Holy Roman Empire - Chapter 115

Chapter 115: Chapter 2, Let the Russians In

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Translator: 549690339

Franz’s breakfast was very simple, consisting of bread, jam, milk, as well as some fruits and vegetables, similar to the standard of the middle class.

However, where coffee would be, there was instead milk. Perhaps influenced by his past life, Franz had no love for coffee and even preferred dark bread.

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The dark bread in the palace, naturally, differed from the hodgepodge found outside. At Franz’s request, seeds, sesame, and walnut kernels were added to it…

Today, with the addition of another person, the kitchen had prepared a somewhat more lavish spread, including coffee, sandwiches, butter, pastries, and ham.

Everyone had different tastes, so breakfast was chosen according to individual preference. The relationship between European monarchs and their subjects was unlike that in the East; people were informal during meals without the need for excessive caution.

After breakfast, everyone had their schedules to adhere to, and scattered to commence their day’s work.

“Your Majesty, your appointment with Grand Duke Alexander Nikolayevich is coming up,” Maid Jennie reminded.

Grand Duke Alexander Nikolayevich was Nicholas I’s eldest son, the famous Alexander II who accomplished the reform of the Russian serf system.

He was also quite the scholar, fluent in English, German, French, and Polish, and was the most educated amongst all the Russian Tsars.

Alexander Nikolayevich and Franz shared many similarities. Both were military trained from a young age and had the bearing of a soldier. They were also both scholars.

Like attracts like, and common ground should have made the two men friends, but unfortunately, after the outbreak of the Crimean War, they found themselves on opposing sides.

Now history was set to change. The strategy of keeping friends close and attacking nearby enemies was not always correct. Situated in a region bordered by conflicts on all sides, Austria needed at least one stable ally.

At present, the best choice seemed to be Russia. Despite Russia’s insatiable greed and the difficulty of gaining advantages in a partnership with them.

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However, forming alliances between such imperial nations was more reliable than with the purely interest-driven British. Sometimes, the personal views of the Tsar could overrule national interests, decreasing the likelihood of being betrayed from behind.

Franz had already decided to abandon the struggle for dominance in the Near East. If the Russians wanted to take Constantinople, let them. Whether Austria gained a little more or less in the Balkan region didn’t matter.

Of course, the most crucial reason was that Russia also had many internal contradictions and was essentially a paper tiger—strong on the outside, hollow on the inside. They could not really grow bigger before sorting out their internal issues.

September in Vienna brought invigorating post-autumn winds and a refreshing autumnal chill. The weather was pleasantly cool, perfect for the season. The earth displayed a delightful scene of harvest bounty, uplifting spirits, and prompting joyful celebration. Yet at the same time, it incited a sense of loss and a call for reflection.

It was easy to be informal with someone you could speak to as an equal. Alexander had already visited Austria before, having been to Vienna back in 1838.

However, at that time, Franz was just a little brat. They had met and formed a slight impression of each other but did not have any significant relationship.

As the Emperor, Franz could not play the role of a tour guide for others, although an exception might be made if the visitor was a beautiful princess.

Alexander had already begun to engage in Russian politics, and as the Crown Prince, he had considerable influence. This meeting between the two was also for political reasons.

After some pleasantries, they moved on to the main topic of today’s conversation.

“Russia and Austria share a long-standing connection, and it’s necessary for us to communicate more profoundly on international issues and strive for mutually beneficial cooperation as much as possible.

The Ottoman Empire is declining. On the issue of the Near East, Russia and Austria should reach an agreement promptly to avoid giving England and France an opportunity to exploit,” Franz suggested.

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Compared to its peak, the Ottoman Empire was indeed in decline at this time, but their true nature of being outwardly strong yet inwardly weak had not been revealed yet, and the powers had not started their frenzy of partitioning the Ottoman Empire.

“Of course, the Ottoman Empire is our common enemy. It’s natural to strike the enemy swiftly. They are undergoing internal reforms, and if they succeed, they won’t be so easy to deal with,” Alexander stated earnestly.

“Does Russia plan to take action against the Ottoman Empire now?”

This question flickered through Franz’s mind briefly. The frequency of Russo-Turkish wars, once every decade or so, meant it was about time for another.

“In light of this, Alexander, how about we first delineate the influence of our two nations in the Balkan region to avoid unnecessary conflicts, preserving the relationship between our countries?” Franz proposed.

The partition of the Balkan Peninsula? Alexander’s expression changed dramatically—this implied that Austria was no longer opposed to Russia’s expansion into the Near East.

Alexander quickly realized that, after the recently concluded Ausa War, due to the intervention of the British, Austria had given up its expansion in the Italian Area.

Thus, Austria had few choices left—either continue to march west to unify the Germany Region or move into the Balkan Peninsula.

If the Germany Region were that easy to unify, the Habsburg dynasty would have done it long ago, so why wait until now?

In the effort to unify the Germany Region, the Habsburg dynasty even exhausted the The Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets. A significant factor in Spain’s decline was the excessive expenditure on the conflicts with German princes, without investing in industrial development.

“No problem, in order to rescue the people of the Balkan region from the evil clutches of the Ottoman Empire, our two countries must work together sincerely,” Alexander said briskly.

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Certainly, the detailed negotiations for the division of interests couldn’t be settled in just a few words; it wouldn’t be surprising if it took two or three years of negotiations between the two nations over this issue.

“Although rescuing the people of the Balkan region is important, the friendship between our two countries is equally significant. I suggest we support each other’s core interests, and in the event of any conflict, we can make compromises elsewhere,” Franz proposed.

“Is Austria willing to support Russia in obtaining the Black Sea Strait?” Alexander asked eagerly.

The Black Sea Strait isn’t merely about Constantinople; the Russians are aiming even further, casting their eyes upon the Asia Minor Peninsula.

“Of course, Austria has no interest in the Black Sea Strait, that is not our goal. As allies, we have no reason to hinder the actions of the Russian Empire!” Franz said, with genuine forthrightness.

He wasn’t afraid of Russian greed, only their indifference. Now Europe stands divided between England and Russia, with the latter drawing on the prestige from the anti-France wars and boasting itself as Europe’s foremost land power.

Strength plus interest are the best catalysts for ambition. Seeing the British earning huge profits from establishing Overseas Colonies, the Russians were no longer content with merely controlling land power.

Russia has a large maritime territory, but unfortunately, most areas are frozen wastelands. The ports in the Arctic Ocean are ice-bound for a long portion of the year, offering no conditions for naval development.

The only regions that might potentially foster the naval force are the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea. Having failed in the Baltic Sea, the Russians have now turned their attention to the Black Sea.

It doesn’t take much consideration to know that, with a modicum of military common sense, one realizes the Ottoman Empire’s control of the Black Sea Strait is a stumbling block that Russia must remove before accessing the sea.

Upon hearing a firm response, Alexander wasn’t as composed as he appeared on the surface.

It was out of the ordinary that Austria had removed its restrictions on Russia, deviating from history—this version of Austria had not sought Russian support in suppressing domestic revolutions and therefore had no need to compromise.

“Franz, Austria has completely changed its state policy, what do you wish to gain? The Danube Basin?” Alexander questioned.

It was no wonder that Alexander was so excited; with Austria’s support, who could block Russia from obtaining the Black Sea Strait?

The French were busy with internal strife, distracted even by the nearby possibility of dividing the Kingdom of Sardinia, with no time to prevent the Russians from joining the competition in the Mediterranean.

The Ottomans? The British?

Neither would suffice. Even with full British support for the Ottoman Empire, the Russians would not back down. The Russians are unprecedentedly confident on land, even if they can’t overpower the British at sea.

“This issue, I suggest we let the Foreign Ministry handle it, our status is not appropriate for quibbling over matters of interest,” Franz reminded him.

This Austrian Emperor was alright; he could make decisions. But whether Alexander, the Crown Prince, could do the same was uncertain.

Without authorization from the Tsarist, even if an agreement was reached, who knows if could later change? Where would Alexander place his dignity then?

If an agreement is reached now and the Russians act swiftly enough, they may occupy Constantinople before the French resolve their internal issues. This could potentially reverse the future course of history.

Unless the Russians pull off a miraculous victory at sea against the British, Franz would resign himself to acknowledging the Russians, humbly serving as a subordinate to Mao Xiong—a likelihood no greater than the Chinese national football team winning the World Cup.

Otherwise, it is likely that England and France, with their substantial resources, would engage in a protracted struggle with Russia, likely ending in mutual damage.

This was precisely what Franz hoped to see. Whether victory or defeat, it served Austrian interests.

If the Russians lost, Austria would have the chance to expand further in the Balkan region; if England and France lost, Austria could claim a larger share of Overseas Colonies.