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

Chapter 1701 Burden
"Your Majesty, the latest news from Athens is that the Russian army has already entered Constantinople."

Franz instantly became more alert. The war had only been going on for two days. Even if the Russians were all cavalry and could travel unimpeded, they might not be able to reach Constantinople from Bulgaria.

"Is the news reliable?"

"It was a telegram sent personally by Otto I."

Franz nodded; he knew Otto I quite well.

"Give me the telegram."

Franz took the telegram, glanced at it, and then handed it to Celestina, who was in charge of intelligence, beside him.

"Print several more copies and send them to the homes of the ministers."

"Yes."

Although Celestina still bears some resemblance to Adjani in her features after returning from Paris, no one would mistake them for the same person anymore.

Although it is not yet clear how Russian soldiers stormed Constantinople, it is certain that Russia launched a surprise attack from the sea.

As for how the Russians breached the coastal defenses, Franz didn't know, nor did he need to know.

However, this was good news for the Austrian Empire, because the British plan had now failed, and the British Parliament would surely be in an uproar.

The corresponding downside is that Franz's original plan will also fall through.

Before long, all the key ministers who were qualified to attend the Imperial Council had arrived.

"The Russians launched a surprise attack on Constantinople? Is that true?"

The brothers Albrecht and Friedrich were clearly incredulous at the news, as it seemed too surreal from both a naval and an army perspective.

Franz nodded.

"it is true."

"Your Majesty, what are we waiting for? We can hire some Ottomans to launch a surprise attack on our country."

That way we can legitimately join the war!

Count Latour exclaimed excitedly, "What do you mean by 'legitimate'? It's all about dividing the spoils!" However, having spent so many years in the central government, he had made some progress.

"agree."

Prime Minister Prince Schwarzenberg spoke first, and the other ministers echoed his sentiments, since it was a matter of getting something for nothing.

As the saying goes, when a wall falls, everyone pushes it down. If Austria does this, Greece, and even Persia and Oman in Asia might follow suit.

However, Franz shook his head. It wasn't that he had a kind of moral fastidiousness and disdained things like taking advantage of someone's misfortune; after all, he had done more of that than anyone else.

Franz believed that it might be more advantageous for the Austrian Empire not to participate in the war at this time, since participating in the war would involve considering the division of spoils with Russia.

Franz knew very well that most people could share hardship, but not happiness.

Franz didn't want to gain any benefits and create a powerful enemy. Although this ally would eventually become an enemy, Franz hoped for a more controllable time period, rather than now.

"No need. We just need to sell the military supplies to the Russians as planned. However, it is indeed necessary to strengthen our vigilance now. We need to keep a close eye on the movements of the British Mediterranean Fleet and the French."

I need to know about any of their movements immediately.

"As ordered!"

In fact, the Austrian Empire's high command was quite puzzled as to why Franz wanted to avoid war. In their view, the Austrian Empire was no worse than any other country, and even held a huge advantage.

However, no one raised any questions, after all, Franz's prestige was so great that no one dared to refute any of his decisions.

This made Franz feel very dangerous, since it meant the Austrian Empire would lose its ability to correct its mistakes. "You can raise any objections you have."

Friedrich was the first to stand up and speak.

"Frantz, didn't you always say you wanted to kick a dog when it's down? Aren't the Ottomans suffering enough already? Why don't we take this opportunity to kill this dog!"

Friedrich made a throat-slitting gesture.

"Uncle Friedrich, what good will it do us if the Ottomans are wiped out?"

Franz countered with a question.

“Continue to expand eastward and occupy more land, just as you did in the colonies. We can also inherit the Byzantine Empire, and isn't it only right that we, as the patrons of Catholicism, reclaim the Holy Land?”

Friedrich's words actually represented the sentiments of most people. After all, the Ottoman Empire had always been Austria's mortal enemy, and they couldn't think of any reason not to kick them while they were in decline.

"Uncle Friedrich, would you like to take a look at how our colonies are developing? And what have the Russians gained from occupying the Balkans?"
War, famine, plague, and fiscal deficits.

Do we really need those rotten lands?

This was the first time Franz had expressed his opinion.

The Balkans are a rotten land, a point that Baron Brooke wholeheartedly agrees with.

“Grand Duke Frederick, His Majesty is right. The Russians have suffered a complete loss after conquering the Balkans; their expenses in the Balkans far exceed their gains.”

Interior Secretary Giovanni Batista corrected the statement.

“Your Excellency, the word ‘conquest’ is not accurate. The Russians’ actions can only be described as occupation at best, since the local resistance has never ceased.”

"Ha ha!"

The Austrian Empire's high command was quite interested in jokes that belittled the Russians.

"But hasn't our country also occupied a considerable amount of land in the Balkans?"

Friedrich asked, somewhat puzzled, "Clearly he has chosen the wrong battlefield this time; his understanding of politics is very limited."

"Do you really think our country can profit from its land in the Balkans? Do you know how much our country invests every year in Western Bosnia, Serbia, and that cursed mountain range?"

Friedrich clearly couldn't answer any of Baron Brook's questions.

"And what about the Holy Land?"

Friedrich raised this most sensitive question without any hesitation.

No one in the entire Imperial Council dared to explain this issue on Franz's behalf, given that it involved too many aspects and the related interests were too heavy.

"Uncle Friedrich, do you think Britain and Napoleon didn't reclaim the Holy Land? Was it because they didn't have enough strength?"

Franz then answered his own question.

"The ownership of the holy land involves the interests of many factions. If we forcibly take back the holy land, it will only intensify the conflict, and there is even a possibility that religious war will break out again in our country."

Austrians are still very sensitive to religious wars.

The main reason why the Austrian Empire, a thoroughly Catholic country, implemented a policy of religious freedom, besides Joseph II's impulsive decision, was the devastating religious wars of the past.

Nobody wants to do it again.

"Moreover, the holy site itself is also a burden."

Franz did not say it explicitly, but the Holy Land issue is indeed not only a political burden, but also an economic one, since maintaining the normal operation of the Holy Land institutions inevitably requires a large amount of funding.

In addition, to prevent coveting the holy site and to protect pilgrims, the holy site also serves as a military burden.