Chapter 115: (V2C2) - Opening the Doors for the Russians
Franz’s breakfast was quite simple, consisting of bread, jam, milk, along with some fruits and vegetables, similar to the standards of the middle-class.
The only difference was that he preferred milk over coffee, perhaps influenced by his past life, as Franz had no love for coffee and even had a preference for dark bread.
The palace’s black bread was naturally different from the outside world’s bread, which often contained various additives. Following Franz’s request, the palace’s black bread was enriched with ingredients like melon seeds, sesame, and walnut kernels...
With the addition of more people today, the kitchen had prepared a more abundant spread, including coffee, sandwiches, butter, pastries, and ham.
Everyone had different taste preferences, and breakfast was chosen according to their own preferences. The dynamics among European royalty and nobility were different from those in the East, and during meals, they were quite casual, without the same level of meticulousness.
After breakfast, everyone had their own schedules, and they dispersed to begin their day’s work.
“Your Majesty, it’s almost time for your appointment with Grand Duke Aleksándr II Nikoláyevich,” reminded the maid Jenny.
Grand Duke Aleksándr II Nikoláyevich was the eldest son of Nicholas I, famously known as Alexander II in history, who carried out the reform of serfdom in Russia.
He was also a scholar, fluent in four foreign languages: English, German, French, and Polish, making him the most educated among all the Russian tsars.
Aleksándr II Nikoláyevich and Franz had many similarities. Both received military training from a young age, carried themselves with a military demeanor, and were also scholars.
Birds of a feather flock together, and two individuals who shared a common language should have become friends. Unfortunately, after the outbreak of the Crimean War, they found themselves on opposing sides.
Now, history was poised to change. The strategy of making distant allies while maintaining hostilities nearby wasn’t necessarily always the right approach. Austria, situated in the midst of four major conflicts, needed at least one steady ally.
Currently, the best choice appears to be Russia. Because of the voraciousness of the Russian Bear, forming an alliance with them often meant that it was challenging to gain a substantial advantage in terms of interests.
However, alliances with imperial states like Russia were generally more reliable than dealing with the British, who solely pursued their own interests. The Tsar’s personal beliefs sometimes took precedence over national interests, reducing the likelihood of being stabbed in the back.
Franz had already decided to abandon the pursuit of dominance in the Near East. If the Russians wanted to occupy Constantinople, so be it. Austria is indifferent to whether their interests in the Balkans increase or decrease anyway.
Of course, the most crucial factor was that Russia, too, was plagued by internal conflicts and was, in many ways, a paper tiger. Before addressing its internal issues, it couldn’t truly expand its power.
……
Vienna’s September weather was refreshingly cool, with a hint of autumn in the air. The rain brought a sense of chill after summer, creating a pleasant autumn atmosphere. The land displayed a bountiful harvest, lifting spirits and inspiring joyful celebrations. Yet, it also left one feeling introspective and contemplative.
People who can talk to each other as equals naturally become close and casual. Aleksándr had visited Austria before; he had visited Vienna as early as 1838.
However, at that time, Franz was just a young lad. They had met and left some impression on each other, but there was no substantial friendship.
As Emperor, Franz couldn’t act as a tour guide anymore, except, perhaps, for a beautiful princess if one were to visit.
Aleksándr had already begun to deal with Russia’s affairs, and as the heir to the throne, he held significant political influence. Their meeting today was also driven by political matters.
After some pleasantries, they delved into the main topic of today’s conversation.
“Russia and Austria share a long history, and in international affairs, it’s imperative that we engage in deeper discussions, striving for mutually beneficial cooperation.
The Ottoman Empire is in decline, and regarding the Near East, Russia and Austria should swiftly reach an agreement to prevent giving an opportunity to the likes of England and France,” Franz proposed.
Compared to the Ottoman Empire during its peak, the current state of the empire did indeed reflect a decline. The Ottoman Empire still maintains a facade of external strength while being internally weakened which has yet to be exposed, so the major powers haven’t started eagerly divvying up the Ottoman Empire.
“Of course, the Ottoman Empire is our common enemy, and ’ essential to act swiftly against them. They are undergoing internal reforms, and once those reforms are completed, they won't be as easy to deal with,” Aleksándr replied earnestly.
“Are the Russians planning to take action against the Ottoman Empire now?” Franz couldn’t help but wonder. Russo-Turkish wars tended to occur every decade or so, and it seemed like the time might be approaching again.
“Given the circumstances, Aleksándr, how about we establish a clear division of spheres of influence in the Balkans to avoid unnecessary conflicts and maintain good relations between our two nations?” Franz proposed.
The idea of dividing the Balkans took Aleksándr by surprise, as it implied Austria wouldn’t oppose Russia’s expansion into the Near East region.
Soon, Aleksándr realized that after the recent Austro-Sardinian War, where Austria abandoned its ambitions of expansion in Italy due to British intervention, Austria’s options were limited.
It could either continue pursuing the unification of the German regions to the west or advance into the Balkans.
If unifying the German regions were as easy as it sounds, the Habsburg dynasty would have done it long ago, so why wait until now?
In the pursuit of unifying the German regions, the House of Habsburg even lost the Holy Roman Empire, and a significant factor in Spain’s decline was its substantial expenditures on the conflicts among the German princes, diverting resources away from industrial development.
“No problem. In order to rescue the people of the Balkans from the clutches of the evil Ottoman Empire, our two countries must cooperate sincerely,” Aleksándr readily agreed.
The detailed negotiations for dividing interests were evidently not a matter to be resolved in a few words; even discussions spanning two or three years would not be surprising, particularly for this matter.
“While rescuing the people of the Balkans is important, the friendship between our two countries is equally crucial. I propose supporting each other’s core interests and, in the event of conflicts, finding compensation in other areas,” Franz suggested.
“Is Austria willing to support Russia’s access to the Black Sea Straits?” Aleksándr couldn’t help but ask.
The Black Sea Straits weren’t limited to just Constantinople; the Russians were looking to expand further, possibly even into Anatolia.
“Of course, Austria has no interest in the Black Sea Straits. It’s not our goal, and as allies, we have no reason to hinder the actions of the Russian Empire!” Franz responded readily.
He wasn’t afraid of Russian greed; he was afraid of Russian indifference. Currently, on the European continent, Britain and Russia stood side by side, and thanks to the reputation earned during the Napoleonic Wars, the Russians considered themselves the strongest ground army in Europe.
Strength and interests are the best catalysts for ambition. Watching the British reap huge profits from overseas colonies, the Russians were no longer content with only dominating the lands.
Russia’s maritime territory was vast, but unfortunately, most of it was icy and frigid, with the ports in the Arctic Ocean frozen for a significant portion of the year, making it unsuitable for naval development.
The only viable regions for naval development were the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea, and the Russians had already faced setbacks in the Baltic. Now, their sights were set on the Black Sea.
You don’t even have to think much about it, anyone with some military knowledge knows that the Black Sea Straits controlled by the Ottoman Empire are blocking the way. Before Russia can move toward the ocean, it must first remove this stumbling block.
Upon hearing the confirmation, Aleksándr’s heart was not as calm as he appeared on the surface.
Austria actually lifted its restrictions on Russia, which is different from history. In this timeline, Austria did not seek Russian assistance to suppress domestic revolutions, so there was no need to make compromises.
“Franz, Austria is changing its national policy completely. What do you want in return? The Danube River Basin?” asked Aleksándr.
It’s no wonder Aleksándr was so excited. With Austria’s support, who can stop Russia from gaining control of the Black Sea Straits?
The French are still busy with internal conflicts, and they don’t even have the time to divvy up the nearby Kingdom of Sardinia, let alone prevent Russia from joining the Mediterranean power struggle.
The Ottomans? The British?
None of them can stand in the way. Even if the British give full support to the Ottoman Empire, the Russians won’t back down. The Russians were not afraid to face them at sea, not to mention on land where they have immeasurable confidence.
“This matter, I suggest we leave it to the diplomats to discuss. Our positions aren’t suitable for quarreling over interests,” Franz reminded.
As the Emperor of Austria, Franz had more authority and freedom to make decisions. However, the same couldn’t be said for Aleksándr, the heir to the Russian throne.
Without the authorization of the Tsar, even if they reached an agreement, there was no guarantee it wouldn’t change later. In such a case, where would Aleksándr’s reputation be?
If they reached an agreement now and the Russians acted swiftly, they might even capture Constantinople before the French resolved their internal issues. This could potentially alter the course of history.
If the Russians achieve the extraordinary feat of defeating the British at sea, Franz would have to bow down to the Russians and act as their subordinate. However, the chances of that happening were probably lower than the likelihood of winning the World Cup.
Otherwise, it was likely that Britain and France would use their substantial resources to engage in a protracted conflict with the Russians, resulting in both sides suffering losses.
This was exactly what Franz hoped for the most because, regardless of who won or lost, it would be in Austria’s best interests.
If the Russians were defeated, Austria might have a chance to expand further into the Balkans. If Britain and France were defeated, Austria could potentially gain additional overseas colonies.
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