Chapter 16 – The Water City of Venice
December in Venice feels somewhat chilly. In the early morning, there are few passersby along the banks, and a hazy mist rises from the water's surface. The Gothic-style buildings on both sides of the canals look poetic and dreamlike through the fog, as if one has entered a fairy-tale world.
What fascinates Ernst most are the occasional arch bridges spanning the water, connecting the two banks. They remind him of the little bridges and flowing streams in China's Jiangnan region from the literary works of his previous life. Venice's arch bridges have their own unique charm, yet they also share features that resonate with him.
Seated in a small gondola—exclusive to Venice—Ernst admires this ancient city, which retains a strong medieval character. The buildings on both sides slip quickly behind him as the boat glides along. Rows of adjacent, exquisitely crafted houses, along with graceful and grand churches, tall and weathered bell towers, and splendid palaces, all bear witness to the city's former glory.
During the Middle Ages, Venice enjoyed an incredibly illustrious history in Europe. Its prime geographical position and natural harbors shaped the city's personality. In those days, Venetians had a hunger for wealth—much like the Dutch today. By monopolizing the East–West maritime trade routes across the Adriatic Sea, the Venetians built a prosperous merchant republic. Goods from the East were transshipped through Venice, and Venetian merchants traveled throughout Europe, pouring riches into Venetian coffers.
Its thriving trade made Venice flourish. Wealthy merchants built churches and palaces, and many of the buildings Ernst sees date back to that era. Economic prosperity led to cultural prosperity and the rise of a citizen class. Writers and artists gathered, making Venice one of Europe's major cultural centers. Numerous literary figures and painters used text and brush to record Venice's affluence and liberty. Shakespeare, a contemporary Englishman, set The Merchant of Venice here—a famous and enduring classic.
Yet when the Age of Discovery began in Europe, newly opened maritime routes shifted the world's main trade channels, hastening the decline of port cities around the Mediterranean. Venice was no exception. As the saying goes, even a lean camel is bigger than a horse; a weakened Venice could not escape the ambitions of conquerors and later fell under the rule of first France, then the Austrian Empire.
Currently, as part of Austria's many domains, Venice clearly hasn't received much attention. Austria is focused on power struggles in continental Europe, and treats Venice more like a buffer zone for its own benefit. Ernst can't help feeling regret over Austria's history. For centuries, the Habsburgs had tried everything in Europe, producing countless heroes and immense cultural achievements. But they failed to adapt to the changes of their time. When the tide of nationalism rose, Austria did not pivot in time, leading eventually to its fragmentation. Success or failure, when looking back, it all vanishes into nothing.
Ernst believes Austria spent far too many resources chasing dominance over Europe. Like a piece of filling sandwiched between big powers, Austria was always feared by Britain, France, and Russia. Prussia, with its own ambitions, could never restore the Holy Roman Empire in full because Austria was simply too large. The only option was to push Austria out—and without Austria, Germany would never be complete. If Austria had managed to unify Germany, it would have created a terrifying power that stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean, cutting right across central Europe—enough to make every nation tremble. Thus Britain, France, and Russia would rather let Prussia succeed with its "Lesser Germany" plan than make any concessions to Austria.
Had Austria focused on maintaining the balance of Europe while diving into colonial ventures, it would have been much better off. A maritime corridor like Venice could have profited as well. Austria also had unfortunate timing: if the Suez Canal had opened ten years earlier, then relying on Austria's size and Venice's strategic position, it might not have restored Venice's former commercial glory, but at least the city could have become Austria's top port. Yet history leaves no room for "what ifs." In the future, Venice would eventually return to Italy, and the Austrian Empire would transform into Austria-Hungary and then collapse.
From Ernst's point of view, it would have been better for Venice to remain under Austria-Hungary than to revert to Italy. After all, Italy, being a peninsula nearly surrounded by water on three sides, already has over a hundred ports, while Austria-Hungary in the future would have only the Adriatic coast. Italy was simply in the right place at the right time: a few years after recapturing Venice, the Suez Canal opened, restoring the importance of the Mediterranean.
…
At the Martin Shipyard in Venice, Ernst has taken over. It's an old family-run yard with a long history that has recently struggled, falling into losses. The heir, Fortz Martin, was looking for a buyer, and Ernst purchased it. Martin, meanwhile, plans to invest the proceeds in textiles—he has made a fortune in that field over the years and wants to increase his investment. His shipyard, losing money and considered a liability, he has readily sold for cash.
Ernst plans to upgrade and expand this shipyard. Once the Suez Canal opens, he can form his own ocean-going fleet. The family-run yard may lack special advantages, but it's old and has a team of experienced shipbuilders. Its land area is fairly large—among the better shipyards in Venice. That helps Ernst with his upgrade plans. He intends to hire some Austrian workers here, balancing the number of Italian employees and also training a group of German-speaking staff for a Hamburg branch in the future. It would be difficult to persuade a bunch of Italians to relocate to northern Germany. Austrians, being fellow Germans, wouldn't face such a hurdle, making it more seamless for any future staff transfers.
Since Ernst has now bought the yard, he naturally won't keep its old name. As usual, "Hexingen Shipyard" it is. Ernst isn't fond of naming businesses after people, so he often falls back on the place name "Hexingen." Apart from continuing to employ the existing managers, he'll bring in some capable personnel from Berlin to help supervise and run the yard.
A small inland region like Hexingen unexpectedly now has a seaside shipyard—while also owning a bank, a company, and a research center in Berlin. In Ernst's mind, Hexingen belongs to him. Influenced by Prince Constantin, Ernst has long since assumed the role of Hexingen's representative.
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