Chapter 2 – Ernst's Change
In the early morning, the air over Hexingen was old yet fresh, filled with the vibrant breath of life. The traditional agricultural estate landscape was full of vitality. Green shaded paths, slow-flowing creeks, and busy farmers working in the fields made the town and countryside of Hexingen blend together in perfect harmony.
Ernst sat in the carriage, leisurely enjoying the beautiful pastoral view. Though the Industrial Revolution was raging across Europe, this remote and quiet land of Hexingen remained largely untouched. There were no tall black chimneys rising from the ground, no rumbling of machines.
Hexingen wasn't too populated or too sparse. The streets were clean and tidy, full of people yet never crowded. Small vendors sold freshly harvested vegetables from their fields and imported fruits from other regions in makeshift stalls along the streets. Some shops started to carry industrially made household goods, though the variety was still quite limited.
At a street corner, there was a small kiosk selling newspapers. With the development of compulsory education in Germany, newspapers began to spread among the masses. Of course, Ernst's grandfather also played a role in that. Prince Friedrich, his grandfather, was an enlightened ruler—though he had no notable achievements in politics, he truly developed the cultural and educational scene in Hexingen. He cared deeply about the arts and culture.
Many intellectuals from across Germany praised him. At least in Hexingen, the local intellectuals benefited greatly, and the region had a rich cultural atmosphere.
Today was Ernst's first day of recovery, also the first time he had left the castle to explore this new world.
"Tom, stop for a moment and go get today's newspaper," Ernst instructed his servant.
"Yes, young master!" replied the servant Tom respectfully.
The coachman slowly pulled the carriage over beside the newsstand. Tom quickly got out to purchase a copy. Ernst began reading through the paper.
"Stuttgart Weekly" (fictional)
Hmm…
Stuttgart was an important city in southwestern Germany. Newspapers weren't exactly new, but since Germany had yet to unify, the newspaper industry was quite chaotic, filled with countless local publications.
Still, the newspapers of this era felt novel to Ernst. Unlike the colorful papers of later times, these were packed with tiny text, barely any pictures, and little visual clarity, making it a dizzying experience to read.
There were a few articles discussing local politics, which Ernst skipped—he had little understanding of these topics and, being new to this world, didn't feel much connection. He continued reading.
"New King Wilhelm I Appoints New Prussian Prime Minister—Bismarck May Change Prussia."
A plain and simple title.
By now, Hexingen had already been incorporated into the Kingdom of Prussia. But the unification of Germany under Prussia was still a distant future. Hexingen and nearby Sigmaringen both belonged to branches of the Hohenzollern family. Years ago, Prince Constantin and his neighbor Prince Karl pushed their two small states to join Prussia, becoming extensions of Prussian influence in the weaker South German region.
The article briefly outlined Bismarck's career: In 1847, he was elected to the United Parliament as a Berlin representative. In 1851, he was appointed Prussian envoy to the Frankfurt Federal Assembly, later becoming ambassador for eight years. In 1857, he became ambassador to Russia. On September 23, 1862, he became Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.
The paper then analyzed the new Prime Minister's personality and statements, predicting major changes ahead for Prussia.
It all made a lot of sense…
At least, that's what Ernst thought. Bismarck was indeed a key figure in the unification of Germany, and together with Wilhelm I, they built a strong and united nation.
In the end, Hexingen had already secured its place on Prussia's side. It had played a part in the grand cause of German unification.
But for the young Ernst, all this still felt too far away. His fate wasn't something he controlled. When the tide of history came, if one couldn't be the helmsman, one was just a drifting boat.
Fortunately, his current status was vastly different from the average person. He didn't have to struggle through the harshness of the times just to survive. Maybe—just maybe—he could ride the wave and lead the era.
The era was turbulent, but it was also full of unimaginable opportunities. Knowing a bit about the future naturally gave him an advantage—but only if he integrated into the times. Otherwise, such resources would be wasted. And what then was there to complain about?
Ernst believed one should eat only as much as they could handle. For him, the priority was to develop his own abilities and grasp the pulse of the era—not to indulge in endless fantasies.
Like in his past life, where so many online political commentators would say, "If it were me, I could do it better." Ernst scoffed at that. If one of those keyboard warriors actually crossed into the past and held power, could they really govern a nation?
When it came to familiar history, it was easy to speak freely online—but living through it, one would find things far more complicated.
Say, for instance, you knew the future of a country by accident. Just because you said something didn't mean others would obey you. Faced with complex situations, and without systematic training, how would you handle all the procedures, rules, and systems?
If you suddenly found yourself in a position of power, what would you even do on the first day? Who were your allies? Would those famous historical figures behave the way you expected?
…
In his past life, Ernst was just an engineering consultant—he had never been in a leadership role. He had almost no experience directing others, and knew little about how to handle official documents. Even a small village chief might have had more practical experience than him.
But at least he was still young and could learn. Now that he had the means, it was time to embrace his new identity.
As Ernst pondered all this, the carriage unknowingly returned to the castle, rolling over the cobblestone road and into the courtyard. He stepped down, and the old butler came forward to greet him.
"Young master, the lord has asked you to go to his study when you return. He has something to discuss with you."
"I understand, Butler Keno," Ernst replied.
Following his memory, Ernst headed up to the second-floor study. He climbed the wooden stairs and walked down the long hallway.
At the end of the hall was the prince's study. It had a private balcony decorated with lush greenery and flowers. From there, you could look out over the estate beyond the castle. A rattan chair sat on the balcony, where Prince Constantin liked to lie and rest in the sunlight to relieve his fatigue.
Ernst walked to the door, calm and steady, and knocked—Knock knock…
"Come in!"
He turned the handle and entered. Prince Constantin was sitting at his desk, reading territorial documents. Seeing his son enter, he removed his glasses and set them down.
"You're here, Ernst. How's your health?"
"Much better, Father," Ernst replied respectfully, standing to the side.
"Good. I called you here to ask what plans or thoughts you have about the future."
"Uh…"
Ernst thought for a moment and said, "Father, I want to travel and study across the continent."
Upon hearing this, a slight smile flickered across Constantin's lips. He was pleased with his son's ambition, but kept a strict tone. "As a noble of the German region and a member of the Hohenzollern family, we've always focused on the military. And now you want to learn from those Englishmen?"
Ernst felt a bit nervous but kept calm as he explained.
"Father, I believe the times have changed. In the past, the nobility ruled Europe. But now, with industrial growth, the power of capitalists is rising. The French even had a republic. What gave them that courage? I believe it's capital. And why did capitalists gather such wealth so quickly? It's because of large-scale mechanized production…"
"Enough! They're just clowns, Ernst. You're giving them too much credit," Constantin interrupted, clearly unimpressed.
"Please, Father, hear me out. While capitalists might not yet control the situation, they're expanding too fast. Look at Britain's Bill of Rights or the French uprisings… I believe similar things will happen in our German regions. Capitalists have more advanced methods of production. Industrialization helps them grow their wealth. If we let them grow unchecked, they will eventually threaten the nobility. It hasn't even been long since the Frankfurt Parliament—history will repeat itself."
Constantin listened with a blank expression. "So what do you propose?"
Got him! Ernst was secretly thrilled. He began to explain.
"I once heard an Eastern saying: 'If you can't beat them, join them.' Why can't we nobles also use the capitalist model to accumulate wealth?"
"Aren't you afraid you'll lose your place among the nobles? For a great noble to lower his status is a grave mistake."
"Father, please listen. As the saying goes: 'All people gather for profit.' The nobility exists as a collective interest. If our family prospers, others will naturally follow us…"
After Ernst's long-winded persuasion, Constantin seemed convinced. But in truth, as a long-time ruler, he didn't really care about any of that.
With his vast estate, Ernst could easily live a carefree life. Even becoming a spoiled heir would be better than getting himself killed pursuing grand ideas.
He didn't say it out loud, but Constantin only wanted one thing: for the Hexingen line not to end. Strangely enough, he was the only heir of his own father, and now Ernst was his only son—born late in life. All he wanted now was for Ernst to grow up, marry, and give him a grandson.
As for noble pride or honor? That was nonsense. His father, Count Friedrich, had fought Napoleon—not out of loyalty but because he switched sides at the right time and ended up on the winning team. Constantin himself worked in the kingdom, but had no real combat experience.
He believed his son wasn't in great health (at least that's what he told himself), so he felt Ernst should just inherit the family estate and live safely. Of course, he'd never say that out loud—it would damage his image as a strict father.
At the time, the Junker nobility of North Germany, especially in Prussia, still held on to old-fashioned thinking. The nobility was known for its military obsession.
More and more nobles began valuing culture and education, but most focused on literature and the arts, not practical subjects. Some conservative nobles even thought practical subjects were only for the bourgeoisie.
Among nobles, social connections were most important. To appear elegant and cultured, they studied art and literature, and many even sponsored artists just to show off their refined taste—even if they didn't understand art at all.
As a result, across Europe, the cultural capitals most admired by nobles were Paris and Rome.
But who was Ernst? A former science and engineering guy! These artsy things were torture for him. Influenced by his past life's society, he also felt the humanities were mostly useless.
But now, it was different. He had to learn them, too. After all, to fit in with the noble class, these were the "dragon-slaying skills" of the time. Deep down, Ernst mainly wanted to go to Berlin to try out some wild ideas—but of course, he couldn't say that out loud.
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