Chapter 119: Opening the Door and Letting the Russians Out
Chapter 118: Opening the Door to Let the Russians Out
Franz’s breakfast was very simple, bread, jam, milk, and a few fruits and vegetables, about the standard of the middle class.
Only the coffee was replaced with milk, perhaps influenced by his previous life, Franz had no love for coffee, and he even favored black bread more.
The black bread in the palace, naturally, is not the same as the black bread of the outside world added with messy things, which is added with melon seeds, sesame seeds and walnuts at Franz’s request ……
With the addition of people today, the kitchen naturally prepares something hearty, adding coffee, sandwiches, butter, pastries, and ham.
Everyone has different taste preferences, and breakfast is selected according to their own tastes. The relationship between European monarchs and ministers is not the same as in the East, and everyone is very casual during meals, without that kind of caution.
After breakfast, everyone had a schedule and dispersed to start their day’s work.
“Your Majesty, the time for your appointment with Grand Duke Alexander Nikolayevich is almost up.” Jenny, the maid of honor, reminded
Grand Duke Alexander Nikolayevich is the eldest son of Nicholas I, the famous Alexander II in history, who completed the Russian serfdom reform.
This was also a schoolteacher, mastering four foreign languages, English, German, French and Polish, and was the best educated of all the tsars in the Russian Empire.
There are many similarities between Alexander Nikolayevich and Franz, both received military training from a young age and acted with a military temperament, while at the same time belonging to the same schoolmaster.
The two should have become friends, but after the Crimean War, they were on opposite sides.
Now history is naturally going to change, it is not always right to attack from afar, and Austria in the land of four wars must have at least one stable ally.
As of now, the best option is Russia. Though the furry bears are greedy beyond measure, and it’s hard to take advantage of the benefits when you’re an ally with them.
But this kind of imperial state alliance, than and simply only look at the interests of the British rely on a lot, the Tsar’s personal thoughts can sometimes override the national interest, the possibility of being backstabbed is much lower.
Franz has decided to give up the struggle for hegemony in the Near East, the Russians want to occupy Constantinople, let them go, the Balkans interests of one point more or less, it does not matter to Austria.
Of course, the most crucial thing is still because Russia also has a lot of internal contradictions, and is already a paper tiger with a strong external power, so it is not possible to be really big before solving the internal problems.
……
The day in Vienna in September, the wind is crisp after the fall, the rain is cool after the fall, the weather is cool and nice. The earth presents a delightful harvest scene, which makes people happy and makes them sing and dance. But at the same time, it makes people frustrated and makes people calmly think.
People who can talk as equals get along naturally and casually. It was not Alexander’s first time in Austria, having visited Vienna as early as 1838.
Only at that time Franz was still a little kid, both sides had met and had a little impression of each other, but could not talk about any friendship.
As Emperor Franz could not possibly go back to being a tour guide for others, but of course if the visitor was a beautiful princess, there should be an exception.
Alexander has begun to contact the Russian political affairs, in politics the Crown Prince also has a great deal of say, this time the two met also because of politics.
After a few pleasantries, both sides entered the topic of today’s conversation.
“Russia and Austria have a long history, it is necessary for us to have more in-depth communication on international issues to achieve win-win cooperation as much as possible.
The Ottoman Empire is declining, on the Near East issue Russia and Austria should agree as soon as possible, so as not to leave an opportunity for Britain and France to take advantage of.” Franz proposed
Compared to the Ottoman Empire at its peak, the Ottoman Empire of this period was indeed declining, but their external strong nature had not been exposed, and the Great Powers had not yet set off a frenzy to carve up the Ottoman Empire.
“Of course, the Ottoman Empire is our common enemy, and it is natural to strike the enemy quickly. They are undergoing internal reforms, and once the reforms are complete they won’t be so easy to deal with.” Alexander said seriously
“Could it be that the Russians are ready to take on the Ottoman Empire now?”
This doubt flickered in Franz’s mind, the Russo-Turkish wars averaged once every ten years or so, counting the time it was almost time again.
“In that case, Alexander why don’t we first make a division of the spheres of influence between the two countries in the Balkans, so as not to cause unnecessary conflicts and affect the relationship between the two countries.” Franz proposed
Divide the Balkans? Alexander’s face changed drastically, this meant that Austria was not opposing Russia’s expansion into the Near East.
Soon Alexander figured out that the Austrian-Saxon war that just ended, because of the British intervention, Austria gave up expanding in the Italian region.
Then there was not much left for Austria to choose from, either to continue to unify the German region to the west, or to move towards the Balkan Peninsula.
If the German region was so easy to unify, the Habsburgs would have united Germany long ago, why wait until now?
In order to unify Germany, the Habsburgs even lost the Sunset Empire. A big part of Spain’s decline was due to the fact that it spent too much money in the German wars and did not develop its industry.
“No problem, in order to save the people of the Balkans from the evil Ottoman Empire, our two countries must work together in good faith.” Alexander said cheerfully
The specific negotiation on the division of benefits is obviously not something that can be accomplished in a few words, even if it’s because of this issue, it’s not surprising that the two countries will talk for two or three years.
“While rescuing the people of the Balkans is important, the friendship between our two countries is equally important, I suggest supporting each other’s core interests, and if there are conflicts they can be remedied elsewhere.” Franz proposed
“Would Austria be willing to support Russia in gaining the Black Sea Straits?” Alexander couldn’t help but ask
The Black Sea Straits, not just Constantinople, the Russians are going further, even the Asia Minor Peninsula is on their radar.
“Of course, Austria has no interest in the Black Sea Straits, it is not our goal, as an ally we have no reason to hinder the actions of the Russian Empire!” Franz said crisply
He wasn’t afraid of Russian greed, he was afraid of Russian indifference. Now the European continent, Britain and Russia are side by side, relying on the prestige fought in the war against France, the Russians boasted of being the first land power in Europe.
Strength + interest is the best catalyst for ambition, watching the British open up colonies overseas to make a fortune, the Russians are no longer willing to only control the land power.
Russia’s sea area is large, but unfortunately most of the area is icy, the Arctic Ocean ports are frozen for a long period of time every year, it does not have the environment to develop a navy.
The only areas where naval development was possible were the Baltic and the Black Sea, and the Russians had failed in the Baltic and had now set their sights on the Black Sea.
Without thinking about it, anyone with a bit of military common sense knew that the Ottoman-controlled Black Sea Straits were in the way, and that Russia had to kick out this stumbling block before going to the sea.
Upon hearing the definitive answer, Alexander’s heart was not as composed as he appeared to be.
Austria had actually liberalized its restrictions on Russia, which was different from history; in this time and place, Austria had not turned to Russia to suppress domestic revolutions, and naturally did not need to make compromises.
“Franz, Austria is completely changing its national policy, what do you want to obtain? The Danube River Basin?” Alexander asked
It was no wonder Alexander was so excited, with Austria’s support, who would be able to stop Russia from obtaining the Black Sea Straits?
The French are still busy with internal strife, they don’t even have the time to carve up the kingdom of Sardinia which is close by, where would they be able to stop the Russians from joining the Mediterranean hegemony?
The Ottomans? The British?
Not, that is, the British full support for the Ottoman Empire Russians do not goad, the sea, not to say that the Russians to take them no discount, the Russians on land is unprecedented confidence.
“This issue, I suggest that we let the Foreign Ministry to talk about, our status is not suitable for the matter of interest to quarrel.” Franz cautioned.
He, the Austrian Emperor, was fine and could make the call, but Alexander, the Crown Prince, was not so sure.
Without obtaining the Tsar’s authorization, even if an agreement is reached, who knows if there will be a change of heart? When that happens, where will Alexander’s face go?
If the two sides have reached an agreement, the Russians are fast enough, it is possible that before the French to deal with internal problems, they have already occupied Constantinople, and the direction of history is likely to be reversed.
Unless the Russians turn on the heat and beat the British at sea, then Franz concedes and meekly plays junior to the hairy bears, which is no more likely than the chances of the national soccer team winning the World Cup.
Otherwise, I guess Britain and France are going to have to use their strong capital to wear out the Russians, and in the end it will mostly be a lose-lose situation.
This is what Franz would like to see, no matter who wins or loses, it is in Austria’s interest.
No matter who wins or loses, it will be in Austria’s interest. If the Russians lose, Austria will have the opportunity to further expand in the Balkans; if Britain and France lose, Austria can get one more share of the overseas colonies.
……
(End of chapter)