Chapter 212: The Pretext of War
With an order from Franz, Bavaria became lively.
Prime Minister Felix's speech in Munich is still useful. Most of the younger generation in Bavaria have been swayed, and they are all thinking about how to unify the German region.
That's the problem. Based on their social experience, it is impossible to comprehensively consider the problem, and it is very easy to go to extremes when looking at problems.
If there is no one to bring the rhythm, it’s fine. Unfortunately, how could Franz, who was already prepared, give up this opportunity?
Experts and scholars have jumped out to express their opinions one after another, criticizing the Bavarian government authorities who are destroying the unity of the German region for their own interests.
In the eyes of most people, rebuilding Shinra is not the best choice, but it is the most suitable choice. When the road to peaceful reunification is blocked, only military reunification is left.
There may be a desire to make a career in war, but this is definitely not a civil war.
Influenced by Prime Minister Felix's speech, these self-proclaimed elite students couldn't bear it any longer. They thought they should do something for the unity of the country and could not watch the government in chaos.
Demonstrations, such meaningful activities, are regarded as the best way for them to make their voices heard.
Everyone is an intellectual, and even a parade can find a legal basis. The former King Ludwig delivered a speech before his abdication, which became the banner of everyone.
(Affected by the Great Revolution, Ludwig abdicated. In order to win the hearts of the people, he publicly stated that the royal family will be committed to the unification of the German region)
Maximilian II had a headache, and the political bomb detonated. Even if there is no ancestral family law in Europe that is immutable, the old king's remarks before his abdication also have political validity.
Now everyone wants the king to come out and give an explanation. Since the royal family is committed to the unification of the German region, what is the explanation for the current government's opposite approach?
It was not only the king who was questioned, but cabinet ministers were also questioned by the people. Everyone's attitude is very clear, it's okay to oppose the establishment of Shinra, but you have to come up with a plan for German unification, right?
Whether it is feasible or not, at least it must be able to convince everyone in theory and get the approval of most people.
Maximilian II asked anxiously: "What do you do now, the citizens outside are waiting for us to answer?"
It's not that they were unprepared, but the previous emergency plans were all used to deal with people making trouble. The question now is, are these people making trouble?
The quality of the crowd participating in the demonstrations this time was much higher than usual, not just workers and students, but also the middle class, capitalists, social scholars, and aristocrats.
The coverage is wide and involves all groups in the Kingdom of Bavaria. Even if the Bavarian government suspects that it is organized, they have no evidence in their hands and dare not act rashly.
The Great Revolution had just passed, and everyone had lingering fears and did not dare to make trouble, for fear of causing social unrest.
Prime Minister August replied: "Your Majesty, the best way now is to come up with a plan for German unification and convince the people as much as possible."
In fact, in the entire German region, each state government is preparing its own unified plan. Since they want to oppose the reconstruction of Shinra, there must be a new substitute.
Otherwise, as Felix attacked, "if you don't do practical things all day, you know that you are against for the sake of opposition".
"Prime Minister, what are your thoughts?" asked Maximilian II
August replied: "Your Majesty, we can change the previous plan, just remake the plan of the Three Kingdoms Cabinet.
The reason is still the same: there are too many states in the German region, and if everyone is involved in decision-making together, there will be quarrels every day.
The best option is to replace many small states by Bavaria, form a balance with Austrian Prussia in the central government, and jointly dominate the empire.
Of course, this proposal cannot be supported by other states, but it is feasible to persuade the people, and Bavaria can get the greatest benefit.
As long as the Austrians can accept the formation of a three-nation cabinet, we support the rebuilding of the Holy Roman Empire. "
After hesitating for a while, Maximilian II made up his mind and said, "Okay, let's do this."
Doing so will offend the small state, but the two powers can harm each other, whichever is the lesser. Offending these small states is nothing more than protesting.
Since gaining the support of the foreign powers, the Bavarian government has become much more daring. If it weren't for Puo being too strong, they would all want to unify many small German states by force.
Moreover, this time, the Bavarian government has taken a stand for everyone and smashed Austria's Shinra plan. Even if the slogan is a little too much, everyone must understand it.
...
On March 4, 1853, Britain and France ignited the Crimean War, which disrupted the Russian deployment.
There is nothing wrong with the British strategy, the Tsarist government is really exhausted. After the addition of a new front, the logistical supplies of the Russian army on the Balkans fell to Austria.
To the surprise of the coalition forces, the Russian army invested in the Crimean War not only has low combat effectiveness, but also has surprisingly bad weapons and equipment. It can be regarded as a beggar army.
There was no other way, and the tsarist government was helpless. Most of the elite troops of the Russian army filled the Balkan battlefield, or they also went to the Caucasus battlefield, and the rest were second-line troops or reserve troops.
Insufficient training, martial
Weapons and equipment are not good, and the Russians will naturally suffer a big loss when the battle breaks out. If it weren't for the terrain and climate of the Crimean War, and the coalition forces that had suffered and were not adapted, the two sides would now be the winner.
Vienna
Chancellor of the Exchequer Carl said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, the Russians have asked us for a loan again. The Tsarist government's bond sales have been cold in the market, and most investors are worried that they will default."
Franz is too lazy to complain about the Russians. With such a bad reputation, there is no one left. Even with collateral, investors fear they will default.
This is not unfounded, there is a precedent for Mao Xiong. Even if the ordinary debt is defaulted, even the debt with collateral, they can also create an excuse to default.
For example, if the mine is mortgaged, they can specifically levy a mess of taxes on the mine, forcing investors to withdraw by themselves.
Another example is the mortgage of the tax, and the result is that the creditor will collect it himself, provided that you can collect it.
...
The sins of the ancestors, now it is Nicholas I's turn to pay. There are too many bloody lessons, and now the capital market still has lingering fears for them.
Even Nicholas I's efforts to restore credibility were to no avail. Without the efforts of several generations, their credit is difficult to be accepted by the market.
Just look at the fact that all European countries are issuing banknotes, but they are still using gold and silver directly as currency. Not only is there a lack of credibility in the international market, but even the domestic capital market is suspicious of the credibility of the tsarist government.
Franz said without hesitation: "Tell the Russians that our finances are also very difficult and cannot afford to provide them with huge loans, and suggest that they go to the capital markets of neutral countries to try."
He was afraid. The Russians had lent 202 million rupiah from Austria before and after, including 130 million rupiah in government loans and 72 million rupiah in private loans. Franz's Royal Bank issued a huge loan of 5 million rupiah.
Of course, government loans are super low interest. Private loans naturally follow the laws of the market, and if you encounter a business partner with a bad reputation like the Tsarist government, the monthly interest rate is lower than 0.7%, and it is not considered.
After deducting the messy handling fees, the interest paid by the Russians has actually exceeded the monthly interest rate of 1%.
Don't think this is usury, even with such interest, there are very few consortia willing to lend money to the Russians.
High risk corresponds to high return, and if it weren't for the fact that the money could only be used in Austria, these loans would not have been approved at all.
Some private loans have other additional conditions, such as designating these funds to purchase products of a certain company, and for example...
Naturally, the Tsarist government was keen to ask the Austrian government for a loan. Not to mention the high interest rates on private loans, there are still a lot of restrictions, and the tsarist government can't stand it.
Even if the Russians have the bottom line, Franz would not dare to print money unscrupulously. Who knows when the war in the Near East will end? What if it's too early?
At that time, Austria did not accumulate enough capital, and the economic crisis broke out again, and the Russians who got the loans might become bottom-hunters.
In the face of interests, what should be guarded against is still guarded. Basically, the Russians had to import a certain amount of gold and silver into Austria to ensure that the currency would not depreciate before Franz dared to lend.
Franz admits that he is a conservative and doesn't know anything about the economy. But a country is different from an enterprise. What a country needs is steady development, not rapid outbreaks.
Metternich said: "Your Majesty, we need to stabilize the Russians at this time, and we can help them sell a batch of emergency bonds first, the summer tax is coming soon, and the Russians should be able to return a mouthful of blood by then.
The Bavarian government itself has gone to a dead end, and now it only needs time to ferment, our people only need to push and they will be finished. "
It is not easy to pit the Bavarian government. Austria has created a lot of huge pits for them to jump in, but most of them are avoided by them.
For example, if the Bavarian government suppresses the demonstrators, Austria can intervene by accusing the Bavarian government of persecuting nationalists and attempting to split the German region.
Without even declaring war, Austrian troops could appear on the streets of Munich, and even be greeted.
Obviously, the Bavarian government is not stupid. Even if it does not know that Austria wants to do something to them, it knows that the military repression will shake the foundation of its rule.
As a result, the pit did not jump, and they dug a pit and buried themselves. On the surface, it seems that offending these small states is nothing, they are just shouting slogans at home anyway.
But Austria's fueling the flames is different. The governments of these states can calm down, but the people cannot.
According to the Austrian plan, they are also one of the shareholders of Shinra, and they are the masters of the country; according to the Bavarian plan, they become shareholders, nominally also shareholders, but are not qualified to participate in decision-making, and even the right to dividends is blocked. deprived.
In this case, it is strange that they are not angry. As long as they get angry, they will oppose Austria when they attack Bavaria. The opposition of ordinary people will undoubtedly make these small state governments hesitate.
As long as they did not send troops to help in the first place, the Kingdom of Bavaria would not be able to withstand the first wave, and the established fact that Austria annexed Bavaria later resulted in the fact that it was too late for everyone to join in.
Without the Kingdom of Bavaria, these small states would have to face Austria directly. Their strength is limited and they do not have the strength to resist Austria at all. The morale of the people is dissipated, and the problems that follow are easy to deal with.
Look at the small states of Germany
They are inconspicuous. If they are united, their strength is not weak.
Three or four million troops can still be taken out, plus a Prussian kingdom, if they can’t be quickly defeated, once they reach a deadlock, then this plan will fail.
Therefore, political camouflage is very important. Not to mention fooling the governments of various countries, as long as they hesitate and let Austria destroy Bavaria, the overall situation has been settled.
On the surface, the Austrian government is now dominated by the peaceful reunification faction, followed closely by the opposition to the German reunification faction. As for the voices advocating the unification of the German region by force, they will not be heard until the following.
From a political analysis, no matter how you look at it, the Austrian government has no incentive to take military action, nor does it have the conditions to make such a decision.
To a certain extent, the political stance of politicians will affect the decision-making of the country, just like the election of Lincoln who advocated the abolition of slavery, and the American Civil War was detonated.
If the Austrian government is the main war faction in power, the states in the German region will be extremely vigilant, just like everyone is now vigilant against the Kingdom of Prussia.
Even if their strength is not as good as Austria, their prime minister is from the military, a standard hardliner, and the feeling to everyone is a threat.
Franz said eloquently: "Well, let's help the Russians withstand this wave first, and then they should have to collect war taxes again. Presumably this year, the tsarist government will not be short of money again."
War tax is a unique tax in Europe. Before modern times, the funds for monarchs to launch wars usually came from war tax.
There is also a war tax in Austria now, but Franz will not collect it unless it is absolutely necessary. If you take money, you cannot defeat the war, otherwise the consequences will be very serious.
Marshal Radesky reminded: "Your Majesty, it's time to create a war excuse. It's enough to divide and disintegrate the German state at this stage, and it's too late to do it again."
Franz thought for a while and said, "Just follow the plan!"