.
This time, it hit harder than in real history. Without Ernst's interference, economic crises in the 19th century rarely spilled into other nations quickly. In 1873, global markets were still forming. It wasn't until the 20th century that interconnected economies would cause a local crisis to ripple across the world.
Before 1873, most economic crashes were contained within one country—usually Britain. But after 1873, financial meltdowns would begin spreading internationally. By the early 20th century, the global market would fully take shape, culminating in the 1929 Great Depression—the worst capitalist crisis in history. That, in turn, would lead to two world wars as solutions.
For now, such drastic outcomes weren't necessary. Countries still had undeveloped colonies to exploit. But no one had yet connected the dots—governments were still scrambling to stabilize domestic problems.
Most immediate fixes involved financial regulation, cutting off failing companies, and nationalizing railroads—measures aimed at maintaining employment.
Because of German and Austrian product dumping, most European nations had begun imposing steep tariffs. Only Britain was hesitant, as free trade advocates still held sway.
But Britain's industrial dominance was under siege. Other nations—America, Russia, Germany, France, and Austria—had all begun rapid industrialization. Unlike before, they no longer depended on British goods. Britain's own overproduction made this crisis far more serious and long-lasting.
Back in Trieste, the East African fleet disembarked without drawing much attention. Only a few Austrian officers were present to greet them.
"Your Highness Ernst! Welcome to Austria!"
"Thank you," Ernst replied casually, though his attention remained on the port.
Long queues of job seekers had formed. Ernst recognized his own companies recruiting new workers—signs in German read:
"East African Railway Company – 250 Workers Needed, Preference for Experienced Railway Workers."
"Hechingen Tobacco Company (Trieste) – Hiring 12 Staff, No Education Required."
"East African Immigration Office – Migrate to East Africa for Guaranteed Employment. Priority for Families."
Turning to one of the officers, Ernst asked, "Is the rest of Austria as bleak as Trieste?"
"Uh… actually, we don't really know," one officer replied. "We mostly stay at the barracks. If it weren't for this mission, we wouldn't have come to town."
"I see. Well then, my main concern now is arranging travel for my troops. Part of them are East African soldiers, and I need them in Vienna. I'll need a private train."
"That's already been taken care of. Traffic is much lighter these days, so it won't be a problem."
That was to be expected. The crisis had reduced railway use, and newly built lines to Venice had diverted some of Trieste's former traffic. Though Venice's talent drain meant it couldn't reclaim dominance, it did offer an alternative route for military and economic control.
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