Chapter 383 Pride and Prejudice
January 13, 1843.
Austria Vienna.
The advantages of railways are obvious, while the disadvantages of lack of railways are constantly magnified as if under a magnifying glass.
For example, when the German Confederate Volunteer Army went to Luxembourg not long ago, the Hungarian government openly offered to send troops to rescue Austria in exchange for requiring the latter to provide 200 million florins in military expenses and to grant it a five-year tax exemption.
The Magyar envoy who delivered the letter confidently read out Hungary's written opinions, which was simply unbelievable to the senior officials and generals of the empire who were preparing to gather together for a celebration banquet.
They have mixed feelings in their hearts. The news about this country within a country has been blocked to such a terrible extent. They don’t know whether they should feel happy or sad.
Seeing the surprised eyes on the other side, the envoy felt confused.
Could it be that Austria thought it could defeat the French with its own strength or with the stragglers of the German Confederation? After some brief thinking, Earl Andrew made a bold decision.
You must know that there are 180,000 "Hungarians" among the 420,000 imperial soldiers.
(The Magyars regard all the peoples in the territory of the Crown of St. Stephen as Hungarians or their property. The regions including Croatia and Slovakia are important sources of troops for the empire.
The reason is simple: these places are poor. There is an old saying in the East that goes, "A good man is not a soldier, and a good man is not a soldier." It is similar in the West. )
Since the Austrians don't need them as allies, what about as enemies? At this time of ebb and flow, Count Andrew did not think that Vienna could withstand the joint attack from Hungary and France.
"Your Highnesses, Prince Metternich, and ministers, I think you all know the strength of our Magyars very well.
Regardless of any conflict, the wiser party will choose not to actively antagonize the kingdom; at least they will not want us to be attracted by our opponents, and we also ask you to seriously consider our proposal..."
However, Count Andrew was interrupted by Archduke Albrecht before he finished his speech. He was shocked by the other party's arrogant and stupid "suggestion". Having participated in the rescue of Hungarian "immigrants", he knew very well how ridiculous the so-called Hungarian government was.
(The Hungarian immigration incident, this is the previous plot. In the name of saving disaster victims, Hungary immigrated refugees to the Americas to relieve local pressure, but in fact sold them into slavery.)
"Are you serious?"
Earl Andrew was very dissatisfied with a "young man" interrupting him, but since the other party had already fallen into the trap, he mercifully summarized the current situation.
“Of course, as far as I know, Archduke Albrecht, the most outstanding general among the younger generation of the royal family, has been besieged by the French in Flemish.
The so-called German Confederate Volunteer Army was nothing more than a disorganized group with different agendas, so it was defeated by the French army. This comes as no surprise.
We Hungarians are completely different. Each of us is a noble warrior. Also IMHO, it seems like I've never met you. May I ask who you are? "
Archduke Albrecht glanced at the other party with disdain.
"Friedrich Ferdinand Leopold."
When these words came out, Archduke Friedrich became unhappy and thought to himself: "You, a bushy-eyed guy, have learned how to lie. Sure enough, you are like this after hanging out with that kid for a long time."
However, he did not expose his eldest brother, and the other distinguished guests in the room had the mentality of watching the show. They were all curious about what kind of medicine the uninvited guest was selling in the gourd.
Earl Andrew said "Oh" and then said nothing, which made the surrounding "audiences" disappointed.
Although this person has a arrogant expression on his face almost every time he goes to Vienna, in fact he neither understands nor takes it seriously, which is why he is so ignorant in public today. Royal Duke's joke.
"Count, I accept your wishes. Why don't you take a break first? The Imperial Regency Council will discuss the matter. Once a decision is made, you will be notified immediately." Prince Metternich "politely" gave the eviction order.
Although this Magyar envoy is ignorant, given that Outer Leitania is too large and has a deep connection with Neletania, this diplomatic master still hopes to deal with the problem through peaceful means.
Of course, military means are not impossible to choose from, but considering that as the empire grows, the conflicts with its former allies, the British, are gradually deepening, and the Serbs in the south are also restless.
The attitudes of Russia and the Ottomans are still unknown, so it is not worth the effort to take this risk.
"You are joking, Prince. I have not booked a hotel yet," said Count Andrew.
"Go and help Lord Andrew book a room in the best hotel in Vienna." Count Korolaf ordered the person next to him.
"I'm sorry to waste your kindness. But I don't want to stay in this city for too long. I don't like the air here." Earl Andrew sighed in disgust.
"What do you mean?"
"Please give me an answer immediately, otherwise I will truthfully inform our parliament that my trip to Vienna will be empty-handed."
Facing another naked threat from Count Andrew, the guests around him could not sit still. Except for the two royal nobles present (Archduke Louis and Archduke Franz Karl), Metternich was the only one who remained calm. Watching idly.
Archduke Louis was studying porcelain, and Archduke Franz Karl was feeding seals wine.
"In that case, please do as you please." Count Korolaf said decisively. He was not interested in arguing with the provocateur in front of him. If it weren't for the upcoming negotiation, he really wanted to humiliate the other party.
"I will come back!" Earl Andrew left these words and walked away.
"What an idiot!" Count Latour said first. He had long been dissatisfied with the behavior of the Magyars, and the military had always been the most powerful war faction. After saying that, he laughed loudly, but he was greeted with strange looks from the people around him.
"Okay, Latour, this is not funny. The Kingdom of Hungary is our ally." Count Korolaf reminded.
But the former obviously didn't understand the meaning and said it to himself.
"Once the negotiations are over, we should send troops to question them properly."
"God, why are you so naive like those warlike Junkers? Although I know nothing about marching and fighting, how can I repeat this quick victory without the advantage of railway transportation?
You should know that there are too many unstable factors and potential crises inside and outside the empire. Once the civil war starts, it is bound to be a protracted tug-of-war. By then, I am afraid that all kinds of monsters and monsters who usually hide too deeply will appear, and it will be too late to end the war. "
In fact, everyone present knew that the Hungarian issue was like the sword of Damocles hanging over the empire's head. Sooner or later, it would be wielded.
Schönbrunn Palace.
Franz was not surprised by the Hungarians' actions. First of all, because of the information gap, the two sides were not at the same starting line.
And Franz bought the big nobles (land, money, power, written in the previous chapter), these Hungarians living in Vienna are no longer the same species as the Hungarians living under the territory of St. Stephen's Crown.
At least they thought so, so not only did no one tell Earl Andrew the truth, they also told him wrong information.
Secondly, Hungary is still essentially a parliamentary political system. Even if some smart people discovered the problem, they were unable to stop the "flood".
On the contrary, as opponents, they will be regarded as aliens and despised by their own people.
In the end, arrogance blinded Hungarians from seeing this ever-changing world. The nineteenth century happened to be the era of the most dramatic changes.