In the silent mourning of the Viennese people, the carriage carrying Count Radetzky’s coffin proceeded along Vienna’s narrow main road.

Riding on horseback, Franz Joseph looked at the crowd on both sides of the street and the gap only wide enough for two carriages to pass, and could not help but think of Paris.

Compared to the wide main roads of the Paris Region, spacious enough for several cannons to pass side by side, Vienna’s main roads, also one of the most influential cities in Europe, were indeed unsatisfactory in width.

If it were in normal times, such a width would still suffice for smooth passage.

If Vienna were to experience another crisis like the one more than a decade ago, such width would severely affect the army’s combat capabilities, as artillery and other equipment could not be deployed in the city’s districts.

The army would only be able to rely on the rifles in their hands to fight.

Meanwhile, the opposition in the rebellion could quickly build barricades on both sides of the street to block the army’s actions, delaying the army’s time.

Thinking of the Great Revolution of 1848, Franz Joseph had the thought of transforming Vienna’s streets.

However, Franz Joseph was also aware that the Austrian Empire’s finances could never afford him to transform Vienna like Jerome Bonaparte transformed Paris.

Therefore, Franz Joseph secretly decided to only widen the main road crossing Vienna, leaving other roads as they were.

The current savings of the Austrian Empire should be able to bear the cost of widening the main road, and if not, they could learn from France to take loans from bankers for road construction.

Franz Joseph also knew that the Mobilier bank of France had always wanted to penetrate the Austrian Empire’s infrastructure field.

Just lacking an opportunity, if he could provide this opportunity to the Mobilier bank, they would surely gladly accept it.

Of course, all of this required Franz Joseph to consult with Minister Bach before deciding.

For now, Count Radetzky’s funeral needed to be carried out smoothly.

The carriage moved forward and soon arrived near the center of Vienna, St. Stephen’s Cathedral.

Led by Angelo Becciu, the Cardinal of Vienna, members of the Imperial Bishopric had already been standing at the gate of St. Stephen’s Church. To show respect for the deceased Count Radetzky, all the bishops wore black cassocks with solemn expressions, their brows conveying an inexplicable authority.

Behind the bishops was a large formation composed of the church’s clergy, priests, and choristers.

When Franz Joseph’s troops stopped at the gate of St. Stephen’s Church, the choirs began to sing the Haydn’s Requiem used specifically for funerals.

In the singing of Haydn’s Requiem, Franz Joseph and Elizabeth dismounted, and the bishops, led by Angelo Becciu, saluted Franz Joseph in respect, to which Franz Joseph reciprocated.

Then, under Franz Joseph’s guidance, Angelo Becciu and the bishops came to the coffin carrying Count Radetzky’s body, where the Haydn’s Requiem abruptly halted.

"May the Lord forgive all your sins on earth!" Angelo Becciu spoke solemnly to the departed Radetzky inside the coffin.

The priests standing behind Bishop Becciu stepped forward, each holding a gilded candlestick with white candles, standing by the sides of the carriage.

In the presence of the clergy and Franz Joseph, the Imperial Bishopric unfolded the flag of the Austrian Empire and slowly moved it to cover Radetzky’s coffin.

The imperial flag completely covered Radetzky’s coffin, and Franz Joseph, under Angelo Becciu’s astonished gaze, walked to the front of the covered casket, which was lifted again by six people.

The Haydn’s Requiem, which had initially stopped, resumed as Franz Joseph and the others lifted the casket.

In the sacred requiem, Franz Joseph and his party walked steadily into St. Stephen’s Cathedral, with Angelo Becciu and the others following them into the church.

Inside the church, nobles and imperial officials who were waiting for Radetzky’s coffin were equally astonished to see Franz Joseph carrying the casket.

Franz Joseph did not care about the state of the nobles and officials at that moment; he just wanted to place the casket securely where it was meant to be.

The procession moved slowly along a path covered with a red carpet, soon arriving in front of a giant white candle adorned with the Cross of Jesus’ Crucifixion. On either side of this giant candle were three smaller ones; this was Franz Joseph’s final destination.

Franz Joseph placed the casket steadily on the red platform between the candlesticks on both sides before retreating to the audience seats.

This marked the transfer of the funeral officiation from the Emperor to Bishop Angelo Becciu.

Haydn’s Requiem continued its chant, as the bishopric arrived once more in front of the casket to pay respects to the long-deceased Radetzky inside.

After finishing all this, the members of the bishopric circled around the bier of Radetzky and proceeded to the church altar. Angelo Becciu, serving as the chief celebrant, opened the Mass with the invocation of the Holy Trinity.

After Angelo Becciu finished chanting the Mass, the envoy of the Pope State also ascended the stage.

He conveyed Pope Pius IX’s sorrow over Count Radetzky’s passing.

The envoy asserted that if it hadn’t been for Count Radetzky’s stabilizing efforts during the upheaval of 1848, there would not have been such peace on the Apennine Peninsula.

Pope Pius IX believes that God will not forsake those willing to believe in Him, and Count Radetzky, who once defended the Holy See, will surely ascend to heaven after his death.

As the envoy of Pope Pius IX concluded his speech, the entire funeral gradually reached its climax.

Amidst bursts of hymns, preparations for the Sacred Body commenced.

Chief celebrant Angelo Becciu first placed wine and bread (or rather, unleavened bread) into the gilded chalice. He then conducted the offering ceremony, causing the bread to materially transform into the Sacred Body and Precious Blood.

In the melodic chants, Angelo Becciu distributed the "Precious Blood" with wine to all clergy present, while the surrounding bishops similarly distributed the "Sacred Body" to all the nobles, imperial officials, and envoys from other nations standing in St. Stephen’s Cathedral.

Since the number of people in St. Stephen’s Cathedral reached over a hundred, each person received only a small piece of the "Sacred Body." Upon receiving it, everyone immediately swallowed it, symbolizing their communion with Jesus and absolution from sin.

After the prolonged ceremony of the Sacred Body and communion, the Requiem Mass reached its final stage.

Chief celebrant Angelo Becciu, holding holy water and incense, circled Radetzky’s bier, sprinkling something in all directions to symbolize the deceased’s body becoming the vessel for the Holy Spirit.

Finally, the participants offered a farewell song to Count Radetzky.

Due to the multitude of choices for the farewell song, Franz Joseph selected the imperial anthem "Hymn to the Emperor" and the "Radetzky March" as Radetzky’s farewell songs.

The "Radetzky March" encompasses the exhilarating life of Radetzky, while the "Hymn to the Emperor" also validates the Empire’s acknowledgment of Radetzky’s loyalty.

(If a member of the Habsburg were to die, the farewell songs should be "Hymn to the Emperor" and "Hymn to the Holy Mother").

In the high and solemn voices of the song, Radetzky’s funeral concluded, also signifying Radetzky’s dual demise in both physical and political senses.

Within the cathedral, nobles and imperial officials, arranged by the clergy, left St. Stephen’s Cathedral one by one. Subsequently, envoys from various countries came before Franz Joseph, conveying their leaders’ condolences for Count Radetzky’s death.

Franz Joseph, on behalf of the Radetzky family (Radetzky’s son is still in Heldenberg awaiting his father’s bier), expressed gratitude to the envoys from various countries.

Soon, the French envoy led by Prince Montfort appeared before Franz Joseph.

Franz Joseph was deeply moved that the "Emperor Father" (the father of Emperor Jerome Bonaparte, abbreviated as "Emperor Father") personally attended Radetzky’s funeral.

Franz understood that Prince Montfort was definitely not here voluntarily; his presence represented Jerome Bonaparte’s regard for the Austrian Empire.

This also implies that the friendship between the French Empire and the Austrian Empire remains intact. There could be no better news than this!

"On behalf of the French Empire and government, I express deep condolences over Count Radetzky’s passing!

May Count Radetzky enjoy eternal peace under God’s gospel!" Prince Montfort said to Franz Joseph in standard diplomatic language.

"Thank you to the French Empire for taking the time out of your busy schedule to attend Radetzky’s funeral!

On behalf of the Count’s family, I extend sincere gratitude to the Emperor of the French Empire!" Franz Joseph likewise responded to Prince Montfort with standard thanks.

Afterward, Prince Montfort looked back at Radetzky’s bier, feeling a pang of sympathy.

"Your Majesty, our era is gradually passing, the future inevitably belongs to you!" Prince Montfort remarked to Franz Joseph.

"Your Highness, though your era may be fading, the legendary stories you leave behind will not disappear with your aging; they will be passed down through poetry or prose!

That magnificent era is destined to become an indelible Chapter in human history!" Franz Joseph praised Prince Montfort.

[1] The white cross candle is called the Easter Candle, symbolizing Jesus’s story of redeeming humanity with His death and resurrecting to heaven as the Son of God afterward.