Eagle's Glory

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"The march of the Russian Empire to Turkey has become an imminent and inevitable reality."

In the prime minister's residence in Vienna, Mr. Friedrich Genz solemnly declared to his benefactor Metternich in the same tone. "Your Excellency, we really should consider how to face this reality."

Metternich's face was livid, and he frowned and looked out the window.

"The Tsar is too young and arrogant, and he is not even willing to send people to attend an international conference before making a decision!" After a while, he sighed, "The principle of international coordination is obviously the most beneficial foundation for him, but he himself is happy Kicked on the ground!"

"Maybe he just didn't want the international conference to decide his next actions, so he deliberately acted first and wanted to create a fait accompli." Friedrich Genz replied. "In this way, he will be able to have a certain advantage in future negotiations."

"He is indeed playing this kind of cleverness, but past experience tells me that people who play this kind of cleverness will never get any benefits." Metternich replied coldly, "He didn't understand that he might be able to succeed by doing this. For a while, but for himself and his empire, it's not good for him in the long run."

"With all due respect, you are accusing him here of no practical effect." Friedrich Genz whispered. "You should think about how to deal with it."

"How to deal with..." Metternich frowned even more.

After contemplating for a while, he finally made a decision, "Tomorrow I will summon the Russian ambassador and ask him to clarify the rumors and tell me what the tsarist decision is - if he is evasive, then I will forcefully ask the tsarist government to give an answer." explain."

"And what if he told you directly about the Tsar's plans and didn't want to change his mind?" asked Friedrich Genz.

"If that's the case, I have to tell him that His Majesty the Emperor of our country does not welcome this move, and reserves the right to take a common position with other countries." Metternich replied word by word.

In the diplomatic world full of all kinds of fancy rhetoric, the weight of this sentence is indeed significant enough.

"If the Russians rule Constantinople, it will be an out-and-out disaster for us, because it means that our access to the sea has been completely exposed to the guns of their fleet." Then, Meite Nie replied in a low voice, "So this disastrous result cannot happen anyway. I believe London and Paris will also hold the same opinion as us."

"But if the Tsar insists on doing his own way, what can we do?" Friedrich Genz asked again.

This question really goes to the core.

All-out war?This is impossible.

The Austrian Empire borders the Russian Empire. If a war does break out, the Austrian Empire will bear the brunt. This is an unimaginable disaster.

Moreover, the greatest achievement of Metternich's life was the creation of the European balance of power system at the Vienna Conference. Of course, he prefers to maintain the status quo, rather than ignite another war among major powers, and let everything he has worked so hard to build go to waste.

"The tsar's excuse is to help the Greek Orthodox Christians fight for freedom and independence." After a long time, Metternich replied, "If the Greeks did this before he was completely victorious, then his excuse will naturally disappear. That's it—then we, together with Britain and France, put pressure on the Tsar to come to his senses."

"Even if it means that the borders of Europe have changed and a new country has appeared on the map." Friedrich Genz understood.

"The great consensus which we reached at the Congress of Vienna in 1815 was to defend the most precious legitimacy, the balance of power among the great powers of Europe, which are the assets of the present peace in Europe; but we do not support legitimacy for the sake of Preserve the legitimacy of every frontier, especially of pagan states." Metternich replied generously, "If they prove that they are worthy of independence, then let us congratulate them."　　

167, Arguing and Drumming

The next day, Count Litwinsky, the Russian ambassador, was summoned by Prime Minister Metternich and came to his official residence.

The ambassador, tall and aggressive, was as menacing as the Russian empire behind him.

For Prime Minister Metternich, the Russians have always been friendly and wary.

During the Vienna Peace Conference, Metternich and Emperor Franz, while flattering the Tsar, secretly united with Britain and the newly restored Bourbon family in France, preparing to take a joint position to deal with the ambitions of the Russian Empire , lest Russia quickly grow up in Europe.

However, the weather was not good. On March 1815, 3, while the Vienna Conference was still in full swing, Napoleon suddenly landed in France from his exile on the island of Elba, and quickly marched into Paris to regain the throne.

Napoleon, who returned to the throne, knew that he was bound to face another anti-French alliance. In order to gain time and alienate the enemy, he deliberately sent secret letters between Austria and Bourbon France to the Tsar.

However, although he was very angry when he learned that his rhetoric allies were secretly preparing to deal with him, Tsar Alexander I did not forget what was the most important goal, so he burned the secret letter in front of Metternich, Then tell him that he can let go of the past, as long as everyone can let go of the past and destroy Bonaparte together, then they can still be friends in the future.

And Metternich also walked down the steps, and immediately became a loyal ally of Russia, and followed the allies to wipe out Napoleon, while the previous plot was nothing.

Although more than ten years have passed since this incident, the Russian ambassador, as one of the witnesses at that time, naturally vividly remembered all this.

After the two exchanged polite greetings in accordance with diplomatic etiquette, Earl Litwinski asked directly.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, may I ask you to specially summon me here, what is your announcement?"

"Recently, I heard some rumors. I summoned you just to clarify my doubts." Metternich did not go around the corner, but immediately got to the point.

"Excuse me, what are the rumors?" There was not much surprise on the ambassador's face, as if he had expected him to say such a long time ago.

"It is said that the troops of His Majesty the Tsar are gathering in Ukraine and the Caucasus, and are preparing to march into Turkey. Is this nonsense? Or is it true?" Metternich asked, staring at the other party's face, expressing his dissatisfaction with the matter. serious concern.

"Assembling the army is indeed a matter, but the main purpose of our government is to prevent unexpected events." The ambassador answered him immediately after being prepared. "At present, serious turmoil has occurred in Turkey, and our country must respond as it should."

"This is a surprising response!" Metternich raised his brows slightly sarcastically, "According to the normal logic I know, if a person's enemy is suffering, it should be a good thing for him This is a good thing, because it means that the enemy’s pressure on yourself will be reduced—how come you are completely reversed? Is a weak Turkey more worthy of His Majesty the Tsar’s worries than a strong Turkey?”

Metternich's sarcasm caused embarrassment to flash across the ambassador's face, but as a seasoned diplomat, he certainly wouldn't be stumped by such a small problem.

"In a sense, it is indeed the case—" he replied with a smile, "after the Turkish Empire fell into chaos, the sultan's monarchs and ministers would fall into panic, and the panic would aggravate their already brutal rule. Bloody butcher knives are used to deal with those Orthodox believers who rose up to resist—Your Excellency, what I am talking about is not a conjecture, but a reality that has already happened.”

"So, can I think that His Majesty the Tsar assembled the army not for the safety of his own country, but for the safety of foreigners?" Metternich went straight to the point.

The question was equally poignant, but the ambassador balked.

"Although those Christians who rose up against tyranny were not citizens of the Russian Empire, they shared our beliefs, our spiritual ties are unbreakable, and our hearts beat with them—"

It's interesting, your heart doesn't beat for the oppressed serfs in your own country, but suddenly it beats for the Greeks you have never seen in the distance - Metternich mocked in his heart.

Of course, this kind of words are too sharp, he will not say it.

Obviously, the so-called "protection of Orthodox Christians" is just an excuse of the tsar, but since it is said, it is true.

There are interests on the one hand and justice on the other. A powerful country always wants both, no matter how hypocritical the means are.

Metternich himself has played similar tricks countless times, so he is naturally not surprised.

"I understand the tsar's insistence on faith, and I also sympathize with what happened to those Christians in the Balkans." He softened his tone a little, and then continued to ask, "Since you said so, I would like to believe that the tsar assembled the army It’s just to deter the Turks, so that they don’t go too far, and there is no intention of going to war; but I have another question-if you can’t intimidate the Sudan, what do you plan to do next? Continue to confront or withdraw the army?”

The ambassador hesitated.

"Sir, both of our countries are members of the Holy Alliance, and we both have the same determination to safeguard the most precious legitimacy in Europe. Because of this, we should treat each other with an open and honest attitude." Metternich urged again He said, "I have not concealed our actions, so if your country does plan to take actions in the future, then I think I should also know about it. This is basic respect for allies, isn't it?"

The ambassador remained silent.

If he really decided to keep his mouth shut, no matter how much Metternich urged, he could reply with a 'no comment'.

However, he had received domestic instructions before, and the Tsar believed that under the current situation, it was necessary to take the opportunity to test Austria's attitude.

Of course, neither the Tsar nor he would believe a word of Metternich's rhetoric, but in any case, the arrow is ready now, and it is time to gradually reveal the true intention.

"If the sultan continues to go his own way and treat the suffering Christians with a bloody butcher's knife, then logically speaking, His Majesty the Tsar can hardly sit idly by." So he finally decided to let go, "Under certain circumstances, the imperial government really cannot The possibility of taking further steps has been ruled out."

Metternich was stunned.

The ambassador's words are tantamount to admitting that the Russian Empire is going to use war to solve the problem.

And the war was so imminent that they didn't bother to hide it.

Although he was very upset in his heart, years of experience had already made him develop the habit of not showing his emotions and anger, and his expression did not change at all, as if he had already expected the ambassador to answer in this way.

"If that's the case, then I can only say that I am very sorry." Finally, he made an evaluation indifferently.

"Please understand that it is Sudan, not us, that made the situation worse." The ambassador immediately defended his country's position, "Since the outbreak of the war, we have given him a lot of time and opportunities, even if he is now If you are willing to change course, it is not too late, the tsar only regards military means as the last means of punishment—since you are a devout believer and Austria is the guardian of the Christian world, then you should understand our country’s sentiments.”

"Oh! Christian, of course I am full of sympathy!" Metternich spread his hands, "but mere sympathy is not higher than our responsibility to the entire era-none of us has forgotten, and no one can possibly Forget how bloody the era just passed was, and how much blood and price we paid to finally put an end to the endless fighting.

How did those fights come about?It is because of France's endless ambitions, and because a certain person thinks he is equal to God, and wants to shake the whole of Europe with power and iron fist!We have seen all the horrors, so we all know that in order to prevent the recurrence of the tragedy, we should prevent the lapse of time and restrain our ambitions from the very beginning. "

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, you actually compare His Majesty the Tsar with that lawless invader! This is too rude." The ambassador stood up and protested loudly to Metternich, "What the Tsar has in his heart is piety to God and faith in Christ. It is only the mercy of the disciples, and he has no ambitions."

"Ambition is not reflected in words, but in actions. I evaluate facts by actions." Metternich was unmoved by the ambassador's protest, "And, please distinguish clearly, I am not accusing anyone, Instead, I am giving advice from the standpoint of an ally and friend—I think you should convey it for me, so that the Tsar can listen to the advice of an old guy like me."

Before the ambassador could answer, he continued talking.

"Compared to the era when it was bombarded by shells, today's era is like a silk package, delicate and wonderful, worthy of careful care by each of us." Metternich smiled slightly, as if between friends "I do not say this from my personal or Austrian point of view, the peace made in Vienna in 1815 is a precious treasure to the whole of Europe, including your great Russia— So anyone who tries to break the peace may end up finding themselves a victim. History has shown us this unequivocally before."

The ambassador frowned tightly, feeling aggrieved in his heart.

He has discovered that Metternich is constantly pushing the responsibility for "breaking the status quo" to Russia, and he is accusing the Tsar of trying to break the status quo because of his own ambition.

"Don't forget that there is a man who is displaying his ambitions in Greece right now. If there is anyone who is breaking the peace, it happens to be him at the beginning." After a while, the ambassador asked Metternich, "Why are you so obvious Turn a blind eye to the wanton and reckless behavior of the country, but accuse our country?"

"Are you referring to the Duke of Reichstedt?" Metternich was still smiling. "He is supporting the righteous deeds of Christians in his own name. What can we do? Since you keep saying that you sympathize with those Greek Christians, Then you should applaud his courage now instead."

"You guys provoked all of this!" the ambassador retorted angrily. "If we all stand aside and watch the Bonaparte family cause trouble, sooner or later the whole of Europe will be cast a shadow again. Is there any problem with the tsar wanting to quell the trouble?"

"If I remember correctly, your government has never issued any document requiring our country to treat the Duke of Reichstedt as a criminal; similarly, your Tsar has not given me similar instructions, so I There is every reason to conclude that your government has never regarded him as a criminal or a dangerous person before.” Metternich replied unhurriedly, “So, regarding his legal status and legal actions, your country has What is the reason for such a big fight? Could it be that he did something you agree with, but instead he has to take responsibility for your rash actions?"

Although this is obviously an unreasonable statement, it is difficult for the ambassador to refute at once.

"I remind you, and your Majesty the Tsar. It is meaningless to deceive, threaten, or intimidate in front of me, because I have seen too many things." Metternich was almost indifferently proud , said to the ambassador, "Please don't forget that I was in Dresden that year, watched Napoleon be furious for several hours, and then stood in front of Napoleon and told him-he was finished. I'm no weaker than anyone in terms of the position of the Bonaparte family. But I know that one thing is one thing, you can't use a hot-blooded young man as a shield, can you?"

The ambassador only felt very angry. He knew that Metternich's statement was very clear-he firmly opposed the tsar's march into Turkey and did not welcome the empire to break the status quo.

"I regret that you treat your allies with such an attitude." He shook his head regretfully, "But I can only tell you that maybe you are not happy to see it, but our government must act in accordance with its own interests. "

"Then I can only tell you that our government must act in its own interests." Metternich replied in the same words.

Although the two of them were still polite until this time, in essence, they were already at war.

Without further words, the ambassador stood up and saluted the Prime Minister, then turned around and left.

After the Russian ambassador hurried away, the Prime Minister's secretary and right-hand man, Mr. Friedrich Genz, walked into Prime Minister Metternich's office.

As soon as he came in, he found that the prime minister's expression was frighteningly gloomy, so he asked cautiously.

"Your Excellency, are you having trouble with the Russian ambassador?"

"It's not going well? It's really unpleasant." Prime Minister Metternich sneered, "It seems that the young Tsar has made up his mind to show his prestige in front of his subjects—"

Friedrich Genz was speechless for a moment.

Since the complete destruction of Napoleon in 1815, Europe has finally entered a rare period of peace. Although there are occasional conflicts, the major powers no longer initiate wars. Instead, they resolve their conflicts of interest through international coordination.

But this time, the Russian Empire took the initiative to launch a war against Turkey. Even though the division is famous, it has definitely set a precedent.

If it's just Russia teaching Turkey a lesson, that's not important, but what next?If a delicate balance is disturbed, it will take countless efforts to correct it again.

"He will pay for his folly, if not now, but in the future." Friedrich Genz sighed. "Then how do you plan to deal with it? Are you standing with Britain and France to support Turkey?"

"No, in what name do we support Turkey? Praise the sultan for massacring Christians? Or firmly commend their bloody rule? If we do, it is tantamount to actively pushing public opinion to the side of the tsar, which is his last The result you want to see." Metternich shook his head.

Then he looked at Mr. Genz again.

"Go to Turkey, I want to appoint you as ambassador to Istanbul."

Mr. Gentz ​​was startled again.

"What task will you give me?" Then he asked.

"Full responsibility for Eastern affairs." The Prime Minister replied immediately. "No matter what, we must prevent the worst from happening. The Tsar's fleet must not pass through the strait."

Then he added in a low voice, "—if necessary, we may have to find the lovely Duke Reichstedt."

Mr. Gentz ​​finally understood what the Prime Minister meant.

If Austria could not make an appearance in person, the Duke of Lechstedt would be an excellent proxy.

Although the Duke's willful behavior greatly angered His Majesty the Emperor and Metternich himself, but they are not people who act on their own will, and the current development of the situation makes him not care about the previous things.

What's more, Princess Teresa is by his side now. In any case, Princess Teresa is definitely willing to make friends with her mother country—since the situation has evolved to such a point, she might as well take advantage of it.

After figuring this out, Mr. Gentz ​​no longer hesitated.

"Okay, I get it, I'll pack up and take office right away."

The Prime Minister made a gesture, and Mr. Gentz ​​left with acquiescence.

After his confidant left, Metternich still frowned and thought.

"Is this all you were expecting? Is this all you expected?" he whispered to himself after a moment.

Obviously, what the Duke of Reichstedt did was definitely not a whim, but a move after careful consideration-as far as the current results are concerned, he also happened to hit the most important drumbeat.

So, this young man who lives in a secluded palace has actually thought so deeply in addition to his usual pastimes, and has the courage to carry it out without hesitation.

Assuming he was not the person involved, he would be willing to applaud the achievements of his students.

He watched the young man grow up.

His feelings for this young man are also extremely complicated—except for his surname Bonaparte, this young man is almost the most ideal member of the royal family in his mind.

If he was willing to stay in Vienna, what a good result it would be... In the end, he could only sigh regretfully.　　

168, a fait accompli

After getting the confirmation from the ambassador of the Russian Empire, the last illusion in Prime Minister Metternich's mind disappeared.

He has been completely sure that more than ten years after the Battle of Waterloo, a new large-scale war will slowly unfold on the European continent.

He doesn't want the balance formed by the countries on the European continent to be broken, but he is even more unwilling to let his country plunge into the flames of war rashly, so he knows that what he has to do is to use his wrists, swing back and forth between the parties, and re- Coordinate a situation that is barely acceptable to everyone.

The more he used his tactics, lied and deceived, the more he had to understand where his bottom line was. Metternich knew that the tsar should never be allowed to visit Constantinople. This was an unimaginable nightmare—he believed that London and Paris were absolutely unwilling. See this scene appear.

Therefore, he is definitely not fighting alone, but has enough fulcrums for him to use.

No doubt it was no easy task, but he believed he could do it - as he did in 1815.