Chapter 1 A new Eagle

Berlin, German Empire

March 12, 1897

It was a cold night.

He felt comfortable in this cold night by sipping a hot tea while watching the city at his window.

"It is seventeen years already" he sighed.

He had been reborn and lived in this world for seventeen years as Karl Franz Justinian von Habsburg or Justinian I of Austria, an Archduke of the Austrian Empire and the Crown Prince of the Austrian crown in an alternate world with a different timeline from his previous life.

He is a grandson of Franz Joseph I of Austria, the current emperor of Austrian Empire. He is the only son of Archduke Charles, Archduke of Austria and Princess Stephanie of Belgium. He was born with a twin girl Archduchess Elisabeth Marie.

**Note: Justinian was born on September 2, 1880**

Even with such prominent position in this new world, Justinian is not happy with his situation, this alternate world is based on a novel that has strategic life simulation game in his past life.

In this world, Napoleon surrendered immediately after his defeat in Leipzig and was able to keep his throne but France is forced to give large concessions to the victorious coalitions. But still he was officially accepted by other nations as the ruler of the French Empire.

The one who benefitted the most is the Kingdom of Prussia, for after the war it was able to gain large swathes of land, benefits and spoils of the conflict and become a major European power in the world stage.

Then on the year 1832, the war occurred between Prussia and Russia where almost all countries in Europe and its colonies are involved in this war. The war ended with victory of Prussia which absorbs almost all lands in northern central Europe and become the German Empire, making the German Empire the most powerful state in the European continent.

The Austrian Empire was on the Russian side and both of them lost the war and it becomes a second-rate power, while Russia has lost its influence in the European region. Even without ceding any lands after the treaty, the Austrian empire lands are ravaged and ruined, its influenced outside the empire's border has become almost nonexistent. There are no major revolutions other than two Hungarian noble revolts against the monarchy after the war, for the war totally destroyed mostly the empire but the loyalty of most of the people is still on the Habsburg for even they lose in the Russo-Prussian war of 1832, the Habsburg forces are able to win some of the battles but only lost during the final decisive battle, but the seeds of chaos are already brewing.

As he recalled the events in the novel and the game, he shuddered to the thought of what will happened in the future. A huge series of revolutions would occur throughout entire Europe on 1899 and would spread throughout the world for the following years, the Austrian Empire would be one of them.

Knowing what soon happens, he already a lot of contingencies and plans for the empire and adding a lot more before 1899. He will gather followers and allies and save the Empire from the destruction and chaos.

He knows that he could just abandon everything, the empire and all and choose to be a happy rich man away from all the future chaos and conflicts, get married, raise children and live a simple life which what he plans when he is still young six years ago. But after living as a noble all these seventeen years, the embers of ambition and glory found its way into his heart.

** ** **

"The world is …." The professor continues to discuss in front of Justinian's class. His monotonous voice bored Justinian to death, educational classes and discussions is still boring whatever era it is.

Justinian I was currently in his History class in his Military and Political Science course in the Berlin International University in the German Empire. He is currently studying in Berlin together with other important nobles and personas of the Austrian Empire in Germany.

After the war of 1832-1839 known as the Russo-Prussian war of 1832, the Kingdom of Prussia become the German Empire and it became the center of European affairs like education. After the war, the German Empire promoted its culture and traditions by having all students from other nations, especially to those losing nations, even their royal families to enroll in their academies. The foreign royal students served as political hostages and to promote friendly ties for the future the time when these students become leaders in their own countries.

In the past two years, Justinian stayed and studied in Berlin. In the Berlin International University, he studied German language, world history, royal etiquette, military science, strategy and many more. The school is one of the best and world-class academies in the whole world, only those from United Kingdom or the French Empire can compare to its prestige and grandeur.

After a few hours of lessons in the class, the day's class is over and Justinian immediately went out from the classroom. He walked slowly along the hallway of the building and reached the huge courtyard of the academy.

In the one of the courtyards of the university, a huge group of students waiting for him. There are Austrian who are also studying in Berlin, these students followed and obeyed Justinian I's orders. Most of them are studying in military arts and sciences while others are in economics and politics.

They are waiting for Justinian I for their weekly meeting and information gathering so that everyone can be informed by any activities within and outside the university.

"I have good news, Your Highness." greet Count Karl Alexander of Wurttemberg, son of Duke of Wurttemberg, a prominent noble in the Austrian Empire.

"What is it Count Karl?" replied by Justinian with expectant but calm eyes. He ordered a lot of important orders for his plans to the benefit of empire's future. Justinian hoped that it will be one of his plans.

"Well, it is regarding to Your Highness' secret investments in different industries in the German Empire, we have gained a large dividend from it about 5 million mark and after selling our stocks in the market about 131 million mark." Karl responded with happiness for the large earning they earned.

**Note: In this world, 1 British pound = 3 German mark**

After hearing the good news that young Count brings, Justinian contemplate to what and how to use the money that they earned. The money that is now in his hand is huge and to add the money they earned also last year it would be almost 200 million mark.

Such amount would make other people drool and the success in just earning this amount within two years is staggering and overwhelming, but for his plans in the future, this amount is only a drop of a bucket and he would need more funds and resources. Even still, the people around him is amazed of his expertise in this field and decisiveness in decision-making but the people didn't know that this knowledge is due to the fact of Justinian's memories of the game and novel in his past life. But to others like Count, it seems that the Crown Prince is a genius in business and economics.

"Karl, use 50 million mark purchasing modern weaponry and artillery from the German Empire. Then secretly bring it to the Austrian empire and let the Austrian Imperial Guard and 2nd Austrian Army in Bohemia equipped and trained with the weapons."

**Note: The German Empire has needle guns while other major world powers like the Austrian Empire are still using muzzle-loading rifles**

After the Russo-Prussian War of 1832, there are no major war occurred so the muzzle-loading rifles are still prevalent of most countries around the world. But the German Empire is starting to replace these guns with needle guns after realizing its effectiveness in their colonization of Africa and some islands in Asia.

Justinian knowing its effectiveness started to purchase such weapons in the German Empire. Justinian understand that in order for the Austrian Empire to survive, the loyal soldiers to the Empire is needed to be equipped and trained with better weapons to defeat the enemy within and outside.

Especially the Hungarian region in the Empire, where according to the novel, during the revolutions in 1899, the third Hungarian revolt would occur against the Empire. Their aim would be a separate government body and autonomy from the Empire but still be part of it, and in the process renaming the empire into Austro-Hungarian Empire. It may seem fine for it only ask for autonomy and not secession, but for Justinian it is the worst. After realizing that the Empire is in very weak state they pursued independence from the empire.

It started the downfall of the Austrian Empire, the empire would not be able to revitalize and on the year 1910, the German Empire, Sardinia and Ottoman Empire would divide and dismember the empire and Hungary would become a buffer and puppet state between the neighboring powers, erasing the empire from history in this world timeline.

Defeating the third Hungarian revolt is necessary for the first phase in revitalizing the Empire and bring it to greatness, and Justinian understand this.

"I understand Your Highness. How about the rest?" Count Karl was shocked of arming the army but still has expectant eyes, hoping to hear for more orders of genius investments and decisions for the next year.

"Use some of the money to lobby and promote infrastructure construction in the Austrian region, especially the railway system. Also continue to invest in steel and weapon production. Buy large stocks especially in the weapon industries." Justinian responded. "And lastly, create three newspaper companies in Austria." The two men continue to talk and finalize some details of the plans and actions they would commit in the future.

After this, they continue to interact with each other and included the other people present. They talked minor issues and share information until the sun started to set, ending their gathering and they slowly dispersed and returned to each their rooms and dormitories.

** ** **

Reichskanzlei, Berlin, German Empire

May 17, 1897

In the office of the man who is consider as one of the most powerful persons in the German Empire, an old man in suit is reading a confidential report regarding a massive purchase and movement of weapons and ammunitions across the empire. Such activities can't escape the prying eyes of the German Empire intelligence department and organizations, and now the information and movements are all been submitted to the Chancellor Wilhelm Hart, the Chancellor of the German Empire.

After reading the reports, the Chancellor lights a cigar and admired Berlin outside his office's windows, he contemplates on what are the Austrians are planning to do and whether it can benefit Germany or not. After a few minutes and few cigarettes, he stood up and walked towards the door, approached an old man sitting on the couch who is also smoking a cigar.

"Do you know why I called you right?" Chancellor Wilhelm says, lighting another cigar and smoke it, filling the entire place with smoke of the cigars both persons smoking.

"Yes, your men told me what is happening. I'm also observing him now after I know what is happening." The old man said after puffing the smoke of the cigar, "He is a good lad and I think we can trust him, Austria needs those weapons also. There are a lot of movement in Hungary and surrounding regions especially the border, the Ottomans are secretly supplying them weapons even those Hungarians are unaware."

"I know, but the Ottomans are our allies. If there will be conflict then we should side with them, and the Austrians is also against us in our plan to unify the entire German region excluding Austria. The South German Confederation is basically under the protection of the Austrians and the French." Says the Chancellor.

"But…" the old man responds, "if we can make a secret agreement with the Crown Prince Franz Justinian even before he become the emperor. Maybe we can make this situation in our favor and we can deal with the French in a war. Russians and the British would not dare to go to war against us, both are busy in Asia and it may last until four to five years, also the northern union and Sardinia are both our allies and may even join us."

"Maybe it is possible," Chancellor Wilhelm replied. "But how can the young Austrian crown prince have enough influence and power to negotiate in behalf of Austria. He is still very young and we don't even need to negotiate with them. We can just divide Austria together with Sardinia and the Ottomans, we can just continue the plan."

"The British and the French would never allow that to happen. Spain and the Kingdom of Sicily may even be pushed to join their side also. I'm also sure the Americans would also join to their side, they're still bitter on our support to the Confederates during the American civil war," the old man explained. The German Empire has a lot of enemies around the world and the old man was very concern being encircled in an event of a war.

They both know that the German Empire's power is rising exponentially. For most Germans, this progress and development is very good but for some people like the Chancellor and the old man observed that their growth become a threat to other powers especially to the French and British.

In Africa, the entire central Africa is already the colony of the Germans, South and East are under the British, West and North under the French, and other regions are under the Spanish. The holdings of the Germans in the African continent become a threat to the British and French. Germans controlling the heart of Africa means it become a threat to other powers holding in Africa.

In the Americas, some islands are under of the German Empire and the Panama region. The Kingdom of Mexico is also allied to the Germans, causing a rift to the United States doctrine – removing European colonies and influence in the Americas. South America is divided between those who are in the side of the Germans and the Americans. The Americans is also thirsting for a revenge for the German support to the Confederates during the American civil war.

In Asia, the entire island of Borneo is the colony of the German Empire. The Qing Empire also leased the land around Kiautschou Bay and the entire Manchuria to the Germans. Some islands in the Pacific is also under the Germans banner.

With a global-wide empire and powerful allies and industries, many countries are starting to consider the German Empire as the strongest empire in the world. This fact alarmed the British and the French of the very fast growth of the Germans and if the Germans would really destroy the Austrian Empire and annexing the South German Confederations and also absorb the German Austria after, it would destroy the equilibrium of power. The other powers would prevent the Germans to achieve it this even if the cost is war.

"Don't worry about it. I'll continue observing the Archduke and negotiate with him privately if I deem it advantageous to our plans," the old man added, finishing his cigar at his right hand. "We would achieve our dreams of creating a powerful German state in our generation no matter the cost."