Holy Roman Empire

The speed must be fast, and we must seize the established facts before the British make a move.If it is too late, most of our strategic goals will be abolished. "

It's not that Franz thinks too much. Given the current international situation, the British are likely to form a joint mediation team to intervene in this war before the end of the European war.

There is no doubt that all European countries have motives to intervene in this war.For their own benefit, no one wants to see the European overlord appear.

Once the two major powers, Britain and Russia, take the lead, this alliance can be established in minutes.Anyway, the law does not blame the public. If Austria wants to settle accounts after the autumn, it must also consider the public anger.

A hard top is impossible. Regardless of the strength of the anti-French alliance headed by Austria, if it really encounters international intervention, the alliance will immediately fall apart.

Counting on those fools to advance and retreat with Austria, Franz is not crazy yet.Without the anti-French alliance, if you fight against the European world with your own strength, the odds of winning are at most [-]-[-]. What is the difference between that and death?

In particular, this [-]-[-] split is still based on the premise of defeating France first.In case the French are still breathing, the intervention alliance appears, and the situation will be even worse.

If military means can't handle it, then political means can only be used.Whether it is bribed or fooled, as long as the Russians are pulled onto the boat, the situation will be very different.

Although the British politicians have thick skins, no matter how shameless they are, they cannot turn the warring countries into mediators.

Even if the Russians reacted later, they could only hold back secretly. No matter how hard the tsarist government struggled, it was impossible to send troops to defend France.

It's much easier to fool Spain after pulling on Russia.Just looking at the lineup, it is clear that the French will lose in the European war.

There is absolutely no reason to reject projects with zero risk and high returns.Anyway, there are a lot of bad things in France and Spain, and there is no psychological pressure to add insult to injury.

Franz had already made up his mind, and after fooling Russia and the West, he directly forced Switzerland to join the war.

Choose one of the two, either embrace victory with the anti-French alliance, or be buried with the French.

Then, there is no more.Most of the countries in Europe are at war with the French, and no matter how hard the British try, they cannot make everyone give up the benefits they have gained.

The big deal is that Austria will share less spoils and give up the profits to its allies.Anyway, French Africa is almost full, and Franz doesn't care about the compensation.

Foreign Minister Weisenberg frowned and replied: "Your Majesty, it is not so easy to encourage the Russians to declare war on the French.

The current situation has gradually become clearer, and the tsarist government does not want to weaken France too much.The more we woo, the less the Russians will go to war.

In this context, we can only push hands in the dark.Including the power of the pro-Austrian faction, it is not appropriate to use too much.

Only when the tsarist government realizes that declaring war on France is of great benefit can they take the bait.To do this, very difficult. "

On the surface, this is indeed the case, but Franz is still unmoved.Although his butterfly effect has affected Russian politics, the essence of the tsarist government has not changed.

"Greed" is the biggest characteristic of the tsarist government.Coupled with their rotten bureaucracy, this is even more magnified.

"Spend money! Buy Russian bureaucrats and nobles at any cost, and sell them the benefits of declaring war on France.

Isn’t the Tsarist government poor? As long as they declare war on France, they don’t have to pay back their debts to the French, and there will be a large amount of war reparations after the war.

You don't need to send troops, you don't need to spend money, and you can get so many benefits just by declaring war in name. If you don't believe the Russians, you won't be tempted. "

In the Russian Empire, there is nothing that money can't solve; if there is, it must not be enough money.

Incorruptible bureaucrats may exist, but in the Russian Empire, such people can't get along.The world is muddy, and innocence is original sin.

No matter how shrewd Alexander III is, as long as his ministers all say that declaring war with the French is good for Russia, it will be difficult for him not to be affected.

Chapter 199 Preliminary Action

In Paris, since the news of the Japanese attack on the Philippines, Napoleon IV has not slept well for several days.

In any case, the Japanese army went south at the invitation of Britain and France.In order to allow the Spaniards to let them go, the British and French governments have repeatedly made assurances to the Spaniards.Now that this kind of thing happened, they are naturally to blame.

In this age of the jungle, commitment is like farting.If it was in normal times, Napoleon IV didn't care about breaking his promise to Spain, and they couldn't do anything anyway.

But it's different now. Unlike Britain, which is on the sidelines, France is struggling in the quagmire of the European war at the moment.Even Spain, which was originally in decline, can now pose a deadly threat to them.

How to appease the furious Spain and resolve this diplomatic dispute has become the most urgent issue that the French government needs to face right now.

Suppressing the discomfort, Napoleon IV asked, "Tell me, what do the Spaniards want?"

The interests between countries are eternal. No matter what happened in the past, as long as the interests are in place, anything can be discussed.

As neighbors, the conflict between France and Spain is naturally not small, but France is too powerful, and the Spaniards have no confidence to fight against it.

The European war changed the balance of power between the two sides. The French were all devoted to the war and lost the ability to continue to suppress Spain.

For various reasons, the Japanese attack on the Philippines happened to intensify the Franco-Spanish conflict.Combined with the Austrian push behind the scenes, the Spanish nationalists had exploded.

Due to domestic pressure, the Spanish government not only immediately declared war on the Japanese, but also sent harshly worded diplomatic notes to Britain and France.

Foreign Minister Karel Cadlec shook his head: "I don't know. It happened so suddenly that the Spanish government has not yet made a decision.

The Japanese monkeys did too much, and the nationalists in Spain were stimulated, and the domestic main battle was loud.

According to information from the embassy in Madrid, the Austrians have already connected with the Spanish nationalists, and the spearhead of public opinion is pointing at us. The situation is very unfavorable to us. "

What does the Spaniard want, does Karel Kadlec really not know?

the answer is negative!

The problem is that what the Spaniards want, France can't give it now, is unwilling to give it, and can't give it.

When you open the diplomatic note, you will know that the Spaniards have already issued conditions.Needless to say, France is required to fulfill the agreement, expel the Japanese, and compensate for losses.

The Spanish government also made territorial claims to France, not only asking France to cede French Morocco, but also asking for the redrawing of the border between the two countries.

Karel Kadlec naturally refused this kind of request to take advantage of the fire, and there was no room for negotiation at all.

Except for the first item, which is acceptable to expel the Japanese, if the French government dares to agree to the remaining conditions, a revolution must break out in the country.

The only condition that can be agreed to is that France cannot do it.The French Far East Fleet was confronting the Austrian Navy, and was simply unable to expel the Japanese.

The French government dared not even use diplomatic threats.If the Japanese were pushed into a hurry and they ran to join forces with the Austrian Navy, the French Indochina Peninsula would be finished.

It's not a joke, it could really happen.If the Japanese wanted to take the initiative to cooperate with the Austrian Navy to kill the French Far East Fleet, the Vienna government could find no reason to refuse.

As a qualified politician, Karel Kadlec naturally pretended to be confused when he could do nothing.

After a long silence, Napoleon IV said weakly, "Tell the British that I agree to their terms."

For Napoleon IV, who aspired to surpass his parents, making this decision was undoubtedly bowing to reality.

But there is no way, the development of the European war was unexpected, and there is no way to win the war with the strength of France alone.

Without compromise with the British, it is impossible to obtain the full support of the London government.Without the support of the British, France had no hope of winning.

Compromising with the British meant that France gave up its European hegemony, and even gave up its dominance in building the international order after the war.

Against this background, even if France wins the war, it will not be able to achieve its original strategic purpose, and this war can be said to have been fought in vain.

It's better to fight in vain than to lose.Deep down in his heart, Napoleon IV had already made up his mind to farm with peace of mind when the war was over, and to make peace with him when his strength recovered...

……

Downing Street, inside the Government House.

Gladstone's cabinet is gathering to discuss the international impact of Japan's surprise attack on the Philippines and the countermeasures.

Secretary of the Navy Astley said righteously: "The Japanese are so courageous that they dare to play tricks on us. If they don't give them a little bit of a show, all cats and dogs will ride on our heads in the future."

Not to mention being angry, the life and death of the Spaniards has never been within the scope of Sir Astley's consideration.In his view, the Japanese attack on the Philippines was an opportunity for the Royal Navy to perform.

In the past ten years, the French and Austrian navies have been catching up, and the Royal Navy, which is the leader of the world's naval circles, is also under great pressure.

A lot of financial resources have been invested in the bottomless pit of the navy, and no war has really broken out. Many members of Congress have opinions on this.

There are even rumors in the outside world that the navies of Britain, France and Austria colluded with each other and deliberately created maritime conflicts in order to defraud the government of funds.

To break this doubt is very simple, just find an enemy to fight.Britain is criss-crossing the world, and the enemy has long been terrified by the news, and the only ones who dare to confront them are France and Austria.

Needless to say, neither of these two can be played.There is no great disparity in the strength of everyone. If a war breaks out, it will easily end in a loss for both sides.

The Royal Navy is sober. It is important to prove its own importance, but there is no need to risk the national fortune.

In contrast, the Japanese who are popping up now are much easier to bully.It's not that Astley is proud, it's really that the Royal Navy has a great career. As long as the Far East Fleet makes a move, the Japanese Navy can only go back home in despair.

Foreign Secretary George reminded: "Sir, the problem now is not the Japanese's problem. Their sneak attack on the Philippine Islands, on the surface, is just a war between Japan and the West, but in essence it also involves the European war.

The European war was at a stalemate, and the strength of the Spaniards was enough to break this fragile balance.Now both France and Austria are wooing them. At present, it seems that the Austrian bid is higher.

It was still Franz's usual method of being generous to others, and this time he promised the interests of the French.

It is said that the Austrians directly sent a map of France. As long as the Spaniards are willing to join the anti-French alliance, the French territory is up to them to choose.

Judging from the current situation, if we do not take action, the possibility of Spain joining the anti-French alliance is very high.

As for the Japanese, they are a flea.It's easy to shoot them to death, but it has no practical value.With or without them now, it will not affect the Spaniard's decision.

In case Spain chooses to stand with Austria, we still need this flea to cause trouble for the Anti-French Alliance, so let's keep them for now. "

The generosity of others also has technical content.Austria can do this, because France and Spain are on the border. Due to historical reasons, the two countries not only have many conflicts, but also have territorial disputes.

Under such conditions, regardless of whether the Spanish government will be tempted or not, the nationalists in Spain have already taken the bait anyway.

The same conditions, the French government is absolutely unable to give out.Even if it is to follow the gourd's drawing and send it over with a map of Austria, Spain will not take it.

For no other reason than strength.No matter how rich the benefits are, what's the use if you can't eat them?With Spain's national strength, it is simply not capable of operating an enclave.

Prime Minister Gladstone nodded: "The French have succumbed, and it seems that their actual situation is worse than we expected.

We can't wait any longer, we must act as soon as possible.In case the French lose in the battle of Southern Europe or Central Europe, they don't have Austria's capital to make a comeback.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately acted according to our plan and invited European countries to form a mediation team to end this senseless war.

Before that, we have to stabilize the Spaniards.If they are willing to join the mediation team, we will help them get rid of the Japanese. "

The seemingly understated dialogue is full of swords and swords behind it.

The strength of the British army is limited. To intervene in this European war, it must rely on the strength of other countries.However, everyone is not a fool, and all countries have their own interests.

If diplomatic deterrence can solve the problem, that's all. If the negotiation table is not settled, it has to be resolved by force. There is not enough benefit. It is too much to ask everyone to send troops to intervene just for an illusory European balance. It's embarrassing.

Unless Austria shows a strong aggressiveness and makes the governments of various countries feel threatened, otherwise it will not be possible to complete the coordination of international relations in a day or two.

Foreign Minister George shrugged and replied helplessly: "To achieve this, not only we can accomplish it, but also the cooperation of the French.

You must know that our ally is an enemy all over Europe, and there are not a few people who want to watch them suffer.If they don't take practical actions to reassure European governments, it may be difficult to win the support of various countries.

Especially the Spaniards and Russians, they all have the ability to influence this war, no matter which one joins the anti-French alliance, our mediation plan is meaningless. "

In this era of the jungle, the key to solving problems still depends on strength.Not only military strength, but also comprehensive political and diplomatic strength.

Although Spain has fallen, its tiger skin has not been pierced, and they are still a great power in the eyes of European countries.

On the surface, they are the fifth European power after the four major powers of Britain, France, Austria and Russia, and they are also the fifth largest power in the world.

The strength of the anti-French alliance is already very strong, plus any other powers, they are invincible.

Most countries in Europe are foolish, without enough confidence, they will not stand in line easily.

Without enough younger brothers, the momentum cannot be built up, and the deterrent effect will naturally be greatly reduced.In this context, only the great powers can fight on their own.

The Anglo-Russian War had just ended, and the animosity between the two countries was at its peak.Even the most confident people will not think that Britain and Russia can cooperate sincerely.

Even if the interests are really identical, the high-level governments of the two countries are willing to cooperate, and the people below will also act spontaneously, and they will never be ambiguous when dragging their feet.

It can be said that once France is defeated, the situation will be one-sided.In a sense, the actions of the Japanese helped the British government decide.

In order not to cause the situation to get out of control, the British had to give up their plan of picking peaches after the war.Taking advantage of the fact that there was no winner in the European war, an intervention alliance was formed in advance.

……

Chapter 200 Wealth can lead to God

With the start of the British action, the original French and Austrian diplomatic secret war has been taken over by the British.It's not that I look down on the French, the main reason is that the French government's diplomacy is really not very good.

Of course, this is also directly related to the high hatred value of the Bonaparte dynasty in Europe.During the period of Napoleon III, the relationship with everyone was indeed eased for a time. Unfortunately, with the annexation of Italy by France, this relaxed international environment is gone forever.

In a sense, Napoleon III was also cheating his son.The annexation of the Italian region has achieved itself, but it has left a huge hole that cannot be filled.

No way, it's not the Middle Ages anymore.European nationalism has risen, but it can't be digested, and it's full of hatred.

Especially for many small countries, in order to protect their own security, they had to unite to repel the French in order to deter other European powers, lest everyone follow suit.

This was the main reason why the French Foreign Office could not achieve results.It's not that they are determined, it's because they have decided politically that they can't stand with France.

Small countries can't win over, let alone big countries.There is only one overlord, everyone is a competitor, and even an alliance is only temporary.

Especially against the background that Russia and Austria have been united for a long time, there is only one Britain left for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs to play.

Originally surrounded by enemies, and coupled with a cheating teammate, it is logical for France to surpass the Russians and become the number one "villain" on the European continent.

Professional matters should be left to professionals.Although he didn't want to admit it, Napoleon IV still knew very well that playing diplomacy in England and Olympics was the king. As silver-level players, they really didn't need to hold back.

……