Chapter 859

Once the people were in an uproar, the whole world knew what the French wanted to do. As Belgium and Germany began to prepare for war, the other neighbors were not idle either.

Switzerland recruited 50,000 militia for military training for six months; Spain expanded five infantry divisions and announced that they would be used to suppress colonial rebellions.

The Government of Austria announced that the retirement of this year's soldiers would be delayed by half a year, and at the same time, anti-invasion exercises would be conducted nationwide.

Although it was not explicitly stated, everyone knew that this was aimed at the French. The situation on the European continent suddenly became tense, and the Government of France, in the center of the storm, was embarrassed.

Explanation?

That would only make things worse. Even though they knew that the French's target was most likely Belgium and Germany, everyone still raised their vigilance, afraid that the French would play a trick.

Affected by the tense situation in Europe, the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs became lively. European countries expressed their positions, hoping that Austria could balance France's ambitions.

Franz had never been interested in the same diplomatic rhetoric. After flipping through it, he frowned and asked, "Is there any substantive content?

This kind of meaningless spiritual support can only be used to fool children. It is meaningless to us. "

There was no specific support mentioned. In any case, it was supporting Austria and France against each other. It would be best if the two countries of FAO and Germany suffered losses so that everyone could live in peace.

Naturally, there was no content after that in the diplomatic note, but Franz could also imagine. In all fairness, this was not too much.

If their positions were switched, from the standpoint of the European countries, Franz would also encourage the two countries of Fao and Germany to kill each other.

Meaningless support was better than nothing. At least it proved that Austria's popularity was good and not isolated.

When necessary, it could also be used to boost morale, increase one's justice, and gain an advantage in public opinion.

Foreign Minister Wesenberg said, "Yes! The Duchy of Baden invited us to station troops and jointly defend against the French invasion. Belgium proposed that the three countries conduct a military exercise to deter the French's ambitions. "

Since ancient times, inviting foreign troops to garrison had always been a matter of great political risk.

Baden bypassed the central government to invite Austria to station troops, but Franz was still slightly surprised. But considering the complicated relationship between the two countries, he did not find it strange.

Although the Holy Roman Empire had collapsed for decades, the brand did not fall, especially after the rise of nationalism. The Holy Roman Empire was the legal basis of Greater Germany.

Generally speaking, the main opposition to foreign troops was nationalism, but in the eyes of Baden's nationalism, Austria was also one of them.

The internal threat was gone, and the external German Federal Government had no right to interfere with Baden's internal affairs. If the central government was unhappy, they could just send troops to guard the borders.

The Empire Parliament was still in progress, and the various states were arguing over the distribution of troops. As the central government, Hanover was already under pressure to defend the Rhineland. It would be too difficult for them to send reinforcements to Baden.

Other than these factors, the core reason why the Baden dared to invite Austria to station troops was because of in-law.

Austria could swallow anyone, but it was impossible for them to swallow Baden. Otherwise, the Habsburg Dynasty would not be able to mingle in the aristocratic circle.

After thinking for a while, Franz shook his head and said, "Both proposals are unrealistic. "Both proposals are unrealistic. Stationing troops in Baden will not only provoke the French, but it will also worsen our relationship with the German Confederation.

Once the French advance to the east, the German Confederation will be the best meat shield. What we need to do now is to encourage them to fight the French to the death, not to take the pressure on them.

The Belgian drill plan is even more unreliable. The number of troops involved is too much money. The French have not attacked yet, and they do not have the courage to find trouble with the French.

If the number of troops involved is small, not only will it not intimidate the French, but it will also arouse their ambition. Maybe the French government will take the initiative and directly kill the troops participating in the exercise. "

Without a doubt, these were all excuses. There was only one real reason. Franz did not want to be a fool and be the first to fight against the French.

Human nature could not withstand the test. Although everyone was talking pretty now, if they really defeated the French, the target of everyone's defense would be Austria.

Instead of contributing, it would be better to sit at home and wait for the situation to develop. After Bede and Germany were beaten up by the French, the situation would be very different if they helped them.

Prime Minister Carr said worriedly, "The situation in France has changed too suddenly, and some people can't understand it. I always feel that someone is manipulating behind the scenes.

The French were led by public opinion, which stimulated their self-esteem, and it is understandable that they want to take tough measures against Germany and Germany.

But why did the Italians go there? I don't believe that they have such a strong sense of belonging to the Government of France. "

France had annexed Italy for less than 20 years. The older generation was still alive, and the younger generation also grew up in that special era. It was a joke to talk about a sense of belonging.

It was true that the Bonaparte family came from Italy, but their foundation was too shallow, and they had no power in the Regions of Italy.

Apart from the influence left by the Napoleonic era, it could be said that they had nothing. To convert influence into strength, it could not be done without the cooperation of others.

The Italian capitalists who originally supported the Government of France were directly pushed to the opposite side because they lost the competition with French capital.

If it wasn't for the deterrence of the strength of France, the Regions of Italy would have long been in flames of war. At least the royal families of the countries that were overthrown wanted to regain their power.

Foreign Minister Wesenberg explained, "The embassy in Rome has already figured out the problem of the Regions of Italy.

There is the shadow of the Italian Independence Organization behind them. They are involved to provoke a European war and create an opportunity for the independence of the Regions of Italy.

From the source of the activity funds, the clues point directly to the United Kingdom. Combined with the current international situation, the Government of the United Kingdom does have the motive to provoke a European war. "

The activity funds were easy to check. The Italian Independence Organization had two major financiers. The Government of Austria didn't pay, so it must be the Government of the United Kingdom that paid.

Even if other countries wanted to, they didn't have the guts. If the news was leaked, they would be blamed for provoking a European war. That could crush people to death.

Finance Minister Mark Leo von Joseph said, "The truth is no longer important. The key is, is it possible to avoid a war?

If possible, it's best to push back the time by another ten years, even five years. Then we can kill the French in one go. "

Getting rid of the French in one go was the ideal situation. The fact that the war against France didn't really get rid of France was enough to explain a lot of problems.

On the European continent, it was easy to defeat a country, but it was difficult to completely get rid of a country. Putting aside the price to be paid on the battlefield, the key was international intervention.

For a large European country like France, if they couldn't get rid of it in one go, there would be endless troubles if they stayed.

Austria didn't have the power to ignore the intervention of the European countries. This meant that after the war with the French, there would be one more mortal enemy in the west.

Otherwise, Austria would have hit the French when they were down during the Paris Revolution. There would be no need to wait until now.

Wesenberg shook his head, "I'm afraid you have to ask the French this question. If they want to implement the Central European strategy, this war is inevitable.

Judging from the current situation, we must prepare for the worst. I'm afraid that just deterrence won't be able to dispel the French's ambitions. "

Austria's Near East development plan had already begun to show its brilliance. Ordinary people didn't feel it deeply, but it couldn't be hidden from the shrewd politicians.

The Tsarist government was tricked into coming to Central Asia. Half of the reason was to recover Central Asia and wash away the previous humiliation, and the other half was because they were forced to do so.

Seeing their neighbor, Austria, growing stronger day by day, and the Russian Empire deteriorating day by day, anyone would feel the pressure.

If there was no choice, then Russia and Austria would definitely go their separate ways and end up on opposite sides because of the strategic conflict.

But at this time, the British came knocking on their door. The Tsarist government, who originally planned to stop after recovering Central Asia, saw the poor performance of the British army, couldn't resist the temptation of India and rushed forward.

From a strategic point of view, the Tsarist government's decision was not wrong. Fighting the British on land definitely had a higher chance of winning than fighting Austria, and the benefits of defeating the British were far greater than the benefits of defeating Austria.

In any case, as long as they annexed India, the shortcomings of the Russian Empire would be made up, and they naturally wouldn't have to be afraid of Austria.

Russia took the initiative to attack, and the British passively responded. Among the big countries, only the Fao and France had free time.

After the production crisis broke out, the British provoked the French interest groups and ambitious people who suffered heavy losses couldn't help it.

The problem was pointed out, and the politicians couldn't be ostriches even if they wanted to. If they didn't complete the strategy of Central Europe, in the future international competition, France would always be in a disadvantageous position.

Franz, who was silent for a long time, slowly said, "Don't look forward to it. At this point, the Government of France has no choice.

Unless the Government of France is a group of people without the slightest ambition, and only want to eat and wait for death, war will break out sooner or later.

From now on, the country enters a state of Level 3 alert. From now on, all military enterprises would have to start operating.

Local governments must register the retired officers and soldiers in their jurisdiction, and the government must ensure that within a week after the outbreak of war, they can mobilize 500,000 reserve soldiers.

Order the governor of the Middle East and the governor of East Africa to prepare for war. Once the French invade Central Europe, they will seize the Suez Canal and Egypt.

Inform the state governments to hold an imperial conference on the 11th of next month to discuss the issue of resisting the French invasion. "

No matter where the French attack was, Franz made up his mind to go to the Suez Canal.

As for other areas in Africa, they were not strategic locations, and there was a vast desert as a barrier, so Franz was not interested for the time being.

For the Government of Vienna, the upcoming war was both a disaster and an opportunity.

Before this, the Government of Vienna only got the right to issue money and customs, and the command of the army was the emperor's, and the central government had no right to intervene.

Although the judicial system was unified, in order to protect the judicial justice from outside interference, the new Holy Roman Empire's judicial system was independent of the government, including the court, anti-corruption bureau, and other judicial departments, all of which only needed to report to the emperor.

Under this background, the central government was naturally powerless against the highly autonomous state governments.

In addition to influencing through economic means, the Government of Vienna had never issued a formal administrative order to the state governments.

Theoretically speaking, if the state's government caused the wrath of the people, the central government could also intervene.

Unfortunately, Austria enjoyed the dividends of expansion. In recent years, the overall economic development of Austria was good, and the reputation of the state governments was good, so the central government had no chance to intervene.

But it was different now. Once the war broke out, the state governments had no way to refuse the central government's unification, especially the frontline states. Without the support of the central government, they could not withstand the war.

As for how to do it, it was a problem between the cabinet and the state governments. The struggle for power had always been fought, and no one would come to the door if they did not move.