Holy Roman Empire

The two sides are already mortal enemies, and there is no possibility of relaxation at all.Once the Russian Empire recovered, the Russo-Prussian War would break out again.

The Junker nobles are already mentally prepared to act first. They have already tasted the sweetness and want to get greater benefits from the Russians.

Without practice, it means that its own strength is not enough, and it is incapable of attacking the Russian Empire.

In the past two years, the relationship between Prussia and Austria has eased a lot. Austria is also secretly cheering up the Berlin government. Many pro-Austrian Junker nobles are also vanguards against Russia.

Anti-Russia is now the political correctness of the Kingdom of Prussia, and it is not surprising to do so.After all, everyone around you is anti-Russian. If you are not anti-Russian, you will attract everyone's attention.

After the expiration of the Russia-Austria alliance, Franz is considering whether to continue to renew the contract with the Russians.Due to geopolitical relations, conflicts of interest between the two countries will continue to increase in the future.

Franz had no confidence in the integrity of the Tsarist government.Alexander II was also an ambitious monarch, but he was unlucky, and he was forced to carry out social reforms just in time for the empire to turn from prosperity to decline.

This is almost a common problem of all heros, and their ambitions are relatively large.If the Russians are allowed to solve Poland and Prussia, Russia and Austria will turn their faces.

The French were led into the gutter, Napoleon III was too old to pave the way for his son, and it was unlikely that he would undertake military adventures at this time.

When Napoleon IV succeeded to the throne, the suppressed internal conflicts broke out, and the Italians wanted to fight for independence. It was God's blessing that France did not have a civil war, and it simply had no strength to stab Austria in the back.

The conflict between Prussia and Russia cannot be eased at all, and it would be foolish to want them to unite.The conflict of core interests will make them continue to fight each other.

The international situation has been decided, and Austria no longer has to worry about multi-line operations.At this time, the Russian-Austrian alliance with different ideas is a tasteless one for Austria.

As long as Austria does not engage in affairs in the European continent, there is no need to worry about being beaten by groups.There is no love and hate for no reason, and there is no besieged for no reason.

If the Russians fail again in the next Prussian-Prussian war, then this European steamroller will come to an end.There is no covenant constraint, which is just convenient for Austria to make trouble.

Conversely, if Prussia is defeated, the Junker nobles who have lost their roots will have to compromise with Austria and join the Shenluo Empire to protect themselves.

It seems that both endings are very good. As long as the French do not jump out of the Italian quagmire, Franz has nothing to fear.

After thinking about it, Franz still didn't reveal his thoughts.In the eyes of the outside world, Russia and Austria are still good allies, and Britain, France and Austria will soon become good allies.

There is usually a time limit for the alliance of European countries. Under normal circumstances, 30 years is considered a long time. The Russia-Austria alliance is such a long-term agreement.

This is only possible when the relationship between the two countries is quite good.However, even the best relationship can not stand the passing of time.

If the opposite side is not a hero like Alexander II, the relationship between Russia and Austria can still be maintained for many years.Unfortunately, there is no if in reality.

Facing an ambitious tsar, Franz could not have been vigilant.The butterfly effect is so great, who can guarantee that Alexander II will be assassinated and killed like the original time and space?

If he is allowed to continue to lead the Russian Empire, then sooner or later Russia and Austria will face each other because of their interests.No, the two sides are now on the same page.

If there is no shame, it means that the conflict of interests between the two parties is not big enough.For the sake of the big market of the Russian Empire, Franz has always maintained the covenant.

There are many points of conflict between the two sides, such as strategic conflicts.The Aegean Sea is now within the scope of Austria's strength. Whether it wants to or not, the task of guarding the Mediterranean gateway falls to Austria.

The influence of the British in the Mediterranean has been squeezed to the point of failure. If Russia is allowed in, the interests shared will be their own interests.

Needless to say, at this time the Russians wanted to expand their power in the Mediterranean, and Franz would not even provide a foothold.

It can be said that Napoleon III's calculations were successful.This is a conspiracy. Whether you like it or not, as long as France withdraws, Russia and Austria will directly confront each other on the Mediterranean issue.

If there is no conflict, it means that the Russians are not strong enough.As for the few old sailing ships left in the Black Sea Fleet, if they went to the Mediterranean Sea to gain a sense of presence, they would most likely be wiped out by pirates.

Conflicts of interest are so cruel, nothing is impossible.At that time, Napoleon III realized that France controlled the Balkan Peninsula, and the strategic pressure was too great, so he decisively gave up this area of ​​interests.

It is impossible for the Vienna government to reject the benefits delivered to the door. After taking over the French Balkans, the task of besieging the Russians fell on the shoulders of Austria.

Before the British are squeezed out, Austria can pretend to be cowardly. Anyway, Greece is the younger brother supported by John Bull, and they should be the boss.

It is different now. The interests of this area are in the hands of Austria. The Russians came in to grab the interests of Austria. Naturally, the Vienna government could not let it go.

With such a big interest involved, Alexander II was able to keep silent. Franz couldn't help not paying attention to this kind of scheming.

Although they knew that this was a French calculation, the Vienna government was still willing to accept this calculation in the face of interests. This is the terrible nature of the conspiracy.

Chapter 64 French and Russian Closer

In the spring of 1871, the Roman uprising led by Garibaldi and Mazzini ended in failure, and the leader of the uprising army was forced to go into exile overseas.

In the context of the upcoming establishment of the Anglo-French-Austrian Triple Alliance, in order to maintain the relationship between Britain and France, the London government did not accept their political asylum this time.

However, the nature of the shit-stirring stick caused John Bull to send them to the United States of America.This is a favorite of European revolutionaries who prefer to seek political asylum in the United States, mainly for two reasons.

On the one hand, it is thousands of miles away and less affected by the political influence of various countries. The federal government likes to shelter political prisoners, and everyone's safety is guaranteed.

On the other hand, in terms of economy, the United States of America has a good economic development, and it is also a country of European immigrants, where it can obtain funds from compatriots.

If it is purely from the perspective of safety, it is actually more concealed to hide in a colony with a large area and a sparse population. It is no problem to build a farm in any countryside and live an isolated life.

Few people choose to take refuge in colonies, unless they have done something earth-shattering, been hunted down, and forced to change their appearance.

The end of the Italian regional revolution marked the stabilization of French rule in the area.After the cleansing in the war, the Italian anti-French forces suffered a devastating blow.

Originally, France posed a great threat to everyone. This threat was not related to human resources, economy, or industry, but more from the shadow left by the Napoleonic era.

The French are known as the world's number one army power, and no European country has expressed any objection, which is enough to explain the problem.

Otherwise, in terms of human resources, Russia and Austria are twice as large as France; in terms of industry, England and Austria are higher than France; economically, John Bull far exceeds France.

According to the calculation method of the comprehensive national strength of later generations, France will be far behind Britain and Austria, and will be on the same level as the Russian Empire. Even if there is a gap, it will not be too big.

However, on the European continent, France brings the strongest sense of crisis to everyone.

Don't look at Austria's larger territory and larger population. However, in everyone's impression, the Balkan Peninsula is a wild land, and Hungary is also a small rural place.

Not to mention the Russian Empire, the concept of barbarians is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.After the defeat of the Russo-Prussian War, everyone's attention to them declined.

In everyone's impression, France, which was already very powerful, has now annexed the rich Italian region. European countries are generally anxious about the expansion of the French.

There is nothing wrong with it. In this era, Italy gave everyone the impression of being rich.Even Sicily, which was poor and backward in later generations, is now a rich country.

After annexing the Italian region, France's population, economy, and resources have all been enhanced, and the Greater French Empire has become even more prosperous.

Faced with this situation, European countries are trying to use diplomatic means to ensure their own security, while avoiding conflicts with France or other countries.

As the leader of power politics, Napoleon III's forcible annexation of Italian regions is not difficult to understand.In addition to paving the way for his son, there is also the need to mobilize national sentiment and strengthen the cohesion of the country.

This is the price that a historically powerful country must pay, just as Engels commented: forcibly annexing Italy is the best way for the French autocracy to last forever.

Otherwise, Napoleon III only served as the emperor of Italy concurrently, and it would be more convenient to rule, and the Italian people would not be so resistant.

France and Austria are somewhat similar in this regard, except that Franz has the banner of the Shenluo Empire to use, and the legal basis is very sufficient. The people of the annexed German state did not object, but Napoleon III did not.

Great France was established, and Napoleon III has completed the great cause of annexing Italy, although Lombardy and Venetia are missing, this is not a big deal.

Moreover, with the loss of two regions, the difficulty of ruling has also been reduced.

The French are naturally very aware of the cost of forcibly annexing the Italian region, but they are confident that they can suppress the Italians by their own strength.

In this case, of course, it is better for the Italian region to be smaller, and it will not be too late to expand after digesting the results of the battle.

The previous annexation of the Kingdom of Sardinia has provided a reference for the French. With their strong strength, it is easy to establish a local rule.

The current rebound is that I was full all of a sudden, and I didn't have time to digest it.

In order to establish a stable international situation to digest the results of the war, Napoleon III has repeatedly issued statements declaring that France is a "satisfied" country and will not continue to expand on the European continent.

This kind of reassurance cannot smooth out the anxiety in everyone's hearts. Governments of various countries have to accept this statement due to reality.

What Napoleon III was most worried about was falling into isolation. Just like during the Anti-French War, the mighty France was also dragged down by enemies on all sides.

In order to prevent the worst from happening, Napoleon III accepted the British with ulterior motives into the Franco-Austrian alliance.At the same time that Britain, France and Austria formed an alliance, he was also détente with the Russian Empire.

Today is different from the past, and the current Russian Empire is no longer a threat to France.To go a step further, the French government has already called for a "French-Russian alliance".

Undoubtedly, this kind of voice was ignored by Napoleon III, but it did not prevent him from using it as a cover-scary.

The French-Russian alliance is easier said than done.The Russia-Austria alliance and the Anglo-French-Austrian alliance are two hurdles that cannot be avoided.

Unless the Vienna government is crazy, it will allow the Franco-Russian alliance to emerge.The British also don't want to see this kind of alliance appear. You must know that he personally went into battle to split up the Franco-Austrian alliance.

If there is another French-Russian alliance, wouldn't it be crushing?John Bull does not think that the Prussian-Austrian countries caught in the middle are the opponents of the French-Russian alliance. This alliance is more terrifying than the French-Austrian alliance.

At least the Franco-Austrian alliance still has deep conflicts of interest, and it is not difficult to destroy this alliance.The French-Russian alliance is different. The two countries do not directly border each other, and the conflict of interests between them is small. It is not easy to split this alliance.

Unlike the original time and space, the current Great French Empire is the most powerful country in Europe, at least on the surface.

After the annexation of Italy, the total population of France reached 5500 million, and its economic aggregate surpassed that of Britain. In terms of industrial aggregate, it was second only to Britain and Austria, and the gap was very limited.

In terms of military affairs, there is also the world's second largest navy and the world's largest army.Even with such strength, people are frightened. Who would dare to let them form an alliance with the Russians again?

France and Russia just moved closer to each other, which caused an international uproar.European countries can't stand it, and the Vienna government can't sit still either.

Looking at the nervous crowd in the Palace of Vienna, Franz reassured: "Don't worry, the British want to split up the Franco-Austrian alliance, and the choice is to join this alliance.

We are now in alliance with France and Russia at the same time, and if they are in alliance, we ourselves are in this alliance.

It is much faster to crush an alliance from the inside than from the outside.Moreover, now the French want to digest the results of the war, and the Russians are still busy reforming.

Even if they wanted to form an alliance, they would never choose this time.In addition to arousing the fear of European countries, can this alliance play other roles?

To really form an alliance, at least they need a common enemy.The Kingdom of Prussia is not qualified enough. It seems that we are not so hated now, right? "

Franz can conclude that France and Russia are bluffing, purely based on interests.This alliance has the possibility to build, but lacks the motivation to build.

Both France and Russia now need to resolve internal conflicts. Even if the two countries form an alliance, it is impossible to expand abroad at this time, and there is no way to obtain more benefits from the European continent.

The Triple Alliance of Britain, France and Austria has divided up the right to speak in most parts of the world. This has become an established fact. If the French jump out at this time, they will definitely be blocked.

Alexander II was still carrying out internal reforms. At this time, he was unable to share the pressure for them. Napoleon III did not have the confidence to do so.

You must know that Napoleon III was a patient of Anglophobia, and he was able to overcome this disease because the Franco-Austrian Alliance gave him confidence, and most of them still had lingering fears deep in his heart.

With the Russians unable to help, it was too embarrassing for him to fight against the pressure of Ying-Austria alone.

Foreign Minister Weisenberg shook his head and said: "Your Majesty, no matter how small the possibility is, we must prevent the crisis in its infancy.

To prevent the worst from happening, we also need to have contingency plans in place.Negotiations with the British must be accelerated, and we must be prepared to form an alliance with the Prussians when necessary. "

This answer surprised Franz. From the map, isn't this a replica of the original space-time European pattern?

What made him gratified was that Austria was much stronger than the original time and space, and the strength of this possible alliance would also be stronger than the "German-Austrian Alliance".

The alliance has added half of the Mediterranean Sea, more than half of the Balkan Peninsula, increased Poland, Belarus, Lithuania, and Latvia, and lost three quarters of Italy.

Under the ebb and flow, the overall strength has not fallen into a disadvantage.Of course, the premise is that the British will not end, and if it is not the Triple Alliance of Britain, France and Russia, it will still kill people.

Soon Franz dismissed the idea, it was too dangerous.Franz, a gentleman who does not stand on a dangerous wall, is still unwilling to take such a risk.

Even if it can win on land, the sea is basically food delivery.A Prussian-Russian war dispelled the Kingdom of Prussia's idea of ​​developing a navy, and it was unreliable to rely on the Austrian navy to single out Britain and France.

To count on the outbreak of the navy, it is better to simply destroy the Ottoman Empire and build a railway to connect to the Suez Canal. The success is even higher.

Franz made a decisive decision: "We can strengthen the relationship with Prussia, but don't do too much for now. France and Russia are just getting closer. If we do too much, it will stimulate them.

Judging from the current situation, it is impossible for France and Russia to jointly expand externally for at least 20 years. As long as the Prussia-Prussian War is promoted before France and Russia form an alliance, the worst situation will not happen. "

Obviously Franz's position has changed, and he is ready to let the Russians lose again.With the appetite of the Junker nobles, if the tsarist government loses again, believe it or not, they dare to occupy St. Petersburg?

Once the tsarist government collapses and Austria falls into trouble, the Russians will not want to rise again in the next few decades, or even lose the chance of rising forever.

You can see why by looking at the map. After losing the war and losing the fertile soil in Eastern Europe, you can't work hard in Siberia, right?

Now the populations of Russia and Austria are almost the same. Once the tsarist government fails again and loses a large area of ​​​​territory and population, the bear will no longer be scary.

Of course, the sequelae of doing so are also very serious, and Prussia must be seriously injured, otherwise a dangerous neighbor will appear next door.

No way, who told Alexander II to jump out at this sensitive moment to stimulate Franz's nerves?

The shadow of the world war has always been in Franz's mind, and he is very vigilant about the French-Russian alliance.Even if it was a rainy day, it gave Franz a reason to do it.

Chapter 65 Alexandrovich

France and Russia are getting closer, not just on the lips.Although Napoleon III is just making a trial now, trying to gain more voice in the Anglo-French-Austrian alliance, he must take practical actions.

On March 1871, 3, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Empire announced that Crown Prince Alexandrovich would visit the European continent, and the first stop was France.

The cooperation of the Russians is surprising. Under normal circumstances, Vienna should be the first stop of the crown prince's overseas visit, or it can start from Denmark.

The order of the crown prince's visits seems insignificant, but in fact it also contains a strong political meaning, which is to send a political signal to the outside world.

Austria is the most important ally of the Russian Empire and the only ally with any weight, occupying an important weight in diplomacy.

The Kingdom of Denmark is an in-law of the Russian royal family. Crown Prince Alexandrovich married Princess Maria Feodorovna of Denmark.

Geographically, both countries border on the Russian Empire. According to the usual practice, they will visit Denmark first by sea and put the last stop in Austria; or by land, they will visit Vienna first and Denmark last.

This is a normal diplomatic visit process, which not only reflects the importance of diplomacy, but also does not lose courtesy.

Now the unconventional starts in France, which is interesting.This is not going abroad for business. There are so many countries along the way that are the targets of visits. It is obvious that Alexandrovich's travel route is very awkward.

When it comes to politics, no matter how awkward Crown Prince Alexandrovich is, he will go all the way. This is related to the foreign policy of the tsarist government.