Chapter 248 Fire Cooking Oil

After the news of the outbreak of the plague in Constantinople was confirmed, Perissier did not dare to neglect and immediately reported to the Paris government.

Palace of Versailles

Napoleon III was in a very bad mood. The news of a plague outbreak in the Crimea Peninsula just came back, and a plague broke out in Constantinople.

Where did the virus come from, Napoleon III was not interested to know, and now his headache is what to do next.

It is good to say that the Crimean Peninsula has such a large territory, and the spread of the epidemic can be controlled by dispersing and isolating the epidemic areas.

There is only a palm-sized place left in Constantinople, the population density is so high, and there are street battles with the Russians. How can this epidemic be controlled?

Arno, Minister of War, said: "Your Majesty, the plague broke out in Constantinople, and the situation on the front line may be worse.

At this time, the increase of troops is to push the boys into the fire pit. The brave French soldiers can defeat the Russians, but only God can solve the plague. "

Since the outbreak of the Battle of Constantinople, the French army has been increasing its troops almost every month, and it can not be regarded as an increase in troops. It is mainly to supplement the consumption of troops on the front line, and by the way, to replace some of the disabled and established troops.

In this regard, Napoleon III did a very good job, and did not use an army to death. Even if it is to eliminate dissidents, most of them find excuses to be transferred from their posts, and they do not start killing people.

The war has come to the present, and the Paris government has long wanted to stop, but because of political factors, Napoleon III could not compromise.

Now Arnault is vaguely reminding Napoleon III that he can either find an excuse to give up Constantinople, or organize more troops to fight the Russians.

Napoleon III, who was extremely politically sensitive, immediately woke up. He even thought of more and said eagerly:

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately negotiated with the Ottoman Empire to let them give up Constantinople, and in return we will protect their interests elsewhere.

You can unite with the British to exert pressure. At this time, I believe that the London government will make a wise choice.

When the news of the negotiation is released, it is said that we want to take back this holy city for Christ's world, and contact the Catholic Church to help build momentum.

I ordered Pelissier on the front line, no matter what method he uses, he must also infect the Russians with the plague! "

Science in this age has not been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. If no action is taken, the Russians seize the opportunity to launch a political offensive, and the consequences will be difficult to control.

If the plague only broke out among the coalition forces, but the Russians were safe, there would be no need to fight the following wars, and the British and French governments could be finished by political means alone.

With the sentence "God will punish the traitors who help the infidels", it is estimated that the morale of the military on the front line collapsed in an instant. Whether they are Protestants or Catholics, they all believe in God.

Constantinople is a holy place in the world of Christ, which gives the city a strong religious color. Religiously, no one likes helping the Ottomans.

If the people in the country know that the government has been punished by God for helping infidels, should the consequences still be considered?

Napoleon III did not dare to test the piety of the French people. Compared with this terrible consequence, the importance of the Ottoman Empire as an ally is not worth mentioning.

Dead Daoist friends do not die. In order to survive the political storm that may break out, the interests of the Ottoman Empire can only be sacrificed.

...

Facts have proved that Napoleon III was completely overthinking, and the plague was really not sent by God, because it was an indiscriminate attack, and the Russians were not spared.

It may be because of the strong physique of the bears, the casualties caused by the plague are not as serious as that of the coalition forces, and acclimatization is also an important reason.

Along with the plague, there was actually dysentery, but the symptoms looked similar, and the coalition had not yet discovered the difference between the two diseases.

The Russian military headquarters in the Balkans, the expeditionary army high-level people gathered together, and everyone was pale.

Menshkov asked with great concern, "Are you sure it's a plague?"

A middle-aged military doctor replied solemnly: "Your Excellency Commander, the news has been confirmed. As of now, we have more than 5,000 soldiers suffering from vomiting and diarrhea, which is beyond the scope of normal influenza."

"Your Excellency, according to the account of the prisoners we captured, a large number of French soldiers in the city also fell ill." Before Menshkov could speak, a middle-aged officer added

Without hesitation, Menshkov made a decision: "I ordered the troops to do a good job in epidemic prevention, and the attack still cannot be stopped. Our situation is bad, and the French army in the city will only get worse.

Regarding the problem of the plague, I will ask St. Petersburg for help and send many medical staff from China. This plague is also an opportunity, and I don't believe the French can survive it! "

Menshkov, who was nervous on the face, breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. Now that the plague broke out, the good days for the French were over.

The reason is very simple. The greater the population density, the more conducive to the spread of the plague. In this case, the losses inside the city must be greater than those outside the city.

Now that the war is over, how many people have died in the city of Constantinople, 100,000 or 200,000? Or maybe 300,000, 400,000, or even more?

Are these bodies disposed of in time? Perhaps the French dealt with the vast majority of them, but the rest, even if one percent slipped through the net, were thousands of corpses. Haven't you seen the rats in Constantinople getting fat?

The corpse rots and the insects and ants breed, which is simply the best assistant for the spread of the virus. don't even need to

For foreign viruses, Constantinople itself has the possibility of a plague outbreak.

...

Vienna

After receiving the news of the outbreak of the plague in Constantinople, Franz convened a meeting immediately and asked the Ministry of Health to preside over the epidemic prevention work.

Although this plague in history did not spread widely, it mainly broke out in the Crimea Peninsula, and Austria was only slightly affected.

The situation is obviously different now. Since the plague broke out in Constantinople, can the Balkans be spared? The Balkans have suffered, will Austria not be affected?

After the epidemic prevention work was deployed, Franz continued to consider the impact of the plague.

"When the plague broke out, the French couldn't hold Constantinople anymore. How will the international situation develop next? What do you think?"

Metternich reminded: "Your Majesty, from the current situation, the death rate of this plague is not too high. If the epidemic is brought under control, the French will still be able to hold Constantinople."

Franz laughed and asked, "Marshal, how long have the Russians cut off Constantinople's water supply?"

Marshal Radesky replied: "Your Majesty, it has been almost sixteen months. However, Constantinople is connected to a port, and they still have enough fresh water to replenish, and there is no shortage of water in the city now."

Constantinople has no groundwater due to geological reasons. Although there are water storage facilities in the city, this cannot supply so many people.

Franz shook his head and said: "There are so many people in Constantinople, the daily water consumption is not a small number.

After being cut off by the Russians for so long, we can boldly judge that the water reserves in the city have been exhausted.

Now they rely on ships to transport fresh water to meet the water needs of hundreds of thousands of people in the city.

With so many people, the daily consumption of fresh water is not a small amount, which requires a large number of ships to transport.

How many transport ships were active in Constantinople? After completing the transportation of various materials, how much fresh water can be supplied?

The bureaucrats in Britain and France will at most guarantee these people the basic living water, which is probably limited supply.

If in normal times, the supply of fresh water is insufficient, you can stick to it. The big deal is not to take a bath, wash your face, or wash your hands for a period of time.

The situation is different now. There is not enough fresh water supply. How can the French army carry out epidemic prevention? Basic sanitation cannot be improved, how to contain the spread of the virus? "

Because of the epidemic prevention meeting, everyone made up for the epidemic prevention knowledge for a while. Some were suggested by officials of the Austrian Ministry of Health, and some were added by Franz from memory.

Now everyone knows the importance of hygiene. At the critical moment of the outbreak of this plague, the French army in the city did not have enough fresh water, so who did the virus not find them?

Even if the Russians outside are equally unhygienic, they are not short of water, and they always have a bath every once in a while, right?

The French soldiers in the city don't know how long it takes to have such an opportunity, or there is no chance at all.

There is nothing the French can do about this, whether they notice it or not.

Because this gap is not a star and a half, it just meets the needs of survival. A small pot of water is enough every day. If the sanitary conditions are improved, this consumption will increase many times.

Where are they going to find so many water-carrying ships in a short period of time?

Tens of thousands of tons of fresh water are consumed every day, and it is estimated that all British and French ships in the Mediterranean can be transferred to meet their logistical supply.

Felix thought about it and said, "Your Majesty, if the French can't solve the plague problem, we can prepare to mediate the war.

Once the Russians took Constantinople, the war would not go on.

The Russians' finances were already in crisis, and if it weren't for the special political status of Constantinople, I'm afraid they would have compromised long ago.

Now that the Russians have occupied Bulgaria, and let them occupy Constantinople, it will be even more difficult to control in the future, and it is best to contain it. "

Metternich objected: "Prime Minister, it is too late to contain the Russians at this time, unless we can tear up the Russia-Austria secret treaty, or in future negotiations, we must support them.

We have our support diplomatically, and as long as Constantinople is occupied by the Russians, I don't think Britain and France have the ability to force the Tsarist government to spit it out.

Don't forget that maintaining the Russian-Austrian alliance is more important to us at this time than containing the Russians, and we cannot oppose the Russians' annexation of Constantinople.

If you can't stop it, why do you have to be this villain?

It is better to simply push it up again, let the Russians continue to attract the firepower of Britain and France in front, and deepen the contradiction between them. "

"Push it," Franz was very interested in this proposal. To control the Black Sea Fleet, not just one Constantinople is enough, it needs to control the Balkans and Asia Minor at the same time.

Are the Russians still capable of fighting? Obviously it does not exist, even if the tsarist government is desperate, it will stop in Constantinople.

If the British and French are in a hurry, they may be pushed back, and the traffic of the Russian Empire restricts their power delivery.

On the Balkans, even with the support of Austria, the Russians can only exert seven or eight points of their national strength. What can they do to compete with Britain and France?

Now the Russians have the upper hand, but the British and French did not react and pitted each other on the battlefield.

Once the Russians put too much pressure on them and let the two countries put aside their contradictions and cooperate sincerely, the battlefield is another situation.

It doesn't matter if the Russians can't fight, and Franz doesn't want the tsarist government to really control the Black Sea Fleet.

The Mediterranean Sea is really too small, and the four countries of England, France, and Theo are not divided enough, and there is absolutely no extra benefit for the Russians.

But it does not prevent the Russians from having ambitions. After all, Constantinople has been taken down, and the Mediterranean is one step closer.

As long as the Russians have ambitions, they cannot compromise with Britain and France. When Britain, France and Russia confronted each other, Austria was safe.

This is what Bismarck designed in history. As a result, the diplomatic game of Wilhelm II collapsed, and France and Russia formed an alliance, which is a natural tragedy as a sandwich biscuit.

"The Russian-Austrian alliance cannot be destroyed, and the containment of the Russians can be done by Britain and France. As allies, we must not betray our promises!"

Franz made it clear. He didn't want to send a wrong political signal, so that the upper echelons of the government would mistakenly believe that Austria had obtained the desired benefits and could abandon the Russians.

From the point of view of national interests, this kind of betrayal is very normal. It seems that it is more in line with the interests of the country to move closer to Britain and France to facilitate Austria's overseas colonization.

But when it comes to strategic security, things are different. Compared with the unstable French government and the Prussian Kingdom, which is ambitious to counterattack, Franz feels that it is more reliable to form an alliance with the Russians.