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

Chapter 1525: Anti-Austrian Alliance (Part )

Café Kranzler, Berlin.

Bismarck kept looking at the pocket watch in his hand, and Werner von Siemens beside him whispered a reminder.

"It is a bit rude to His Royal Highness to wait like this."

"Lieutenant, you should also know that Prussia doesn't have much time left. Our enemies are growing stronger every minute, our potential allies are constantly turning into our enemies, and even we are divided internally.

If this continues, Prussia will really have no chance."

"Is there a chance now?"

The person who spoke was Albrecht von Roon, who had worked in the Prussian General Staff Mapping Bureau and had also worked in logistics. He had served as battalion commander, regiment commander, brigade commander, and division commander. He had followed Archduke Albrecht to achieve brilliant results during the Luxembourg Crisis and had even served as a tutor in a military academy.

It was precisely because of this rich resume that Albrecht von Roon became an outstanding Minister of War in the future, but it was also because of this that he felt even more desperate at this time.

Especially the firepower and tactical qualities of the Austrian army, in comparison, the arrogant Prussian soldiers were really inferior. He remembered the night when more than one hundred thousand German coalition troops were chased by ten thousand French and he himself became a prisoner of the French.

If Archduke Albrecht had not absolved them of the blame for the defeat and had not published the list of prisoners, his military career would probably have ended long ago.

The mobilization capabilities that Prussia was proud of were a joke in the face of the absolute numbers of the Austrians.

The number of troops that Prussia mobilized for a national general mobilization was probably about the same as the number of standing troops of the Austrian Empire. If the Austrians did not disarm, Prussia would really have no chance at all.

Moreover, the Austrians also have their own unique way of recruiting soldiers. If the Austrian Empire's state machinery is really put into operation, the military strength of the Austrian Empire will be extremely terrifying.

There will be a steady stream of volunteers from all German states joining the army of the Austrian Empire, but now it may not be limited to Germany.

When Albrecht von Roon heard that the Austrian Empire was carrying out military reform, he did not think that Prussia had any chance of defeating the Austrian Empire militarily. However, if it was politically, there might still be a chance. After all, the former Prime Minister of the Austrian Empire had done something similar.

Albrecht von Roon had originally been considering getting a job in the Austrian Empire. After all, noble status was almost universal in Germany, and this was no exception in the Austrian Empire.

However, Bismarck still convinced him. On the one hand, there were too many people in the Austrian Empire and it was too difficult to stand out. On the other hand, Albrecht von Roon's sunk cost in the Prussian army was too high and the cost of changing allegiance was too high.

The reason why Ron had this idea was mainly because most of the time in Europe, political struggles did not involve life and death, and even wars did not involve the life and death of nobles.

Even if they failed in their struggle for hegemony, they could still be their own Junker landlords.

The most important thing is that Ron believes that Bismarck is not an ordinary person. If it were him, he might really be able to do it.

"Sorry, I'm late."

This time the real host, Prince William of Shotgun, finally arrived, and Bismarck put away his pocket watch and stood up to greet him.

After a brief polite greeting, everyone got straight to the point.

"Your Majesty is no longer able to lead Prussia. We need a stronger leader now."

Prince Shotgun was about to stand up and object, what a joke, he had never thought of usurping the throne.

"What nonsense are you talking about! You said I joined because it was a matter of the future of Prussia."

"I'm talking about the future of Prussia."

Bismarck said firmly, "Our Majesty has fallen into a state of extreme negativity and cannot extricate himself. Now we are the only ones who can save Prussia.

Now the influence of the Austrian Empire in the German Confederation is constantly expanding. If it continues like this, sooner or later, the Austrians will not need a single soldier, but only an administrative document to make Prussia surrender. "

"Is there anything else we can do now? Austria's population is more than three times ours, its territory is more than three times ours, and its allies in the Confederation are many times more than ours."

Shotgun William suddenly asked back. He was not a political novice, but that was precisely why he could truly feel the oppression of the Austrian Empire.

"Of course you can, but you have to act like a king first."

Bismarck's answer remained firm.

"Really? The king's appearance."

Shotgun William pretended to be thoughtful and spoke in the manner of his brother William IV.

"Haha."

The atmosphere suddenly eased.

"But I want to hear what you can do to change the current situation. The gap between us and the Austrian Empire is simply a world of difference. Although the German Confederation has been growing stronger, it is difficult to compete with it even if the power of all other member states is added together."

"Then we will seek foreign aid, from the British, French, Russians, and Italians. Just like we did with Napoleon, we also need to form an anti-Austrian alliance."

Everyone was shocked when Bismarck said this.

"How is it possible to form an anti-Austrian alliance? Russia and Austria are forming an alliance through marriage, France is also trying to ease relations with the Austrian Empire, and even Napoleon III wanted to form an alliance through marriage with the Habsburg family.

The British were also avoiding conflict with the Austrian Empire at this time, and the Italians were even more disunited and not even worthy of being on the stage.

Who would be willing to form an anti-Austrian alliance with us now? And those Greater German lunatics in the Confederation, if they knew what we were doing, would they destroy us first? "

In this national age, nationalists are very fanatical, and it has become commonplace for them to do crazy things.

Shotgun William was not wrong. He was in a high position and had a clearer understanding of the details of international politics, so he was also more desperate.

In fact, nothing else is needed. Just the Russian-Austrian alliance is enough to make people despair.

From the perspective of the readers in the book, Russia did not win beautifully and faced many internal risks. But in the eyes of Europeans at that time, Russia was a behemoth that was invincible, its strength was constantly expanding, and its shadow was covering the entire Eurasian continent.

Add to that the resurgent Austrian Empire, and the combination was truly despairing.

But Bismarck just spoke calmly.

"No one wants to see a giant in Central Europe, and they will not allow Austria to continue to expand, including the Russians.

Now we have to break through this barrier and unite Europe.”

Prince Shotgun said nothing, but Albrecht von Roon stood up and objected.

"Otto, you are right. I oppose your plan. Since the great powers will not allow Austria to rule Germany, how can they accept the rise of Prussia?"