Chapter)
After seeing off Thomas, Napoleon III’s first move was to convene his think tank for a meeting rather than convene his ministers.
It was pretty much the same anyway. Nepotism was Napoleon III’s consistent approach to appointments, with the think tank also serving as ministers, hence no cabinet.
Minister of Finance Count Morny (speculative financier), Minister of War Arnaud (part-time thug turned strategist), Minister of Police Maupas (strategist), Minister of the Interior Persigny (mastermind), Minister of the Navy Ducos (supporter and great shipowner), while Minister of the Colonies was his nephew...
Despite all the appointments based on connections, their job performance was quite decent, at least far better than the July Monarchy, and far better than the later Third Republic.
Despite its defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, under the rule of Napoleon III, France experienced rapid economic growth and a significant improvement in the lives of its people. The world’s second colonial empire was largely established during this period.
Minister of War Arnaud said vigilantly: “Your Majesty, the British are using us as pawns! If their plans succeed, Russia and Austria will become our enemies, greatly limiting our future options in international politics.
Moreover, it is not so easy to intervene against Austria. The Allied Intervention Force sounds impressive only in name.
The different countries are scattered all over the world. Coordinating relations and organizing an allied army for such a massive movement would be completely impossible to keep secret.
The Austrians are no fools either. Once they learn this, they have only one thing to do — seize the opportunity to thoroughly defeat the Prussians before the allied army has finished assembling.
Without the Prussians as cannon fodder, if we do not use our full strength to intervene in this war, this ragtag allied army will eventually be defeated one by one.”
Arnaud speaks from experience. Even with just a four-nation allied force on the Balkan battlefield, the command system was chaotically disorganized. Now, with a nine-nation allied army, who could coordinate so many players with different agendas?
They also have experience in betraying teammates. With the Nine Nation Army acting together, they would have to watch out not only for the enemy but also for their own eight allies. That would be a matter of life and death.
“Seize the opportunity to thoroughly defeat the Prussians?”
“Arnaud, do you think the Austrians will take the first opportunity to smash the Prussians?” Napoleon III asked with interest.
Arnaud replied: “Yes, Your Majesty. Even if Austria could defeat the allied forces after the formation of the Nine Nation Alliance, in order not to be isolated, they would still try their best to avoid a war with the Alliance.
But the Austrian government could not just back down, how would they explain it to their people?
Franz is still young and vigorous. There is no way he could take this humiliation. Since he cannot make trouble for the British, it should be all right for him to find an outlet by bullying the Prussians, right?
To avoid responsibility for the possible failure of this campaign, the Austrian government will probably support this action, which will conveniently divert the people’s wrath to Prussia. The Kingdom of Prussia would be finished by the time we organized the Allied Intervention Force.
If the Russians also take advantage of the opportunity to invade, it’s possible for Russia and Austria to completely partition Prussia before the allied forces arrive.”
As a part-time thug, Arnaud’s usual way of doing things tends to be reckless. Now, when he analyzes problems, he often carries that kind of thinking with him.
Napoleon III’s eyes lit up at Arnaud’s analysis. To consolidate his rule, he even fought against Russia. It is also quite normal for the Austrian government to shirk its responsibility by seizing the opportunity to persecute Prussia.
Traitors are always more hated than enemies. By crippling or killing Prussia, the people could vent their resentment. Not only would the government be able to weather the crisis, it might even benefit from it.
As for the allied intervention of various countries, while Austria can’t prevent their troop deployments, doesn’t it have the ability to at least delay them?
By the time the Allied Army is organized, the Kingdom of Prussia will be done for. Revenge for the Kingdom of Prussia does not exist. Who would do it if there were no benefits?
At the very least, Napoleon III does not believe that anyone has that kind of internationalist spirit. At worst, the Austrians would withdraw from their newly occupied territories in vain.
Persigny added: “Your Majesty, in addition to attacking the Kingdom of Prussia, Austria also has the possibility of making a preemptive strike and launching a surprise attack on Paris!
Our main forces are not in the country, and the Austrian army has already reached the Bavarian border. They only have to pass through Baden to enter our country. Relying on their manpower superiority and a surprise attack, they can succeed.”
A surprise attack on Paris is a high-risk, high-return plan. If successful, France would be thrown into chaos, at least unable to cause trouble for Austria for 3-5 years.
The Russians could also seize the opportunity to take Constantinople, surround the Anglo-French allied forces on the Crimean Peninsula, and strike when they become trapped. Meanwhile, the British could only hunker down on their home islands. At most, their navy would sail around a bit, while the entire European mainland would be traversed unimpeded by the Russo-Austrian alliance.
Napoleon III laughed coldly: “So the British conspiracy is utterly worthless from the very beginning?”
Persigny analyzed: “Your Majesty, this is the plan most in line with British interests. Austria’s chances of a successful surprise attack on Paris are too small. Even if Field Marshal Radetzky himself were in command, the probability would not exceed 40%.
Moreover, this is without any preparation on our part. As long as we prepare and strengthen the frontline troops and increase vigilance, the Austrians will only be able to attack by force all the way here.
The contradictions between us and Austria have not yet reached the level of life and death. The Austrian government should not risk a fight to the death with us.
If they cannot take Paris within a month, our frontline troops will withdraw back here, and disaster will befall them.
Essentially, the most important part of the British plan is intimidation. If they can use the power of the Nine Nation Alliance to frighten the Austrians into submission, their goal will be achieved.
If they could tear apart the Russo-Austrian alliance, that would be a great gain. Even if they cannot achieve this, they have also prepared to leave the Kingdom of Bavaria for Austria. They do not want to drive Austria desperate.”
After hesitating for a moment, Napoleon III made a decision.
“Since the British have already made plans, how can we not cooperate? If necessary, we can give the Austrians a hint, encouraging them to attack Prussia.
In this matter we can fully seek mutual benefit — the division of Prussia by France, Austria, and Russia is also acceptable to us.”
Of course, it’s acceptable. The core regions of the Kingdom of Prussia were in the Rhineland, right under the eyes of the French. With Austria crippling Prussia, they can take advantage as a third party and get the most benefit.
Allies? Since when have France and Prussia been allies? With the right interests, even allies can be betrayed.
……
After leaving the Palace of Versailles, Thomas went to visit the Prussian representative, Rottluff.
In addition to France, the Kingdom of Prussia was also an important link. Without the formidable fighting power of the Prussian forces involved, this Allied intervention army would have been a joke.
Thomas was also nervous at heart. What happened in Bavaria was too terrifying. If the Prussian military was also influenced by nationalist ideas and switched sides or remained neutral on the battlefield at the last minute, then the allied forces would be finished.
Fortunately, the current plan did not anticipate a real war and still left room for Austria, so the likelihood of fighting was not high.
The two did not have much of a rapport and got right to the point. After explaining their intentions in another way, Rottluff fell into deep thought.
It was the national policy of the Kingdom of Prussia to take advantage of the intervention of the various countries to drive Austria out of Germany.
Rottluff said discontentedly: “Mr. Thomas, why not make Austria spit out the Kingdom of Bavaria? To tolerate such behavior from them, which destroys the stability of Europe, will eventually bring disaster to this world.”
The British proposal was just what he wanted. The only fly in the ointment was allowing Austria to take the Kingdom of Bavaria.
With Austria gone, who else but the Kingdom of Prussia could take on the heavy responsibility of leading the Germans? This was a thorn in their side. Of course, Rottluff had to object.
Thomas cajoled: “Mr. Rottluff, it’s not that we want to indulge Austria’s illegal behavior, but the Russian-Austrian alliance must be considered. Your country does not want Russia and Austria to continue to be allies, either!”
The Russo-Austrian alliance is putting the most pressure on the Kingdom of Prussia. Perhaps the Prussian government’s responsiveness in this regard is sluggish, or perhaps its long membership in the Northern Three Courts Alliance has caused it to overlook this threat.
In any case, Thomas admired the indifference of the Prussian government. If it were them, they would have lost sleep long ago. However, the Prussian government did not make any big moves.
It’s not that there was no action. Originally, they had prepared to restore diplomatic relations with Russia and Austria, but unfortunately, Austria suddenly started the Unification War, which ruined the plans of the Prussian government.
On the surface, Rottluff showed no change, but his heart was pounding. He always felt the British were up to no good, but he could find nothing wrong, so he decided to buy time.
“Mr. Thomas, there is too much at stake. I must first report to the country and await the decision of the Prussian government.”
Although Rottluff was an amateur diplomat, as a military man he had always believed that cake did not fall from the sky. The only reliable way was to take it by force.
Since he was unsure, he might as well throw the problem to the Prussian government. Although Frederick William IV was also an amateur diplomat, he was the King!
Unable to get a definite answer, Thomas could only take his leave. He did not believe that the Kingdom of Prussia would discover their plan, nor that the French would leak secrets to the Prussians.
This was the impression that the Kingdom of Prussia had given to the outside world for a long time. It can be said that before Bismarck, the diplomatic means of the Kingdom of Prussia had always been very immature. This was an inevitable weakness for a military nation.
There was no time to waste. Thomas had a lot of work to do. There were still so many countries waiting for him to convince them. This diplomatic war would not be easy to win.
……
The activities of the British were destined not to be kept secret. Not all countries would keep secrets for them. With Thomas in frequent contact with representatives of various countries, Metternich could not possibly sit idly by!
In contrast to the British offensive, Metternich’s approach was much simpler — bribery. If he could not buy off the foreign ministers of each country, surely he could buy off their attendant maids and followers?
Most of whom Thomas met and what he said reached Metternich’s ears. In diplomacy, however, it was commonplace to pass on false information and to put up smokescreens. Metternich still did not dare to distinguish the true from the false.
Thomas was also a veteran of the diplomatic field. The information that Metternich gathered through various channels was inconsistent, meaning that what Thomas told the representatives of each country was different, some even contradictory, which added to the difficulty of his judgment.
Looking at the intelligence just relayed from the Swiss delegation, Metternich gave a cold laugh. Encouraging Switzerland to intervene with troops against Austria’s annexation of Southern Germany, wasn’t that a joke?
As Austria’s good neighbor, the Swiss had fought the Habsburgs for hundreds of years before finally achieving a few decades of peace. Now they would take the initiative to provoke Austria again?
In any case, Metternich did not believe it. No matter how much the British promised, they could not stop Austria from settling the score. At least Austria had that strength against Switzerland.
Unable to judge the true purpose of the British, he could only continue to gather information. After all, people were watching the reactions in each country. If they agreed to send troops to intervene, military mobilizations and strategic material transports were inevitable.
Which countries joined the intervention forces would not be determined by their representatives sitting in the seats of the intervention states, but by their actual domestic actions.
Metternich was not worried. His understanding of the British was that if they were not causing trouble, they would be the problem.
Now that Thomas had sprung into action, he felt more at ease. Conspiracies in the open were always easier to deal with than those in the shadows.
TN: Hope you all enjoy this little gift from me. Thank you for all of your continued support and I hope everyone has a great time this holiday season. Let the Holy Roman Empire rise! Merry Christmas to all of you.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l