Chapter 228: Preparing For Rainy Days
The Holy Roman Empire has been re-established, and there is a lot of confusion along with it. The administrative institutions are being reorganized, and the division of rights and duties between the state and central governments even requires Franz’s personal involvement.
The governmental reorganization essentially transformed the Austrian central government into the central government of the New Holy Roman Empire, with the central government directly governing the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Bavaria.
Given the problems of domestic stability, Franz exercised restraint in the distribution of power, taking command only of the military and foreign affairs, leaving other powers untouched.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that the central government can’t interfere in local affairs. It’s just that under normal circumstances, the central government will not interfere in the internal affairs of a state.
Of course, if problems arise in a state, such as a local rebellion or a coup d’état and other major changes, the central government can naturally intervene.
Aside from these issues, the most problematic was the allocation of fiscal revenues. State governments would have to submit a portion of their fiscal revenues to the central government, with the exact percentage becoming the bone of contention.
Of course, state governments hoped to submit only a few percent to cover central finances, and the rest could be allocated freely. The central government, on the other hand, hoped to get a larger share before allocating to the state governments based on actual needs.
At the heart of the fiscal dispute was a power struggle. The issues became increasingly complex and difficult to resolve in a short time.
The specifics would have to wait until the constitution was drafted for final clarification. Franz advocated governance by law, and he would not make unfounded moves without a legal basis.
Even if there’s a power struggle between the central government and the state governments, it must be done legally. Franz absolutely forbids any actions that would break the rules.
Sch?nbrunn Palace
Prime Minister Felix reported: “Your Majesty, all reserve forces have been fully demobilized, the wartime economy system has been terminated, and the domestic economy is returning to normal.
In general, the westward expansion strategy has been completed satisfactorily. However, many problems have come to light, and fortunately, a major war was avoided, or our troubles would have been much greater.
The main problems are reflected in the lack of organizational experience and weak coordination between different departments.
By the end of the Paris Conference, we had mobilized a total of 1.247 million reservists, in addition to the 542,000 active-duty personnel, for a total of 1.789 million.
The logistical challenges of mobilizing forces on this scale far exceeded the estimates of various departments. Fortunately, the war did not escalate; otherwise, with so many troops in action, our preparations would have lasted three or four months at most.
This is the final statistical report. Please review it.”
After speaking, Prime Minister Felix still had a lingering feeling of trepidation. Of course, the sudden eruption of the Austrian Empire demonstrated its strength to other nations, but it wasn’t as glamorous as it seemed on the surface.
With that many troops, at 15,000 bullets per ton, firing just one bullet per person would consume 119 tons of ammunition.
Not to mention actual combat, just the routine training during those months would consume an average of thousands of tons of ammunition per month, and that doesn’t even include the artillery.
In reality, after Austria mobilized so many troops, there was a severe shortage of artillery. While it’s relatively easy to build up infantry reserves, technical branches like artillery are not so easy to replenish.
It’s not just a matter of firing shots; to be considered artillery is to hit the target. Competent artillery units rely on a steady supply of ammunition as well as a certain amount of expertise.
Franz nodded and thought to himself: The current consumption is still relatively low. If we go on like this for a few more years, after the weapons have been upgraded and the consumption of ammunition has increased many times over, it will become a significant problem.
Franz took the report, glanced at it briefly, and understood the reason for Prime Minister Felix’s sighs. The expenses were indeed enormous.
After an armed parade and demonstration, military expenditures have risen to a staggering 137 million guilders. Taking into account the mobilization of domestic reserves and the consumption of various materials, the total expenditure reached a whopping 211 million guilders.
Seeing this data, Franz suddenly understood why, after the Crimean War, European countries did their best to avoid further conflict.
And that is without even engaging in actual warfare. If a real conflict were to break out, final military expenditures could skyrocket to unknown heights.
Of course, the 211 million guilders listed in the report are not all cash expenditures. Most of it is in the form of material expenditures; it’s just that, for convenience, it’s been converted directly to a cash equivalent.
Franz asked with concern, “Did the Cabinet consider the real situation before granting feudal estates in the Balkans to deserving individuals?”
The absence of direct conflict does not mean that there are no individuals who earn merit. In such a large-scale military mobilization, there are bound to be those who distinguish themselves, though the lack of full-scale war limits the number of such heroes.
For those who have earned merit, rewards are in order. While Franz may not grant titles to major nobles, he is generous in awarding titles to knight-level individuals, especially those from the ranks of small landowners — many of whom enlisted in the hope of earning such recognition.
Prime Minister Felix replied, “Your Majesty, in this westward expansion strategy, the war hasn’t escalated, so everyone’s military achievements are quite limited. Obtaining titles and land within the country is virtually impossible for most.
In principle, it is impossible to obtain domestic titles and land. The Cabinet proposes to grant fiefs in the Balkan Peninsula, where conditions can be relaxed accordingly.
In addition, we propose to encourage the domestic nobility to exchange their estates and relocate to the Balkan Peninsula to strengthen control over the region.”
Are there any nobles willing to exchange? The answer is no!
No one is foolish; who would willingly give up well-established estates to venture out and start anew?
There is, however, one group that is willing to go — newly emerging quasi-aristocrats of merit whose military exploits have fallen just short of the threshold of nobility and have been stuck there.
In this era, it is extremely difficult to become a noble. For example, in this war, the number of soldiers who can cross the threshold of nobility is unlikely to exceed double digits, and in the vast number of armies, there may not even be one in an entire division.
Since Franz’s military reforms, there have been many individuals who have been stuck in this situation. Even some who have risen to the rank of general through their military exploits have yet to receive a noble title.
Noble titles signify social status, and the Balkan Peninsula borders Austria. Whether in the two principalities of the Danube or Serbia, the regions boast fertile plains but lack effective development.
People with vision and ambition would take advantage of such an opportunity. Once these people go over, Austria’s ruling foundation would take shape over there.
For their own interests, these individuals will voluntarily uphold Austrian rule and suppress the remnants of the Ottoman Empire.
As for whether Austria can obtain sovereignty over these lands, this problem can be ignored. Even if sovereignty is not obtained, it won’t affect the actual status of everyone. The Ottoman Empire did not have the capability to regain its lost territories.
If you want local independence and you want to prop up a puppet regime, there has to be someone to prop up first! The Austrian military hadn’t been idle in the region; their first target was the existing ruling class.
The nobles of the Ottoman Empire have been arrested, the Ottoman officials have been arrested, the merchants of the Ottoman Empire have been arrested, and even those who support the Ottoman Empire have been arrested…
In summary, anyone associated with the Ottoman Empire who posed a threat or potential threat to Austrian rule was thrown into prison.
In other words, the local upper class has been completely wiped out. What’s left are either serfs or commoners. If these people could write their own names, they would be considered intellectuals already.
To incite them to rebel for independence, they would first have to know what the word “independence” means. This is not something that can be accomplished in a short period.
Franz was certain that if Austria were to end its military rule in the region now, social order would immediately collapse.
As a liberator, the old system has been overthrown. Of course, a new system must also be established. Establishing control through one’s own people would have a much higher loyalty level than using outsiders.
Franz thought for a moment and said, “Then do it that way, and establish a ruling foundation there as soon as possible.
If the Anglo-French alliance loses the Near East War, that’s one thing, but if they win or the conflict ends in a stalemate, then our troubles begin.
They would not stand by and watch us swallow such massive gains. If Russia doesn’t get Constantinople, they too would be jealous of our gains.
In the face of interests, even alliances may not be reliable. If British influence incites the Russian government, they may end up doing something foolish.”
This was not Franz’s small-mindedness. The bad reputation of the Russian Bear was not unfounded; it was based on countless facts that made it impossible to be careless.
The British betray their allies, the French betray their allies, and everyone has a few tricks up their sleeve, but they usually keep it within limits. The Russians, on the other hand, go overboard when it comes to betraying their allies, and it’s nothing short of earth-shattering.
“Yes, Your Majesty!” Prime Minister Felix replied.
……
Balkan Peninsula
Since the conclusion of the Paris Conference, the British have found time to discipline their unruly lackey, Greece.
Do they think they can escape punishment by not flying government flags and operating under the guise of civilian militias? Dream on! Do they not know who they are trying to deceive? If they want to play tricks, do they even know who the experts are in this field?
Since the Greeks were trying to be smart, the British decided to teach them a lesson, and this time it was a lesson delivered through violence.
By October, British reinforcements had arrived, consisting of three infantry divisions and a reorganized division formed from the remnants of defeated troops from the Balkan Peninsula. In all, there were 51,000 British troops.
With the addition of 16,000 Sardinian troops and 12,000 Ottoman troops, they formed a tripartite coalition that set out to bring misfortune to the Greeks.
The result was obvious; even the Greek “civilian militias” that the Ottoman troops couldn’t defeat were easily overwhelmed.
Greece was quite impoverished, having diverted resources to its ill-fated navy, and as a result, there was no budget for upgrading the equipment of its army. After blindly expanding its forces, the Greek army couldn’t even afford to equip each soldier with a rifle.
Initially, the Greeks caught the Ottomans off guard, as their forces were tied up on the front lines. However, when the Ottoman Empire reacted by diverting some troops from the front lines, the Greek offensive was halted.
Now that the British had turned their attention to them, apart from wanting to discipline the Greeks, the more important aspect was that Greece was seen as an easy target.
Even John Bull cares about face. Having fought for so long, they know that tangling with the Russian Bear is no easy task, and achieving a brilliant victory in a war with them is quite challenging. Better leave the tough nuts to the French; the British Army is limited in size and couldn’t risk everything.
To repair the reputational damage caused by the Battle of Sofia, the British War Office ordered Major General Oliver to redeem himself and restore honor by dealing with the Greeks.
The British have become ruthless, and the Greeks, of course, can’t stand the pressure. First, they were driven out of Thrace and retreated to Veria. It won’t be long before they have to retreat to their homeland.
Otto I was worried because no matter what happened to these troops, they could not return home. This was not only a failure in the war, but more importantly, their “neutral status” was at stake. The flames of war were quickly reaching the Greek mainland.
In this grand chessboard of the great powers, the Kingdom of Greece was but an ordinary chess piece about to be abandoned.
Otto I asked anxiously, “How is it going? Is General Menshikov sending troops?”
The Russians are notorious for holding grudges. During the critical moments of the Second Battle of Bulgaria, the Greeks were more concerned with seizing territory for themselves and did not follow Russian demands to attack the vulnerable Constantinople. Otherwise, the Near East War would have ended much sooner.
No matter how many reasons the Greeks may have had, in the eyes of the Russians it was considered betrayal, and holding a grudge was inevitable.
Besides, the Russians are busy right now; on the one hand, they are advancing toward Constantinople, and on the other hand, they are engaged in fierce battles with the British and French on the Crimean Peninsula. Whether they will be able to save Greece is a question in itself.
The Foreign Minister replied, “Your Majesty, the Russians have set conditions. Unless we formally declare that we are joining the alliance and declare war on countries like Great Britain and France, they will not send troops to help us.”
Seeking help from an ally? Well, first they have to be recognized as an ally. The Kingdom of Greece only has agreements with Austria and Russia, and even those gentlemanly agreements haven’t been fully honored by the Greeks themselves. Hoping that the Russians will take them seriously is merely wishful thinking.
Otto I’s face darkened and he said angrily, “Haven’t you explained our difficulties to the Russians? Greece’s geographical position determines that we cannot afford to be enemies with Great Britain and France. If we do, we will immediately face a catastrophe.”
As he uttered these words, Otto I’s confidence seemed somewhat lacking. The tables have turned. Previously, it was the Greeks who were afraid of offending Britain and France while trying to seize territory, neglecting the bigger picture. Now they need others to look at the bigger picture.
“Your Majesty, the Russian stance is very clear. Since we joined the war, we are already in opposition with Britain and France in their eyes.
General Menshikov stated that if we still consider them allies, we should join the alliance directly.” The Foreign Minister explained.
It is a fact that Greece sent troops to attack the Ottoman Empire, which not only tied up the Ottoman forces but also disrupted their ability to gather supplies locally.
These gaps had to be filled by France and Great Britain. Although Greece has not formally declared war on France and Britain, their actions have already caused them losses.
Otherwise, the British wouldn’t have come over personally to give them a beating. The reason for not attacking mainland Greece directly was not that the British were afraid but because of political reasons.
A reckless invasion of a sovereign country could easily draw public criticism. The British also care about saving face. Anyway, Greece was so weak that the British army could only use them to pad their record. They don’t think Greece is worth tearing off their facade for.
Otto I found himself in a dilemma. If Greece joins the alliance, mainland Greece will soon face the onslaught of the British and French navies, and numerous port cities may be destroyed in the war.
However, if they refuse to join the alliance, the Russians will not come to their aid.
Given the current situation, it won’t be long before the Greek forces at the front lines retreat all the way back to the mainland, with the enemy following close behind.
In this case, Greece will inevitably be drawn into the war. Otto I cannot simply abandon the frontline troops and prevent them from returning home, as this is likely to cause the populace to rebel.
Otto I, in a somewhat unrealistic inquiry, asked, “If we, as a neutral country, disarm the troops retreating to the homeland, is there any possibility that the British might stop their advance?”
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