At the Vienna Palace, Franz looked at his high-spirited son, smiled and asked, "Frederick, are you ready to represent Austria in European countries this time?" ”

"Don't worry, father. I memorized all the information to ensure that I could complete the task. Frederick replied confidently

The Habsburgs have been inherited for so many years, and there are not many other than relatives.

In this era, the transportation is inconvenient, there is nothing to do in normal times, and everyone generally does not have much contact. But once it gets to the other party's land, interpersonal communication is still indispensable.

It doesn't matter if you have many relatives, the trouble is that they also like to have duplicate names, plus a long list of titles. If you are not familiar enough, it is easy to confuse the identity.

This is not just a faux pas, but it will also be considered by people not to be taken seriously enough, and relatives will become enemies.

Franz didn't like to run around, and one of the most important reasons was idleness. As the emperor, he was lucky, and he came to visit by himself, and his subordinates would prepare the information.

Even if he participates in a banquet, it is the most noble existence, and there are very few people who are qualified to talk to him on an equal footing, and most of the time it is enough to smile.

Not so with Frederick, who, despite his noble status as the Austrian Crown Prince, was still quite a few people of the same position, hundreds of whom were on this list alone.

In this respect, it is not easy to be an aristocrat, at least a good memory. Especially for small and medium-sized nobles, the titles of the big people are not easy to remember.

Franz is one of them, and due to the butterfly effect, his title is now much longer than in history, and Franz himself is not sure that he will be able to memorize it accurately.

However, the following people must memorize it accurately, this is determined by the political system, Austria is an empire because of the emperor, not because of the empire there is an emperor.

Whether it's mechanical or dull, this is the legal basis of the empire.

Except for a few false titles, any one of them is missing, and there will be protests from the local people. In European society, this is perceived as discriminatory.

Therefore, the Austrian schoolchildren are tragic, and they must memorize Franz's title accurately, otherwise they will not be able to complete their studies.

"Not only to memorize it, but also to exchange feelings with everyone. This is your chance to build up your network, and it's always good to make a few more friends, even if it's a meat and drink friend.

I have already handed over the information of Princess Sophie Marie Victoria to you, what to do with it is up to you, I don't want to make jokes. ”

Speaking of friends, Frederick's expression darkened, in the royal family, it was too difficult to have real friends.

It is difficult for people with too big identity gaps to communicate on an equal footing, so how can they become friends?

As emperor, Franz had no friends. If Frederick doesn't have a friend of equal status now, he probably won't have any friends in the future.

The emperor is lonely and does not think about friends at all. The monarchs and ministers recorded in the history books are friends, and Franz can only say hehe!

Frederick's face turned red: "Don't worry, father. I know what to do, and I won't disgrace you. ”

Franz nodded, it was not a matter of shame, it was more of a test for Frederick.

If he passes, he will be the heir to the throne of Austria, and it is difficult to say if he can't pass it. Changing the heir to the throne in Europe, although troublesome, is not impossible.

Of course, this is the worst-case scenario, which is unlikely to happen under normal circumstances. Franz still knows what kind of person his son is.

……

Foreign Secretary Wesenberg: "Your Majesty, the British Minister has sent a diplomatic note asking us to impose a total blockade on Ethiopia.

According to the information we have gathered, this is because the war in Ethiopia has not ended for a long time, and the London government cannot withstand the pressure of domestic public opinion.

If nothing else, the French should have received a similar note.

Unable to make a breakthrough on the battlefield, they can only pin their hopes on the battlefield.

Theoretically, as long as we cut off trade with the French, it would not be long before the weapons in the hands of the Ethiopian army would turn into burning sticks. ”

Modern warfare is all about logistics, and for an agrarian country, once it is cut off from the source of strategic materials, it is not far from defeat.

Franz: "With the current intensity of the war, how long can the Ethiopian army's reserves of strategic materials last?" ”

War Secretary Albrecht: "It won't take more than a year at most, and that's if there is no big war."

It is not impossible that if the British intensify their offensive and run out of ammunition for the Egyptian army within two or three months.

Unless the Egyptian army suddenly breaks out and defeats the British army before the strategic supplies are exhausted. Otherwise, the outcome of the war would have been predestined, and it would have been nothing more than a question of the size of the losses of the British. ”

The Ethiopian army suddenly broke out, and Franz was not counting on it. This is simply not possible, the total strength of the British army has exceeded 100,000 at the moment, even if the Indian colonial army accounts for most of it, but the regular army still has three infantry divisions.

On the battlefield, the Egyptian army was also pressed and beaten by the British. If it weren't for the advantage of the land snake, it is estimated that they would have been defeated long ago.

If it suddenly breaks out and runs out to fight the British army, it is estimated that the British will die of laughter.

In the jungle, they could not help the Ethiopian army. In the frontal field battle, the two sides are not at the same level at all, and the combat effectiveness of the Egyptian army and the Indian colonial army is actually almost the same, except that the Egyptian army has a stronger desire to fight.

Prime Minister Felix: "Don't have this illusion, before the arrival of the main British army, if the Egyptian army is willing to fight hard, there is still a chance to win."

From the moment the British reinforcements arrived, the situation on both sides was reversed. If it weren't for its geographical advantage, Ethiopia would have been doomed long ago.

Now their only chance is to drag the war on. Dragged on until the British lost more than the limit and the London government did not dare to continue investing. ”

Foreign Secretary Wesenberg: "Difficult! The current situation is different from the war in Afghanistan, which not only affects the face of the London government, but also affects their position.

The British, French and Austrian systems are still recognized by the outside world as the world's number one power. But the world's number one also needs strength to support, and the strength shown by the British in the Ethiopian War is obviously not worthy of the name.

The world's largest power is not only a false name, but also involves the right to speak in international politics, and behind it is the distribution of interests.

The political damage caused by any concession made by the London government is immeasurable.

In contrast, it is more cost-effective to continue the war. As long as the London government is willing to throw money at it, it is only a matter of time before the war is won. ”

Political problems are often more serious than military ones.

Although the war costs money, it is all spent on the state's money, and there is no need for cabinet officials to pay for it themselves; But they need to bear the political damage caused by the war.

Franz: "Is there any chance of Ethiopia winning if we have our support?" ”

Stabbing the British, that was the basic operation, and Franz learned from the British. If it were possible, he did not mind continuing to wear down the strength of the British.

War Secretary Albrecht: "Militarily, the chances of Ethiopia winning are almost nil, even with our support.

It's not that the Egyptian army doesn't have the strength to fight the British, the key is that the Ethiopian government's fragile financial system can't support the war that follows. ”

The reason for "no money" is very strong, and as an agricultural country, the Ethiopian government has been able to hold on to the fact that it has not gone bankrupt until now, which is already amazing.

Austria's support for Ethiopia was limited, mainly by selling arms and helping to train the army. It was impossible for Austria to spend money to help them win.

After a moment of hesitation, Franz made a decision: "Negotiate with the British first, and if the conditions are right, we can also give up support for Ethiopia."

But that's after the agreement was reached, and it's up to us to do it now. The Ethiopian government could be properly reminded that the British wanted to cut off their international trade routes. ”

"Selling teammates", this is the basic operation of the big hooligans, and it is nothing more than a matter of interests.

Ethiopia has never been an ally of Austria, and the Vienna government's support for them is only to add to the British's obstruction, so naturally there is no so-called betrayal.

……