Holy Roman Empire

The Grand Reserve strategy has been adopted, and it is inevitable to increase military spending.In the short term, the increase in military expenditure is not obvious, and it will be different with the increase in the number of reserves.

No matter how cheap it is to maintain reserves, military spending will not be lower than 15% of the regular army.Weapons and equipment can be eliminated from the regular army, and the salaries of soldiers can also be saved, but training expenses cannot be saved anyway.

Under normal circumstances, the Austrian reserve forces have no less than two months of training each year. After the training is completed, the government will issue a consolation subsidy.

Based on the calculation of 200,000 newly added reserve soldiers each year, this expenditure is equivalent to an annual expansion of 30,000 troops. After the total reserve reaches 2 million, it is equivalent to an increase of 250,000 on the current basis.(Withdraw the existing half a million reserve)

If according to the previous growth rate of Austrian fiscal revenue, it is estimated that it will not last long, this plan will die.

Franz couldn't help but feel lucky that the industrial age had come, otherwise Austria, an agricultural country, could not afford so many soldiers.

"Considering that the future overseas colonial strategy requires the Army and Navy to cooperate closely, I decided to establish a General Staff with Marshal Radsky as the first Chief of General Staff." Franz threw a bombshell

There is no doubt that this general staff is independent from the army and navy. It nominally only coordinates the cooperation between the army and navy. In fact, during the war period, this staff is above the army and navy.

How to coordinate if there is no right?Is it necessary to send people to reason with the troops below?

In particular, this first Chief of Staff Marshal Radsky, as a prestigious presence in the Austrian army in Germany, can he still be able to aerialize the General Staff?

"Your Majesty, our colonial overseas strategy has not yet been implemented. Isn't it too early to set up the General Staff?" Prince Wendish Gretz objected.

To oppose, we must oppose it.The addition of a general staff department, which in many places overlaps with the powers of the land and navy departments, will inevitably overwhelm their rights.

Compared to Prince Wendishgratz ’s fierce reaction, it does n’t matter if the Navy Secretary has little presence.

It is a matter of time to set up an organization to co-ordinate the two armies. The fact that the army was born from Marshal Radsky as chief of general staff certainly shows the dominance of the army.

It is also difficult for the Chief of the General Staff of the Army to intervene in the Navy.In the case of non-professionals, the famous Marshal Radsky will not intervene arbitrarily?

The establishment of the General Staff also marks that the Austrian government has formally determined the overseas colonization strategy, so the construction of the navy has become inevitable.

Due to Austria's international status, the Navy has to enter the top five in the world, otherwise, when going out to grab the ground, there is no confidence.

Compared with this income, some rights were damaged, and the Admiralty was completely acceptable.Not to mention, this year's naval military expenditure can be increased by several million.

Franz casually found a reason to explain: "Make preparations better early, so as not to get in a hurry. Now the European continent is still maintaining balance. When this situation breaks is unknown.

Although we judge that the Russians might start the Ottoman Empire, everything can happen if the Russians go to Central Asia for expansion or the Far East.

Our original strategic plan has no possibility of implementation.Well, the overseas colonial strategy placed last can also be given priority."

Only when the Russians are stupid will they let the Ottomans who are in close proximity do not fight and run to Central Asia or the Far East to eat soil.

Regardless of whether Prince Wendisch Gratz can accept it or not, Franz will face it.It came out to discuss with everyone, that is to embody democracy, and by the way, check and fill vacancies.

If everyone objected, it proved that the plan was not reliable.Either it is too advanced, and everyone cannot accept it; or it is not in line with Austria's national conditions and cannot be implemented.

Encountered this situation, Franz will naturally recover from the good.Now that Prince Wendy Schgratz is opposed, then the resolution is passed.

Considering that the generals of the army might boycott the General Staff, Franz also specially selected the highly respected Marshal Radsky, so that they had nothing to say.

As long as the chief of the first generation of general staff sits firmly, everyone will get used to it later.The power of the General Staff in peacetime is actually not great, and Franz will not let them train and command.

Power checks and balances are necessary. The General Staff can command the army throughout the war, but the system of soldier recruitment, training, and logistics support is still in the hands of the Army and Navy Department.

In the history of Germany, where the General Staff directly overhead the emperor, Franz was already prepared.

In addition to these checks and balances, the Palace Guard and the Vienna City Defense Army are also directly responsible to the emperor, and the Army Department and the General Staff have no command.

...

Munich

Originally thinking that with the support of the great powers, the Kingdom of Bavaria was able to integrate the small states of the German region, and the reality gave Maximus I a head start.

Everyone is unwilling to be annexed by Austria and Prussia, nor will they be willing to be annexed by Bavaria.Normally, everyone has a good relationship, that is to hold groups to keep warm and resist the threat from Pu'ao.

This is also the reason why Prussia is so popular in the German Federation. The threat of Austria is separated by Bavaria. It is not obvious to everyone. As a neighbor, Prussia threatens everyone.

"Did Württemberg also reject our co-op?" Maximilian asked, frowning.

"Yes, Your Majesty." The Foreign Secretary answered simply

Württemberg is also considered a "great power" in the German Federation, with territories second only to Austria, Prussia, and Bavaria.

The Kingdom of Bavaria wants to be independent, and it cannot be done without the support of Württemberg.Obviously no one wants to be a stepping stone for others, and the Württemberg government is not willing to be a vassal of Bavaria.

Even if everyone is only a nominal merger, in fact, Württemberg still retains almost all the rights, that is not enough.

No one is a fool. If the German states are all merged, then the dominant Austria will also retain their rights.There is no other reason.

Similarly, if Prussia annexed a small state other than Austria, they could not swallow it and had to compromise.

Now the same is true of the Kingdom of Bavaria. Do n’t look at the remaining territory of the German state. In fact, almost all of them are areas with good economic development and dense population.

So when Maximi I threw out the favorable conditions, everyone directly refused.There are two countries, Pu and Austria, who are still watching. Does Bavaria dare to threaten them with force?

Really thought that with the support of the great powers, you can let everyone back down?Don't forget that Pu'ao or the powers, no one compromised them!

No, Prussia can only be regarded as a quasi-power, there is no military power, but there is no national power.

To some extent, the Kingdom of Prussia maintained a strong army, but it was afraid of being annexed by Austria.

If there were any choices, Frederick William IV was also reluctant to hit a swollen face to become fat.Now the finances of the Prussian government may go bankrupt at any time, but their military spending has never been less than a point.

The undercurrent has been surging inside the Kingdom of Bavaria. How could so many German exchange organizations in Austria not work?

The news that the Bavarian government wanted to be independent was passed on, and an anti-state separatist march was already under preparation.

In order to avoid suspicion, the German nationalists who are responsible for planning this parade, and organizations and individuals related to Austria, are just waving their flags.

...

Berlin

Since the end of the Pudan War, the Kingdom of Prussia has embarked on a road of reform.The first issue before the government is finance.

Unlike in history, the delay of the Pudan War was a little longer, that is to say, the military expenditure increased by 50 or 60 million rupiah.

In theory, as long as the funds raised by the people of the German region help them, they can basically fill this hole.

Obviously this is impossible, let alone get the rest of the money.Now the embassy or office of the Kingdom of Prussia in various states often has harassment from debt collectors.

In the face of these people, they can't touch them, they can't scold them, they can't justify them, they're bite-scammers.

Forcibly, these staff members dare not go out even to buy food, for fear that they will be hit by UFOs, and all their living problems will be solved by the host government.

In order to divert people's attention, the Prussian government even gave in and offered the "Three Kingdoms Responsible Cabinet" together with the Kingdom of Bavaria.

Unexpectedly, the plan caused the powers ’fear and was forced by diplomatic pressure. The plan just died after it was implemented.

If Frederick William IV had no resentment in his heart, it would be impossible.It is a pity that he has no place to send his anger.

In this series of measures, the Prussian government behaved quite satisfactorily and did not make excessive mistakes. The responsibility for failure cannot be blamed on them.

The reactions of Austria, Bavaria and other countries can't be more natural. Everyone considers issues in their own interests, and no one owes anyone.

"How far did the Prime Minister, and the British borrow, go?" Frederick William IV asked with concern.

"Your Majesty, I am afraid that borrowing money from the British will not work. They have put forward an unacceptable condition." Prime Minister Joseph von Ravidovic replied bitterly.

"What kind of conditions do you even have room for negotiation?" Frederick William IV asked doubtfully

Joseph von Ravidovic sighed and said, "The British ask us to withdraw permanently from the German Federation!"

"What?" Frederick William IV asked incredulously

Withdraw from the German Federation?If the Kingdom of Prussia withdrew from the German Federation, then the dream of a great power in the Kingdom of Prussia would be broken directly, with their current size being a medium country.

Frederick-William IV was sure that once Prussia withdrew from the German Federation, then the British would then unite France and Russia to force Austria to make the same decision.

At that time, the remaining German states merged and became a medium country.Under the complicated international situation, this newly established country may not be aggressive enough, but it is absolutely more than self-preservation.

After a short pause, Frederick William IV reacted and said, "No, we cannot accept such a condition. We must contact the Austrian government as soon as possible. Presumably they are not willing to leave so vainly. ! "

There is no doubt that Frederick William IV was undoubtedly skewed, thinking that the British were ready to split the German Federation.

Don't look at their desire to break the Austrian-led German Federation, but the German Federation has really split, and the biggest worry is definitely not Austria.

Even after leaving the German Confederation, the Austrian Empire is also a big country in Europe, but the Kingdom of Prussia will not work. If they want to go further, they will have no chance.

Prime Minister Joseph von Ravidovic analyzed: "Your Majesty, we can't rush this issue. The Austrians will not give up the German region. We only need to disclose the information to the Austrian government through some channels.

The British wanted to think about it, but they really could not make this plan a reality.

Even if Britain, France, Russia and Russia jointly exert pressure, as long as we and Austria do not let go, they will be powerless, and they can never wage war against us just because of this."

There is also a problem of initiative in the union of the two countries. If Prussia is sent to the door like this, wouldn't it give up the initiative in the alliance?