Holy Roman Empire

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While the Berlin Government was grappling with the refugee problem, those below had already made a choice for them.

The issue started when too many refugees flooded in, and local government relief efforts were not timely, leading to the desperate refugees looting a nobility estate in Skwierzyna, inadvertently killing the old Earl who was inspecting the estate.

There had been numerous cases of plundering, but killing a high-ranking noble was unprecedented. Perhaps realizing the gravity of their actions, in a bid to save their own lives, these people decisively chose to kill to silence any witnesses.

The refugees were just a ragtag assembly brought together on the fly, and while silencing witnesses and covering up the truth might sound easy in theory, how could they do so without leaving any trace?

What followed goes without saying—the news leaked and caused an uproar, and the nobility naturally sought revenge.

A mass influx of refugees caused damages, and not only to the local nobility; the losses suffered by local residents were even greater, and they had long been in dire straits. With someone leading the charge, a collective response was inevitable.

Great chaos erupted, and once the slaughter had begun, there was no turning back. To restore order, the Berlin Government immediately ordered the stationed troops to intervene.

In truth, by this time, the Berlin Government was already unable to control the situation. The local troops were certainly more inclined to side with the locals, and their bayonets naturally turned against the refugees.

Perhaps many of the refugees were innocent, but no one was able to, nor wanted to, make that distinction. The massacre commenced.

Upon receiving news of the massacre, Wilhelm I’s first thought was to stop it immediately, but then he abandoned that thought.

He faced a multiple-choice question with no options: stand with the refugees and alienate the nobility, capitalists, and the common people of Prussia, or stand with the Prussian people as if nothing had happened.

Without needing to think hard, the Berlin Government knew which side to take. As for the refugees lying in pools of blood, they saw nothing, knew nothing.

A bizarre scene unfolded, with the Russian Army driving out refugees, and the Prussian Army doing the same, together orchestrating a "Symphony of Slaughter."

This event had its impact, and even led to a mutiny among Polish soldiers in the Prussian Army. Had the Russians not been too cautious and suspicious of a trap, failing to seize the opportunity to send out their troops, the Berlin Government might have been out of the picture.

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The sudden massacre left the European world collectively speechless.

Condemnation?

The media were already on it, newspapers and radio broadcasts were vehemently condemning the atrocities of the governments of Prussia and Russia. Of course, there were also many condemning the refugees.

Journalists need to eat, their stances naturally influenced by their financiers.

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In the Vienna Palace, this shocking news pulled Franz back to reality from his contemplations on life.

How to characterize this event was yet another headache-inducing issue. As an observer, Franz was unable to determine who was right or wrong.

Were the refugees at fault? The answer is: yes, and no!

They were simply trying to survive, which in itself was not wrong; but in their bid to stay alive, they harmed others, which was a grave mistake.

The tragedy in Skwierzyna was not an accident. Along the way of their escape, even more innocent lives were lost.

Perhaps only a fraction of the mob committed atrocities, but the rest lacked the ability to make distinctions, nor did they wish to do so. Nobody was obligated to pay for their mistakes.

Human nature cannot withstand tests, especially in the face of hunger.

Were the Prussian nobility and public at fault? Again, the answer is: yes, and no!

Defending their own interests and suppressing rioters was undoubtedly right; however, intentionally escalating the issue to encompass the entire refugee group was problematic.

Yet, as an observer, Franz felt he had no right to judge. If one is unable to avert a crisis beforehand, why demand they resolve it after disaster strikes?

The wise knew that with the loss of the Polish region, the Berlin Government was already incapable of providing relief for so many refugees. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Without relief supplies, refugee unrest was inevitable, a situation beyond human control.

If the war could not end promptly, even if Prussian nobles and capitalists opened their granaries, it would be of no avail.

In the interest of their own benefits and the country they protected, choosing the simplest and most pragmatic solution seemed hardly wrong.

Even the Russians’ expulsion of refugees was something Franz could understand. Putting aside morals, since the Tsarist Government was incapable of providing relief, expelling refugees was, in fact, a last resort to prevent more people from becoming refugees.

Franz was no saint; he knew to think rationally. A refugee crisis involving three to four million people is a problem difficult to solve even in the 21st century, let alone in that era.

Just a simple mathematical problem shows that, assuming a ration of one pound per person per day, three million people would consume 1500 tons of food daily, and four million would need 2000 tons.

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This is just theoretical data; in reality, this amount of food is definitely not enough. High-calorie foods might only require one pound to sustain a person’s survival needs, but cheap, low-calorie foods will obviously be in higher demand.

In those days, people had larger appetites; a healthy adult could easily consume three to five pounds of food in one meal, with most being comparable to the big eaters of the future.

Relief doesn’t need to be filling, just enough to prevent starvation. Assuming refugees need 2000 tons of food per day, this number should be increased by at least 500 tons to account for transportation losses, making it 2500 tons in total.

Besides food, other supplies are indispensable. With the sheer number of refugees, epidemic prevention is a must, or an outbreak of plague would be troublesome.

A preliminary estimate of tents, clothing, medicine, coal, household goods... these assorted items together would cost no less than hundreds of millions of Divine Shield without proper procurement.

Even with supplies ready, a daily transportation capacity of tens of thousands of tons is absolutely necessary to meet the demand.

This figure might look manageable, but remember, it’s per day, not per month, and certainly not per year.

Franz doesn’t know about other countries, but Austria lacks the capability to transport such copious amounts of materials, not even half.

Perhaps if all of Europe united, they might resolve this refugee crisis, but the chance of success is still less than one in three.

To attempt the impossible is the mark of either a hero or a fool. Franz is neither, so he can only watch from the sidelines.

It’s not just watching passively, at least he donated money. Even though it’s just a drop in the bucket, he made an effort.

Those affairs beyond control are one thing; however, the refugees at his doorstep cannot be ignored. Since they can’t go to Prussia or Russia, they can only flee towards Austria.

That route is equally challenging. Prussia and Russia dare not let the Vienna Government think they are driving refugees into Austria, so they must intercept them.

Let’s not even talk about how effective that is; the number of refugees at the Austrian border is growing daily. If the Vienna Government hadn’t prepared in advance, they would be utterly overwhelmed.

Even with preparations, they can only just manage to provide food. Maintaining order relies on the military, and nearly every refugee camp has several criminals hanging around outside.

Happiness is relative; after witnessing the atrocities committed by Prussia and Russia, Austria’s methods don’t seem so unbearable.

Trouble?

Don’t you see the troublemakers hanging outside? Right now they are illegal entrants, the kind without human rights. Dead or alive, it’s the same; breaking any rules in the camp could lead to one becoming a decapitated chicken meant to scare the monkeys.

Looking at the report he was handed, Franz felt terrible. He suspected that there was something wrong with the world when the number of refugees Austria accepted surpassed one million.

With a puzzled look, Franz asked, "Prime Minister, is there a mistake with this data? How can there be so many refugees?"

The more the number of people, the more troublesome it is to accommodate them. Refugees who can make it all the way to Austria are either from nearby or are in their prime.

Those with families are easier to handle, but young, single men are potential risks. Military-run refugee camps are meant to suppress such individuals from causing trouble, and the tragedy in Skwierzyna has raised the Vienna Government’s vigilance.

Felix replied with certainty, "There’s no mistake. We’ve double-checked the numbers three times, and every refugee camp corresponds correctly.

The numbers have exceeded past estimates, related to the atrocities of both Prussia and Russia. Even though they are intercepting, there are soldiers sympathetic to the refugees who secretly let them through.

We’ve lodged a diplomatic protest with both Prussia and Russia, and we expect the situation to improve going forward."

Raising the butcher’s knife doesn’t equate to killing millions. In reality, most refugees were driven to the Prusso-Russian border region. Today you chase them to my side, tomorrow I chase them to yours; in the end, neither wants them.

What really leads to mass death among refugees is starvation. No one has counted how many have starved to death. Estimates range from several hundred thousand to over two million.

Governments around the globe are turning a blind eye. At this time, providing relief to refugees is a thankless task; do well and it goes unnoticed, fail and face international criticism.

After pondering for a moment, Franz shook his head, "I fear the situation will worsen. Even if Prussia and Russia cooperate, there’s no guarantee they can hold the line.

"We need to select a group of able-bodied individuals from among the refugees. If the situation exceeds our capacity to cope, we must close the border and make them handle their own interception.

"Furthermore, the government must prepare for epidemic prevention, prohibit refugees from leaving the camps, and prevent them from contacting the local population. As for those with relatives to rely on, they too must go through a medical examination and only leave after being cleared."

In times of life and death, humans can exhibit their greatest potential. Unless the Prusso-Russian armies are willing to engage in mass killings, there will always be someone who manages to break through the blockade.

Berlin and St. Petersburg can’t control this. The Tsarist Government is slightly better off, at least able to control its troops; Franz truly doubts the Berlin Government’s hold over its military.

If the Russians are willing to pay a high price for the support of the Junker aristocracy, whether the Berlin Government would still exist remains uncertain.

A massive influx of refugees into Austria will also be untenable. To prevent the situation from deteriorating, there’s no choice but to turn away later arrivals with apologies.

Dispersed settlement is a theoretical ideal. With language barriers preventing normal communication, the health conditions and potential for plague among the refugees are unknown. If done carelessly, blind dispersal could easily lead to unrest across the country.

The refugees at the forefront are true refugees, while those following are like the living dead, barely retaining humanity—it’s all incalculable.