Morning mist wafted from the Vltava River, coiling around the towering spires of Prague Castle.
The red-tiled roofs glowed warmly in the morning light filtering through the gaps in the mist, creating a strong visual contrast with the cold, dark grey stone walls.
Though named Prague Castle, it was in fact a series of magnificent castle buildings situated atop a hill by the Vltava River.
Its scale was unparalleled within the German Empire, and it could be considered among the foremost in all of Europe.
Compared to the misleading name "Prague Castle," people still preferred to call it "Bohemia Royal City."
The King's palace, the St. Vitus Cathedral of the Archbishop of Prague, and numerous courtyards and streets connected to form the core area of the entire Prague.
This was the center of the Old Town, and also the center of power for the entire Kingdom.
The Bohemia Parliament was permanently established here, and all those who held the highest power in the Kingdom were gathered here.
After the recapture of Prague, the land and building rights of the castle area were fully attributed to Laszlo, making it the first and most important direct royal domain.
Countless nobles desperately vied for a place in this castle, but often failed to get their wish.
However, there was one exception: the Rosenberg Family, the greatest contributor to the liberation of Bohemia and the eradication of the Hussites.
This "Rose Family," which originated in Krumlov, South Bohemia, received special favor from the Emperor.
After the war, Laszlo directly bestowed a secluded palace in the southeastern corner of the castle area upon Marshal Rosenberg as his residence in Prague.
This palace was thus renamed Rosenberg Palace, proclaiming the glory and power of the Rosenberg Family to all the nobles of Bohemia.
After the old marshal's death, the Rosenberg Family quickly began to invest heavily in expanding and decorating Rosenberg Palace.
This place soon became the most eye-catching luxurious residence apart from the Royal Palace, with countless guests visiting daily.
When the master of the Bohemia Royal Palace was far from Prague, the master of Rosenberg Palace was undoubtedly the most powerful figure in all of Bohemia.
However, at this moment, the powerful figures within Rosenberg Palace were feeling deeply anxious about the Emperor's arrival.
In the study, the atmosphere was as heavy as the stillness before a storm.
The portrait of Ulrich II von Rosenberg hanging on the wall seemed to be scrutinizing the uncle and nephew with stern eyes.
The new generation's "Rose Castle Lord," John von Rosenberg, the current Governor of Silesia, sat behind a large desk, his face grim as he perused the secret letter in his hand.
The white-haired elder standing respectfully before him looked terrified, as if his throat had been seized, unable to breathe properly.
The elder was John's uncle, Peter von Rosenberg, the current Bohemia High Justice of the Treasury.
He lowered his head, not daring to meet John's angry eyes, and his feet shifted uneasily on the floor, his usual shrewdness long gone.
"I should have warned you to stop these foolish and dangerous little tricks. Is this how you respond to me?
Do you know what kind of disaster this will bring upon the family?"
John was the first to break the silence, his voice low and filled with anger, as he gritted his teeth and glared at his troublesome uncle.
The letter had been sent from Freistadt; an informant the family had placed in Austria had sent back news that the smuggling route had been discovered.
John, who had just returned to Prague from Breslau with his wife and had finally gotten a good night's sleep, was immediately informed of this news by his uncle, which made him feel faint.
Since he had taken on the governorship of Silesia under his father's patronage, he had been constantly busy battling wits with the Piast dukes in the Silesian border regions.
On one hand, he had to increase the Emperor's influence and control over Silesia, and on the other, he had to guard against the growing centrifugal tendencies of the Silesian dukes.
After all, the King of Poland's royal family next door had become the Piast Family, who were of the same lineage as the Silesian dukes.
Although the blood ties between the two were already very distant, the shared lineage gave the King of Poland, who had lost large tracts of territory, a glimmer of hope.
Now, the King of Poland frequently sent secret envoys to contact the Silesian dukes, attempting to entice them to break away from the Emperor's control and return to Poland's embrace.
It was said that the King of Poland had also used the same method on the nobles in the Red Ruthenia region, and it seemed to have achieved considerable success.
As the most special region within the Habsburg Monarchy, Silesia was far more difficult to manage than other areas.
In addition to maintaining the relationship with the Silesian dukes, John also had to focus on the development of mineral resources in the Sudetenland and the resettlement of large numbers of German immigrants.
These complex affairs had him shouldering heavy work for a long time, and John, who was only in his early thirties and in his prime, was already in much poorer health than before.
Moreover, Silesia was far away in the northern reaches of the Kingdom, a long distance from the Rosenberg Family's core in South Bohemia.
Considering all these factors, the exhausted John finally decided to entrust the task of managing the family to his uncle Peter, who was skilled in business.
He never expected that on his rare trip back to Prague, Peter would give him such a big "surprise."
"John, I… I was just momentarily led astray by greed, seeing those readily available riches, I couldn't control myself."
Peter stammered, his lips trembling, explaining haltingly.
As he spoke, he glanced around nervously, and occasionally caught sight of the portrait on the wall, seeing the stern, self-important face of his deceased brother, Marshal Rosenberg, his face grew even paler.
John slammed his hand on the table, causing the candlestick on it to wobble, and the flickering candlelight cast distorted shadows on the wall.
"Wealth? Is the wealth the family has given you not enough?
I can understand it if others do such things, but you, as the Bohemia High Justice of the Treasury, should set an example, uphold law and order, yet you…
John was so angry he could barely speak. Was the vast family fortune his father left behind going to be ruined in his hands?
Facing John's accusations, Peter felt his legs turn to jelly, completely unable to project the authority of an elder.
He was silent for a long time before explaining in a deep voice: "John, these past few years, to maintain the family's status and prestige, the annual expenses are not a small sum.
Relying solely on income from family estates and salaries, it's inevitable to be a bit tight.
I also did this for the family, so I had no choice but…
"I think it's your extravagance that has led to the family's assets facing annual losses, isn't it?"
John scoffed, exposing Peter's excuse.
The Rosenberg Family's territories were spread throughout Bohemia, and most were profitable, high-quality assets, generating tens of thousands of florins in income annually.
Such strength was considered upper-middle tier among the German Empire's princes.
Aside from John's expenses for maintaining private troops, the largest expenditures were likely projects like expanding Rosenberg Palace and renovating family castles.
Occasionally hosting grand banquets to strengthen ties with the Bohemia nobles were all normal expenses.
Logically, they shouldn't be short of money.
Facing John's questioning, Peter's face flushed red, and he swore that he truly had not misappropriated family income.
Since things had come to this, John did not delve deeper.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, and stood up, pacing back and forth in the study, thinking of a countermeasure.
His boots made dull thuds on the wooden floor, each step seeming to land on Peter's heavy heart.
After a moment of thought, John stopped and turned his gaze to Peter: "The letter mentioned that those involved in the smuggling confessed everything to save themselves.
Tell me the specifics of the smuggling situation. You'd best not hide anything, otherwise no one can save you."
"Hmm…", Peter hesitated, then replied with a look of shame, "For the past two years, I organized people to smuggle goods, mainly salt and spices, and sometimes other luxury items, from Northern Italy and Austria.
Starting from Linz, they crossed the forests and rivers between the two border customs stations of Leonfelden and Freistadt, transporting the goods directly to Krumlov, and then transshipping them to Prague, avoiding thousands of florins in customs duties in total."
John frowned, and after a moment of contemplation, he made a decision.
"Uncle, you should know that the Emperor despises smuggling the most, especially when it involves us—the Rosenberg Family.
You should be prepared to bear all the blame for the family; you absolutely cannot let the family be ruined in our hands.
Therefore, go and surrender to the King and beg for forgiveness. I will do my best to save your life.
Father is no longer with us after all; think of the renowned Hunyadi Family.
If we don't show enough sincerity in time, our fate will probably not be much better than theirs."
Hearing John's cold words, Peter's eyes widened in horror, but then, on second thought, he agreed with John's words.
"Alright, it can only be this way. But what price do we need to pay to appease the Emperor's wrath?"
"We can donate a portion of the family's assets to the Emperor to compensate for the economic losses caused by the smuggling crime.
If our attitude can satisfy the Emperor, he might be lenient with you, considering our family's past contributions.
But you can forget about keeping your position. In the future, I will also entrust the management of the family's assets to a more suitable person.
Anyway, you are old now. If you are lucky enough to save your life, then spend your twilight years in Krumlov."
John sat back in his chair, his fingers gently tapping the table, finally regaining his composure and calmness.
"But in that case, the family will probably be greatly damaged."
Peter looked troubled; they could guess how great the Emperor's appetite was.
"This is the price we must pay, Uncle. If not, the family will likely face utter destruction."
John's eyes showed resolve; no one knew what he was planning.
Sometimes, things in the world are so unpredictable; cutting off an arm to survive can, paradoxically, allow the family to develop better.
Thinking of his father's dying instructions, John finally made up his mind.
Over the next few days, John seized the opportunity to visit several important allies who could offer him some help.
For example, his father-in-law, Baron Schwarzenberg, the Bohemia military commander, and the current Speaker of the Bohemia Estates Assembly and Mayor of Kuttenberg, Zdeněk von Šternberk.
After making ample preparations, the Emperor's entourage finally arrived in Prague.
To John and Peter's surprise, the Emperor did not immediately deal with the smuggling case upon arriving in Prague; instead, he first attended the Bohemia Estates Assembly that day.
Laszlo promised to satisfy most of the demands of the various estates of Bohemia.
In return, they should continue to pledge allegiance to the Habsburg Family and maintain the stability of Bohemia.
Faced with this situation, John chose to confess proactively. He and Peter immediately went to the Royal Palace after the assembly was dismissed, requesting an audience with the Emperor.
Inside the magnificent Bohemia Royal Palace, Laszlo sat on the throne where Charles IV had once sat, his gaze sternly fixed on John and Peter, who were kneeling at the foot of the steps.
Standing before the Emperor were Bishop Wenceslas, the Bohemia Grand Chancellor, Archbishop Carrol of Prague and High Justice of the Kingdom, and Cardinal Bessarion, the Royal Advisor.
Laszlo had just been asking the two bishops about the remaining Hussite issues when he received a report from an attendant that two important ministers from the Rosenberg Family sought an audience.
This piqued Laszlo's interest, and he quickly summoned the two.
It was not in vain that he had specifically left an opportunity for the Rosenberg Family to come and confess their sins; he hoped the outcome would not disappoint him.
Smuggling was one of the most detestable crimes, especially long-term, large-scale smuggling.
In Peter von Rosenberg's case, the charge of abusing power for personal gain had to be added.
With multiple charges combined, Laszlo could make the Rosenberg Family pay an extremely heavy price for this.
However, among the current power holders in Bohemia, a considerable portion had a dark history of having sided with the Cup faction, but only the Rosenberg Family had consistently led the Bohemia Catholic forces for decades.
To maintain his rule in Bohemia, the support of this family was indispensable.
Therefore, Laszlo decided to first reprimand the Rosenberg Family, who had grown arrogant due to his favor, and also use this to serve as a warning to other powerful nobles in Bohemia.
He would not withdraw his favor from the Rosenberg Family.
Compared to the Hunyadi, who had grown into a threat to the monarchy, the Rosenberg were far from being able to threaten him.
If it weren't for the extremely serious nature of this incident, and how it severely damaged his economic interests, Laszlo might even have turned a blind eye.
"My dear ministers, I hear you have important matters to report to me?"
Hearing the Emperor's inquiry, John spoke first, his voice clear yet humble: "Your Majesty, we have come to beg for your forgiveness.
My uncle, Peter, as the Kingdom's High Justice of the Treasury, has, due to a momentary lapse of judgment, committed an unforgivable sin, inadvertently becoming involved in smuggling activities.
However, I and the other members of the family were unaware of this matter, and it was not our intention.
We deeply understand that this action has caused immense losses to Austria and Bohemia, and has also harmed the relations between the two countries, and therefore we are willing to bear all responsibility."
Having said that, John presented a carefully prepared document.
The document downplayed the reasons for Peter's involvement in smuggling, explained the course of events, expressed their remorse, and finally attached a plan to compensate the state for its losses.
Laszlo took the document from the attendant and read it carefully.
The entire palace once again fell into extreme silence, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
Bishop Wenceslas and Archbishop Carrol both looked in astonishment at the pale-faced, distraught High Justice of the Treasury, Peter.
Only then did they understand why Peter, who had worked with them for several years, had been acting extremely unusually when handling Kingdom affairs these past few days.
And Cardinal Bessarion, who had already discussed with the Emperor how to deal with the Rosenberg Family, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Although he only had a rather rough understanding of the situation in the various countries under Laszlo's rule, the Rosenberg Family still had a quite good reputation with the Holy See.
Therefore, he advised the Emperor to punish the Rosenberg Family leniently and to avoid extensive implication as much as possible.
If the Emperor accepted his suggestion, then only this greedy financial manager would likely suffer this time.
Laszlo was satisfied with John and Peter's initiative to confess, but what pleased him even more was yet to come.
John actually intended to hand over Jindřichův Hradec Castle as compensation for the Emperor's losses, which caught even Laszlo off guard.
Jindřichův Hradec Castle was a vital stronghold at the border between Austria and Bohemia, guarding a crucial transportation route into Bohemia.
The most critical point was that this castle could be considered the birthplace of the Rosenberg Family's rise to prominence, yet they were willing to hand it over to atone for their sins.
Laszlo's gaze was fixed on the composed John; it was clear this man was not simple.
At such a tense moment, his attitude could still be maintained as [Friendly], whether it was brave or he had something to rely on, was unknown.
In contrast, Peter, who was trembling beside him, now only felt dread for the future and [Awe] towards the Emperor.
"The Rosenberg Family has made many contributions to the Empire and Bohemia in the past.
John, your father, Marshal Ulrich, is an elder and devout believer whom I respect, and he has provided me with much assistance."
Laszlo's voice echoed through the palace.
"But this is not a reason for you to disregard imperial law and disrespect the authority of the Emperor and King!
Goods transported from the southern Empire, Northern Italy, through Austria to Bohemia, must pass through Freistadt or Leonfelden; this is both custom and imperial law.
Smuggling is an act that causes great harm to the state, especially since you are harming Austria, not Bohemia.
I am not saying that Austria is more important than Bohemia; in fact, all the countries under my rule are almost equal in status.
But in any country, smuggling is absolutely forbidden.
Therefore, I cannot easily forgive this matter."
The Emperor's sudden change in attitude made John and Peter's hearts tighten, and fine beads of sweat appeared on their foreheads.
"Do you know what happens to those smugglers when they are caught?
Whether the culprit smuggled a small bag of salt or a large cart of luxury goods, their end is the same: the gallows are their final destination."
Peter's heart trembled, his mind went blank; he had seen those executed economic criminals, but he had almost never imagined that this day would come for him.
"However, considering your voluntary confession and the reasonable remedial plan you proposed, I have decided to impose a lighter sentence.
Peter, I relieve you of your position as Bohemia's Financial Manager and fine you thirty thousand florin.
According to the method you proposed, Jindřichův Hradec Castle will be used to offset this fine.
The expenses for combating smuggling in Lower Austria will also be covered by this property.
John, from now on, you must strengthen the discipline of your family members, and remember who is the controller of Bohemia.
If such incidents happen again, I will show no mercy."
John and Peter quickly thanked the Emperor.
Peter, having survived the ordeal, quickly returned to Rosenberg Palace as if fleeing, packing his bags overnight to return to his hometown of Krumlov to avoid disaster.
John, however, was kept by Laszlo in the royal palace, participating in the interrupted small council meeting.
"I have indeed been away from Bohemia for too long, so much so that the people here have almost forgotten who rescued them from the threat of the Hussites.
Archbishop Carrol, draft an edict before tomorrow night, publicizing the crimes of Peter von Rosenberg and announcing his punishment in the name of the Kingdom's court."
"Yes, Emperor."
Carrol was still unaware of the so-called "smuggling case," but since the Emperor had already made a judgment, he only needed to execute it as usual.
"Where were we just now? John, you tell us about the situation in Silesia, regarding the Hussites and other local forces."
Laszlo had been continuously monitoring the situation in Bohemia, and there were basically no major problems.
The birthplace of the Hussites, located around Prague and near the Tábor Mountains in the southeast, no longer showed any trace of Hussite followers.
Some chose to die for their faith, but more farmers chose the correct faith between life and death.
Regardless of whether this faith was truly correct, if Laszlo said it was correct, then it was correct.
Compared to the reassuring Bohemia and Moravia, the situation in Silesia was much more complex.
As of now, only half of the territory in Silesia was directly under imperial jurisdiction, where Laszlo established the Silesian Border Region, with Breslau as its capital.
The remaining Silesian territories were controlled by the Piast dukes who pledged allegiance to him.
Among them, there were two most powerful families, namely the Duke of Głogów and the Duke of Opole, as well as many smaller forces such as the Duke of Cieszyn and the Duke of Oświęcim.
They were nominally subject to the Governor of Silesia, but in practice, they maintained almost complete autonomy, only needing to align with the Emperor in military and foreign affairs.
John was the second Governor of Silesia after the establishment of the border region; the first was his brother Heinrich, who unfortunately died of illness after only two months in office.
His youngest brother, Jost, the Bishop of Breslau, worked closely with him in governing Silesia.
The two brothers traveled together in the same carriage to Silesia to take up their posts.
For this, people envied the favor shown to the Rosenberg Family, but no one thought they enjoyed excessive favor.
Back then, Ulrich II had endured several years of attacks from the Hussite army led by Jan Žižka in South Bohemia.
Judging from the impressive military achievements of Jan Žižka, who was later known as the "One-Eyed God of War," an ordinary person would have probably been crushed long ago.
Based on this alone, no one questioned the Rosenberg Family's esteemed status today.
However, if they had only relied on their father's patronage to gain power, Silesia should have fallen into chaos long ago.
As far as Laszlo knew, the current situation in Silesia could be described as steadily improving.
"Emperor, the Hussites in Silesia have been purged, and in this process, the Dukes of Silesia provided considerable assistance."
John, having just rescued his uncle, hadn't had a chance to catch his breath before he was immediately kept in the palace by the Emperor to give a work report.
With his greatest worry resolved, John's tone also became lighter.
"The Dukes of the Piast Family truly hate the Hussites," Laszlo chuckled, shaking his head, "Those rebels went too far back then, so the current situation is only natural."
Decades before the First Hussite Wars, the Dukes of Silesia extensively attracted imperial immigrants from Saxony and the Netherlands to develop their territories.
The local German population was once on the verge of surpassing the Slavic population.
However, after the Hussite Wars, the German population in Silesia sharply declined to less than three-tenths of its pre-war level, causing devastating damage to various economic industries in Silesia, especially mining.
Thereafter, the Silesian Dukes regarded the Hussites as irreconcilable mortal enemies, and they naturally would not miss this good opportunity to settle accounts with the Hussites.
"However, Poland seems to be sending people to contact the Dukes of Silesia recently, as well as several lords near Poznań, I wonder what their intentions are."
The Austrian exclave in Greater Poland was also placed under the jurisdiction of the Silesian Governor's Office by Laszlo, and John reported the recently discovered special situation along with it.
Upon hearing this, Laszlo's eyes changed, and his sharp gaze was chilling.
"King of Poland? It seems that defeated opponent is not content with his failure and plans to make a comeback?"
In the past, Silesia was subordinate to Poland, and its ruling family was also Poland's first royal family, the Piast Family.
It was not until Poland fell into civil strife, leading to a decline in national power, that the Luxembourg Family, having just gained a foothold in Bohemia, immediately set their sights on Silesia, a lucrative prize.
After a fierce confrontation, with the support of the Empire, the Luxembourg Family successfully seized control of Silesia and forced the Piast dukes to submit.
Ultimately, the core part of Silesia was incorporated into the Kingdom of Bohemia, and the remaining Piast territories existed as vassals.
Although this vassal relationship had existed for over a hundred years, it was still not considered secure.
Given this, the King of Poland, who wanted to undermine him, seemed to have a slight chance.
However, considering the huge power disparity between him and the King of Poland, this chance was actually very slim.
"Emperor, most of the dukes showed clear resistance to the King of Poland's overtures, with only the Lord of Oświęcim maintaining close contact with the King of Poland."
Laszlo didn't expect anyone to fall for a direct bait, but thinking about it, it wasn't surprising; Oświęcim was only a day or two's journey from Kraków, so close contact was not unusual.
"You just privately remind the important lords to remain loyal, and for the lords closer to Kraków, keep them under surveillance, no need to interfere."
Laszlo's fingers tapped rhythmically on the armrest of the throne, a cold sneer on his lips.
"Yes, Emperor."
Although Laszlo's order left John somewhat puzzled, he would still firmly carry out the Emperor's instructions.
"How is the immigration situation in Silesia?"
"Thanks to your powerful appeal, a large number of German immigrants have flooded into Silesia, cities are prospering daily, and mines have seen a significant increase in output due to the introduction of new technologies.
Immediately after the Second Hussite War, my jurisdiction received over ten thousand German immigrants, and the Dukes of Silesia also accepted many immigrants.
Sixty years ago, there were over 1,500 communities established by German immigrants in Silesia, with an estimated total immigrant population of about 200,000.
Today, this number may be less than half of what it was then, but it is growing rapidly."
Laszlo nodded slightly, filled with emotion.
The German immigrants back then did objectively encroach upon the living space of the Bohemians, but most immigrants were, at their core, just ordinary people trying to make a living.
They chose to settle in the distant East from the beginning of the German eastward expansion period due to the barrenness and scarcity of land.
This tradition has continued for over two hundred years and will continue.
German immigrants, like Bohemians, only wanted to survive, but unfortunately, different races and languages ultimately led to hatred and disaster.
He had heard one of the Silesian dukes describe the horrific scene of the Hussite army massacring Germans in the Sudeten Mountains.
And he himself had personally led an army composed of Germans to bring a catastrophe to Bohemia.
Now that the war had temporarily ended, he had no choice but to introduce German immigrants to consolidate his rule over Bohemia.
History was like a giant circle; he wanted to jump out, but felt his own power was too small.
He had also considered learning from Spain's approach to the Netherlands, appointing a cruel governor to oppress the Bohemians.
When the Bohemians could no longer bear it, they would naturally rise in rebellion.
At that time, he would only need to send troops to quell the rebellion, then replace the governor with a milder one to appease public anger, and it seemed everything would be resolved.
This was like a high-stakes gamble, and he couldn't be sure if he could afford to take it.
The Bohemia army stationed in Bohemia was almost entirely composed of Bohemians, and their attitude could not be ignored.
Inciting a popular uprising and then sending troops to suppress it would double military expenses, severely damaging Austria's already struggling economy.
Bohemia, which had only recently recovered some vitality from a desolate state, would likely turn into scorched earth again.
To restore Bohemia to prosperity would probably have to wait until after his death, during the reign of his successor.
If all his efforts to conquer Bohemia only resulted in a rotten land, or a quagmire of war like the Netherlands, what would be the point?
If governing a country was based solely on impulsive decisions, it was likely that this fragile empire under his rule would collapse first, and he would fall to pieces, even before the French and Ottomanss challenged him again.
Every time he wanted to make some radical decisions, he was constrained by various worries, primarily economic ones.
This might make him seem timid, but the reality did not allow him to act recklessly.
In any era, peace is always the most precious; without peace, there is no prosperity.
After years of war and witnessing the suffering of the people in Austria and other countries, Laszlo understood this profound truth.
Perhaps in the future, he would have to face the hidden crisis in Bohemia, but now that people's minds were settled, all he could do was to extend this peace as much as possible.
After the council meeting, Laszlo reappointed a Financial Manager.
The Rosenberg Family's power was not lost too much, but Peter's fate also served as a warning to the magnates of Prague.
Subsequently, the Bohemian Estates General met for several more days, but the largely disempowered assembly completely became a window for the various estates of Bohemia to complain to the Emperor.
After selectively solving some manageable problems, Laszlo left Prague with his touring entourage and set off to return to Vienna.