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

Chapter 1446 Otto I

Franz looked at the letter in his hand, and then at the intelligence in his hand. He didn't think that Nicholas I would try the strategy of building a false front while secretly attacking Chencang.

There is no doubt that Nicholas I was unaware of the movements of the Russian army in front of him. He was still thinking about dividing the Balkans with Franz. According to the previous agreement, Greece would maintain its independence.

Moreover, Nicholas I also complained that the newly conquered lands were difficult to manage. This was not in Versailles, but the real dilemma Russia was facing at the time.

There was only one possibility - the Russian Pan-Slavophiles were trying to bypass the Tsar and create a so-called fait accompli.

The target of these people might be Greece or the Austrian Empire. But no matter what, since Franz had discovered them, he would not let them off easily.

Franz did not need to exaggerate, he just needed to tell the truth about what he knew. As long as Nicholas I was not stupid, he would not let these people go.

Whatever their purpose was, they were in fact trying to undermine the Tsar, which was something no monarch with real power could tolerate.

Franz breathed a sigh of relief. His efforts over the years had finally paid off. In fact, it was outrageous that the local elites in Greece dared to attack Otto I. After all, Franz once thought that the victor should not be condemned, which was a universal truth.

But he forgot that this is the Balkans.
The 200,000 Austrian troops still marched to Greece by land and sea as planned. This was not because Franz was ambitious, but for the sake of safety, he did not want any more trouble.

The Greek rebellion was completely beyond Franz's expectations. After all, the Kingdom of Greece was always on the victorious side. His previous deployment in Athens was only to prevent assassination rather than rebellion.

If there had not been a huge gap in weapons and personnel quality between the two sides, the elite mercenaries deployed by Franz in Athens would probably have been wiped out.

No matter what the considerations are, Franz must be ruthless this time, to avenge his cousin and also to clear the obstacles for him.

For the Austrian Empire, the political stability of Greece played a vital role in the stability of the Balkans. As long as Otto I's rule was stable, Greece would not turn to the Ottomans or Russia.

Coupled with the Pacifico incident and Britain's repeated support for the Ottoman Empire, the Greeks' anti-British sentiment was on the rise, and the two sides had formed a feud that could not be resolved in a short period of time.

Greece can serve as a buffer against Russia and as an outpost of the Austrian Empire. In particular, it plays a vital role in the maritime security of the Austrian Empire. Almost all of the important ports of the Austrian Empire in the Eastern Mediterranean are Greek territories.

The island of Crete will be the key to controlling Mediterranean maritime power in the future. With the opening of the Suez Canal, Greece's strategic position will also rise.

Franz has invested so much time, he doesn't want to waste all his efforts.

Venice General Hospital.

Otto I was in a very unstable mood. Although his life was saved, he was delayed for too long on the journey and the sanitary conditions in the cabin were limited.

Although Tanner Amhead and his mercenaries have done their best, they are not professional doctors after all.

To prevent infection, doctors had to cut off half of Otto I's arm.

Compared with physical damage, the rebellion caused greater mental damage to Otto I. The local elites of Athens slaughtered almost all of Otto I's German officials and soldiers, and even those Greeks who were loyal to Otto I were not spared.

The whereabouts of Queen Amalie was unknown. Although Otto I did not have much affection for his wife, he still took all the blame on himself.

What saddened him the most was that the person he trusted betrayed him. Otto I felt that everything he had done was for Greece, and he couldn't understand why he was betrayed.

"Please, please leave me alone. I don't want to eat anything. Take it out."

Otto I was staring out the window in a daze. The hospital originally wanted to install a protective net outside the window to prevent Otto I from losing his mind.

But he was afraid that people would mistakenly think that the Austrian Empire wanted to imprison him, so he had to install a one-meter-thick cushion downstairs.

Franz stepped forward and said.

"Cousin, you can't go without food like this. You still have to go back and deal with those traitors." Otto I was stunned. He didn't expect Franz to come. Because according to the original plan, Franz should have gone to Wallachia and Moldavia to be crowned as the Grand Duke of the two places.

In fact, it was Franz's request to crown the Grand Duke of Wallachia and the Grand Duke of Moldavia separately. He did not want any legal basis for unifying the two places.

This is also an old tradition of the Austrian Empire, each time a place is conquered, a title is given to the place. So Franz's title is surprisingly long.
Although such a ceremony was extremely luxurious, it was a carnival for the people of the Austrian Empire and the newly annexed regions.

A grand celebration can create a large number of jobs, promote local economic development, and enhance people's sense of identity. It is also a way to show the locals that the Austrian Empire is different from past rulers and to assert sovereignty to the great powers and those who covet this land.

However, Franz changed his itinerary and made a special trip to Venice to visit Otto I.

"How did you come?"

After a long while, Otto I finally uttered these words.

"Come and see my cousin."

"Are you here to make fun of me?"

Otto I was in a low mood and even spoke without thinking. However, Franz did not pursue this matter.

"Why would I laugh at you?"

"I was betrayed by my own people. I used the wrong people. All those who followed me died."

After Otto I finished speaking, he covered his face and burst into tears, and then he touched his broken arm. This time he cried even harder.

"As for betrayal, you might as well look at Austria in 1848. Facing millions of rebels and the betrayal of the National Assembly, did I retreat? Did I despair?"

However, Otto I was completely unable to empathize with Franz on this point. If it were the former, he would probably have compromised long ago.

Franz could only put it another way.

"Not all of your followers died. Except for Athens, all other Greek city-states support you. They are now fighting the rebels and trying to help you regain the throne.

You have to cheer up and instead of feeling guilty about the dead and doing nothing, do your best to take care of the living.

Let those who choose to follow you not regret it, and lead the living to continue to fulfill the dreams of the deceased. My cousin, if you want to wear the crown, you must bear the weight.

I think you should understand this.”

“Is there anyone who supports me?”

Otto I asked with some confusion.

"Of course. All you have to do now is take back Athens and take revenge on those rebels!"

Franz asked with great certainty.

"Then do I need to go to the Confederate Congress to ask for the Confederacy's assistance?"

"That's not necessary. I'll help you."

This is a war of revenge by the Greek loyalists against the rebels, but if it turns into a war of revenge by the Germans against the Greeks, that would be troublesome.