Chapter 1076: Head-On Confrontation
The ministers of the Austrian Empire were much more angry than Emperor Franz about the decision of the Frankfurt National Assembly.
Especially Count Tural and Prince Felix Schwarzenberg, the two former leaders of German nationalists, who wished to send all those guys who waved the banner of nationalism to hell.
No one took the mob of the German Confederation seriously. In their eyes, those miscellaneous troops were not worth mentioning at all, and they sneered at the 700,000 troops claimed by the National Assembly.
"700,000 people? Just 700,000 stray dogs! What right do these useless people who dare not go home to challenge the authority of the empire?
We can let the Italian Corps go north, and cooperate with the troops in Salzburg to deal with those self-righteous guys."
Count Tural spoke more directly and did not think much about it. Prince Schwarzenberg sneered at the side.
"700,000? Where did they get 700,000 people? If there are really 700,000 pigs in that small place of Frankfurt, then we don't have to fight at all. After a few months of defense, they will have nothing to eat.
It's good enough that they have half the troops they boast about, but this is an opportunity for our Austrian Empire.
We should let those princes who are watching from the sidelines see the fate of the traitors. Our country should immediately stop food aid to the German states and stop trade with them.
And sign an agreement with Russia to stop it from sending food and other necessities to the German region."
Count Tural didn't like the new prime minister who spoke equally bluntly at all, and he immediately retorted.
"Mr. Prime Minister, do you think the moral integrity of the Russians is much stronger than that of the British? How could those profit-seeking guys give up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?
The Russians have always wanted to expand their influence to the west, and we can't give them this opportunity!"
"The Russians are just a group of profit-seeking guys, so we just need to promise them some benefits."
Prince Schwarzenberg said calmly, but Count Tural's anger was ignited again.
"Benefits? The Russians are so greedy, how much do we have to sacrifice in exchange for the Russians' promise?"
"Mr. Count, when did I say that my country needs to make sacrifices?"
"What did you say? You mean.
Prince Schwarzenberg smiled.
"Yes, we can give them the land of the Ottoman Empire. Anyway, for the Russians, whether from the Balkans or the Anatolian Plateau, as long as they can reach Constantinople, it will be fine. "
This time, Count Tural was speechless, but in Franz's opinion, His Excellency the Prince still lacked experience in politics.
The Russians have coveted the market in the German region for a long time, but they will not give up the land of the Ottoman Empire. In the end, the Russians will most likely choose to take it all, pretending to accept the conditions to seek Austria's support, while entering the German market.
For Franz, the most reasonable way is to quickly end the civil strife and restart trade barriers to keep the Russians out.
Due to the tradition of the Austrian Empire and the recent combat experience, they feel that defense is more beneficial to the Austrian Empire.
Prince Schwarzenberg is not a simple politician. He has been the deputy of Marshal Radetzky. , in fact, he was a senior staff officer, so he had a strong say in the war.
Other ministers had no say in the war, but they could ensure the normal operation of the department and were fully capable of dealing with the next war.
The economy of the Austrian Empire recovered quickly, or it was not damaged at all. The rebellion in Prague did not leave Prague at all, so it naturally did not affect the surrounding provinces.
Although the Taffi family also funded the establishment of a local guard, there was no rebellion in Moravia, so Taffi's father naturally did not have his leg broken in the battle.
Galicia was guarded by Count Stadion, and the refugees who had just obtained land in the Austrian Empire were facing the empire. With an extremely firm belief.
In 1848, Galicia was not affected by the storm, but created one miracle after another in its rapid development.
The floodplain that had been uncontrolled for thousands of years became a vast expanse of fertile land, millions of refugees settled here, and a city called "Canaan" rose from the ground.
The most serious loss in the Austrian Principality was in Vienna, and other places were just small fights. After the Vienna Rebellion ended, these people calmed down.
The Italian region was the first area Franz pacified, and a large number of intensive battles occurred, causing a large number of casualties.
However, the most abundant thing in northern Italy is people. Ports, railways, and factories are all operating normally, which is enough for the country.
The storm of 1848 had little impact on the normal economic structure of the Austrian Empire. Coupled with the crazy exploitation of colonies, if it were not for the need to help other countries, there would even be an oversupply.
However, it was a miracle that the tone within the Austrian Empire was so consistent at this time. After all, when discussing sending troops to Hungary, some people still had the illusion that it could be resolved peacefully.
However, no one had any objection to going to war with the German Confederation, and no one stood up to speak well for them.
It is much easier to do things with unified thoughts, but Franz was not prepared to adopt a defensive strategy. The reason is simple. At this time, the German princes were all watching and they would help whoever won.
That’s right, the princes in the German region have very crooked butts. They are the same as the great nobles in the Austrian Empire. They have reached the point of being obsessed with limiting the imperial power.
And these people always believe that the capitalists need them and will be willing to share power with them, just like the British royal family.
In particular, some small states have begun to bet on both sides, and King William II of the Netherlands has begun to hesitate. Should he reconsider the issue of the Texas Express?
"It's time to strike. We want to restore order to the world."
Franz's words were a bit abrupt, but everyone with a discerning eye knew that His Majesty the Emperor was just expressing an attitude. For the Austrian Empire, orthodoxy is too important.
"You mean to take the initiative?"
"Yes, according to the latest intelligence, the German Federal Army claims to have 700,000 troops, but in fact there are only 250,000, including 100,000 new recruits from the Rhine region.
But due to the existence of railways, this number is growing every moment.
It is true that even if they really have 700,000 troops, they cannot break through Salzburg, but by that time, the sacrifices will not be just hundreds of thousands of people."
Franz's words made the ministers feel very complicated. They couldn't figure out whether His Majesty the Emperor was a nationalist.
Franz has been suppressing nationalists and even wants to go to war with the National Assembly at this time, but he behaves more like a nationalist than anyone else.
"Your Majesty, a wise decision!"
With Prime Minister Prince Schwarzenberg taking the lead, other ministers also echoed.
To be honest, the emperor has not been involved in the politics of this country for too long, and many ministers have just been promoted, so everyone is a little confused.
"Send an imperial edict to all states, asking them to confiscate the property of the traitors."
"Don't you want to ask for reinforcements? Wouldn't it be too much for our country to suffer if we fight the traitors alone?"
"No need, just follow the order."
The monarchs of those small states may not have the courage to take a stand against the National Assembly, but they are very confident to confiscate the assets of the members of the National Assembly and their related personnel in their own countries under the banner of the Austrian Empire.
On the other hand, a farmer who worked in Latin America has arrived in Berlin, and a man called the Prince of Shotgun has arrived at the same time.