Chapter 489

Fairspring Palace

Prince Wendisch Grätz marked the Osman army's retreat route on the map. Then a large group of people from the Government of Austria stared at the map in a daze.

That's right, they were in a daze, and they were stunned. Anyone who understood the details of the situation would be surprised by the Osman Empire's current actions.

It was very normal to shrink the defensive line, but the Osman's approach this time was obviously too much.

It was understandable to give up the northern plains of Serbia. A flat plain couldn't stop the Austrian army's attack. But why did they give up the southern mountains, the Kosovo region, and Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Even if they only left a small number of troops, organized a group of militia, and used the terrain advantage to slow down the Austrian army's advance.

If the situation was not good, they could also go up the mountain and attack the Austrian logistics line. It could be said that this was the most basic military knowledge.

Not to mention other areas, at least in Bosnia and Serbia, the Osman Empire still had a large number of supporters. It was simply a godly operation to give up just like that.

If they gave up, then they gave up. Why did they leave Belgrade in the middle? No matter how important this city was, if they gave up on all directions, could a lone city still be able to defend it?

Anyway, Franz couldn't understand what the Osman was planning. Whether it was military or political, it shouldn't be done this way.

This was similar to that, giving up ….

Thinking that he was not smart enough, Franz asked, "Who can tell me, what is the Osman trying to do?"

Metternich guessed, "Your Majesty, it may be that after the defeat in Bulgaria, the Osman government panicked and wanted to concentrate their forces to deal with the Russians, so they made this decision in a hurry.

The unlucky guy who stayed in Belgrade was most likely the loser in the Osman Empire's power struggle and was tricked by their political opponents.

Even now, Belgrade may not have 20,000 troops. It may be a group of rotten melons deliberately sent there to die. "

It was not surprising that these things happened in the magical country of the Osman Empire. The Government of Sudan's performance was not bad. At least they didn't abandon the capital and still organized the army to fight against the Russians. What they gave up was only the "uncivilized wilderness."

Everyone nodded. If normal logic didn't make sense, then it could only be that there was a problem with the Government of Sudan. It seemed that in everyone's impression, they were only at this level.

It could only be said that the Sudanese government had done too many stupid things, and adding one more was not so unacceptable. As one of the world's two strange empires, it would be a problem if they didn't do something ridiculous.

Franz waved his hand and said, "Let's just say that the Ottoman government is stupid. What should we do now? Should we send troops to follow behind the Ottoman army to reclaim our homeland, or should we find an excuse to not move? "

Don't ask why it became the recovery of the homeland. Just look at Franz's long list of titles, and you can always find the legal basis if you look carefully.

It didn't matter if it was a little far-fetched. This thing was originally used as a fig leaf to prove that Austria didn't start a war of aggression and was instead recovering their homeland.

It didn't matter if it was a little far-fetched. This thing was originally used as a fig leaf to prove that Austria didn't launch an invasion but was recovering their homeland.

These places, even if they weren't ruled by the House of Habsburg, were ruled by families that had been connected by marriage. As long as it was necessary, it could always be verified.

Franz didn't expect the European countries to recognize it. It would be fine as long as he could fool some of the locals, or provide an excuse for those who wanted to join the Austrians.

There were many pretentious people in this world. Everyone wanted face. Setting things right and restoring the orthodoxy was a good reason.

Currently, progress in Moldavia and Wallachia was very good. Those who were willing to join Austria had recognized Franz's orthodoxy.

Those who weren't willing to join Austria were naturally the remnants of the Osman Empire. They were targets of attack. With the help of the Guides, they were almost suppressed.

Successful ruling experience could be replicated. Since they could use the Austrianized Romanians to rule Romania, they could also use the Austrianized Serbs to rule Serbia.

As if thinking of something, Franz added, "Let me state in advance that Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina are not within our target this time.

Austria doesn't have such a good appetite. No matter what the final result is, we won't annex these areas this time! "

Prime Minister Felix said, "Your Majesty, we've already come to this point. If we want to put on a show, we have to go all the way.

Arm a group of reserve troops and take over the territories that the Osman gave up first. Even if we have to give up in the future, we can fight for our interests at the negotiating table. "

In order not to split the main force, they could use the reserve troops at this time. Austria had a large number of reserve troops. It was easy to transfer tens of thousands of people.

The combat power of these troops was limited. They might be at a disadvantage against the British and French coalition, but they wouldn't be afraid against the Osman army.

Franz could proudly say that the training of the Austrian reserve troops was better than that of the regular Osman army.

Minister of Finance Carr shook his head and said, "It's not that simple. The Osman are prepared.

According to the information we received, the roads and bridges in these areas were destroyed by the Osman. They also destroyed the farmland and burned the food and supplies that they couldn't take away. In the end, they forced a large number of young men to leave.

We have occupied these areas and can't get any local reinforcements. It's even difficult to find labor to repair the roads.

We even have to take out a large amount of food to help the war refugees. The Osman is planning to use this to stall us.

But in fact, we don't plan to continue the war. Occupying these areas will bring us a heavy financial burden. We can only wait for the benefits at the negotiating table after the war.

I don't think the benefits at the negotiating table can make up for our current expenses. It's better to support a local regime. We're not going to annex this place anyway. "

In the face of the Osman Empire's tactic of sacrificing three thousand to kill eight hundred enemy, Franz had to admit that he was convinced.

After such a torment, even if they could protect these areas in the future, they wouldn't be able to rule them in peace.

Of course, it could also be said that they had foresight. They knew that the The Balkans couldn't be saved, so they simply abandoned it and concentrated their forces on defending the core areas along the strait.

Since they had to abandon it, they certainly couldn't leave the good things to the enemy. If it wasn't for the fact that the city was built of stone and couldn't be burned, they would have learned from Dong Zhuo and burned the city down.

Prince Wendisch Gretz objected, "No! Even if these areas are left in the hands of the Osman, it's better than establishing a local regime.

In the hands of the Osman, they won't have the people's support, and we can take it back at any time. If they are independent, it will be easy to annex these areas in the future, but it will be difficult to rule them.

The territory of the European continent is basically stable, and the only place we can continue to expand is the The Balkans. This road must not be blocked.

This concerns the future of Austria's long-term development. Once the overseas colonial strategy is blocked, we can only seek expansion in the The Balkans.

In this era of great war, we are sailing against the current. If we don't move forward, we will fall back. The space for future development must be left. "

After listening to Prince Wendisch Gretz's explanation, Franz's eyes lit up. Sure enough, those who could leave such a great reputation in history had their own strengths.

Prince Wendisch Gretz's military ability may only be considered average, but he was very accurate in the strategic vision of the country's development.

Especially that sentence, "the space for future development must be left." In Franz's opinion, it was very classic.

In a capitalist economy, if the road to external expansion was blocked, then it could only rely on internal development. This meant that external plunder would become internal oppression, and then disaster would come.

Why did the Germans challenge the world order in history? Was it really because of ambition?

The reality was very cruel. Germany had already developed to the limit. If they didn't provoke a war, then there were only two fates waiting for them:

Either the internal contradictions intensified, a revolution broke out, and the wealth was redistributed;

Or they artificially compressed the speed of development and used extraordinary means to survive the crisis, then slowly declined.

Neither of these fates was acceptable to the Frankberg government. In the absence of industrial raw materials and commodity sales markets, in order to obtain space for continued development, they chose war.

"From a military point of view, taking down Belgrade is very important for Austria's national security. The Pannonian Plain will be safe once this city is in control," Marshal Radski analyzed.

The Pannonian Plain was located in Hungary, Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia, and Ukraine. The surrounding areas included Slovenia and Bosnia.

This was where Austria's granary was located, and its strategic significance was very important. Occupying Belgrade would not only solve the military threat from the The Balkans, but also turn passivity into initiative. Strategically, they could advance and retreat at will.

With such a strategic location in the hands of the Osman, Franz was very assured. The declining Osman Empire did not have the courage to cause trouble. If it were a new Balkan country, it would be difficult to say.

In history, the Balkan countries had all performed the same method of suicide. If this little brother that was supported stabbed Austria in the back at a critical moment, it would be fatal.

Franz did not dare to gamble on their moral integrity. In the face of national interests, all kindness and righteousness were empty, only interests were real.

A Greater Serbia doctrine would cause the new regime and Austria to part ways and become irreconcilable enemies. It was impossible for Franz to give half of Austria to his little brother, right?

Franz said righteously, "The Serbian region must not be established as an independent country. No matter the price, we can't let the The Balkans have a superpower rise. If there is one, then it can only be Austria.

If I had to choose, I would rather let the Osman occupy the The Balkans, or divide the Balkans with Russia, than see them become independent.

Austria is a multi-ethnic country, and now is the critical moment of ethnic integration. The establishment of any independent country may bring uncontrollable consequences.

The nationalism in the Balkans has just sprouted, and we can't give them the space to grow. At least, the Serbs and Romanians can't become independent.

Otherwise, you can think about what the Serbs and Romanians in the country would think if an independent Serbia or Romania appeared. "

Perhaps in his previous life, Franz had sympathized with the The Balkans, but that didn't exist anymore.

In this era of the law of the jungle, everyone was desperately trying to strengthen themselves. It had nothing to do with right or wrong, only interests.

Looking at it from another perspective, the struggle of the Balkan countries in history was very sad, but the conflict of interests was too serious. Giving in meant death, so they could only fight.

Unfortunately, because they focused too much on immediate interests, the Balkan countries failed in the end, and none of them achieved their goals.

It didn't matter if the other ethnic groups in the Balkans became independent, since there weren't many in Austria. Only the Serbs and Romanians couldn't. These two ethnic groups added up to nearly nine percent.

It wasn't easy to open the prelude to assimilation. If there were two independent countries, and he didn't want anything to happen, then the only thing Franz could do was to send all these people back to the two countries.

Franz couldn't do such a stupid thing. He didn't forget that in history, the Austro-Hungarian Empire supported the independence of Serbia and Romania, and then buried themselves in the hole they dug.