The War Court and Lap Pillow, Austria's Mandate of Heaven

Chapter 1376: Journey to Constantinople (Part )
In fact, as soon as Maximilian and Ludwig got off the boat, the dock manager, Drya Pasha, rushed to the palace at the fastest speed in his life.

At this time, Murad V, who was only ten years old, was not frightened by the approaching Russian troops, and was still playing with eunuchs and palace maids in the flower hall.

There is no doubt that Queen Mother Shefkefza protected him well, but Queen Mother Shefkefza was, after all, just a woman without much political experience.

If Mejid I had not died so suddenly and too quickly, she would have just wanted to be a dutiful wife.

The palace steward Baz walked in in a panic. Queen Mother Shefkefza realized that something big must have happened. She sighed and left the flower hall silently with her trusted palace maid.

After walking out of the flower hall, Queen Mother Shefkefuza put away her motherly smile, immediately replaced it with a dignified and majestic face and said in a cold voice.

"What happened? Tell me."

"Archduke Maximilian and Archduke Ludwig of the Austrian Empire are here."

Queen Mother Shefkefuza said with a bitter expression.

"Damn vultures, do they also want to tear a piece of meat from us orphans and widows? What do the Austrians want?"

In fact, Queen Mother Shefkefza was mentally prepared. In her mind, the Austrian emperor was a very warlike person. After the war in Spain was settled, it would naturally be the turn of the Ottoman Empire.

The Ottoman Empire's top leaders had already made contingency plans. It was simply impossible to face Austria and Russia at the same time in the Near East.

Even with the support of Britain, the Ottoman Empire would be crushed. The war might be won, but the Ottoman Empire would be finished, and the rule of the Ottoman family would cease to exist.

Between the country, the people and the family, what Queen Mother Shefkefza cared about most was naturally the continuation of the Ottoman family's rule, so the most correct and only choice for her was to seek peace.

Whether it was ceding land, paying compensation, or signing any treaty, she had no choice but to agree to it all.

However, the Ottoman Empire had already come up with a strategy of driving the tiger to devour the wolf: it ceded Bulgaria and Dobruja to the Austrian Empire, and then ceded Eastern Bosnia and Southern Serbia to Russia.

Although this would result in the loss of nearly half of the Ottoman territory in the Balkans, the alliance between Austria and Russia would also collapse.

The enclaves on both sides would make Wallachia a focus of contention, not to mention that Wallachia itself is one of the richest lands in the Balkans.

Theoretically, the Austrian Empire and Russia could avoid this trap by exchanging territories, with the Austrian Empire getting eastern Bosnia and southern Serbia and Russia getting Dobruja and Bulgaria.

However, at this time, Eastern Bosnia and Southern Serbia were completely rotten places, while Dobruja and Bulgaria were synonymous with wealth and fertility.

No one would be willing to give up the rich and fertile land and choose a rotten land full of mountains and unruly people.

Even if both sides really exercised great restraint, Bulgaria had a large number of devout Orthodox Christians, Russia would lose its credibility, and Austria would not be able to truly control the Bulgarians.

Similarly, even if the two sides really exchanged land, religious issues and spheres of influence would still be obstacles that both sides could not overcome.

Once the seeds of doubt are planted, it is only a matter of time before they break through the ground.

The Ottomans are betting on the evil and greed of human nature.
The palace steward Baz said with some embarrassment.

"The Austrians are not here to see the Queen Mother."

Queen Mother Shefkefuza, who had been imagining for a long time, was very surprised and asked back, "What are they here for?"

Baz, the palace steward, said awkwardly.

"Your Majesty, Archduke Maximilian and Archduke Ludwig of the Austrian Empire said they are here for tourism."

"A war is about to break out, and they are here for tourism?! They must be trying to spy on our country under the guise of tourism! Don't believe their words!"

Shefkefuza unconsciously raised his tone by three points.

"Your Majesty, our people have been following them secretly. Their route and behavior are very similar to those of ordinary European travelers. No, they are exactly the same.
Hulaid Pasha asks you whether to increase protection efforts."

Baz, the palace steward, continued awkwardly.

"Don't be fooled by their illusions!"

Queen Mother Shefkefza didn't believe that anyone would come to travel at this time, but she also realized the seriousness of the problem. The reason why the court steward Baz was in a hurry to report to her was because these people were too sensitive at this time.

If the two archdukes of the Austrian Empire met with an accident in Istanbul, the situation would be out of control.

Russia will certainly use this opportunity to drag the Austrian Empire into the war, and the Austrian Empire will certainly use this to gain the greatest benefits. Even the British may use this to strengthen the Ottoman Empire's determination to resist.

Queen Mother Shefkefza knew clearly that the British had never intended to help the Ottoman Empire. All their actions were aimed at world hegemony. If they could eliminate two rivals for world hegemony by sacrificing the Ottoman Empire, the British would certainly be happy to do so.

Thinking of this, Queen Mother Shefkefuza could not help but break out in a cold sweat.
"No! We can't let them get into trouble in Istanbul! Can we send them back to Vienna?"

"Your Highness, Driya Pasha and Hulaid Pasha have already tried, but Archduke Maximilian has a very tough attitude. We are afraid of causing international disputes, so..."

Queen Mother Shevkefza felt a headache.

"Do everything you can to protect these two remnants of the Habsburg family. God willing, the Ottoman Empire will not fall in our hands."

"As ordered!"

The palace chief steward, Baz, immediately ordered his eunuchs to run to the palace gate as quickly as possible and pass the news to Hulaid Pasha's messenger.

Maximilian and Ludwig were wandering around in traditional Ottoman costumes that they had found.

In fact, the Ottoman Empire had very strict requirements for daily dress, so much so that many people could tell the identity of others from their clothes at a glance.

Maximilian and Ludwig did not know these rules, and the people who prepared the clothes did not understand the customs of the Ottoman Empire.

So the two of them were more conspicuous when they walked on the road.
Constantinople has been an international city since the third century AD. Even after the rule of the Ottoman Empire, there were often Western European and Russian merchants trading here, and even black people from Abyssinia.

However, everyone in Constantinople had to abide by the rules of the Ottoman Empire, except for the two Austrian archdukes who knew nothing about it and no one dared to interfere.

Maximilian took Ludwig to the mosque and Hagia Sophia, but the latter, as a devout Catholic (fundamentalist), refused to set foot in the pagan and heretical temple.

Finally, I had no choice but to go to the Grand Bazaar