Chapter 1060: Unwilling to Accept Reality
Chapter 1040 – Unwilling to Accept Reality
Once an artillery shell is shot out, it is meant to kill. Along with the exposure of the arms smuggling case, the Russians’ bottom line was instantly sufficient.
The already tough Tsarist government became even tougher on the issue of France. Of course, from the time of Carlos’s flight, whether or not the Czarist government’s position was hardened or not actually no longer mattered.
The French government was shut down, and even if they wanted to find someone to negotiate with, the Russian delegation did not know whom to turn to.
Faced with the growing civil-military conflict, the Russian troops in France took the simplest and their best approach – suppression by force.
Once the butcher’s knife was raised, the consequences were beyond personal control.
On December 21, 1895, the French Resistance, which had been prepared for this, ambushed a Russian logistics battalion transporting supplies on the outskirts of Paris, kicking off the French War against Russia.
From the slogan “Against Russia”, we can see that the French, who had been beaten by society over and over again, had become rational.
The French, who had been beaten by society over and over again, had become rationalized. They were not relenting on the atrocities committed by the Russians, and put themselves in the position of victims, claiming that they were now fighting for their survival.
This approach of controlling the scope of the blow was undoubtedly the right one.
Thanks to the Russians’ long-standing “barbarian image” and the visual evidence, European public opinion is sympathetic to the French people.
Unfortunately, this was the 19th century, and public opinion was important, but it was not enough to scratch the itch of the Tsarist government, which was being scolded on a daily basis.
International intervention, that didn’t exist. Politicians are rational and can forget everything but their own position.
On the question of the suppression of France, the position of all the members of the Anti-French League was the same. Even though we all felt that the Russians had gone a little too far, the countries chose to support them implicitly for the sake of the general situation.
After all, every toss of the Russian army was depleting the national vitality of France. To the neighbors, only when France was weak could everyone be good neighbors.
With the government in Vienna leading the way in inaction, the countries of Europe followed suit. Except for the same few countries that had garrisons in France that felt a hint of pressure, the rest were just eating their words.
Out of support for his allies, Franz was generous enough to announce an unlimited supply of “free” potatoes to Russian soldiers at the front.
There is no other way, who let God Luo this year’s potato harvest again?
On the one hand, the potato production is high, on the other hand, the consumer market is shrinking, the Ministry of Agriculture people are about to be worried.
Shredded potatoes, mashed potatoes, potato flour, potato cakes, potato noodles, potato wine, canned potatoes, fried, steamed, braised, stir-fried ……
The foodies are clearly not fighting enough, bringing together dozens of potato practices from several countries, and still not being able to digest the bountiful harvest of potatoes.
Unlike wheat, potatoes are not suitable for long-term storage. If it is piled up in the warehouse for three to five years, mold and sprouting is a small problem, the most afraid is really turned into “mashed potatoes”.
In order not to waste food, Franz decided to give it to the Russians. Lest one day the tsarist government bureaucrats and tossed out the trouble, so that the Russian army in front of the food cuts.
This was no joke. According to the experience accumulated over a long period of time, once the Russian army labors, logistical problems are almost one hundred percent.
Even from the completion of Alexander II’s reforms, the tsarist government was not in lack of food. But having food at home and having food at the front are two different concepts.
To transport food from the Russian Empire to France was an equal challenge for the Tsarist government. Now that the Vienna government helped solve the soldiers’ food problem, the logistical pressure on the Russian army was directly reduced by a small half.
The only problem is that the Russian soldiers on the front line suffered, every day they had to eat potatoes, it is estimated that after the end of the war, these guys are going to smell potatoes.
However, this is not a big problem, gray livestock have never had the capital of picky eaters, serving in the Russian army starvation is not something new.
Moreover, as long as the Russian soldiers are not headstrong, they will give full play to their initiative to find more food in the local area to supplement.
It was widely believed that the previous atrocities of the Russian army were due to poor military discipline; however, in Franz’s opinion the poor military discipline of the Russian soldiers was also forced out by the bureaucrats of the Tsarist government.
Needless to say, the poor military expenses, which were not much, were often in arrears, and even when they were paid, they were at a discount.
In the Russian Empire, the troops that could get the full amount of military expenses were definitely the first of the first line, usually with a strong officer.
The child that cries has milk to eat, and this applies everywhere. The fear is in the fact that the main officer is not in touch with the world and is not willing to fight for it, then the soldiers below will suffer.
The delay and shortage of logistical supplies are even more routine. Bureaucrats are good at calculating economic accounts. If supplies arrive three days late each month, then for twelve months of the year, eleven months’ worth of supplies will be enough.
The rest of the month is naturally owed, and it keeps rolling along like this, and at an appropriate point in time, the old accounts in front of them will be wiped out and turned into personal income for the bureaucrats.
Against this backdrop, if you don’t find a way to start a side business of your own, then when your military service is over and you return home empty-handed, how can you face meeting your parents at home?
……
Receiving the news that the Vienna government was sponsoring free potatoes for the Russian army, King Carlos, who was stranded in Vienna, was dumbfounded on the spot.
There are not so many coincidences in politics, especially the practices of the hegemonic powers, which will be interpreted in depth.
Obviously Franz gave the Russian army potatoes, just to avoid “beans cheap hurt farmers”, incidentally swore a friendship between the two countries.
After all, the war has already started, it will not be long before the Russians are going to place a large order of military purchases. Now to engage in some activities, appropriate return to the old customers, but also due sense.
In Carlos’s eyes, this became a political signal that the Vienna government was supporting the Russians. For the French government, which wanted to expel the Russians, this was bad news.
……
The Grand Hotel Austria, in the most luxurious palace apartments. The heavy French ministers who had traveled around the world from Spain were gathered, perhaps too tired from the rush and not enough rest, and many of them were not in the best of spirits.
Sweeping a glance at the crowd, Carlos said with a slight apology, “You have just arrived in Vienna, and it is reasonable to let everyone rest for a while first. But the current situation is very unfavorable for France, so we can only be fortunate for everyone.
You may not know, I arrived in Vienna for such a long time, Franz only showed up once at the welcome banquet, and then went on vacation in the royal palace.
Even when the top levels of the Vienna government met me, it was a case of avoidance, not giving us the chance to communicate in depth at all.”
Carlos was bitter in his heart, knowing that the last time he came to Vienna, he enjoyed not this kind of treatment.
The emperor’s vacation is able to be in his own palace, indeed enough “fake”. Making up excuses, at least be a little sincere ah!
For example: physical discomfort, poor mental state, busy …… excuses to go, but to give him an emperor at home in the degree of “vacation”.
This is just. Compared to the veteran emperor of Shen Luo, Carlos is only a junior, a little aggrieved is nothing.
However, it was a bit unreasonable for the government to turn a blind eye to him. As the king himself, he had already lowered his stature enough.
Regardless of whether or not they could reach a deal, they had to give some face to receive them and have an in-depth exchange.
Unfortunately, Carlos, as an uninvited guest, was not well received in Vienna.
Of course, the only people who don’t like him are the top officials of the Vienna government. At least is also a king of a country, the Bourbon dynasty’s row is not low, the banquet invited Carlos or a continuous stream of cocktail parties.
In the beginning, Carlos also actively participated, hoping to make friends with the powerful and noble people of Shenluo, and then influence the negotiation with the Vienna government.
However, the reality is very cruel, talk about flowers and moonlight is just, once the discussion of politics, they all become bored, just to see Carlos sing a one-man show.
After attending a few banquets, Carlos reacted to the situation. These guys invited him just to support the facade, there is no one really willing to deep friendship with him.
If the nobles who had invited Carlos to the banquet knew that Carlos had come to the conclusion, each one of them would definitely cry out in vain.
Meet to seek help, or the kind of thing that involves the interests of the country, this makes everyone how to dare and his “deep friendship”?
Identity determines position. As a vested interest in the existing international system, no matter how miserable France is now, Shen Luo aristocrats will not have half a point of sympathy, and even more can not have half a point of sympathy.
The world of nobility is also very cruel, if you can’t set your own position, it is impossible to mix in this circle.
Foreign Minister Pietro persuaded, ”Your Majesty, rest your anger! The indifferent reaction of the Vienna government is indeed very unfavorable to us, but we have to see another side.
To the very beginning, the Vienna government has not made a public statement on the anti-Russian movement, then it proves that there is still room for maneuver.
Russia and Austria seem to have good relations, but the hidden contradictions are not small, and the long border line between the two countries is the biggest hidden danger.
No matter how good the relationship between the two countries, once there is an opportunity to crush the other side, the other family will never be soft.
If the Vienna government really supports the Russians, it would have already convened a coalition meeting, pulling the continental countries together to help the Russians after the incident.
Perhaps in the eyes of the Vienna government, watching us and the Russians kill each other and consume each other’s strength is what is most favorable to them.”
A reasonable analysis, almost close to the truth. However, the crowd was not happy in the least.
If the Foreign Minister’s judgment, was accurate, then “can France, in its present state, defeat the Russians?”
Soul torture from the depths of the heart, no one can give a definite answer, or rather is unwilling to give an answer. Because their judgment is not the result they want.
……
(End of chapter)