Holy Roman Empire

Snowflakes drifted gently from the sky, pure and flawless, like messengers sent by God, sprinkling blessings upon the faithful.

The citizens of Paris, usually confined to their homes, poured into the streets, joining children in the snow to play and savor this rare moment of joy.

For Parisians, snow was a rare sight. In Medici’s memory, the last time Paris had seen snowfall was many years ago.

Exactly how many years had passed, Medici could no longer recall. For those struggling with hunger and cold, snow was hardly something worth celebrating or remembering.

This year, however, was an exception. The gains brought by the Russo-Prussian War were not enjoyed by Austria alone, France also reaped significant benefits.

Against the backdrop of a booming economy, France’s social tensions had eased considerably, most noticeably in the improved living standards of Parisians.

Medici felt this change deeply. As the owner of a small newspaper stand, he had his own unique way of gauging the public mood.

The French were deeply passionate about politics, and whenever economic conditions allowed, most households would subscribe to several newspapers. Newspaper sales, in a way, served as a barometer of France’s economy.

Parisians had every reason to be proud. France’s newspaper sales consistently ranked among the highest in the world, and Paris alone contributed half of those figures.

If one were to rank global newspaper sales, an interesting conclusion would emerge: France, Austria, Britain, Paris.

This isn’t a joke or a humorous anecdote as it actually happened.

The political sensitivity of Parisians is arguably the highest in the world. If you want to distinguish a Parisian from a countryside dweller, just see whether they comment on political news.

“Medici, I’m here for my newspapers.”

A familiar voice rang out, pulling Medici away from his reading.

Business was business, and it needed to be attended to. Setting down his newspaper, Medici smiled slightly and asked, “Rawls, the usual?”

As he spoke, Medici had already pulled out a neatly stacked bundle of newspapers and placed them on top of the counter.

The middle-aged man frowned and said with mild annoyance, “Of course. Medici, don’t you know me by now?”

Medici wasn’t offended and he continued smiling cheerfully as he replied, “Rawls, have a little patience. With that temper of yours, you’re not getting any younger. Can’t you mellow out a bit?”

Rawls shook his head and said, “Forget it. At my age, what’s the point of changing now?”

By the average life expectancy in France, Rawls, in his forties, was indeed considered an old man. But averages can be misleading.

The truly short lifespans belonged mainly to the laborers at the bottom of society. For nobles and wealthy elites, lifespans were significantly longer.

Medici shook his head and didn’t continue persuading. With a casual tap on the stack of newspapers, he said, “Alright, Rawls. Here are your papers, take them.”

As if remembering something, Medici added, “Oh, by the way, today’s Paris News international section is quite interesting. You might like it.”

Glancing at the headline, bold letters read: “The Anglo-French-Austrian Alliance on the Verge of Dissolution.”

Rawls’ expression changed dramatically. As a true Parisian, he was well aware of the significance of the alliance between the three nations. Alarmed, he asked, “What happened?”

Medici replied calmly, “Don’t overreact. It’s not as serious as it sounds. Just a little friction in South America. I’m sure the government will handle it.”

Brief and to the point, but he firmly avoided sharing any specific details. This was a trick Medici had perfected over years of selling newspapers. If everything was explained upfront, why would anyone bother buying the paper?

Rawls rolled his eyes and said, “Give me a copy. I’ll settle it over the weekend.”

There was no other choice. Ever since Napoleon III reinstated the retirement pension system, the forward-thinking Rawls had become part of the “weekly spenders” club.

Aside from setting aside essential family expenses, the rest of his money was spent almost immediately. Now that it was Saturday, his pockets were naturally empty.

Whether this spending habit was good or bad was debatable, but it undeniably stimulated economic growth.

Despite having slightly lower incomes, the French people still maintained a level of per capita consumption comparable to Austria, thanks in part to economic stimulation.

Of course, credit cards didn’t exist in this era, and the concept of spending beyond one’s means wasn’t popular yet. Even in the forward-thinking city of Paris, people still spent within their budgets.

“As you wish!” Medici said. Glancing at the snow outside, he added, “But I think you might also need another cup of coffee, preferably with a piece of bread, to make it a complete dinner.”

“That’s an excellent suggestion. But Medici, running a newsstand is such a waste of your talent. With your business acumen, you’d be rich by now if you pursued something else,” Rawls sighed.

The “Newsstand-Café-Bakery” combination was hard to ignore. Many people believed Medici was overqualified for such a modest business.

Clearly, Medici was a clever man who understood his own abilities.

The “Newsstand-Café-Bakery” might seem like an innovative idea, but in reality, this low-tech combination thrived on one core selling point: affordability.

Medici never considered himself a genius. He was simply more observant than others and had chosen the perfect location for his shop.

Otherwise, if this supposedly easy-to-replicate business model were genuinely simple, why wasn’t it everywhere on every street corner?

If he had ventured into another industry, an ordinary person like him would have likely been devoured by others, leaving not even a trace behind.

Medici replied with a warm smile, “Thank you for the compliment, but I think running this newsstand suits me just fine. I really can’t handle anything else.”

Rawls didn’t press the topic further. Their relationship wasn’t close enough for such personal advice. Joking was fine, but seriously suggesting Medici change careers was crossing a line even he wasn’t willing to step over.

Convenient and affordable spots like this one were rare, even in greater Paris. If Medici changed careers, Rawls would have to walk much further every day.

Taking the newspaper from Medici, Rawls headed straight to the backyard, found an empty spot, and quietly began reading.

The turbulent situation in South America wasn’t something a single newspaper could fully unravel. The analysis presented was largely based on limited information, with plenty of speculative reasoning filling in the gaps.

What started as a diplomatic conflict between Chile, Bolivia, and Peru had escalated into a grand diplomatic standoff between Britain against France and Austria, as if the two nations were on the verge of turning against the British entirely.

Well, no, Britain and France were already historic enemies. There was no need for them to “turn” against each other.

Newspapers of this era still maintained a certain level of integrity. If they dared to print something, it usually had some basis in reality. They wouldn’t risk their credibility on baseless claims.

After finishing the newspaper in one sitting, Rawls let out a sharp breath.

The report detailed the conflicting interests of Britain, France, and Austria in South America, clearly outlining Britain’s support for Chile while France and Austria backed Peru and Bolivia in the “Guano War.”

With so much evidence laid out, it was easy for readers to conclude that cracks were forming in the Anglo-Franco-Austrian alliance. In this context, the dissolution of the alliance didn’t seem impossible.

“Damn those greedy Brits! How dare they ignore our interests!”

Someone took the lead in cursing, and others immediately joined in. Criticizing the British was practically a daily pastime for Parisians.

“What’s so surprising about this? The British have always been shameless. Being their ally is like dancing with the devil…”

“Exactly! Those damned Brits… they should all rot in hell!”

…

Seeing everyone engrossed in conversation, Rawls couldn’t resist joining in with his own commentary, “Peru is utterly useless! They’re honestly embarrassing us. They can’t even defeat the Chileans.”

A young man chimed in, “It’s not just Peru. Bolivia, backed by Austria, is also a disaster. Can you believe their soldiers went into battle armed with bows and arrows? My God! Do they think this is the Middle Ages?

It’s hard to imagine. Are the people in the Austrian government complete idiots? They couldn’t even equip their allies with proper rifles. Having such a bunch of fools as allies is truly a tragedy.”

“Oh, it gets worse. Rumor has it that after the war, the Chileans captured two entire regiments’ worth of Bolivian military equipment. The gear had been sitting there for over a month, and the officers hadn’t even distributed it to the soldiers…”

Rumors spread like wildfire, and it was inevitable that the conversation went off track. In an era with so few entertainment options, gathering in small groups to gossip and boast had become a unique social ritual.

…

In the Palace of Versailles, Napoleon IV casually tossed aside the newspaper in his hand. The collapse of the Anglo-French-Austrian alliance? When did that happen? How come he, one of the key players, has no idea about it? Was this some kind of joke?

While the alliance hadn’t reached the point of dissolution, the South American situation was still giving Napoleon IV a headache. The British held too great an advantage. Even with France and Austria standing together, they could barely match British influence.

Hoping to replace the British and gain dominance over South America was nearly impossible. Unless, in this war in South America, Peru and Bolivia could somehow turn the tide against Chile and dismantle Britain’s strategic foothold in the region.

Foreign Minister Charles de Freycinet reported, “Your Majesty, the Austrians have made their position clear. They hope we can work together to keep Colombia neutral and maintain the last lifeline of the Peru-Bolivia alliance.”

TN: Changed Dumbledore to the Foreign Minister of France from December 28, 1879 to September 23, 1880. This is due to a suggestion from a reader that “fantasy names” ruin the immersion of the story. If you guys want to keep it the way the author intended with awkward names for the novel like Nicolas Cage (no offense to him), do let me know.

There was no room for debate on this matter. If the Peru-Bolivia alliance hoped to win the war, maintaining this lifeline was absolutely essential.

Without hesitation, Napoleon IV agreed, “That’s not an issue. Keeping Colombia neutral is already one of our priorities. However, I fear that may not be enough.

The Chileans have already gained the upper hand on the South American battlefield. Peru and Bolivia are both utterly incompetent. I have no reason to place any faith in them.”

Napoleon IV’s pessimism was understandable. The number of blunders on the battlefield was simply too absurd. Time and time again, the Peru-Bolivia alliance had seemingly been on the verge of victory, only to snatch defeat from the jaws of success.

Beyond the poor combat effectiveness of their armies, the intelligence, or lack thereof, of their governments’ officials was equally exasperating. Neighboring countries had been swayed by enemy diplomacy, yet the leadership of Peru and Bolivia had remained utterly oblivious until it was far too late.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!