Rebirth of the Spanish Empire

Russia's move to occupy Novi Sad was absolutely shocking. Among them, the country involved, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was the most shocked.

It was definitely not easy for Russia to get the 40,000 soldiers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire back to a place like Novi Sad, but because the Austro-Hungarian Empire had signed an agreement to treat prisoners of war well, this agreement has always been It had been promoted by Spain in the past. Therefore, the Austro-Hungarian Empire also treated the 30,000 captured Russian soldiers on a humanitarian basis this time. They only imprisoned them without any other entrapment or killing. This cost the Austro-Hungarian Empire a great deal. For their strength, the Austro-Hungarian Empire allocated 5,000 people to maintain public security. The 40,000 people were reduced by 5,000. Including others such as night watch patrols, there are only less than 30,000 people waiting for the real challenge.

So when a sudden attack of 100,000 people from Russia linked to Serbia and Romania appeared, the Austro-Hungarian soldiers there were completely frightened. And affected by this, the captured Russian soldiers actually chose this time to carry out the attack. The resistance greatly restricted the tens of thousands of remaining soldiers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire from participating in the war. The final result was that these 40,000 soldiers had to withdraw from Novi Sad on the side of the war. When they returned to their own territory in Bosnia and Herzegovina, only Less than twenty-five thousand people. It can be said that the losses of the Austro-Hungarian Empire this time were absolutely huge, so much so that the country was filled with cries of revenge against Russia.

Out of 15,000 people, 15,000 were killed. This is definitely one of the largest military losses suffered by the Austro-Hungarian Empire in half a century.

Joseph I already felt that he had been a turtle grandson for many years when he was young. He is definitely a person who is unwilling to admit defeat, but because he watched Prussia run away in his own hands and develop step by step to overwhelm Austria under his rule and the now united Austro-Hungarian Empire, this made him feel deeply. The feeling of suffocation is absolutely indescribable. People are like this. If they hold it in for a long time, the final result will be when they burst out. Absolutely earth-shattering. And the current Franz Joseph I is in such a state.

The Russian army actually drove the army directly to the border. This was definitely something that embarrassed Joseph I. He. We need to give an explanation to the people at this time. He absolutely cannot take a step back. Otherwise. He could foresee the fate of Louis XVI, the simplest of his exemplary consequences.

"Your Majesty, can we discuss it again? This incident happened too suddenly. I'm afraid that Russia may have some conspiracy in it." Janos Hardik paused, because Joseph I had already taken his hand. Raising it up, this already shows that His Majesty has a firm belief that this time, the Austro-Hungarian Empire will never retreat. This made many of his original words have to be blocked in his heart.

This incident happened in Novi Sad, which is too close to Hungary. For him, who has always been maximizing Hungary's interests, his Hungarian Prime Minister definitely feels the presence of danger. A bad thing. , not to mention a full-scale war, even a local war between Austria-Hungary and Russia, the economy that Hungary has finally developed over the years will be destroyed. This is what he least wants to see, just Those with bare feet are not afraid of wearing shoes. With a population like Russia and its remote countryside, there is absolutely no comparison with Hungary. If you think about it this way, once the Austro-Hungarian Empire went to war with Russia, the Austro-Hungarian Empire would be the final winner. The economy developed over decades will also suffer heavy losses.

What's more, with more than one million troops, can the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which is only about one-third of Russia's strength, really be able to win a war against the other side? Although Janos was not without confidence, his confidence seemed to be so small that it frightened him.

He thought about it and decided that it would be better to express his concerns. So, he looked at Heinrich Lamash, who was also slightly worried next to him.

"Your Majesty, I think, I also think that we should retaliate against each other, so that we can better safeguard the reputation of our empire." He ignored Janos who looked at him angrily and continued: "However, We still need a long-term plan, and we cannot blindly send troops to fight against the opponent. After all, even the German Empire, known as the world's most powerful army country, faced Russia's densely packed army of more than one million active-duty soldiers. In addition, when there are still hundreds of millions of potential troops in reserve, we have to make choices with great headache and worry about them."

Archduke Ferdinand didn't want to say it at first, but he looked at Janos and then at Lamash, and then gave the two of them a meaningful look. The latter two looked at Archduke Ferdinand unwillingly. .

Archduke Ferdinand smiled with satisfaction, and then said seriously: "Uncle, since the two prime ministers said this, I also think it makes sense. After all, many times, their considerations may be things that we have not noticed. , so we still have to plan again.”

If there is anyone in the Austro-Hungarian Empire who can influence the decision of Joseph I, then it must be Archduke Ferdinand. Although in recent years, due to the death of his son, this nephew has had the opportunity to sit on the position of crown prince, and it was only in recent years. They began to have more frequent contact. However, the relationship between the two had already attracted the attention of Joseph I when Archduke Ferdinand was very young. Therefore, there was not much emotional gap between the two.

"Okay, you two go down and make a plan first. I will call the chiefs of general staff of Austria and Hungary here later, and then we will make a careful plan. This time, I am determined to launch an attack on Russia." Give the other side an unforgettable memory. Well, let’s carry out the plan along this line. Also, this time, I have decided that I will appoint Archduke Ferdinand as the Deputy Marshal of War to supervise the war against Russia on my behalf and go south. Hungary is responsible. Okay, you go down."

Archduke Ferdinand followed the two men and looked at Joseph I with some surprise, but he did not say anything. It was not until the two left that he couldn't help but ask: "Uncle, wouldn't this be bad?"

"What's wrong? You are the future king. As deputy marshal, you are definitely a qualified position."

Joseph I looked at his nephew, and the shadow of another person suddenly appeared in his heart. Alfonso XIII, that young king who was more than half the age of Ferdinand, how outstanding he was, how great he was. He was so enviable that sometimes he even thought that if he didn't have a lot of nephews here and the Spanish counterpart was underpopulated, he would even think about asking the Spanish counterpart to take his place. In the future, with the help of Alfonso, it is not impossible to even build the Austro-Hungarian Empire into a more powerful existence than the German Empire.

It's a pity that no matter whether it's from blood or Spanish people's disapproval, such an idea is just a temporary thought in my heart.

"However, my experience seems to be somewhat lacking."

"There are still some shortcomings?" Joseph I said helplessly and a little funny: "Look at Alfonso Thirteen, that kid is not young and ignorant, but he has not made a name for himself in the world. Sooner or later, this world will be full of You young people, so when you feel that you have no experience, the most important thing you should do is not to find a reason for yourself to retreat, but on the contrary, you should move forward bravely to challenge the difficulties and make up for the shortcomings you just mentioned. Experience is the right thing.

You have done a good job in the last Bosnia and Herzegovina incident. What you lack is just the vision and operational experience to grasp the overall situation. And this time, the reason why I let you go is to cultivate what you said. I am not young anymore. Do you think that I, an 82-year-old man, can give you more time to slowly understand these so-called experiences?

Ferdinand, the Austro-Hungarian Empire is the existence that our Habsburg Dynasty relies on most. I have always had a very worrying thought in my heart, that is, if we really disband the alliance established with the Hungarian nobles this time, The Austro-Hungarian Empire, then it is very likely that this will put us in a state of collapse, so your responsibility is not as big as usual."

After speaking, he gently patted Archduke Ferdinand Lose Weight, and then walked slowly to his lounge.

Archduke Ferdinand behind him, looking at his uncle whom he had admired since childhood, felt a tangle of thoughts in his heart.

Two hours later, the final closed-door meeting began. The final result was indeed what Joseph I said before. The Austro-Hungarian Empire would actively prepare for war and prepare for a real battle with Russia. Archduke Ferdinand passed by After listening to the previous sermons of Joseph I, he also did his part and chose to accept such a "task". As a result, several other people began to have a lot of thoughts.

The actions of the Austro-Hungarian Empire naturally cannot be hidden from other countries in the world, especially the major powers and neighboring countries in the world that have always been paying close attention to the Balkan Peninsula.

As a result, this has attracted the attention of more countries, especially those directly affected, such as Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, the Ottoman Empire, and Greece. Italy, Germany, etc., and of course, the most direct, there is Russia as an opponent.

However, to everyone's surprise, the first ones to speak out were not these directly related countries, but Spain, the United Kingdom, and even the United States and France, thousands of miles away. (To be continued...)

ps: Chapter 2 today.