Holy Roman Empire

Chapter 184: Austrophobia Patients

Abdulmejid I could not understand Franz’s troubles. If he knew Austria’s plans, he would not have abandoned Serbia.

In fact, it was not just Serbia the Sultanate abandoned this time, but also Bosnia.

The reason is very practical — they can’t hold on to them.

Since they knew these areas could not be defended, why waste forces pointlessly? The Ottoman government believed they made the right choice, concentrating elite forces to defend against Russian invasion.

As for Austria, after occupying Serbia and Bosnia, their front line has stretched too long, and there is no time to stabilize the rear. How could they continue the offensive?

Britain and France have already made promises to the Ottoman government: as long as they defeat the Russians, they were confident in making Austria vomit back all it swallowed at the negotiating table.

With so many favorable conditions, Abdulmejid I naturally wanted to concentrate his forces to fight against the Russians.

In order to delay the Austrian army’s progress, the Ottoman forces also destroyed roads, bridges along the way, burned granaries, and conscripted a large number of young and able-bodied individuals as they retreated.

……

Constantinople

Staring at the large map on the wall, Abdulmejid I sighed. He was unwilling to abandon their ancestral heritage, but reality left him no choice.

As for the promises made by Britain and France, Abdulmejid I had never fully believed in them. For example, at present, the promised reinforcements from Britain have not arrived in sufficient numbers.

The agreed-upon 80,000 reinforcements turned out to be only 20,000, and the rest of the troops would have to wait until they expanded their forces. Currently, they really can’t send in the required amount.

This was real. The British army truly could not dispatch so many reinforcements. The British government was not intentionally sabotaging allies this time.

As for Palmerston’s promise at the Paris negotiations, without such words, how could they have cajoled France into exerting strength?

Hadn’t the French army been duped now? To gain eye-catching achievements, Napoleon III even sent elite forces without padding numbers with recruits.

Abdulmejid I calmed himself and asked: “Have the allied camps been properly arranged?”

“All have been properly arranged. We have evacuated the surrounding residents to ensure that nothing goes wrong.” Minister of War Damat Mehmed Ali Pasha answered solemnly.

During this era, the British and French armies were disciplined when on their home soil, but once abroad, they were not much different from bandits and robbers, engaging in looting as if it was an important business.

When the first batch of French reinforcements arrived, the Ottoman government suffered already, so now they naturally had to learn from that experience.

Abdulmejid I did not mean to disdain British and French discipline. In fact, the Ottoman Empire’s forces were even worse. At least the British and French allied forces followed some rules when on their home soil, while the Ottoman army was a scourge domestically.

The difference lay in the fact that the Sultan could still restrain the Ottoman army, but he had no control over the British and French armies.

Abdulmejid I continued asking: “Have Britain and France not yet discussed who will assume the position of the supreme commander of the allied forces?”

The alliance of Britain, France, and the Ottoman Empire, unlike the alliance of Austria and Russia, requires coordination in their military operations. Therefore, the issue of command of the allied forces is a significant concern.

Initially, the Ottoman Empire had a say in this matter, but after the defeat in the Battle of Bulgaria, their influence diminished.

Faced with the two big shots which are Britain and France, the Ottoman government, which couldn’t afford to provoke either of them, chose to remain silent.

The longstanding enmity between Britain and France, spanning several centuries, has led to deep-seated animosity among their populations, and it is not something that can be easily resolved by a government decree.

The French shattered the British dream of continental dominance, and the British thwarted the French dream of hegemony. After centuries of conflict, it has become unclear who is right or wrong.

Now, the French believe that their land army is the world’s most powerful, and therefore, they are entitled to the highest command of the allied forces.

Napoleon III aims to elevate France’s global status and secure political prestige for himself. Consequently, the French must contend for control of the allied forces.

On the other hand, the British view themselves as the world’s hegemon (although not universally acknowledged), with the most comprehensive national strength globally. Being the world leader naturally entails asserting that dominance, and the British are unwilling to relinquish command.

The British refuse to be commanded by the French, and vice versa. This sentiment is not only prevalent among the high-ranking officials but also among the soldiers on the ground.

Despite being allies, the officers and soldiers of the two armies simply can’t stand each other. A cold exchange of glares is considered mild, and physical fights often break out at the slightest disagreement.

Then, Sultan Abdulmejid I found himself in a predicament as the two major powers were incessantly quarreling, and yet, there was a war to be fought!

The Russians halted their offensive, not because they ceased hostilities, but because they were preparing for a new campaign. They were simultaneously expediting the transportation of strategic supplies and having their rested troops await reinforcements.

“No, Britain and France’s representatives still stubbornly argue.” Foreign Minister Fuad Pasha smiled wryly, answering.

It was not his lack of effort. After Austria covertly provoked British and French domestic opinion, this problem became sensitive. Neither government dared to easily compromise.

In the words of the The Times: Don’t let Frenchies ride on our heads and shit!

The French media also had similar rhetoric. The position of allied supreme commander had now become a matter of national prestige for both countries.

No one anticipated this situation. Had they known this would happen, the two governments would never have endlessly disputed this issue, giving their opponents a chance.

Austria, despite not having the ability to manipulate public opinion in Britain and France to such an extent, relied on its internal influence to achieve this.

Being able to cause trouble for their political rivals is not only politically correct but also something they have every reason to do.

Abdulmejid I let out a sigh: “Alas!”

He added: “Tell Britain and France’s representatives that if they still cannot agree, establish a joint three nation command with each contributing one leader for joint command.

And if that is still not feasible, then let’s divide our forces. Each country can command its own troops, as long as there is mutual coordination!”

It’s evident that Abdmejid I also knows that these are not ideal solutions. However, there is no alternative, as the Ottoman government is unable to persuade Britain and France.

With the imminent outbreak of another war and the lingering issue of command, they are at a disadvantage once the Russians launch an attack.

Regardless, they should decide to establish a joint command for the allied forces first. If that doesn’t work, they can consider dividing their forces. Abdulmejid I is willing to accept this compromise.

Anyway, Britain only has 20,000 troops now. The main forces were still the Ottoman and French armies. The British can just play the drums on the side.

“Yes, Your Majesty!” Fuad Pasha replied.

……

Turin

After total defeat in the Austro-Sardinian War, the unfortunate King Charles Albert was abandoned by the people of Sardinia. His son Victor Emmanuel II succeeded the throne.

Unlike in history, this time Charles Albert left behind an enormous mess.

Apart from accumulating massive external debts, the Austrian army’s visit devastated Sardinia’s economy. Even now, the nation has yet to recover from this.

The legendary Prime Minister Cavour thus entered history’s stage. Unfortunately, he was merely a man, not a god, and faced with this colossal mess, he too found himself in an extremely vexing situation.

Development? This matter was temporarily irrelevant to the Kingdom of Sardinia. Recovery came first! Without resolving domestic issues, what development could there be?

“What? Prime Minister, are you actually planning to go to war with the Russians?” Victor Emmanuel II nearly roared.

Ever since the Austro-Sardinian War, Victor Emmanuel II had been haunted by the shadows of war. Hearing that Cavour intended to go to war with the Russians, he immediately erupted.

“Yes, Your Majesty!” Prime Minister Cavour replied.

Victor Emmanuel II angrily questioned: “Prime Minister, are you certain you are not joking?”

Prime Minister Cavour calmly replied: “Your Majesty, this is of course serious. How could I joke about such matters?”

Victor Emmanuel II demanded: “Madness! For no reason, why must we fight Russia? Do you have a personal grudge against Russia?”

The Kingdom of Sardinia lacked any conflicts of interest with Russia. Victor Emmanuel II truly could not find any rationale to fight Russia.

Prime Minister Cavour unhurriedly explained: “Your Majesty, I have no enmity with Russia. Even if I dislike them, it would absolutely not rise to the level of hatred.

Currently, Britain, France, and the Ottoman Empire are all at war with Russia. Joining this conflict presents an opportunity for us to seek assistance from Britain and France.

Participating in this war allows us to seek an alliance with Britain and France. We can use this opportunity to overcome the domestic economic crisis and lift ourselves out of this predicament.”

Victor Emmanuel II pondered seriously. Although Prime Minister Cavour’s proposal seemed fanciful, it might not necessarily be unfeasible for the Kingdom of Sardinia.

The Kingdom of Sardinia is far from Russia, and there’s no need to worry about a military threat from the Russians. Even if they were to offend them, there’s no fear of retaliation.

Victor Emmanuel II shook his head and said: “That’s not enough. Simply having the opportunity to form an alliance with Britain and France doesn’t hold much value for us.

Currently, we lack bargaining chips for negotiations with Britain and France, and we have no qualification to intervene in the interests of the Near East.

Using the war to overcome the economic crisis — Prime Minister, our current Sardinia would struggle to gather the equipment for an infantry division.

Do you expect Britain and France to provide us weapons and equipment? Taking their equipment would just be sending our young and abled men to become cannon fodder on the battlefield.”

Reality was just that cruel. The Kingdom of Sardinia was too weak. After the Austro-Sardinian War, even the army was disbanded. It wasn’t forced by Austria but compelled by financial constraints.

The British were not charitable. Loans and interest must be repaid not a penny less and repayment on time was compulsory. Sardinia will have money to develop the military.

Since the British are providing them protection for national defense, all they need is an armed force to maintain internal stability, and a police force is sufficient. Currently, the only military force in the Kingdom of Sardinia is the King’s Guard.

Prime Minister Cavour passionately declared, “Your Majesty, I understand it’s not easy to obtain weapons and equipment from Britain and France, and I am reluctant to send young men to the battlefield as cannon fodder. But now, the nation needs it!

If we cannot secure the support of Britain and France, the Kingdom of Sardinia will never have the opportunity to develop and grow. The blood spilled in the Austro-Sardinian War will be in vain if we rely solely on our own strength, and we’ll never be able to seek revenge against the Austrians.

They left us…”

Victor Emmanuel II discontentedly said, “Stop, Prime Minister Cavour. I don’t want to hear your lengthy speech.

Constantly preaching about seeking revenge against Austria, are you worried that the Austrians have forgotten us and need reminding that there is still an enemy in Italy?

In the Austro-Sardinian War, the Kingdom of Sardinia lost 110,000 valiant soldiers, sacrificed 80,000 civilians, and over 100,000 more wounded. The economic losses were immeasurable, and the entire Kingdom of Sardinia wept.

With the casualties of war and the worsening economic situation, from 1848 until now, the total population of the Kingdom of Sardinia has decreased by 670,000.

Do you think we have spare manpower to expend? Even if we gain the support of Britain and France, do we truly have the capability to seek revenge against Austria?”

Revenge? Victor Emmanuel II desires it too, but reality does not permit for such. The Kingdom of Sardinia is merely a tiny country with a territory of 70,000 square kilometers and a population of just over 5 million people.

After enduring a significant blow, not only does Victor Emmanuel II lack confidence at this moment, but the entire Kingdom of Sardinia has also lost its confidence.

The primary purpose of Prime Minister Cavour’s advocacy for seeking revenge against Austria is to harness the power of hatred, hoping to ignite everyone’s fighting spirit for the effort towards the unification of Italy.

Cavour continued to explain, “Your Majesty, the international situation is constantly changing. Currently, Britain and France are allied, while Russia and Austria stand together. It’s only a matter of time before we have to take sides.

Instead of being forced to choose later, it’s better to proactively join now. The Austro-Sardinian War two years ago already determined that we have no choice.

Declaring war on the Russians now is just a statement. Our limited strength means Britain and France will not demand much from us.

With Montenegro and Greece now aligning with the Russians, Britain and France also need support to voice their stance internationally. The strength of the Kingdom of Sardinia is just right for this.”

Upon hearing this explanation, the expression on Victor Emmanuel II’s face eased slightly.

If there’s no need to commit a large number of troops, there’s room for negotiation. After the immense losses suffered in the previous war, his father went from a hero to a laughingstock, ultimately forced to abdicate. Victor Emmanuel II did not want to go through the same fate.

Victor Emmanuel II very calmly said: “We also need to consider Austria’s stance. The Russians may not be able to harm us directly, but they are right next to us. With a single order from the Austrian government, we could find ourselves in exile again within a week.”

Faced with the fear of Austria, Cavour was powerless. It wasn’t just Victor Emmanuel II; many people suffer from “Austrophobia” after the Austro-Sardinian War. Even Cavour himself was not an exception, though he managed to conceal it well.

Such emotions were especially severe among the masses. Having personally experienced war, many now understood its horrors, and fear of Austria intensified.

This is the aftermath of excessive propaganda. During Charles Albert’s era, there was extensive promotion of Austria’s decay, an exaggeration of the Kingdom of Sardinia’s strength, and the cultivation of confidence among the Sardinian people.

Unfortunately, this confidence was shattered during the Austro-Sardinian War, leading to a reactionary outbreak. Those who experienced this war became “Austrophobia” patients.

The nationalists and rebellious youth who were fearless in the past are now subdued. While domestic stability has been achieved, the plan for Italian unification has been thwarted.

After a moment of hesitation, Cavour spoke, “Your Majesty, I will find a way to handle the Austria issue. If they strongly oppose it, we can abandon this opportunity!”

This is an unavoidable issue. If Austria made military threats, even Cavour would cower. Sardinia now completely lacked the strength for another war. Participating in this Near East War, their only role was basically cheering on the sidelines.

Upon hearing Cavour’s response, Victor Emmanuel II nodded in satisfaction, indicating his approval.