Holy Roman Empire

Chapter 176: It All Depends on Contrast

After declaring war on the Ottoman Empire, Austria entered a state of war. Large amounts of strategic materials were transported along the Danube towards the Balkan Peninsula, and 200,000 Austrian troops also marched grandly over.

On the surface, it looked like Austria was going to take revenge on the Ottoman Empire. The two sides’ hatred could be traced back hundreds of years. If not for the Ottoman Empire’s meddling, the House of Habsburg would have long unified Germany.

This time, Franz deceived the whole world. With troops and strategic materials continuously pouring into the Balkan Peninsula, even within Austria, it looked like they were determined to defeat the Ottoman Empire.

Only a few high-level officials knew that the Balkan offensive had already ended for now. Austria’s troops and strategic materials gathering along the lower Danube were mainly to facilitate rapid troop redeployment after the westward strategy was launched.

The strategic materials sent to the Balkan Peninsula, weren’t they still needed by the Russians? Even though the Russian government prepared for two years for this war, they were still unable to resolve domestic transportation issues.

Originally, the Russian government planned to rely on seaborne supplies to resolve logistical issues. They concentrated strategic materials at Black Sea coastal ports in Ukraine, with the Black Sea Fleet escorting, it was foolproof.

But plans could not keep up with changes. Once the British and French navies arrived, sea routes were cut off.

Now, they needed their ally’s help. Austria had the Danube passing through it, allowing direct access to Bulgaria. Supplying logistics was no issue.

It could be said that the Danube was a treasure gifted by heaven to Austria. Before railways were completed, water transport was the most reliable method.

The Danube originated in Baden, passed through Württemberg and Bavaria into Austria, through Wallachia and Moldavia into the sea. This was the logistical lifeline for Austria’s western advance into Southern Germany and southern advance into the Balkan Peninsula.

Of course, completing the railways would still be best. After all, the Danube could not cover every region. Having an east-west railway would be even more convenient.

Vienna

At the Austrian General Staff headquarters, war-seeking petitions from the military had piled up like a mountain. Soldiers needed battle merits. Merely occupying the two Danubian principalities was hardly any fighting at all. How could they get promotions and titles?

If not for Marshal Radetzky’s high prestige able to restrain the war faction in the military, these chaotic war petitions would have reached Franz’s desk.

According to the Archives Bureau’s statistics, the General Staff received over 100,000 war petitions in 1852. Almost every officer and soldier’s name appeared in the war petitions.

A middle-aged officer held a thick stack of documents and said with a wry smile: “Marshal, these are war petitions from the 19th Division.”

He had lost count of how many times he had brought documents over. Ever since the war with the Ottoman Empire broke out, the Austrian military was itching for action, gearing up for a big fight.

Every day, the General Staff had to receive large amounts of war petitions, as well as countless battle plans. In short, everyone was very impatient, afraid that the Russians would destroy the Ottomans too quickly, leaving them no chance to perform.

Marshal Radetzky thought for a moment and said: “Give them to the archives. From now on, bring me no more such petitions.”

At the start, he was very pleased. An aggressive military was a good thing! But over time, Marshal Radetzky had become numb to it.

Ever since easily occupying the two Danubian principalities, many saw this war as an armed parade, as if the Ottoman Empire would collapse at a touch.

Not just active officers got excited. Even debauched noble youths everywhere sought connections, wanting to gild themselves in the military.

Wanting to join at this time was naturally impossible. To execute the westward strategy, Austria’s top leadership were keeping a close eye on this, allowing no carelessness.

“Yes, Marshal!” The middle-aged officer replied.

But after speaking, the officer did not leave, instead seeming rather urgent, as if he had something to say.

Noticing this, Marshal Radetzky asked in puzzlement: “General Lafite, anything else?”

“Marshal, the mood down below is feverish, we can barely restrain them.” Lafite said apprehensively.

Marshal Radetzky said solemnly: “There’s nothing we can’t handle. Tell them to be prepared, and they don’t need to worry about when we’ll go to war.

Whoever has objections can be ordered to immediately retire and return home. The Austrian military has no room for such undisciplined rabble!”

“Yes, Marshal!” Lafite hurriedly answered.

The Austrian military had no tradition of lower ranks superseding higher ones. Such important national affairs were not for lower officers and soldiers to decide.

If ordered to retire now, they would miss this war. For those eager to win glory on the battlefield, this was a huge loss.

After suppressing the voices of those below him, Marshal Radetzky sighed. This was indeed a once in a millennium chance to head south into the Balkan Peninsula, but reality did not allow it.

Currently, the main forces of the Austrian army are active in the two principalities downstream of the Danube. Ostensibly, they are there to suppress rebel forces and establish effective local governance, but in reality, it’s all for the convenience of concentrating forces.

Even the warships in the Austrian Navy capable of navigating the Danube had been stationed in the Black Sea before the outbreak of the war. At this time, they are all providing escorts in the Danube River Basin.

With so much preparation, they could not possibly abandon the westward strategy just to gain some advantage in the Balkan Peninsula, right?

Dispersing the army was easy, gathering them back was difficult. With just one order, combined Austrian and Russian forces could occupy the Balkan Peninsula before long.

But once the Balkan Peninsula was occupied, Austria would be stuck there, and it would be hard to extricate themselves.

Being far away from the Danube River Basin without water transport, by the time they gather hundreds of thousands of troops and transport them from the Balkan Peninsula to Southern Germany, even the yellow flowers would have wilted.

Sch?nbrunn Palace

Franz inquired with concern, “Mr. Steiner, at what stage is the construction of the domestic main railway lines, and when can it be completed?”

Austrian railway network construction began in 1849. Three years had passed since work started, and some flatland sections were already operational.

However, for the entire transportation network, it’s like a drop in the bucket. Not to mention the railway crossing the main ridge of the Alps, it might not be successfully completed even if they spend another three years on it.

Franz did not have urgent requirements for mountain railways. What was most important now was the Vienna to Salzburg railway. It had to be opened ahead of schedule.

There was no choice. Due to his butterfly effect, the Near East War erupted a year earlier than the historical Crimean War, reducing preparation time for the westward strategy by one year.

One year is enough to change many things. Vienna is just over two hundred kilometers from Salzburg, and Franz isn’t worried at all about completing this railway in four years.

Losing a year in the schedule would make things difficult. For the sake of secrecy, Franz couldn’t inquire specifically about this section of the railway. It would be troublesome if it attracted the attention of those with ulterior motives. Now, they can only push the entire national main railway lines to meet the deadline together.

According to the General Staff’s plans, once the westward strategy was launched, Austrian forces would attack in three prongs. One prong would head along the Danube, one prong would depart from Salzburg overland straight for Munich, and one prong would enter Bavaria along the Rhine.

It had to be said, developed water systems were great. Even entering Bavaria from Salzburg, there was still the Salzach River connecting to the Rhine.

In this era, Bavarians had yet to build a canal linking the Rhine and Danube, otherwise supplying Vienna for this war to unify Southern Germany would have been easy.

Now, Salzburg was added as a logistics supply point. Therefore, completing the Vienna-Salzburg railway before war erupted was critical.

Railway Minister Steiner handed Franz a document, saying: “Your Majesty, this is the railway construction schedule and estimated completion timetable. Please review it. Currently, domestic railway companies have all sped up construction.

The main railway lines’ overall completion will require at least two more years. Within this year, one-third of the sections can become operational, while the opening of some mountain railways may be postponed until 1856.”

Franz nodded. Austria’s railway construction speed was not slow for this era, especially after the government’s stimulus policies were introduced, with railway companies racing to meet deadlines.

Starting this year, Austria’s railways would usher in an opening up period, with many sections successively becoming operational, greatly improving domestic transportation.

Franz smiled and said after casually flipping through and seeing the answer he wanted: “I’m very satisfied with this speed. Minister Steiner’s efforts are appreciated, you may go about your duties now.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!” After speaking, Steiner immediately left. The subsequent meeting was not something a technical bureaucrat like him could participate in.

Franz had no plans to groom versatile bureaucrats. Government officials were mostly talents specializing in one area. If they were proficient in everything, they could pack up and go home, as Austria’s government had no need for polymaths.

If there really were such geniuses, Franz felt it would be better to send them into scientific research. Politics was too dangerous, even he as Emperor was afraid.

After seeing Steiner off, Franz said: “Gentlemen, if nothing unexpected happens, the railway to Salzburg can be opened before the year’s end.

The railway roadbed construction is already complete. The original plan remains unchanged. We must still delay for at least half a year. Mr. Metternich, any issues?”

Called out by name, Foreign Minister Metternich thought for a moment before answering: “Your Majesty, this depends on the war situation at the Balkan front.

According to the intelligence we’ve gathered, the Russian army has deployed 251,000 troops here, while the Ottoman army is officially listed at 450,000, but in reality, they are short by at least one-fifth, and their combat readiness is likely not very optimistic.

If Russia achieves a quick victory before British and French intervention, capturing Constantinople, then our original plans will be very difficult to continue.”

Despite the Ottoman army appearing to have greater numbers on the surface, Metternich still favored the Russians more. The Ottoman side having more troops did not mean more were necessarily deployed to the battlefield.

Now, Russia had handed the two Danubian principalities to Austria, in effect also handing over responsibility for securing the rear, including logistical transportation in the region, to Austrian forces.

The Ottoman Empire was fighting at home, but unfortunately Russia held greater sway over the Bulgarians in this region. With Russian support, local guerrilla numbers had already exceeded five digits. The Ottoman advantage of fighting at home became a disadvantage.

Marshal Radetzky very confidently commented, “Mr. Metternich, you don’t need to worry. This is a poorly fought war. From contact with Russian forces entering the Balkan Peninsula, we can basically judge that the Russian army’s combat strength is far weaker than we imagined.

Firstly, the Russian army’s force composition is very chaotic, unit organization still dated from the war against France, corruption within the army is severe, weapons and equipment are backward, and the logistical system is disorderly.

Secondly, Russian military discipline is loose, the Cossack cavalry are especially locusts, bringing calamity wherever they go. They can still fare well in opportunistic battles, but will immediately collapse when encountering failure.

The Ottoman army learned superficial knowledge from French instructors, but the actual system remains outdated.

Regarding corruption, the Ottoman army is even more egregious. At least the Russians can fill the ranks, while Ottoman officers directly pocketed phantom pay, with severe roster shortfalls.

Many soldiers were forcibly conscripted just to fill numbers, dragged in without any expectation of combat ability.

In conclusion, the Ottoman army’s combat strength is even worse. Without foreign intervention, they will most likely lose this war, though holding Constantinople should be no issue.”

Franz agreed with Marshal Radetzky’s assessment. In history, the combat effectiveness displayed by the Russians in the Crimean War can be described in one word—poor. As for the Ottomans, they taught everyone that there’s no such thing as the worst; there’s only worse!

Overall, both Russia and the Ottoman Empire were overestimating themselves. Not just them, but France, Austria, Spain and Prussia were also thus. Except for Britain, European powers were collectively not in top form.

Under Franz’s butterfly effect, Austria was rescued, allowing Marshal Radetzky to gain confidence relying on Russia and the Ottoman Empire’s bluffing.