Holy Roman Empire

If you can't compare the good ones, then you can only compare the bad ones.Although Lieutenant General Jerrett was a little more rigid and had a more bureaucratic style, he was more reliable than the high-level rebel army who was a motley crew.

Major Potiorek shook his head: "I'm afraid there are limited strengths. Geralt's combat experience is limited to suppressing colonial rebellions, not instigating colonial rebellions."

There is no way, and Britain has not fought a war for many years.The most recent war was to compete with Austria for South Africa, and it ended in failure.

After losing the battle, naturally there is no future to speak of. Those officers who participated in the battle back then were retired and changed jobs.

Now the representative is also a tall man selected by a short man. Lieutenant General Gerrett stood out after suppressing the miners' rebellion in Australia.

Falkenhayn said with a smile: "Actually, there is nothing wrong with that. With Gerrett in charge of commanding the rebel army, at least we can guarantee that the rebel army will not surrender easily.

According to the battle plan just announced, isn't our task a feint attack on Ugsul?It just passed through and entered the hinterland of Egypt. "

"I won't surrender easily" has become a reason, and this expectation makes people have nothing to say.

Hutil nodded: "It's settled like this. Contact our people first and airdrop a batch of compressed biscuits. No one can guarantee whether they can get supplies after leaving the camp."

The biggest taboo for the lone army is logistics. Nearly [-] troops are replenishing on the spot behind enemy lines. It is unknown whether the food collected can fill their stomachs.

……

Lieutenant General Gerrett was staring at the map worryingly at the headquarters of the rebel army.Don't look at what he said easily, but in fact he has no bottom at all.

Not to mention bringing this gang of mobs, even if he was asked to command the British Army and the French to do it, Gerrett was not sure.

The title of the French "World's No. [-] Army" was earned on the battlefield. The armies of all European countries are stepping stones for the French army to reach the top. Faced with such an enemy, everyone will have psychological pressure.

Mahdi asked in a deep voice: "General Gerrett, is it possible to send the Eighth Division to attack Ugsul, or should we not send the Sixth Division?"

After a moment of silence, Gerrett reminded solemnly: "Your Excellency, this is a feint, not an attack.

The French defenders in Ugsul have two regiments. If they want to capture here, let alone the Eighth Division, they can't do it even with the Sixth Division.

We just need to make a gesture to attract the attention of the French and buy time for the main force to rest. "

Deep down in his heart, Gerrett had a deep sense of distrust for the commanding ability of the high-level rebel army.

If it were not for political reasons, he would not mind joining forces with the Austrians.

No matter what, Hutil and others are also from regular military schools, which are more reliable than the "high-level rebels" who catch ducks on the shelves.

Otherwise, Gerrett would not have given such an important task to the Eighth Division.

Regardless of whether everyone's positions are opposed or not, the interests of Britain and Austria are the same in terms of adding chaos to France.

……

The war in Egypt began to rage, and the troubles of the London government also came.The enemy did not play their cards according to the routine at all, and instead of confronting them directly, they sought the Persian government's bad luck.

You must know that the Persian government is willing to sign a traitorous treaty. In addition to military threats + diplomatic blackmail, the British government also promised to solve diplomatic problems.

In other words, the British obtained the diplomatic power of Persia and took over the foreign affairs of the Persian Empire.

Now it is time for Britain to fulfill its promise, but the British government is powerless.The reason why a secret agreement is a secret agreement is because it cannot see the light.

Russia and Austria pretended to be stupid, directly ignored the existence of the secret agreement, and asked Persia to sign a free trade agreement, which made the London government embarrassed.

"Free trade" is a banner of Britain. As the biggest beneficiary of the free trade system, the British government cannot jump out to hinder free trade.

Slapping yourself in the face is only a small problem. If the free trade system is brought down, it will be a big loss.

Gladstone asked: "Haven't the Russians stopped their little tricks in Central Asia?"

Foreign Minister George shook his head: "It's still the same. The Russians have no intention of restraining themselves. Not long ago, the Cossack cavalry looted a small tribe in the Bukhara Khanate."

Gladstone frowned even tighter, not only was it ineffective, it was clearly getting worse.

If the arrogance of the Russians cannot be suppressed, the Central Asian countries will start to reconsider the issue of standing in line.

The tsarist government is not considered a reckless man who only knows how to fight and kill. Although it lacks diplomatic means, it still has diplomacy.

No one can guarantee whether the Russians will support the pro-Russian faction in the local area and take a more moderate approach to annex Central Asia.

Especially now that the Russian Empire is in a weak state and is not suitable for provoking war, diplomatic means are even more important.

This can be seen from the power structure within the tsarist government in recent years. The minister of foreign affairs has an increasing voice in the government, second only to the minister of finance.

After hesitating for a while, Gladstone made a decision: "Show off directly with the Russians and tell the Tsarist government:

Either stop small actions in Central Asia and promise not to expand in Central Asia; or fight a war in Central Asia!

At the same time, send people to join the three-party negotiations between Russia and Obo to destroy as much as possible. "

If the Central Asian issue is not resolved now, it will be even more difficult to resolve it when the Russians regain their vitality.

In contrast, Persia's interests are still a minor issue.It is essentially a temptation, and it is too much hatred to monopolize Persia's interests.

……

The plan has never changed quickly, and before the British intervened, the negotiations between Russia, Austria and Poland came to an end.

On April 1885, 4, under the diplomatic pressure exerted by Russia and Austria, coupled with a flicker at the negotiating table, the Persian officials in charge of the negotiations signed the "Triple Free Trade Agreement" in a daze.

Perhaps it wasn't that the Persian officials involved in the negotiations were deliberately confused. Compared with the Anglo-Polish secret treaty full of unequal content, the "Tripartite Free Trade Agreement" is much more harmonious.

There are not so many additional conditions. On the surface, everyone is dealing fairly and does not directly violate the sovereignty of the Persian Empire.

The Persian government is not all fools. There are also many smart people who can distinguish who is the main enemy and who is the secondary enemy.

Compared with the idiot who signed the Anglo-Persian secret treaty, this deliberately "confused" Persian official is much smarter.

They didn't foolishly be led by the nose by Russia and Austria, and directly copied the agreements of various countries in the "free trade system".

For the precarious Persian Empire, it was already a great diplomatic victory to get a seemingly equal treaty.

……

Chapter 56 Time Does Not Forgive

The turbulent international environment has not affected Austria's Near East development plan, and all work is proceeding in an orderly manner.

In the first quarter alone, the Vienna government immigrated 12.8 people from its native land to the Near East, and nearly half of them were newly-emerged military farmers.

Everyone is very active in developing their own land.If it weren't for the fear of the "Black Death" remnants and the government preventing them from passing, they would have passed by long ago.

After all, if you develop it one day earlier, you can harvest it one day earlier.Generally speaking, the earliest immigrants are given preferential treatment and can choose land in advance.

It is still the 19th century, and the gap between industrial and agricultural scissors is not as great as that of later generations. The background of food shortage in the world has not been improved, especially in the Asia-Pacific region where food is most scarce.

Agriculture is still a lucrative industry, especially in the context of a population explosion in Europe, and international food prices have started to climb slowly again.

In fact, as the world's largest exporter of agricultural products, Austria is also the largest food importer.

This is the increase in market demand brought about by population growth. After domestic food meets its own needs, the amount that can be exported is greatly reduced.

In this context, agricultural product processing enterprises engaged in international trade have to import raw grains from overseas in order to ensure the smooth delivery of orders.

This situation actually appeared during the Prussian-Prussian War.At one point, the Vienna government was preparing to lift the ban on colonies and allow the cultivation and export of food on the African continent.

However, considering the political influence, it was stopped by Franz.Instead, it imported grain from the Russian Empire, processed it further and exported it.

In a sense, the food policy of the Vienna government saved the Tsarist government.

Otherwise, there would be an additional African grain-producing land, the international food price would drop sharply, and the Russian agricultural system with high planting costs would be the first to be wiped out.

There may even be an upside-down situation in international grain prices. After losing this source of income, it is still unknown whether the Tsarist government can survive.

Of course, the food policy of the Vienna government is not just for the Russians.International food prices have fallen, and Austria, the world's largest exporter of agricultural products, still suffers the most.

Austria's political system determines that the government must stabilize agriculture. Once international grain prices collapse, the government can only subsidize grain growers with its own money.

It is a very common practice in later generations, but it is still a little early.

The Vienna government is not yet so rich and powerful. It can clearly make a large amount of profits from it every year. Why should it be a loss-making business?

Even if it is to suppress the Russians, it is not now.Stabbing a knife in the back at this time, maybe the tsarist government will be over early.

It is far safer to be a neighbor to a Tsarist government that is slipping into the abyss than to deal with an unknown being.

The consequence of overturning the table was the end of the pro-Austrian tsarist government, and Austria also suffered heavy losses. Only the major food importing countries in Europe benefited.

Cheap food imports will reduce the production costs of industries and commerce in various countries, thereby improving the competitiveness of industrial and commercial products.

It is purely a vicious circle of asking for trouble. Once Austria's own advantages are opened, it will be greatly weakened.

……

Vienna Palace

The maid said softly: "Your Majesty, the cause of the prime minister's fainting has been found, and it is said that the blood supply to the brain is insufficient.

The doctor suggested more rest and recuperation.This is the resignation letter submitted by the Prime Minister, please read it. "

This may not be a serious disease in later generations, but it is very fatal in this era, and it belongs to the kind of disease that may die at any time.

Without specific medicines, it is very difficult to even control the disease.The only thing we can do is recuperate and hope God blesses us.

After receiving the resignation letter from the maid, Franz did not immediately approve it after reading it briefly.

After sighing, he ordered: "Prepare the car, I'm going out of the palace."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" replied the maid.

Today, Prime Minister Felix is ​​also a flag of Austria.

Even if he is unable to perform the job of the prime minister, as long as he is named and shows up from time to time, it can play a role in stabilizing people's hearts.

Especially for the Greater German nationalists, Prime Minister Felix himself is their spiritual leader and has been working hard for the unification of the German region.

Beginning in 1853, Felix visited the states in the German region almost every year to discuss the issue of "peaceful unification".

After all these years, it has achieved considerable results.Although the real unification is still far away, everyone has come together economically and culturally.

The customs union is a must. No one can refuse the big market of Austria. The economic prosperity of North Germany cannot be separated from the support of Austria.

As of now, Aegis can circulate freely in the German region without any restrictions, and there are even sixteen states within the North German Empire, which list Aegis as the only legal currency.

There are countless cultural exchange groups.Citizens of any state can freely travel and work in the German region without visas.

As the founder of all this, Prime Minister Felix is ​​naturally embraced by all nationalists.

……

"Your Majesty, you are here again."

A familiar voice rang in Franz's ear.

Seeing Felix walking tremblingly, Franz knew that there was no high-spirited Austrian Prime Minister here, only an old man in his dying years.

"Ok!"

There were thousands of words in my heart when I came here, but now there is only one word left.

Felix laughed. "You shouldn't be here. Every time you go out of the palace, you send an old friend away. It's like I'm going to see God soon."

This is a joke, and it is also true.As the emperor, Franz didn't need to visit the ministers. If he did, it would be the last meeting.

Touching his nose in embarrassment, Franz said not to be outdone, "Forget it, God, the old man is busy, and I don't have time to see you now!"

After more than 30 years of getting along, the two are not only monarchs and ministers, but also friends.

Especially after Felix experienced a life-and-death experience, the way the two get along has become more casual. At this moment, there are more friends than monarchs and ministers.

Judging from Felix's performance, Franz understood that he was determined to quit politics, and it was impossible to keep him.

Although the monarchs and ministers in the European world are not as strict as in the East, etiquette and rules are still indispensable, and keeping a proper distance is the way to get along.

It is impossible for a mature politician to make this kind of mistake. Only after setting aside the relationship between the monarch and his ministers can he be so casual.

Felix nodded: "This is the best, but you still don't want to come, I still want to live to see the unification of the German region!"

obsession?Maybe it is, anyone who has been doing a job for more than 30 years and is about to leave suddenly will have feelings.

As the final curtain, who wouldn't want a glorious finish?

However, Felix knows very well that the German region cannot be unified in the short term, and he cannot push for the unification of the German region desperately for his own obsession.

Prior to this, Felix had always thought that he could complete the great cause of the unification of the German region in his own hands, subconsciously ignoring the problem of his own age.

This sudden illness woke him up.In an era when the average life expectancy is more than 40 years old, Felix is ​​already 85 years old, which is equivalent to spending the life of two ordinary people.

Time is not forgiving, and his dying body made him have to bow his head.

Perhaps relying on past achievements, even if he is unable to perform his duties, Felix can still stay in the position of prime minister, but his inherent pride does not allow him to do so.

In the past, Felix hated "people who occupy their positions and do nothing" the most. During his tenure as prime minister, he has always been cracking down on empty pay.