Re: Blood and Iron-Chapter 392: Aggressive Negotiations Part II

"You do understand this is a serious matter of international consequence… I can’t just have the German Army roll through my borders and occupy my lands. Even as an act of security against the ongoing crisis, to do so would immediately signal that the reign and sovereignty of the Habsburg dynasty has come to an end.

By the time your soldiers arrive in Vienna, my family and I will either already be overrun and killed in the streets by the rioters or forced to flee to Bavaria. Either way, it will immediately spell the end of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and make your occupation and security operations all the more unbearable.

We have millions of young men returning home from the war, plagued by shell shock and addicted to a litany of narcotics. Many prowl the countryside as lawless brigands, while others engage in criminal operations to secure the substances they need to maintain some semblance of sanity.

You would instantly be facing such a crisis if you brought the German Army into Austria. Even with my permission, it would spark unrest and violence almost immediately… So unless you have another plan, I fear sending troops to help stabilize the region is impossible."

Bruno did not seem defeated by this news, much to the bewilderment of the Austrian Emperor. No, in fact, he was quite confident. The glint in his eyes suggested he had already anticipated this and prepared long in advance for such a gruesome reality. His words and the tone in his voice cemented this fact in Franz Joseph’s mind when he heard them spoken.

"You’re quite right… What your people need now is food, water, medicine, and help overcoming their vices. But these brigands and outlaws must still be dealt with. You simply do not have the force of numbers left untainted by the poison flooding your country’s noble veins to do it on your own.

Luckily for you, I have a rather unique solution. After the war ended, some old acquaintances of mine, who had retired from the army and military life altogether, formed their own paramilitary force.

They are currently seeking fortune in exchange for providing their expertise to foreign nations and have no official ties to the German Reich. For the right price, they could be persuaded to fight for you and your dynasty against whatever enemy you point them at."

Franz Joseph scoffed at Bruno’s remarks, his tone laced with disbelief at such an antiquated idea. He expressed his skepticism openly, well aware of Europe’s bloody and turbulent history.

"Mercenaries? Seriously? That is a bit of an archaic concept, don’t you think?"

Bruno, however, did not immediately respond to the Austrian Emperor’s dismissal. Instead, a conceited smirk appeared on his face as he forcefully grabbed the bottle in front of him and poured more of its contents into his glass without first seeking express permission. An outrageous action that caused the Austrian Emperor to frown but did not outright provoke him.

It was only after Bruno sniffed the fine whiskey, imported from Scotland, and took a sip that he finally spoke. And his words were far more enlightening than Franz Joseph had expected.

"It is a brave new world, my friend… Nations are rising and falling as we speak. The old ways of conscription are going the way of the dodo. The future of warfare will not be waged with large, overwhelming numbers of poorly trained men forced into service, but by smaller, elite, professionally trained soldiers equipped with the best weaponry money can buy.

And, of course, soldiers of fortune who allow a host nation to maintain complete and total deniability while raking in a fortune performing security operations and other unspeakable business that would normally not only cost them a pretty penny but also permanently leave a black mark on their history as a nation.

Mercenaries, Free Companies—these are old and obsolete terms. No, I much prefer the moniker Private Military Corporations. It’s a suitable rebranding for a new and prosperous era, don’t you think?"

Private Military Corporations? The very idea was absurd! The privatization of warfare? What kind of nonsense was this? Franz Joseph, a man of noble and ancient lineage, could not help but scoff and condemn Bruno for what he believed to be a fool’s prize.

"You would seek to profit from warfare? Are you mad?"

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Now it was Bruno’s turn to scoff at the Austrian Emperor’s outdated understanding of warfare. He broke into a brief bout of laughter before narrowing his eyes and lecturing the old man about the new age they were living in.

"With all due respect, Your Majesty, I don’t think you quite understand the world as it exists today… Warfare has long since been a business—in fact, it is the most lucrative business in the world! Why do you think your ministers, parliament, and bureaucrats were so willing to go to war with the world over the death of your son and presumed heir?

Do you think it was notions of chivalry and honor that compelled the world to engage in such madness, resulting in the deaths of nearly ten million people? Possibly more? No, it was profit. The arms corporations of each nation have received an ungodly sum as a result of the blood on their hands.

And that money goes straight into the pockets of the politicians who made this war a reality in the first place. At least a significant enough portion of it to justify such chaos and destruction.

War is a racket and has been for a very long time. Because at the end of the day, there is nothing more valuable in this world than the monopolization of violence. It is the difference between dynasties that last a thousand years and those that will be forgotten in the annals of history within a decade.

It’s the service my friends provide, and I assure you, they are the best at it. See, the beautiful thing about small, elite, highly professional, highly motivated forces is that they can afford the best equipment. If you thought the 8th Army was a mechanical force of wonder and death, wait until you see the Werwolf Brigade in action.

And yes, they come with air support units attached. You may have the nerve to mock the size of their forces, but do not question their might. These 3,200 men will break your enemy’s will to fight the moment they make contact.

If they somehow still manage to find the courage to face death itself in armed struggle, well… then their fate is already sealed, isn’t it? I would advise you to think carefully about what I am offering you, Your Majesty. The future of your house and your nation depends on your next words."

Franz Joseph could only sit in silence and shock as he cautiously reflected on Bruno’s words. Could the use of mercenaries really be the answer to his current woes?

If that were the case, then they were indeed worth any price asked of him. Because of this, no words were exchanged for some time as the two men sat there drinking, waiting for the Austrian Emperor to reach a conclusion on how to proceed.