Versailles

British Foreign Secretary Thomas said to Napoleon III: "Your Majesty, the Russo-Austrian alliance is too much of a threat to us. From the outbreak of the war in the Near East to the present, if it were not for the support of Austria, the Russians would have been unable to hold on for a long time.

Now the opportunity has come, the Austrians want to unify the German regions, and the Russians will definitely oppose it.

As things stand, the Viennese government made concessions in exchange for the Russians' support for their annexation of South Germany on the condition that the Russians would take Constantinople.

This seemingly needy deal went wrong in the course of its operation, the Russians were not able to take Constantinople, and Austria swallowed the South German region in one gulp.

There must have been many people within the tsarist government who did not want Austria's plans to come true, and therefore their support for Austria was bound to be limited.

Naturally, the Austrian government could not withstand the diplomatic pressure of the European countries uniting together. Originally, they would have suffered a loss in this transaction, and if it was found that the Russians had not contributed to the work at this time, the Vienna government would definitely be dissatisfied.

At this time, we were very successful in inducing Austria to abandon the Russian-Austrian alliance on the condition of recognizing their annexation of South Germany. ”

The existence of the Russian-Austrian alliance has seriously threatened the core interests of Britain and France, and this has involved the struggle for dominance on the European continent.

From the end of the war against France to the present, the reason why Russia, which has obtained hegemony on the European continent, has not been able to expand externally is that in addition to the constraints of the Vienna system, the more important thing is that the tsarist government's diplomatic means are not up to par, and it has been boycotted by everyone.

Now the situation is different, Austria and Russia have come together, and Britain and France can despise the diplomacy of the Russians, but they cannot ignore the diplomatic capabilities of Austria.

Metternich was even known as the "Prime Minister of Europe" in this era, and his diplomatic ability was experienced by the British.

Austria, with the strength of the last of the four great powers, actually dominated the politics of the European continent for 30 years, relying on diplomatic means.

"Suppressing France, driving Britain, and blocking Russia" was the greatest achievement of the Vienna system, and by virtue of the contradictions between countries, Metternich achieved the strategic goal of countering the strong with the weak.

If Russia and Austria continue to cooperate in depth, once they achieve strategic complementarity, it will have a fatal impact on the core interests of Britain and France.

Napoleon III shook his head and said: "Mr. Thomas, we all know the threat of the Russo-Austrian alliance, and I am happy to break up the pair.

But all this you said, the success rate that can be achieved is too low, and the old fox of Metternich is not easy to deal with, I'm afraid he is not so easy to fall for! ”

Aside from the Franco-Austrian deal, if you want to break up the Russian-Austrian alliance, the plan must also be reliable?

It is not always possible to assume that the Russians will reduce Austria's support because of their jealousy, and then hastily pull Austria back diplomatically.

Everyone plays politics, and in handling international relations, it is necessary to stress interests, and as long as interests are appropriate, it is not difficult to suppress personal emotions.

Thomas said calmly: "Your Majesty, the Russian-Austrian alliance is built on the basis of interests. Austria refused to renounce its alliance with the Russians only because of insufficient interests.

As long as Austria is willing to renounce its alliance with the Russians, we can support them not only in the annexation of South Germany, but also in Central Germany, and even in the land they now occupy the Ottomans.

If Austria is unwilling to abandon the Russo-Austrian alliance, then we must prepare for the worst and directly take action to limit Austria's strength.

We sent 100,000 troops, 200,000 from your country, 50,000 each from Belgium, Holland, Portugal, Switzerland, Sardinia, and Spain, and 300,000 from the Kingdom of Prussia, to form an intervention force to force the Austrians to abandon this expansion. ”

I have to say that the British are ruthless enough, and the Russian-Austrian alliance can get the benefits in their hands, and they can get it if they tear up the alliance, and even more.

Napoleon III fell into deep thought, strategically the threat of the Russo-Austrian alliance was too great, no less than Austria's unification of the German region.

The British, for the sake of world hegemony, want to strike at their biggest competitors, and at this time they can naturally give anything.

Anyway, after offending Russia, Austria's rear was unstable, and the French were holding back in front, and they were simply unable to dominate the European continent.

But for the French, it is not the same, and while it is very important to break up the Russian-Austrian alliance, it is equally important to suppress the emergence of new opponents.

If the Russians are finally suppressed and Austria is put on the throne, they will not be busy in vain.

The British wanted a balance on the European continent, and as long as the balance could be maintained, it didn't matter who was strong or weak, anyway, Austria's geographical position was absolutely impossible to challenge sea power, and the threat to them was the least among the great powers.

It was different for France, Napoleon III was also an emperor who aspired to dominate the European continent, and naturally could not tolerate the emergence of a southern European giant.

The difference in strength between Austria and France is not large, and the current Austrian Empire, Napoleon III is not sure that it can be suppressed, let alone a strong Austria?

At this time, the Franco-Austrian Secret Covenant had been forgotten by him, and all he thought about was that he could not prevent Austria from growing, and that effective measures must be taken to limit their development.

After half a ring, Napoleon III shook his head and said, "Monsieur Thomas, your plan is so unreliable, what if we admit that Austria expands and they turn the other cheeks?"

The Russian-Austrian alliance can be torn apart, and it can also be built again, in the final analysis - interests.

Your country's plan for a continental balance has actually suppressed Austria's future development, and sooner or later they will join forces with the Russians in order to go further.

If I were Nicholas I, as long as I could annex the Ottoman Empire, even if it was to indulge Austria in the unification of the German regions, it would be acceptable.

When Austria unified Germany, France was the first to bear the brunt, and the Russians could have provoked a Franco-Austrian war and then reaped the benefits.

Your country can also sit back and wait for the situation to change. Mr. Thomas, do you think I'm a fool? ”

Feeling the murderous aura in Napoleon III's eyes, Thomas hurriedly remedied: "Your Majesty, you are too worried, Nicholas I is not as wise as you."

Moreover, we will not see Austria grow, and the countries of Europe do not want a giant in Central Europe.

Austria had no chance of unifying the German region, at least the Kingdom of Prussia they could not eat.

Don't look at the Austrians who look strong now, once the war starts, as long as it is not fought on their own soil, the logistics of a million-strong army will be enough to drag them to death. ”

Napoleon III said with great certainty: "Monsieur Thomas, no matter what you say, we in France cannot let Austria grow big in order to break up the Russo-Austrian alliance!" ”

After saying this, Napoleon III reacted instantly. Where did the British want to let Austria become bigger, it was clear that they wanted to curb Austria's development, so they came to stimulate him.

Thinking of this, Napoleon III looked at Thomas with disgust.

Seeing the change in Napoleon III's face, Thomas said casually: "Your Majesty, since your country wants to restrict the development of Austria, then as allies, we naturally have to cooperate with your country's actions.

The Austrians' ambitious war of aggression aimed at annexing all the states of Germany could not be tolerated by all righteous men.

I propose that our two countries join forces at once to stop the Austrians from moving, and to permanently divide the German regions into an independent state that will eliminate the source of war in Europe. ”

Napoleon III knew that this was the real purpose of the British, but he was now in disbelief.

John Bull played with diplomatic calculations too awesomely, and his uncle Napoleon the Great was so angry that he fought invincible opponents all over Europe, but he still fell under the diplomatic calculations of the British.

Austria was able to lead the establishment of the Vienna system, which was also the need of the British overseas colonial expansion, and they did not have the energy to meddle in European affairs, so they pushed Austria to help maintain European stability.

As soon as they were free, they immediately ran back to do something, and the current war in the Near East, interfering in the process of unification of the German regions, all of which were carried out under the leadership of the British.

Even now, it is clear that the British want to contain the growth of Austria, but it has become that the French want to contain the development of Austria, and they have successfully transferred the task of pulling hatred to him.

Refuse? Napoleon III wanted to refuse, but he had no choice.

Reason told him that if France did not come forward to restrict Austria's development, the British would really let Austria grow in order to break up the Russian-Austrian alliance.

This is a conspiracy, and Napoleon III must not jump into the pit. Now that France has defaulted and blocked Austria's expansion, what will Austria do when they expand in the future?

It can be said that a calculation not only curbed the development of Austria, but also allowed France and Austria to contain each other, cut off the road to alliance between the two countries, and at the same time forced the French to continue to rely on them in international politics.

Napoleon III scoffed: "Monsieur Thomas, this is your real goal, right?"

But do you think that Austria is a soft persimmon, and where is the interference coalition of the countries?

To get the Austrians to give in with a few threats before the coalition appeared, I don't think France could do it.

But Monsieur Thomas is a good talker, so you might as well go on your behalf of France and let Metternich bow down! ”

Is it so easy to organize? Until the plan was revealed, there was no problem in fooling Prussia into participating, and the Kingdom of Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the Kingdom of Sardinia had always been the only ones to follow, and it was not difficult for them to send troops.

Switzerland, a neutral country, is well fed, so why should it send troops to offend Austria, which is close at hand? Whether Austria grows or not, the Spaniards have no interest at all, so why should they wade into this troubled water?

Napoleon III didn't want France to be the culprit in the end, in case the Austrians did not give in and the war fought, where would he cry?

War is also a death, and in normal times Napoleon III is not cowardly, but at the same time as the war with the Russians, and then with the war with Austria, he is not crazy.

Thomas said confidently: "Your Majesty, please rest assured, we have solved the problem of interfering with the coalition forces.

Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Belgium received part of the German territory in return, and Spain and Portugal were rewarded for their overseas colonization.

As long as our two countries take the same position, they will not dare to reject our goodwill.

Once the Austrians chose war, the Royal Navy blockaded the Adriatic Sea, cutting off their overseas trade routes.

Considering the actual situation, I think that there is a very high probability that the Austrian government will give in, and that they will compromise as soon as we show our intention to form a coalition.

Besides, we don't want to kill with a stick, for example, the Kingdom of Bavaria, which the Austrians have already occupied, and let them annex it.

The London government only wants to break up the Russian-Austrian alliance, but it does not want to make the Russian-Austrian alliance closer, so military intervention is only the worst-case scenario.

If we intervene by force, how do you think the Russians will behave themselves, Your Majesty?

Did they risk joining forces with Austria to attack the Kingdom of Prussia, or did they confront us in the Near East and pay lip service to Austria? ”

Listening to Thomas's explanation, Napoleon III only felt that the thunder was rolling, and the British had calculated too much.

Almost all the countries in Europe have been wiped out, except for Denmark and Sweden in Northern Europe, which are too close to the woolly bear and really can't win them over, other countries are forced to stand in line.

Even though the Russian-Austrian alliance still exists, most European countries are on the opposite side of them, and having sea power is so good.

The world's first and second naval powers joined forces, and the three colonial countries of Portugal, Spain, and the Netherlands had no choice at all.

Belgium is determined by geographical location, and it must hug the thighs of Britain and France; The Kingdom of Sardinia wanted revenge on Austria; Switzerland and the Habsburgs had an old feud, and if they offended Britain and France again, they would not be able to mix at all.

Napoleon III said coldly: "In that case, then it would be better for our two countries to put forward this plan together."

The Russians should have gone with Mr. Thomas, and if the Russians were not firm enough, the plan would have been done. ”

Thomas said expressionlessly: "Your Majesty, don't forget that the plan to divide the German regions was put forward by the Russians, and I think the Austrians will have a wonderful face when they know about this plan." ”

Not to be outdone, Napoleon III said: "The premise is that the Prussians do not know our next plan, otherwise they choose to join forces with Austria to carve up the German territories."

When the time comes, all these plans will come to naught. Prussia and Austria are growing at the same time, and your country's interests in the German region are not guaranteed, and you will have to add a competitor in the future. ”

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