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

Chapter 1935 An Irresistible Temptation

Palmerston felt that both sides had gone mad, and he had no desire to fight at all.

The main reason was that Britain was severely weakened at the time, and the cost of forcibly intervening in a war on the European continent would be too staggering.

Such a price was something Britain simply could not afford at the time, and Palmerston was well aware of this, which is why his attitude was so ambiguous.

It would be impossible to say that Britain was completely unmoved or had no ideas at this point, given that the two countries had already broken off relations and this was indeed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

It must be said that Bismarck's bet was heavy enough; with the bait in front of them, it was hard for the English and French not to take the bait.

At least by this point the French were firmly committed, but Palmerston was still cunning. He didn't know it was a conspiracy, but he had a vague feeling that something was wrong.

First of all, Palmerston did not think Franz was a reckless man. Based on past experience, every action of the Austrian Empire was backed by a meticulous plan.

Secondly, the choice of battlefield was poor. Even when the German Civil War broke out, the British army could hardly project its forces to the center of the battlefield, and once they landed, they could hardly turn back.

The British army has suffered significant losses of manpower in recent years, and even the cheapest bones of the British lower classes still have a price.

The loss of more than 300,000 people overseas has affected every aspect of British society. Palmerston even said it was a miracle that the British Empire had not collapsed.

So why does the loss of millions in Ireland seem to have little impact on the UK?

The reason is actually quite simple: Ireland, in a sense, is not part of the British mainland, but rather more like a colony such as India or Bengal.

Isn't it commonplace for dozens or even millions of people to starve to death in colonies?
The Irish were positioned from the beginning as people who could be sacrificed, which is why they give the impression that the loss of millions of people doesn't seem to have much of an impact.

In fact, the loss of millions of lives was unacceptable even for Austria and Russia at that time.

However, there are significant differences between land-based and sea-based powers. For example, the Qing Dynasty in the East could withstand losses of tens of millions, but because it did not have many overseas interests, it did not experience a systemic collapse.

But the situation is different for Britain. It has too many overseas interests, so it cannot afford to suffer losses or prolong the process.

This is one of the key reasons why Britain actively combats piracy and even abolishes the privateering rights upon which it built its empire.

At this time, the newly reorganized British Army was hardly capable of fighting. Was it really a wise choice to send such an army to the battlefield?
Of course, this is only the British Army's perspective; Palmerston was considering the reactions of members of parliament.

Don't be fooled by how loudly those congressmen are shouting now; they will be the first to change their stance if the war goes against them or if they suffer significant losses.

Don't ask Palmerston why he knows this so clearly; he's just that kind of person.

So what about shifting from land warfare to sea support?

The risk of breaking the raid did not seem high, and plundering merchant ships and colonies could yield immediate profits. Using war to sustain war was a field the British excelled at.

However, naval warfare offers high rewards but also great risks. Since the other countries in the German Confederation had virtually no naval power, it could very well end up as a decisive naval battle between the Austrian Empire and Great Britain.

Although the Royal Navy was still confident of defeating the Austrian Imperial Navy, its previous experience suggested that the situation was not so optimistic.

Furthermore, the strength of the Royal Navy has been declining in recent years, and the lost sailors and captains are not so easy to replace.

Although Britain has been touting the brutality of naval warfare, the losses in recent years have been unprecedented.

Previously, at most some warships were lost, and the survival rate of the crew was usually between 80% and 95% (in naval wars in the early 18th and 19th centuries). The direct lethality of naval battles was even less than that of scurvy and plague.

However, since the first Mediterranean naval battle, the brutality of naval warfare has been greatly amplified. The gentlemen of the sea suddenly transformed into ruthless pirates, with entire crews frequently disappearing or being captured en masse.

In the final moments of the Near Eastern War, General Robert, following Sir Charles Chabbot's plan, handed the fleet over to the Russians.

But this could very well be the biggest blunder the Royal Navy has made in nearly a century, with tens of thousands of elite Royal Navy personnel being detained, interrogated, and forced to communicate for an extended period.

Even after the armistice agreement was signed, Russia only released soldiers and high-ranking officers, but not a single technician.

In the eyes of the Russians, agreements and treaties are highly idealistic. After all, the British have not yet recognized the "fact" of Nicholas I's reconstruction of the Eastern Roman Empire. Therefore, from the Russian perspective, it is reasonable to give the British some concessions.

However, thanks to the British's one-sided propaganda about the brutality of naval warfare over the years, even if many people die in naval battles, all parties treat it as normal.

Since no bodies were found at sea, the Austrian Empire would not acknowledge the killing, and the British would certainly not acknowledge the loss, resulting in the disappearance of the body.

Faced with this kind of propaganda that pits the left and right brain against each other, the British public doesn't believe everything.

Finally, and most importantly, Britain's national strength at this time did not support launching another large-scale war.

In fact, the previous Anglo-American war had already drained Britain's national strength. If the Americans had stubbornly refused to surrender, Britain would have had no choice but to surrender.

The British treasury is now an empty shell.

It was actually worse than being an empty shell, since an empty shell only meant a lack of money, while the British government was already heavily indebted at the time.

Palmerston's positive statements were merely a bluff; in reality, he had no desire for war to break out, given the immense uncertainty of conflict.

Although a group of generals in Britain are currently very optimistic about the possible civil war within the German Confederation, believing that the Confederation is full of fortresses and that the Austrian Empire will not be able to end the war in a short time.

But Palmerston's intuition told him that things weren't so simple. Palmerston's act of bribing Duke Morni was also intended to put pressure on the Austrian Empire, hoping to make Franz back down.

However, the Austrian Empire seemed determined to carry out its own course to the end, and many people in Britain were also eager to try it.

10 Downing Street, London.

Palmerston has been known for his boundless energy for decades, but he actually fell asleep while working.

Even after waking up, a feeling of exhaustion seeped into every nerve of Palmerston's body, and he couldn't help but sigh that he was really getting old.

A cough rang out, and black blood stained the handkerchief. The handkerchief's owner didn't seem particularly surprised; he simply wrapped it in paper and casually tossed it into a nearby trash can.

Berlin, Sanssouci Palace.

"This is a huge gamble!"

Wilhelm I clenched his fists. He had long been mentally prepared for war with the Austrian Empire, but when the moment actually arrived, he couldn't help feeling nervous.

At this time, the Austrian Empire's oppressive power was all-encompassing: an incomparably powerful army, an incomparably powerful economy, an incomparably powerful political influence, and an incomparably powerful monarch.

Leaving aside those folk legends, even within the royal family, Franz Joseph I was a powerful monarch comparable to the "Sun King" Louis XIV and the "King of the World" Charles V.

Of course, some people feel that this statement is somewhat unfair, and that he should be compared to Caesar and Charlemagne.

For most people, living in that era must have been fortunate. (From the perspective of the monarch at the time, those living in a prosperous age should have been very happy.)
Although Franz also established a monarchical alliance, which helped the monarchs of various countries make money, suppress opposition forces, and even strengthen the national power of each country, for a king, there is nothing more unfortunate than living in the same era.

But William I was not willing to accept his fate. Since God had made him the King of Prussia, he could not betray the name of his ancestors.

William I felt a surge of excitement when he thought of Frederick the Great's battles against all of Europe.

Isn't that also a gamble?

When it comes to gambling, Bismarck seems to have been a very gambling person. But in reality, every action Bismarck took was meticulously calculated, and he knew how to keep the risks under control.

However, this does not mean that Bismarck was afraid to take a gamble; this was the best opportunity in his eyes.

"Your Majesty, it is time. The capitalists within the Confederation are now at their most fearful. If we act now, we will surely gain their full support."

William I was actually a very traditional monarch, and he didn't really think much of those merchants.

"Are they really useful? If a fight breaks out, won't they run away or surrender first?"

William I not only looked down on these people, but he also didn't trust them at all.

Gaining the king's trust in merchants is inherently difficult, especially given the ongoing struggle between the Prussian monarchy and the bourgeoisie. Therefore, Bismarck was well-prepared.

“Your Majesty, they have nowhere to escape. If we are finished, then the Austrian Empire will truly implement the Labor Protection Act in its entirety.”

You don't think the Austrian Empire was just a figurehead, do you?

In fact, Wilhelm I had always had a worry: he feared that everything was a conspiracy by Franz to start a war with Prussia.

To be fair, if Wilhelm I had been the emperor of Austria at that time, he would have done everything in his power to eliminate all obstacles to unification.

Therefore, it's not impossible to compromise with those businessmen.

However, if it were him, he wouldn't have made such a big fuss, much less put the situation in such a passive position. In fact, there was considerable discontent within the German Confederation regarding the Austrian Empire's hardline stance.

Regardless of whether Franz was addressing the economic crisis, his direct interference in the affairs of the entire Confederation was extremely infuriating.

Seeing that Wilhelm I did not answer, Bismarck continued.

"Your Majesty, the Austrians really did this within the Austrian Empire, which is why those merchants and factory owners are so terrified."

They had no way out, so they would fight the Austrian Empire to the bitter end.

At this moment, Bismarck suddenly changed the subject.

"But we didn't expect them to do anything on the battlefield either."

William I was somewhat confused.

"Then what use are they?"

Bismarck took a deep breath and said.

"The outcome of this war will not be decided on the battlefield. Those merchants and factory owners still wield considerable power."
Those who are still observing will make a choice: whether to be suppressed by the Austrian Empire or to join us in the resistance.

For thousands of years, their choice has never changed. And it will be the same this time.

Our mission is to hold our ground and wait for the enemy to collapse on their own.

Don't underestimate the power of these businessmen. They may not be good at fighting on the front lines, but they can easily handle any underhanded tactics they pull off.

Don't forget who destroyed France and sent the arrogant French king to the guillotine. Our current opportunity to lead Germany is in part thanks to them.

William I still feels lingering fear when he recalls the massive rebellion in France, even if it was just the aftermath. He remembers how crazy the French were at the time.

Fortunately, the Prussian army won a narrow victory, but the veterans said that the Frenchmen in front of them were just temporary recruits, and that the French army that had once defeated Prussia had been wiped out in Russia.

Will Austrians become like that too?

Bismarck knew what William I was talking about.

"It will be even worse, because the internal contradictions within the Austrian Empire are far more serious than those in France, and Franz Joseph I's actions this time are far more hateful to them than those of Louis XVI."

With the French setting an example, the Austrians won't hold back either.

William I unconsciously swallowed.

"What if we unleash an even more terrifying monster?"

Bismarck stroked his chin and fell into deep thought for the first time.

"I don't know. Let's deal with the immediate crisis first."

William I also took a deep breath.

"Go for it! No matter what, we Prussians will have the last laugh!"

On July 30, 1859, three days before the "German Confederation Law on the Protection of Workers, Peasants and Service Workers" was to be enforced.

The Prussian government announced:
"Respect free trade, respect the inviolability of private property, and respect the internal rights of the state. We will defend the truth to the death."

The Prussian government hoped that the Austrian Empire would abandon its idea of ​​implementing evil laws within the German Confederation and respect the sovereignty of each state and the private property of its citizens.

At the same time, the Prussian government was willing to protect all factory owners and merchants within the confederation from unwarranted harm. If the Austrian Empire remained obstinate, then the Kingdom of Prussia would expel the Austrian Empire to defend the freedom of the confederation.

The news caused a sensation not only among the German Confederation states but also among capitalists throughout Europe. Prussia's actions were seen as utterly righteous by them, and a massive wave of propaganda and celebrations began once again.

Prussia initiated the betting, and Napoleon III immediately followed suit, as events unfolded exactly as he had anticipated.

With the Prussians leading the way this time, the pressure on France will be greatly reduced. Now all that's left is for the British to enter the fray and subdue the Austrian Empire.

In fact, the British had no reason to refuse at this point. Palmerston may not have wanted to get involved, but the British government was not his sole authority.

Moreover, the bait Bismarck had laid was so enticing that the British simply couldn't resist.