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Austro-Hungarian Prime Minister Mario. Weber and Foreign Secretary of State Leopold. Feng. After seeing off the Chinese ambassador to Austria-Hungary Shen Ruilin, Count Belchdald immediately left the prime minister's residence by car and went to Belverdi Palace to inform the Austro-Hungarian Crown Prince Ferdinand about the specific situation of this meeting with the Chinese ambassador to Austria-Hungary! Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz. Joseph is already old, and he doesn't know how long he can last, and all the major affairs of the state are handed over to the Crown Prince Ferdinand. Fortunately, although Archduke Ferdinand's talent is limited, as long as he doesn't make big mistakes, there is no problem in being a king! However, the point is that Archduke Ferdinand does not seem to be satisfied with keeping the Austro-Hungarian Empire, he also has his own ambitions!

"Your Royal Highness, the intention of the Chinese this time is mainly to hope that we can form an alliance with China and thus resist the pressure that Germany has put on them! Obviously, the contradictions between China and Germany have begun to intensify, and this is both an opportunity and a challenge for us in Austria-Hungary! "The Prime Minister of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Mario. Webb said.

Archduke Ferdinand nodded, then asked, "So, what do you think we should choose?" Will it stand with the Chinese, or will it continue to be allied with Germany? What kind of impact will these two choices have on Austria-Hungary? ”

"Your Highness, there is no doubt that China and Germany have replaced the old powers as the two most powerful countries in the world! And we, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, are much worse in comparison! This dooms us to be unable to compete with them for world hegemony, at least not in the short term, because we will not have the strength to compete with these two countries! Therefore, I consider the future policy of Austria-Hungary. It needs to be based on the actual interests of the country. Austria-Hungary is far away from China, and the two of us have no substantive conflict of interests, at least, the current Austro-Hungarian Empire will not pose a threat to China! And Germany is different, the former Germany was strong enough. After the occupation of France, the acquisition of a large part of the Eastern European Plain, and the fact that the British also fell to Germany, Germany's strength will rise again! But even then, they are only a threat to China. If you want to defeat China, I personally think it's a little unlikely! However, Germany was too strong, and it was not necessarily a good thing for Austria-Hungary! As the Chinese say, Europe is too small. Can't accommodate two big countries! At best, a powerful state rules all of Europe, and the rest of the country becomes a vassal of that country! This also means that if Germany wants to continue to develop in the future, before they have the strength to defeat China, it is their only way out to attack us! "Mario. Chancellor Weber said with some pessimism! Although Austria-Hungary is also one of the great powers of the world, it is nothing more than a giant with feet of clay. If Germany really wants to make a move against Austria-Hungary, Austria-Hungary will probably not be able to resist it!

Archduke Ferdinand's face was a little gloomy, and he had to admit that Mario. What Prime Minister Weber said may not sound good, but in fact it is. Archduke Ferdinand was well aware of the ambitions of this neighbor to the north, and since the unification of Germany, they have been actively expanding abroad, which has made Germany's military strength unprecedented! There was such a neighbor, and it was in the context of the constant decline of the power of Austria-Hungary, for them. A very dangerous situation indeed!

"What is your opinion, Count Belchedrod?" Archduke Ferdinand continued.

"Your Highness, I think the words of the Chinese are a bit alarmist! Germany's main enemy is China, not us! Although our national strength is not comparable to that of Germany. But if Germany wants to defeat or even annex us, it will not be so easy! Once the war enters a stalemate, this will give China time to intervene! I think that the possibility of the Germans befriending us and co-opting us is much higher than the use of force against us! "Foreign Secretary Leopold. Feng. Said Count Belhidold!

"Your Excellency, I can't fully agree with your point of view! Germany's main opponent is indeed China, but China is now developing at a high speed, and their military strength is particularly strong! Even if Germany could digest France and the East European Plain, and get the support of England! But if you want to defeat China, it is still unlikely! China has grown into a behemoth! At that time, Germany will have only one way, and that is to continue to build up its strength. And this, what is faster than plundering other countries? Once Germany annexes us, then Germany's strength will inevitably be further improved, and the gap with China will be very small! Besides, Wilhelm II was an extremely crazy man, and if it proved to be in Germany's favor, he would have taken the risk! "Mario. Chancellor Weber said.

"Your Excellency, if we continue to form an alliance with Germany and fully support Germany's war with China, then I don't think Germany will attack us! We are all Germanic, and we shouldn't kill each other! "Leopold. Feng. Said Count Belchdald.

"The relationship between allies is far from so strong! The war between Germany and China was a war of the nation! In order to ensure victory, the Germans will definitely contact the surrounding threats before the war begins! Although we and the Germans are both Germanic, the contradictions between us and the Germans are not small, and the Germans will not be completely at ease with us! In addition, we, Austria-Hungary, were willing to be only partners of the Germans, or even a client state? We, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, are also great powers, and we should also make our voices heard, and not be a client state of the Germans! "Mario. Chancellor Webb said!

Mario. Chancellor Weber's words made Archduke Ferdinand very satisfied! The Prussians defeated Austria and expelled Austria from the German states. This has always been a pain in the heart for the rulers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, especially the Kingdom of Austria! They wanted to be the rulers of the German Empire more than to be the rulers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. And, as in Mario. Chancellor Weber said that Austria-Hungary is not a client state of Germany, and Austria-Hungary is also one of the world powers, and it cannot just stand behind Germany and let Germany become the hegemon of the world. Archduke Ferdinand himself also hoped that Austria-Hungary would become the most powerful country in the world, and if he could, perhaps in the future, he would be able to compete with China for world supremacy. No matter how bad it is, you have to become the hegemon of the Western world! And if Germany became a world hegemon, would they tolerate such a great power as Austria-Hungary at their side?

Foreign Secretary Leopold. Feng. Count Belchdot also nodded involuntarily, although he had a great affection for Germany, but in the same way, if Germany wanted to annex Austria-Hungary, he would definitely not agree! If nothing else, for the sake of his own interests, he will also keep Austria-Hungary as much as possible. In the Austro-Hungarian Empire, he was a powerful foreign minister, and if Austria-Hungary was annexed by Germany, or if it was destroyed, would he still have his position?

"I think Chancellor Webb is absolutely right! In order to safeguard the interests of Austria-Hungary, it is very necessary for us to strengthen our ties with the Chinese! China's weaponry, equipment and funds are what we urgently need! As for the alliance with China, I think we can think about it in the future! "Leopold. Feng. Said Count Belchdald.

"I know your opinion. I'll tell you about it! Archduke Ferdinand said. In fact, he already has a decision in his heart! It's just that the key to such a national event is to get Franz. A nod from Joseph I!

The next day, the Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister Leopold. Feng. Count Belchdot declared that Austria-Hungary supported the holding of a peace conference in Peking, and claimed that in view of the fact that Austrian Emperor Franz . For the health of Joseph I, Crown Prince Ferdinand will go to Beijing to participate in this peace meeting!

The abrupt change of fortune in Austria-Hungary caused an uproar in the world. The views of the Kingdom of Bulgaria and Romania, as well as the Ottoman Turkish Empire, also changed. This also made Germany very dissatisfied with this!

On the evening of July 15, local time, Kaiser Wilhelm II received a specific report from Lieutenant General Heisenberg, head of the German intelligence service, at Gonglu Palace, and understood the whole incident.

"Your Majesty, yesterday the Chinese ambassador to Austria-Hungary visited the Austro-Hungarian Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and their meeting lasted for most of the day. However, the exact content of the meeting is not yet known. But it is certain that the change in the Austro-Hungarian Empire has a lot to do with this meeting! Lieutenant General Heisenberg said!

"General, is it possible that Austria-Hungary has secretly reached some secret agreement with China, such as an alliance against Germany, etc.?" German Chancellor Holwig asked with a stern face.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, it is not yet known. We'll be more intensifying in this area! Lieutenant General Heisenberg said.

"Gentlemen, it seems that we are in trouble, the betrayal of Austria-Hungary has dealt a great blow to our strategy! Although other countries are still waiting, I believe that they will definitely choose to compromise with the Chinese! So, are we going to keep going? Kaiser Wilhelm II asked.

Everyone was silent, but Wilhelm II had already gotten everyone's point of view from it!

On July 16, Germany announced that it agreed to hold this peace conference in Beijing, however, due to health reasons, Kaiser Wilhelm II will not attend this peace conference, and the German delegation led by Crown Prince Wilhelm to Beijing!