Chapter 753

The war in the Near East broke out again. Countries that didn't want to see Austria continue to expand also took action. How to be efficient and meaningful was also an art.

London

The British cabinet gathered in the Prime Minister's official residence on Downing Street. Prime Minister Gelston took out a stack of top-secret documents and distributed them to everyone.

"This is the Austrian battle plan. The intelligence department paid a heavy price to get it. I hope it will help us in our next operation."

They did pay a heavy price. This semi-public battle plan was almost published in the newspapers in Vienna.

The British intelligence personnel spent a total of 50,000 pounds to get the preliminary plan. Don't ask where the money was spent. Information was priceless.

Everyone didn't speak and read it carefully. There wasn't much content in the document. It was only a general plan and didn't involve specific combat parts.

Robert, the Minister of the Navy, frowned. The beard on his face was particularly eye-catching. "According to this battle plan, the Austrians won the war without spending much.

With the few broken ships of the Osman Empire, they don't even have the ability to fight back against the Austrians. After losing the sea power, the allied forces can land in any area at any time.

According to the intelligence obtained by the navy, the Osman Empire has at least 30 ports suitable for the landing of the army. The actual number may be more.

To defend so many places, at least a million troops are needed. With the strength of the Osman Empire, it's impossible to do this.

Once the coastal areas are eroded, a large number of war refugees will be produced. The Osman Empire will soon be dragged down. This scorched earth plan is too vicious. "

Everyone understood Robert's words. Criticizing the Austrian battle plan was secondary. The main purpose was to emphasize the importance of "sea power."

No one objected. Sea power was indeed very important to the British Empire. The experience of the Osman Empire only proved this point again.

Prime Minister Gelston nodded. "That's right. The Austrian's plan is indeed very sinister. If we don't find a way to interfere, it won't be long before the Osman Empire collapses.

And it will be a complete collapse. It won't even be able to consume Austria's strength. Without this nail in the back, it will be even more difficult for us to balance Austria. "

He picked up a baton and pointed it at the map on the wall. "Everyone can look at this world map. It's marked on it.

These blue areas were the colonies of Austria's forces or spheres of influence. It's only been 20 years, and Austria is already a colonial power second only to us.

The issue of overseas colonial expansion was not urgent. Now that the world was more or less divided, what was left were some hard bones or relatively low-value areas.

"Looking back at Europe, this is the situation of Europe after the Prussian War. "Looking back at the European continent, the Russian Empire was suppressed and its influence was suppressed in Eastern Europe.

The Kingdom of Prussia has risen, and France has revived. At present, the European countries are restraining each other, and with our mediation, the overall balance can be maintained.

But they still couldn't let their guard down. From the end of the war against France until now, the Austrians had always been the dominant force on the European continent through diplomatic means.

If it was Austria 20 years ago, then it would be a good thing. They helped us achieve balance in Europe.

However, the situation had changed in the past decade. The foreign policy of the Vienna government had become incomprehensible, and their strategic goals had become vague.

"There are only two countries in the world that have the power to threaten Britannia's hegemony." He pointed the baton twice on the map. It was France and Austria.

Taking a step back, Gelston's expression became serious. "In today's world, there are only two countries that have the power to threaten Britain's hegemony." The baton tapped twice on the map. It was France and Austria.

"According to the intelligence from Paris, Napoleon III is bedridden. The Crown Prince is still young and can't control the many forces in the country. "Intelligence from Paris says that Napoleon Iii is bedridden. The crown prince is young and can't suppress the many forces in the country.

"Austria is different. The domestic political situation is stable. Franz is in the prime of his life. Now he's ambitious to launch a war in the Near East.

"Once the Osman Empire collapses, the Government of Vienna's next goal will definitely be to annex the German Confederation.

"They chose a good time. Prussia and Russia are mutually restraining and opposing each other. It's impossible for them to interfere. France is in the process of transferring power. For stability, it's very likely that they won't intervene.

"The rest of the European countries are fence-sitters. They can wave flags and shout war cries, but it's too difficult for them to keep Austria in check. "Even if we want to interfere, we won't be able to."

"This is the problem that the British are most worried about. Austria unifies the German Region and will be the most powerful country in Europe. They don't know where to start to balance it.

"This isn't the original time and space. We can use the hatred of France and Germany. "The European countries aren't stupid. Without enough benefits, why would they rush to fight Austria?

"The Government of Vienna is also good at diplomacy. Franz has been in power for so many years, and Austria has never been isolated.

"The Vienna system has been established twice. It can be established a third time. With Prussia and Russia opposing each other, the Osman Empire falling, and France fighting, the success rate of establishing Austria's European hegemony is very high.

Foreign Affairs Minister Macklin: "From the Empire's standpoint, we cannot let the Ottoman Empire be finished no matter what. "Just supporting the Osman Empire isn't enough. The difference in strength between the two sides is too big. The Government of Sudan won't be able to hold on for long.

"It's too difficult to directly attack Austria. We can only think of a way through Prussia, France, and Russia. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is lobbying the Government of Berlin to create a conflict on the Prussia and Russia border. The Central Asian countries can also move and find a way to make the Russians withdraw from the war.

"Once the Russians withdraw from the war, we will join forces with the French to conduct military exercises in the Mediterranean Sea and pretend to interfere to deter the Government of Vienna.

"Franz doesn't like to take risks. No matter what he does, he has to plan before he acts. This is a strength and a weakness. "As long as we create enough momentum and pull the European countries to mediate, the possibility of Austria giving up is very high.

"If the plan fails, we will create trouble overseas and divert the Government of Vienna's attention.

"Austria's colonial system isn't invulnerable. We can't touch Austria's Africa and Central America, but it's different in other areas."

"It sounds like a good plan, but where are our interests? We can't spend so much money and get nothing out of it, right?" Minister of the Exchequer Lloyd asked.

"The biggest characteristic of British diplomacy is pragmatism. It's not a problem to suppress Austria, but it can't harm Britannia's own interests.

Roping in the European countries isn't a matter of words. There is a price to pay. Even if the small countries help wave the flag, they also need to pay an appearance fee. There is a cost to this.

Especially the last method, which is to directly attack the Austrian colonies, requires a larger investment.

The benefits don't matter. Austria's most fertile colonies can't be touched. The leftovers are cold and there is no return at all.

In Alaska, it was ice. At most, they would have some fur or catch a few fish. If Britannia is interested, it would have been in their hands in the last century. There is no need to wait until now.

Patagonia isn't much better. The colonial stronghold that the Spanish gave up is obviously a loss.

Argentina and Chile are somewhat interested in this land, but they don't have the guts to snatch it from Austria. Or rather, the temptation is not enough.

Austria's Southeast Asia is relatively more fertile, but the cost of seizing it is too high. They can't even find thugs in the surrounding areas, unless the British do it themselves.

However, considering the cost, even if the plan succeeds, Britannia will lose money. Not only will they lose money, but they will also gain an enemy.

The investment is worth it to suppress Austria. The most troublesome thing is that if they don't fight, the Fao and Austria will be forced to move closer to each other. That will be a big loss.

Macklin stood up, walked to the hanging map, and drew a circle with his hand.

"This is the map of Austria now. Compared to the First Near Eastern War, it has doubled."

He then pointed on the map. "This is the Suez Canal. Once the Osman Empire is finished, Austria's power will spread to the Indian Ocean.

On one side of the Suez Canal is Austria's Sinai Peninsula, and on the other side is France's Egypt. The second exit of the Mediterranean Sea has nothing to do with us. I'm sure everyone has their own thoughts!

This operation may not hurt Austria's strength, but we can at least stretch our hands into the Suez Canal and change the Fao and Austria's joint management to the Fao and Austria's joint management. What do you think? "

The Fao and Austria's Suez Canal are closely watched by the two countries. They don't give the British a chance to intervene at all. If they want to intervene, they must first alienate the Fao.

The Government of London has been trying, but the results have been little. Although there are many pro-British people in the Government of Paris, being pro-British does not mean that they will betray their country.

Napoleon Iii is not easy to deal with. When it comes to the Suez Canal, he will not talk to the British. There is no room for discussion, let alone intervene.

Not to mention Austria, Franz regards the Suez Canal as his lifeblood. The Government of Vienna is thinking about how to monopolize the Suez Canal. How can the British intervene?

…

In Paris, the bedridden Napoleon Iii has no time to care about the war in the Near East. He has reached the last moment of his life. The ministers do not dare to bother him with these problems.

If the Emperor was provoked during the report and accepted the lunchbox, he would become a sinner. The current Napoleon Iii is not the unlucky guy who was ousted from the throne in the original time and space. The French people still support the Emperor.

Even if the little Emperor is generous and doesn't care, the spittle outside can kill. In short, the Emperor's recovery is far more important than the war in the Near East.

Crown Prince Eugène, who is in charge of government affairs, is influenced by Napoleon Iii. In uncertain situations, he chooses "stability" and responds to changes by remaining unchanged.

Shouting slogans is fine. The Government of Paris has been calling for restraint on both sides, but not actual actions. It seems that the Government of London is following the lead, waiting for the British to act so that they can wave the flag and shout.

The French's motionless approach is very troublesome for the British. They are really not used to not having this fighter at the forefront!

…

In the Palace of Vienna, Franz put down the newspaper in his hand, "The people of Prussia still haven't acted?"

The reaction of the British and French is within Franz's expectations, but he does not understand the Government of Berlin's approach.

If it is said that the people of Prussia have no ambitions for Poland, Franz will not believe it even if he is beaten to death. But if you have ambitions, you should take action. The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has appeared, but the Government of Berlin has not moved at all. What is this?

Could it be that William I saw through his plan? This is not right. Even if the people of Prussia see through the plan, they can't refuse to annex Poland.

Even if they are worried that the Polish nationalism is too strong, this will not affect the two countries. At most, there will be two sets of government teams, each managing their own.

There are many examples like this. The original Austro-Hungarian Empire is an upgraded version of the common monarch system and a degenerated version of the unified empire.

Intelligence chief Teren: "No. We have kept an eye on the Government of Berlin. So far, they have not taken any action.

Right, recently, there have been more meetings in the Berlin Palace, and sometimes they will be held late into the night. The people of Prussia have strictly blocked the news, and no one knows the specific contents of the meeting.

According to the observation of the intelligence personnel, the people who attended the meeting looked more serious after coming out, and some even had gloomy faces. The initial judgment is that there should be a dispute. "

It is good that there is abnormal action. The most terrible thing is that there is no movement at all. For a big country, as long as they do not make big mistakes, it is difficult for the outside world to defeat them.