Chapter 691 Chips

No matter how many calculations there are, wars still have to be decided on the battlefield. At the same time as the diplomatic game between Prussia and Russia, the Battle of Lithuania also broke out.

At this time, Mao Qi has fallen into an embarrassing situation. Whether or not to fight the enemy in Lithuania is a tangled question.

The Russian navy has been stagnant for more than ten years and has long lagged behind the times. But this old-fashioned fleet is not comparable to the pocket version of the navy of the Popo Federation.

Today is different from the past. Both Prussia and Russia have made preparations for this war. The tsarist government has hoarded a large amount of strategic materials in St. Petersburg. After a year and a half, there is no shortage of materials at all.

In this context, the advantages of sea power can be fully exerted. Ivanov is now launching the Lithuanian campaign to take advantage of these advantages.

After losing sea power, he went to the Baltic coast to fight the enemy decisively, or when the enemy was ready, Mao Qi said: he is not crazy yet.

The problem is that war is not something you can't fight if you don't want to. The Russians have already launched an attack, and unless they give up areas such as Lithuania and Latvia, they can only bite the bullet.

It is impossible to give up, once Lithuania falls, the war will once again burn to East Prussia. All the gains made in the First Russian-Prussian War will be lost.

If he changed the enemy, Mao Qi might have taken a gamble and looked for an opportunity to defeat the enemy, but unfortunately he met Ivanov, who was known for his conservativeness, and it would have no effect at all.

Warsaw, Federal Headquarters of Pope

"Marshal, why don't we launch an attack from the Belarusian region, counter-attack Smolinsk, and force the enemy to abandon the Lithuanian campaign plan?" a middle-aged officer suggested.

Europe does not have the allusions to "siege Wei to save Zhao", but there is still no shortage of similar war templates.

Mao Qi shook his head: "It's useless, the enemy has deployed thirty infantry divisions and two cavalry divisions in the Belarusian region, and we have no chance at all."

If in the field, Mao Qi has the confidence to kill this enemy army, but this is impossible. With Ivanov's style, these Russian troops will definitely choose to defend.

If it really hits all the way, no matter if there is time or not, this precious mobile force in Mao Qi's hands will also be exhausted. People are gone, so what are you doing?

Looking at the deployment of Russian troops marked on the map, Mao Qi sighed deeply. From the outbreak of the Second Prussian War, the Prussian army fought very hard.

It's not that they don't work hard, the problem is that there is simply no room for improvement. Although the combat effectiveness of the Prussian army is slightly stronger, the gap is still limited, and the Russian army can make up for it with numbers.

After hesitating for a while, Mao Qi pointed at the map: "Order the troops on the northern front to abandon Latvia and retreat to Lithuania."

The first to win is not to win, the last winner is the winner. Mao Qi is ready for another East Prussia battle. It doesn't matter if the loss is big, the most important thing is that he must become the victor.

...

On the battlefield, Prussia and Russia fought their wits and courage, and in diplomacy, the two countries were also filled with gunpowder smoke. Vienna has once again become a battlefield for the confrontation between the two countries. The Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is lively, and the Schönbrunn Palace is also lively.

In order to avoid trouble, Franz closed the door to thank guests. There is no way to lobby too many people, and the emperor is also worried. The best way is to not see the guests.

Once again, Franz found that there were many troubles with relatives. It wasn't that these people didn't understand the rules, chattered, and interfered randomly. It would be easier if they were.

There are few aristocrats who can make a fortune, and they are also skilled in being a lobbyist.

Some people want the Russians to win, some want the Pope Federation to win, and some just want to test Franz's position and judge the government's decision-making direction.

There is no way to do this. It is never the emperor's job to decide the direction of a country. Domestic interest groups, big and small, are all participants.

This is part of the European political game. For example, if you want to promote a certain bill or resolution, it is not up to Franz to do it himself. Usually, he releases news through these channels to test the reaction of the outside world.

Or it is implied that these people propose to the government, which is equivalent to the emperor's royal microphone, lest the emperor personally end the game.

The Russian-Prussian war involved too much, including: the future pattern of the European continent, the unification process of the German region, a large number of political and economic interests...

The more involved, the more interest groups involved, and the more people concerned.

Franz didn't want to express his position in advance, so he naturally avoided. The emperor can hide, but the high-level government cannot hide, and Prime Minister Felix's hairline has receded a lot.

...

In the residence of the Prime Minister in Vienna, Federal Minister of Pope, Friedman, gushed: "World peace is facing serious challenges, and the European international order is being disrupted by a..."

Felix frowned: "Your Excellency Minister, don't say these unnutritious words, our time is very precious, there is no need to waste it like this."

The impatience was nakedly revealed, and it could be seen that Felix was really annoyed and didn't even bother to listen to diplomatic rhetoric.

Feldman is not annoyed, and similar things have not happened once or twice. As a professional diplomat, he still knows how to restrain his emotions and will not bring his personal feelings into his work.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, a powerful Russian Empire is not a good choice for Europe or even the world, your country's interests..."

Before Ferdman could finish speaking, Felix interrupted directly: "Not only the Russian Empire, but a powerful Commonwealth of Pope is also not good for us, you must know that rule breakers are often more annoying.

Hate. "

A staunch Great Germanist would naturally not have a favorable impression of the existence of secession. In the eyes of German nationalists, the existence of the Pope Federation is a cancer.

Prime Minister Felix is ​​the leader of the Great Deutschland introduced by Austria. It is necessary to oppose the general public, and naturally there is no need to give face.

However, everything is possible in the face of politics. As long as the interests are enough, there is nothing that cannot be discussed.

"Rule breakers" This is a joke, no one is much better than the other, and Austria would not have its current foundation if it followed the rules.

It's just that the Vienna government is the rule maker, and it left a back door for itself early, so it doesn't look so ugly.

Feldman was a little embarrassed, a flash of inspiration flashed in his mind, and he recovered immediately. I had been scolded for a long time in my heart, and I was almost caught in a routine.

This is a diplomatic meeting, and the bad attitude of Prime Minister Felix is ​​not a diplomatic means?

After this little episode, Feldman didn't have the heart to continue going around in circles. He was afraid that his heart would not be able to bear it.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, we are very sincere. As long as your country will stop supporting the Russians, post-war Ukraine and the Russian Balkans will be yours."

When it came to interests, Felix softened his attitude a little, and asked suspiciously: "Sincere, where is it? Why didn't I see it?

Taking the territory of the Russians as sincerity, and we have to send troops to take it ourselves, the sincerity of your country is really surprising! "

There is no need to do anything. The Commonwealth of Pubo supports Austria to obtain Ukraine and the Russian Balkans. It seems to be taking advantage of it, but it is actually a hidden mystery.

The two Russian-Prussian wars have completely awakened the Berlin government. The Russian Empire is a small force that cannot be beaten to death. Even if it wins this war, it will be revived in a short time.

If the cycle goes on like this, they don't have to do anything. In order to obtain a stable and developing international environment, we must find someone to share the hatred.

The most ideal ally is the Ottoman Empire, but unfortunately this mud can't support the wall, it's really not a good thing.

The second is the Nordic Federation. It is a pity that they offended and killed the Danes. If the Danes are holding back, it is impossible for the Nordic Federation to form an alliance with them.

Then there are the Central Asian countries and the Far Eastern Empire, which are similar to the Ottoman Empire, and they are not very good, and they won't do much to win over.

Austria was not originally an ally of the Berlin government, but the situation made it impossible. In order to win the war, they had to make the Vienna government give up supporting the Russians.

Being exposed, Feldman was not annoyed, and still smiled and said: "Your Excellency Prime Minister, you can't say that. We have severely damaged the tsarist government in the war, and your country's occupation of these areas is an armed parade.

If your country is willing, you can directly take it with the Volga River, and we will support it. "

Felix shook his head and opened the map to know where the "Volga River" is. Is that something that Austria can reach?

"We don't have as much appetite as your country. The Russian-Austrian friendship has a long history. We have no interest in the territory of the Russian Empire."

This is true, Felix has no interest in Russian territory, and the Vienna government has no intention of peeping.

Of course, if the Russians don't want it and insist on sending it over, no one will refuse.

After hesitating for a moment, it seemed that there was a fierce inner struggle, and Friedman said slowly: "What if you add the German Confederation?

As long as your country will stop supporting the Russians, we will no longer oppose your annexation of the German Confederation. "

The implication was that Felix had already heard it. "No more opposition" means in other words: no support, no opposition, acquiescence to the annexation of the German Confederation by Austria.

Frankly speaking, Prime Minister Felix was moved. However, it has not been shown. According to the current situation, the Berlin government can make such a commitment to the limit.

For the same thing, when the tsarist government was changed, no one was prepared to express their support directly.

There is no need to doubt Alexander II's determination to win the war, any hero is able to bend and stretch.

For the Russian Empire, European hegemony is the future, and the war is to be won first.

The same is true of the Pope Federation, but they are too influenced by the British to do that.

"Your Excellency's proposal is of no value, and if it were 1853 and you had such sincerity, the matter would have been resolved long ago.

Now, do you think your position is still important? As far as I know, the wounds of your country's last war have not been licked clean.

After this war, how long will your country need to cultivate, twenty or thirty years?

We really want to take action, what if you object? Do you dare to fight on the battlefield? "

This is not contempt, the reality is so cruel. Winning the war is just the beginning, and the Popo Federation still has a long way to go if it wants to regain its strength.

Can't you just gamble your entire wealth in order to interfere in Austria?

With Colombia's lessons learned, there is no guarantee that the Vienna government will change its mind and stop after beating them.

The chips also depend on the time when they are thrown, even if it is priceless, if it appears at the wrong time, it is worthless.

Feldman's expression changed slightly, and then he recovered: "Your Excellency Prime Minister, it depends on what you think. If these conditions don't make you tempted, what if the Russians win the war?

Throughout the world, there are

There are not many power threats to your country, and the Russian Empire happens to be one of them.

How long has it been since Alexander II reformed, and the Russians walked out of the last war. If you let them win the war and continue to develop, can your country rest assured?

The greed of the Tsarist government for land is endless. Open the map to know how long the border between your country and the Russian Empire is, and friction in the future is inevitable.

Instead of leaving a hidden danger, remove them now. Your country can also take the opportunity to enter the Black Sea. It is only a matter of time before the Black Sea becomes an inland sea with your country's strength, and no one has the ability to stop it. "

Friedman expressed the concerns of the Vienna government. The Russians have too much development potential, and no one knows what pregnancy will be born in such a huge territory.

In contrast, the threat of the Commonwealth is much smaller. Even if they win the war, they will not be able to eat much land with their national strength. It will take at least decades to become a real big country.

This is still an ideal state. Austria has also come step by step. The Vienna government knows better than anyone the difficulty of ethnic integration.

It can be said that the more the Popo Federation took from the Russian Empire, the more serious the national problems in the country would be.

The dual empire is not so easy to play. An active Polish nation is enough. If you add some nations, what is the difference from the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the original time and space?

It is not even as good as the Austro-Hungarian Empire. At least the Habsburg family has been in business for hundreds of years, and its rule has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. There are not many people who are really independent.

After a moment of silence, Felix shook his head: "Your Excellency Minister, you are wrong. Austria has always been neutral and has never supported the Russians.

What you see is just normal commercial trade. As a member of the free trade system, we will not interfere in the market.

If your country wants to cut off the supply of supplies to the Russians, then pay for it. As long as you buy all the supplies, the Russians will not be able to buy them. "

Ferdman's face darkened. He knew very well that Felix was tempted just now, but he still refused, and he didn't even have the opportunity to negotiate further.