Chapter 223 Hidden Murder
Paris
On August 28, 1853, the much-anticipated negotiations began. Representatives from various countries gathered together, including many small German states and free cities, who also sent representatives to attend the meeting.
Hundreds of people poured into the conference room in an instant, making it almost like a vegetable market, noisy and noisy, and after a few days, no agreement was reached at all.
On September 2, Russian Foreign Minister Karl Wossel proposed to the conference: "Everyone, if you keep arguing like this, it is estimated that there will be no way to reach an agreement at this time next year. It is better to reduce the size of the conference!"
Obviously, this is the role of the public relations fee. Karl Woossel is still very credible. Adhering to the principle of collecting money and doing things, this proposal was exchanged for 500,000 rubles.
When the negotiations were deadlocked, Metternich looked at it and was anxious. If it dragged on like this, there would be problems sooner or later, which would be very unfavorable to Austria.
At this time, it is obviously not suitable for Austria to exclude the participation of representatives of various countries. Those who are qualified to make this proposal are the representatives of Britain, France and Russia.
Needless to say, the British were eager to see the excitement in Austria; the French were not easy to bribe, and under the eyes of Napoleon III, it was difficult to make small moves.
Only Karl Worsell can be bought. Anyway, the Russian-Austrian alliance is there, and the tsarist government decided early in the morning to support Austria at the meeting.
The extent of this support is in the hands of Karl Woossel. In order to avoid long nights and dreams, Metternich naturally spent money on public relations.
Metternich said coldly: "Mr. Karl Woossel has a good proposal. Everyone's time is very precious. There is no need for irrelevant people to participate in the following negotiations."
He doesn't have any good feelings for these gangsters who join in the fun, and now he is completely causing trouble for Austria.
"Okay, it's enough for the countries participating in the subsequent meeting to participate."
After thinking about it, the Foreign Minister Auvergne also expressed his support, and it would not do France any good to drag it on.
Three to one, British Foreign Secretary Thomas can only nod in agreement. His time is also very precious. If it is spent here every day, what will happen at home?
Under the common will of the great powers, the participating countries were reduced to 15. In addition to Britain, France, Russia, and Austria, there were also Prussia, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the soon-to-be-merged state of South Germany.
This is just the beginning. Under Metternich's manipulation, the scale of the meeting on September 5 was reduced again, and the German state lost the right to participate in the meeting. It is enough to wait for the result at home.
On September 10, as these small countries were kicked out one after another, at this time, only the six countries of Osip, Britain, France and Russia, were left, which was quite a bit like the Paris Peace Conference.
The world still relies on strength to speak. A multinational negotiation finally turned into a closed-door meeting of Britain, France, Russia, and Osip.
The Spanish representatives are just here to make soy sauce, but as a member of the European powers, they still have the right to participate in the meeting, and they have no right to speak.
What really decides the final result is the five countries of Britain, France, Russia, and the Opp. The meeting can finally start normally.
...
In the German region, with the passage of time, the idea of the partition of North and South Germany began to rise, and many experts and scholars published articles in newspapers to explain the feasibility of "Partition of North and South Germany".
Even the most optimistic people don't think that there is a possibility of unification in the German region now. Haven't they expressed their opposition to the flag of the Kingdom of Prussia?
Two other state governments in the North German region responded to the Prussian proposal, believing that Austria had undermined the peace and stability of the German region and kicked them out of the German region.
These two stupid German governments soon paid a heavy price for this, and were sprayed with dog blood by the domestic people.
If it wasn't for the intervention of the Prussians, they would have become a republic. With this lesson learned, the rest of the German state governments have become cautious.
Most of the nationalism in the German region is still in the stage of rhetoric, but there is still the strength to subvert one or two small states.
If you don't say anything else, people just rely on their mouths, and they can't get out of the stage if they can.
There are a total of 39 states in the German region, plus a bunch of free cities. Except for the two big states of Austria and Prussia, the remaining 37 states and a bunch of free cities together occupy more than 200,000 square kilometers. territory.
If Bavaria, Hanover, Württemberg, Saxony, Hesse, and Baden are excluded, the remaining more than 30 states and free cities will be shrunk on a territory of 40,000 to 50,000 square kilometers.
Leaving aside the two principalities occupied by Denmark, on average, each state and free city has an area of less than 1,000 square kilometers and an average population of less than 150,000.
The government's deterrent power is naturally insufficient. A village-level rebellion can subvert a regime, and the government naturally does not dare to go against the will of the people.
As soon as the news of the "partition of North and South Germany" came out, public opinion was in a frenzy. There were those who supported it and those who opposed it, and the entire German region was lively.
Inside the University of Munich
A young student said excitedly: "Impossible, Bayer. Now besides the partition of North and South Germany, do we have a better choice?
Outside there is the intervention of European countries, and inside there is the traitorous kingdom of Prussia. In this context, you actually want to forcibly unify the German region. Do you know the consequences of doing so?
You are crazy, once the war breaks out, thousands of Germans will be displaced and the great German nation will fall like the Poles. "
this world
On, there is never a shortage of idealists, and Bayer is one of them.
Bayer said tit-for-tat: "Stein, don't shout. The interference alliance looks strong, but in fact, only the three countries that are capable of sending troops to intervene in the unification of the German region are Britain, France and Russia.
Now the three countries are in many conflicts, and the possibility of forming a coalition is almost zero. If they fight independently, we may not have the strength to fight. "
A person next to him sneered: "Yes, we do have the power to fight. After the war, the German nation has become history, or we can learn from the Prussian barbarians as traitors and bow down to the enemy."
...
Not everyone likes war, and most, even German nationalists, want a peaceful reunification.
Faced with the joint intervention of various countries, many people are rational, knowing that the German Federation is unable to resist the common will of European countries, and compromise has become the only option.
The theory of the partition of North and South Germany is not so much driven by the Austrian government behind the scenes as these rationalists need it.
This is the second option that everyone is forced to choose when grand reunification cannot be achieved.
It was okay in the South German region. After the North and South were divided, they merged with Austria, which is also one of the most powerful countries in the world, and most people can accept it.
The North German region will not work. If you don’t like traitors, and merge with the Kingdom of Prussia, many people will not be able to get over that hurdle in their hearts.
Secondly, the North German region together has only stepped into the ranks of the great powers, and there is still a certain distance from the real power, which is not what they want.
In this context, a new idea came out of the Kingdom of Hanover, which spread in the North German region in an instant, and also flowed into the South German region.
"Puss and Austria are kicked out, and the remaining German states form a new state."
This statement is very marketable in North Germany, and people who are unwilling to merge with the Kingdom of Prussia are willing to join this new country.
Although this country is only a medium-sized country, with a land area of more than 200,000 square kilometers and a population of 178 million, it is still far from the dream of a big country in everyone's mind.
There is no doubt that there must be the British Empire in it. Once the German region is established as a tripartite, whether it is Austria, Prussia, or this new country, it will lose the ability to unify the German region.
Under such a balanced system, the European continent will become more stable. Under the premise of conforming to the interests of the British, it also eliminated the worries of the French, and even the Russians were very tempted by this system.
This idea has long existed, and the Bavarian government is the supporter of the tripartite confrontation. Unfortunately, this idea lacks supporters in the German region, and even the Bavarians are opposed to it.
The current situation has changed. After determining that the German region cannot be unified, the North German state, which does not want to merge with the Kingdom of Prussia, has become a supporter of this idea.
Franz, far away in St. Petersburg, didn't know that John Bull had already shot, and it was still one-shot fatal.
With the people-based theory, it is not only a theoretical idea, but also may become a reality.
People in southern Germany may not necessarily support this argument, but these state governments are different. Mixing with Austria, their right to speak is destined to be limited.
The right to speak means interests. A group of small states is merged together, and no one can dominate. It must be a federal system!
In a federal system, the power of the central government is destined to be too great, and everyone's interests can be guaranteed to the greatest extent.
Stimulated by their interests, these small state governments involuntarily promoted this theory at home, and undercurrents were surging in Germany.
baden
Prince Friedrich is hesitating whether to join the British-organized federal empire, which, according to the British, will give them the greatest benefit.
"Everyone, what do you think of the British proposal?"
After a moment of silence, Prime Minister Waltz replied: "Your Highness, if the British plan goes well, it will naturally be in our interest to join the Commonwealth Empire.
The Kingdom of Bavaria is still under Austrian control, and it is unlikely they will spit it out.
When a new federal empire is established, no one can dominate. We and Hannover, Württemberg, Saxony, Hesse and others will dominate the country.
However, although the benefits here are huge, the potential risks are not small.
The new federal empire is too weak, whether it is compared with Austria or France, we are very weak, and our development potential may not be comparable to that of Prussia.
Should the European balance be disrupted, we are in big trouble. Unless the British can force Austria to voluntarily give up the New Holy Roman Empire, or we become traitors, we will surely be reckoned in the future. "
Don't talk about the future, it is possible to be liquidated now. Even if Austria stretches out a hand, it can crush the Principality of Baden to death. This is the reason for their hesitation.
Foreign Minister Nicholas thought for a moment and said, "The issue of Austrian revenge is easy to deal with, if we push a Habsburg emperor out, it will be enough to quell their anger.
The question now is whether the British can subdue Austria and Prussia, and if they can't, the nascent federal empire will always exist only in theory. "
Prince Friedrich nodded, he wanted the benefits, but he didn't want to carry the risks.
. In case the British plan fails, the possibility of the angered Austrian government abolishing the Baden royal family is as high as nine or nine.
Unlike other kings, Ludwig II was mentally ill, and his prestige among the people was infinitely close to zero. Most of the people of Baden had no feelings for this grand duke.
"In this case, we will reply directly to the British, we agree with their plan, but we will not make any comments until the Paris meeting has made a final decision.
People should pay attention to propaganda, and don't let people get caught. These ideas are freely disseminated by the people and cannot have anything to do with the government. said Prince Friedrich
There is no way, the way of survival for a small country is "the grass on the wall". They can't afford to offend the British, nor can they afford to offend the Austrians. They want to profit from being caught between the two great powers by dancing on eggs.