Holy Roman Empire

Since neither side wants to fight, then they can only negotiate.On May 2, 1866, representatives of Austria and France held secret talks in Naples.

The interests of the two Sicilian kingdoms are only appetizers, and the most important thing is the great strategy of the two countries to divide the European continent.

There was no overnight enmity in front of the interests. The military conflict between the two countries and France and Austria, the two sides tacitly put the responsibility on the British.

Anyway, the British are absent and unable to excuse them. It would be good for everyone to let them back.

Compared with the conflict between France and Austria, the conflict between Britain and France is actually much deeper.According to Franz, the contradictions between Britain and Austria are now deeper than those between Fao.

The small movements of the British on the African continent have seriously affected Austria ’s African strategy. For Franz, who is responsible for the localization of Africa, this cannot be compromised.

In contrast, the French-Austrian contradiction is still easy to deal with. Before the division of the European continent, the two countries still have a series of interests to exchange.

Under common interests, the contradiction between the two sides can be suppressed.

On the contrary, the conflict between the British and Austrian African colonies is difficult to resolve. With John's style of bullshit, it would be strange if we can sit back and watch Franz complete the strategic layout!

There can be no conflict with two big powers at the same time. For the sake of security, Austria ’s national policy now has to bring the French into the gutter.

This time the strategic negotiations to divide the European continent were made by Napoleon III. As long as the French take the first step, wait for isolation!

But it is not this level of isolation. The vigilance of small countries is simply not worth mentioning.Only the hostility of the great powers can make the French truly uncomfortable.

To some extent, Franz doesn't mind the French strategy being successful.Only by that step can we truly transcend the French Empire.

Just think about it, a French + three-quarters of Italy + Belgium + all the territory west of the German Rhine, such a giant appears, in addition to the anti-French alliance, are there other options?

But this pit is the French's original time and space strategic plan.No, Napoleon III, who had originally planned to devour Italy entirely, has shrunk with the rise of Austria.

The Franco-Austrian War was part of their strategy to annex Italy, except that Napoleon III actually collapsed during the actual operation.

In order to annex Luxembourg and Belgium, a European crisis even broke out, which was pressed back by the Anglo-Russian team.

The strategy that Franz proposed to divide Europe was almost a replica of the French strategy, which took advantage of Napoleon III.

It's just that France's military strength was insufficient more than a decade ago. Napoleon III had just succeeded to the throne and coincided with the Near East War. He didn't dare to take risks.

Now that France ’s military strength has developed, and the Russians have been weakened and unable to interfere in European affairs within a short period of time, Napoleon III ’s ambitions can no longer be trusted.

Reaching the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies was to test Austria ’s reaction. Now that the results are out, it ’s natural to rush time.

If Austria does not benefit enough, even if Napoleon III flickered, he would not dare to directly promote this crazy strategy.

Only when both parties have common interests and everyone acts simultaneously can Napoleon III be assured.

There are too many interests exchanges involved, which involve all aspects. This negotiation is destined to be protracted.In contrast, let Francesco II get rid of it is not worth mentioning.

At the same time as the French-Austrian negotiations, the Russian-Russian war broke out again. The British were still awesome this time. Although they did not find an ally for the Russians in Europe, there was still fruit in Central Asia.

Under the planning of the British, the anti-Russian uprising broke out in the Samarkands at the end of April 1866, which opened up a wave of resistance against the tsarist rule in Central Asia.

The British not only sponsored the weapons of the uprising, but also formed a volunteer army-8,000 Gurkha mercenaries to help the people of Central Asia get rid of the rule of the tsarist government.

The Gurkha mercenary is the top three mercenary in the world. They once defeated 30,000 British troops with 12,000 people with backward weapons and equipment. They were recognized by the British and have since entered the world stage.

If it were not for the small population, it was also a military power.It is estimated that there is no such thing as India, but they are playing invincible in South Asia.

The Central Asian Khanate, which has not yet been conquered by the Russians, has also been forced into the battlefield by the British, including Afghanistan.Within a short period of time, there were more than 100,000 anti-Russian armed forces in Central Asia.

By mid-May, Tashkent, the largest city in Central Asia, was captured, and the Russian rule in Central Asia was in jeopardy.

In response to the crisis in Central Asia, the tsarist government was forced to withdraw troops from the Caucasus to reinforce the Central Asian theater.

Looking at the combat map, Franz knew that the Russians were in trouble.A poor operation in Central Asia over the years will require a lot of water.

If it were not before, the tsar's army attacked the three Khanates in Central Asia, the situation is estimated to be better.Under normal circumstances, these countries dare not provoke the Russians.

However, the situation is now abnormal.Everyone knows the ambitions of the Russians, there is no possibility of compromise, they have to turn to the British in order to protect themselves.

Now that the boss wants to go to the battlefield, these Khanates can only stand on their heads.If the British were offended again, they would really be finished.

Franz asked: "The Russians have mobilized the strength of the Caucasus, and the opportunity for the Ottomans has come. Do you think the British can persuade the Sudanese government to go down?"

Prime Minister Felix replied: "It's hard to be sure. Although the voices of the main warring factions in the Ottoman Empire are high, the Sudanese government is still in the shadow of the defeat of the Near East War and dare not challenge the Russians.

They cannot ignore the position of the British. The Ottoman Empire wants to survive without the protection of European countries. The British are the most important part of their diplomacy.

We have stated our position in secret, and as long as the French ask Ottoman to send troops, the Sudanese government is likely to be forced to the battlefield.

The Paris government is still hesitating, but as long as Napoleon III wants to implement the European strategy, then it is necessary to continue to weaken the Russians."

In fact, not only the position of the French, if Austria can ask the Ottoman Empire to send troops on the bright side, it will also cause great pressure to the Sudanese government.

The Russians ’ambitions for the Ottoman Empire have never been extinguished. It can be said that the Sudanese government is most desirous of seeing the Russians unlucky.

The only problem is that the people who had passed the Near East War in the past have not been eliminated, and the younger generation has not dominated the government.

The old guys are afraid. In the last few "Turkish-Russian Wars", they all ended in failure and have lost the confidence to defeat the Russians.

However, it is uncomfortable that if they do not attack the Russians, the Russians will not let them go.If you open the history book, you will know that the 20-year "Turkish-Russian War" has become a part of everyone's life.

The next "Turkish-Russian War" is at most ten years away. This is the law of history, and there have never been any exceptions for two hundred years.

Without the support of European countries, the Sudanese government does not have the confidence to single out the Russians. Even if their social reforms have begun to bear fruit, the gap between the two sides is still huge.

In this context, the positions of the three countries of Britain, France and Austria are very important to them.Moreover, Britain and France are still their creditor countries, and they have mastered their domestic finances. The London government sneezes and the Ottoman economy is in turmoil.

Historically, the French could use economic means to pull the Russians into chariots, and now the influence of Britain and France on Ottoman has to go further.

Franz said with a smile: "So, the Prussians want God to bless Napoleon III to make up his mind early!"

He is very satisfied with the current situation.The British were able to make such a big move in Central Asia, which was completely beyond his expectations.

But it is normal to think about it. Rabbits will bite when they are anxious. Central Asian countries must cooperate with the British in order to protect themselves.

Everyone laughed. Central Asia was only a skin trouble for the Russians. Even if it was all lost, the Russian Empire was still the Russian Empire.

The Central Asian coalition forces formed by the British were full of contradictions, and they were able to co-operate only under the pressure of the Russians. Once the threat of the Russians disappeared, internal fighting would occur.

Want them to go all the way to the inland of the Russian Empire, or go to bed!If these people have the ability, Franz cannot be unimpressed.

Not to mention the Ottoman Empire, regaining the Caucasus is enough for them to struggle for many years.To further threaten the Russians, perhaps they can do it in the last century.

The government of Vienna has always been fond of seeing things that can weaken the strength of the Russians and not the fate of the tsarist government.

Foreign Minister Weisenberg said: "Your Majesty, the British have not only achieved results in Central Asia, but also made great progress in the Far East.

With their encouragement, the Japanese expelled the Russian army on the island.In the ancient empire in the Far East, the battle between the Haiphong and Cypriot defense groups also broke out, and currently the Cypriot defense group has the upper hand.

Perhaps they have to make a move, but unfortunately the telegraph network has not been completed. We do n’t know the current situation."

Franz was shocked, could the historical events be advanced?This is not impossible. It is now the weakest time of the Russian Empire. Obviously it is a good time to recover the lost ground. There may be unexpected gains.

After thinking about it for a while, Franz said casually: "The Far East is too far away to affect the European region. Even if the Russians lose the Far East, it will have little effect.

It is up to them to decide the outcome of the Russian-Russian war. The British at most distracted the Russians and consumed the Tsar ’s wallet.

Unless the Swedes can be persuaded, the Kingdom of Prussia still has to rely on itself.These potential allies can't provide them with much help."

These actions certainly contained a large number of Russian troops, but the Tsarist government had few other soldiers.

No matter how it is contained, the number of Russian troops on the Russian battlefield will not decrease.Unless the Swedes do it, the tsarist government is constrained by the supply of materials and cannot maintain the huge frontline forces.

This is determined by the geographical location, whether it is Central Asia or the Far East, the strategic materials and transportation are all eastward; while the front lines of Sweden and Pu Russia, the strategic materials needed, part of the routes overlap.

For the Berlin government, the other allies are just like that. The only one who can play an immediate role is the Swede.

Foreign Minister Weisenberg analyzed: "This is probably a bit difficult. The Swedish government has no signs of participating in the war, and the British cannot give more chips.

The promised benefits are all taken from the Russians.This kind of empty-gloved white wolf trick is too much for the London government to play its due role.

The Kingdom of Prussia is even worse, they want to win over Sweden, and they can't even give out chips.

Karl XV asked the Prussians to withdraw from the Kingdom of Denmark. The Berlin government agreed to give up only the Jutland peninsula. The principalities of Schleswig and Holstein did not dare to let go."

The Principalities of Schleswig and Holstein are now vital to the Kingdom of Prussia. Only by holding the national flag high can Austria not fall to the Russians in the war.

Only when the Germans agreed with them did some people donate money and materials to them, and volunteers who brought their own dry food came to sell their lives.

Including Austria, there are volunteers who ran to support the Kingdom of Prussia, which has nothing to do with the Vienna government.

In short, the German National Unification Committee, the German Folk Art Exchange Committee ... and many other social groups dedicated to the unification of the German region are all vigorously supporting the battle between the Prussians and the Russians.

If the two principalities of Schleswig and Holstein are abandoned, these supports will cease to exist, and the absolute neutrality of Austrian diplomacy may change.