War Palace and Knee Pillow, Austria’s Destiny

Time goes back to before the nobles came to find the French. Because of the existence of Hainau, the nobles could not take action directly.

After all, no one wants to try it. This mad dog's knife may be useful or not.

As a result, the great nobles repeated their old tricks and promoted Austria's ambitions for the three southern German countries. The three kings of South Germany showed no concern, and officials began to ask whether they could retain their official positions and salaries after joining Austria.

The three southern German countries of Bavaria, Württemberg, and Baden chose to lie down out of helplessness. France was not much weakened after the Napoleonic Wars. The situation between the two lions of France and Austria has not been broken.

On the contrary, the Napoleonic Wars caused great damage to the rule of the three southern German countries. Although the three southern German countries were the victorious countries, instead of strengthening, their strength suffered a huge decline.

Coupled with Prussia's acquisition of the Rhineland, this evil wolf's sense of oppression over South Germany was increasing day by day.

At this time, the three southern German countries neither had access to the sea, nor were they agricultural countries. If you want to develop yourself, you can only rely on the powerful countries around you that are eyeing you.

It is never easy to seek skin from a tiger.

Austria once used them as a bulwark against France; the French used them as gunmen, and their expedition to Russia almost drained the three South German countries and destroyed tens of thousands of troops in the ice and snow of Russia; the Prussians supported them just to Let them weaken Austria. As for the cost, you can understand it.

The domestic people, the aristocracy, and even the capitalists have long been dissatisfied with this incompetent government. Everyone wants to change the status quo and have a strong state to protect their lives and property. A unified country and a unified market are their most urgent needs.

This is why South Germany has become the main gathering place for the Greater German faction.

The Habsburg family was once the royal family of the Holy Roman Empire, and the Austrian Empire is now the chairman of the German Confederation. The fastest way to unify Germany seems to be to rely on the authority of Austria and the Habsburg family.

On the other hand, the reputation of the Habsburg family is pretty good, and the status and property of the nobles can be guaranteed, and they can even get a good compensation. This is quite tempting for those nobles with serious overall financial deficits.

Wouldn't it be nice to take advantage of the change of power to kill a group of creditors?

Austrian law stipulates that officials must understand German. This is a great thing for officials and young talents from the three southern German countries. A bigger country means more jobs.

After all, the number of Austria's main ethnic groups is very insufficient compared to its size.

The conspiracies of the great nobles cannot succeed, so they can only rely on scheming, which is to play with public opinion.

It's just that Menet was well prepared and went to Archbishop Rauscher to explain the pros and cons before the negotiations.

At the negotiation table, a group of church bishops came uninvited. Facing this group of magicians, the Austrian nobles could not stand up. After all, the only ones who could defeat the Kshatriyas were the Brahmins.

"Public opinion? Who said that public opinion is against joining the German Zollverein?" the Archbishop of Linz said with some disdain.

The aristocratic staff who were extremely arrogant just now were immediately turned into eggplants. Only one young man whispered, "This is the conclusion we reached after our investigation."

"Oh?" The Archbishop of Linz couldn't help laughing. "Which diocese are you from? My child."

The surrounding bishops looked at each other and laughed. It's just that the staff of these great nobles are not ridiculous.

"The parish of Bohemia," answered the young man.

"Okay, kid." Archbishop Linz turned to Archbishop Polslu, "Your Bohemian Diocese should hold a vote and let the kid see the conclusion."

At this time, the church still held considerable weight in the Austrian Empire. It might be difficult to get the parishioners to hand over their property and fight the enemy, but it could still be done in minutes by manipulating a vote.

"Well, who still objects now, we accept the Catholic brothers in South Germany." Archbishop Rauscher's words were even more explicit, and there was a lot of contempt in them.

In this era, the relationship between the church and the nobility was not very good, especially those new aristocrats engaged in industry and commerce. Because they refused to pay tithes and refused to pay tithes for their employees.

Especially after religious freedom was implemented in the Austrian Empire, the nobility and the church gradually parted ways. The church was dependent on the state, and the nobles wanted more power.

Of course, there was both opposition and cooperation between the nobility and the church. Many bishops were from noble families, and many nobles would send their second sons and daughters who could not get good dowries to the church to avoid property division.

And when it comes to manipulating public opinion, the nobles are really no match for the church.

In the face of the church, no big noble is willing to come forward to seek such bad luck. The only way he can think of is to drag his feet.

Metternich had already expected the procrastination tactics used by the great nobles, but he didn't think these nobles could do anything else. The most he can do is start a local uprising. He has ordered the Minister of War, Count Latour, to pay close attention to domestic trends.

However, Metternich still underestimated the lower limit of this group of great nobles.

Soon after, a letter and two hundred thousand francs were placed on the desk of French Cabinet Minister Guizot.

"Dear Monsignor Guizot."

"The great France is suffering from a shameless conspiracy, and the despicable Germans are preparing to unite against the great French Empire. The evil Prince Metternich intends to use an alliance to gradually annex the three southern German countries."

"Once the German conspiracy succeeds, the balance of power in Europe will inevitably be broken. The haze of war will once again cover the sky of Europe, for freedom and peace."

"I hope you can save kind and innocent people from the baptism of war."

——Truly peace-loving Europeans

The British also received similar letters, but before the British had time to react, the French took action first.

Guizot immediately used Marshal Soult's order to send a note to the three South German countries, requiring the three South German countries not to join the Customs Union organized by Austria, otherwise he would retain the power to use force to dissolve the alliance.

The heads of the three South German countries immediately panicked and quickly recalled the envoys sent to Austria for negotiations. In response to France's note, the war faction headed by Count Latour, Minister of War, advocated immediately gathering troops and notifying the Holy Alliance countries to mobilize for war against France.

The great nobles warned the emperor that the Austrian treasury was now empty and its troops were insufficient. The most important thing is to go to war with the French, Austria will bear the brunt and will surely suffer huge losses. If you don't want the tragedy of the Napoleonic Wars to happen again, the best way is not to fight.

"You cowards! Do you think that because you are a coward, the French can't see you? France is powerful, but have you forgotten who defeated it?" Count Latour has a hot temper. As an anti-French man, As a veteran, what he couldn't stand the most was the increase in prestige of the French.

"Latour! You fool, you have no money, do you want to go to the battlefield by yourself? Besides, just because of Bavaria, Baden, and Württemberg, we will shed the last drop of Austrian blood?" Wendy Gorets The prince retorted.

"Ferdinand (Prince Windigorets' name), this is not for others! The French have bullied us at our doorstep. This is something no soldier can tolerate."

"The duty of a soldier is to obey and serve the country, not for your bullshit dignity."

The two sides were at war with each other, and Francis II was wavering in the middle. To be honest, he was very disgusted with France, but the Napoleonic War brought him too many bad memories, and he was a little scared.

At this time, bad news came. An uprising broke out in Bohemia to protest against the entry of South German goods into Bohemia.

The local garrison could not suppress the attack and asked Vienna for help.

Francis II decided to stop the formation of the South German Customs Union and use all his strength to suppress domestic rebellions.

After the emperor left, Count Latour glared at Prince Windigoretz, "How dare you!"

All discerning people know that Bohemia has 80,000 regular troops, which is enough to suppress an uprising.