Chapter 70: Preparations Complete
The Austrian Empire is like a weak and ailing old person, indulging in excessive eating and drinking, and could pass away at any time. Franz's concessions to the French are also based on this.
Following the principle of seizing the opportunity, in case the French government takes a tough stance, Austria can still tear off a piece of flesh from the Kingdom of Sardinia.
The amount is not important. What is important is to prove to the outside world in politics that the Austrian Empire is still a powerful country with great strength, deterring the restless Prussians.
As for whether the French will take advantage of this, Franz is very indifferent. What does it have to do with him?
If the French become stronger, it is the British and Russians who should worry about it. Will the French be foolish enough to attack Austria?
Don’t be ridiculous. After experiencing Napoleon’s baptism, the vigilance of European countries against France is at an S-level.
Before breaking free from diplomatic isolation, any military action taken by the French could potentially invite joint suppression from other countries.
Metternich calmly said: “If the French are intimidated, then there is no need for us to destroy the Kingdom of Sardinia. Keeping them as a buffer between Austria and France is also a good choice.
“The most troublesome are the British. Despite the London government's commitment to mediate the Austro-Sardinian war, their involvement presents complications.
“However, our embassy in London sent a message that a British consortium is secretly negotiating a loan with the Kingdom of Sardinia.
“In addition, some time ago, the Kingdom of Sardinia had already borrowed 3 million pounds from the British. We have reason to believe that the British are on the side of the enemy in this war.”
As for territorial expansion, Metternich has never shown much interest. This conservative statesman believes that Austria is already large enough, and the internal ethnic conflicts pose enough challenges. Therefore, he opposes further expansion.
Based on this policy, Austria has hardly engaged in territorial expansion over the past few decades.
Franz may not see eye to eye with Metternich's political views, but he holds a different opinion when it comes to his diplomatic skills.
Metternich is undoubtedly considered one of the greatest diplomats of the 19th century. He earned titles such as "Prime Minister of Europe" and the "Metternich era," which are the highest accolades bestowed upon him by the outside world.
The collapse of the Vienna System was not solely a result of diplomatic failures; rather, it was largely due to Austria's weakened power and its inability to withstand the impact of revolutionary movements.
It is true that Metternich had already stepped down during this period of history, and as a result, the British unleashed a flurry of smoke bombs, successfully misleading the Vienna government. If it weren't for the steadfastness of Marshal Radetzky, Lombardy and Venice would likely have been lost in 1848.
Felix confidently said: “There is no need to worry too much. Even if the British support the Kingdom of Sardinia, they cannot personally enter the field without the support of European powers.”
This is not arrogance, but a judgment based on the international situation and the strength of various parties.
In history, the Vienna government spared the Kingdom of Sardinia not only due to the intervention of Britain and France but also because they were concerned about the French annexing Sardinian territories and expanding their power.
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“Well, it’s good to prepare for these things in advance. The most important thing is the outcome of this war. If we can easily defeat the enemy, then we will naturally have the upper hand!”
Franz poured cold water on the confident Prime Minister, reminding him that the war was not yet over, and displaying such arrogance at this stage was not a wise move.
It's understandable that Felix feels that way. After all, Austria is considered one of the European powers, while the Kingdom of Sardinia is relatively insignificant in comparison. The significant disparity in their strengths makes it normal to look down upon them.
After a moment's pause, Metternich proposed again, "Your Highness, the Russians have already promised to help us suppress the rebellion. Should we consider letting them deploy their troops to quickly quell the Hungarian uprising?"
Observing the intrigued expressions of the others, Franz shook his head.
"No! This is Austria's domestic affair. If we let the Russians help us suppress the rebellion, we will have to rely on them in diplomatic matters in the future.The hardest debt to repay in the world is the debt of gratitude.
“The hardest thing to repay in the world is a favor owed to someone. The situation in Hungary is still within our capacity to handle, and there is no need to involve the Russians. However, we can create an illusion that the Russians are mobilizing to intervene in Hungary, to shake the determination of the rebellious factions."
You're right, appearances and actual outcomes are two different concepts. If the Russians actually send troops to help Austria suppress the Hungarian rebellion, how would future history books record it?
‘Inviting foreign troops to suppress the revolution’? Wouldn’t that make them representatives of the reactionaries? Would it not tarnish the illustrious image of Franz?
It’s just putting on a show, to scare the Hungarians and force them to divide their troops to defend themselves. It’s not a big deal.
As the victor, Franz can write the narrative however he pleases. If there is a falling out with Russia in the future, he could even twist the truth and claim that under the leadership of the great Emperor Franz, the nefarious plots of the Russians in the Hungarian region were thwarted.
While it may not be easy to find fault on the surface, Europe has its share of regional conflicts. Russia, too, only integrated into European society after the anti-French wars.
If one were to delve into the dark history of the Russians and claim their sinister intentions towards Hungary, Franz could have almost believed it himself if he didn't know the truth.
"Your Highness, we have received news from the frontlines in Venice that the Kingdom of Sardinia is being cautious and not launching any hasty attacks. Our plan of luring them deeper into our territory may fail. Marshal Radetzky urges us to deploy our forces quickly to suppress the Hungarian rebellion, preferably gaining an advantage on the battlefield to force Sardinia into a risky confrontation." The Minister of War suddenly spoke up.
Franz, feeling exasperated, rubbed his forehead. Historical records could be misleading. While it was true that the Italian army had displayed limited combat capabilities, Franz understood that it didn't necessarily mean they were easy to deal with. The present-day Kingdom of Sardinia was not to be underestimated.
General Badoer, often regarded as a mediocre marshal, is known for his cautious approach, preferring to adopt a defensive stance and endure greater losses rather than risk engaging in a decisive battle with the Austrian army in the Venetian region.
The pocket formation painstakingly arranged by Marshal Radetzky did not attract the enemy’s main force. If we were to fight now, it might be possible to defeat the enemy, but it would be impossible to inflict heavy losses or annihilate the enemy army.
Originally, Franz had planned to suppress the Hungarian rebellion after defeating the Kingdom of Sardinia, but now it is obviously impossible. He could only start with the Hungarians and force the Kingdom of Sardinia to send troops to fight decisively.
Many people understand the principle of ‘when the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold.’ If Austria suppresses the internal rebellion, then the Kingdom of Sardinia will have no chance of winning.
"Speed up the preparations. Once everything is ready, we will immediately deploy troops to suppress the Hungarian rebellion. How much more time do you need, Prime Minister?" Franz asked with a hint of doubt.
"Your Highness, the strategic supplies are nearly prepared, and the deployment of the military is mostly complete, except for a few newly established central provinces that require some time for integration. The earliest we can launch the offensive would be next Saturday, which is May 5th," Felix said after a moment of consideration.
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