Chapter 1135 Two Options
For Franz, the expansion of the Austrian Empire in the Balkans was on the verge of its limit.
Although such a map is a bit ugly, it does include all the important strategic nodes.
With these strategic nodes, the Austrian Empire can complete the defense of the Balkans at the lowest cost, and at the same time avoid the naval fleet being blocked in the Adriatic Sea.
The primary purpose of not choosing to continue to expand is to ensure the Russian-Austrian alliance. Only under this alliance can Austria avoid the dilemma of fighting alone.
Russia's expansion is bound to share more firepower with Austria. Only when the strength of the two alliances is close can the world be in relative peace.
What Austria needs most at this time is still peaceful development. If Franz is given another ten years, Austria's national strength can be improved to another level.
Secondly, it must be said that the Balkans are full of hard bones, and the infrastructure is too poor. Many areas lack even the most basic roads.
If Austria wants to digest these achievements, it must open mountains and build roads. If it does not connect them with the territory, then these lands still do not belong to Austria.
Third, as a melting pot of nations, it takes time to integrate new nations. History has proven that letting things go their own way or tolerating traitors is a way to death.
As for advancing the front, the Austrian Empire does not need to do it itself. Greece and Egypt are willing to do it for them, and their attack is also fatal enough for the Ottoman Empire.
In addition, the Karamanli family in Tripoli also wants to get a piece of the pie. The current head of the family, Hamed Karamanli, has been influenced by European culture for a long time. He has completely regarded himself as a European, and he is also clear about his mission.
From Hamed Karamanli's perspective, this is the best time to attack Tunisia.
Although the Tunisian Grand Prince Ahmed Bey has a Western-style new army with a number of more than 20,000 people all year round, as well as 20 warships.
But his government is extremely corrupt, and the new army has long been complaining about the withholding of military pay, and the people are already overwhelmed.
In addition, in order to reform in Tunisia in the early years, Ahmed Bey personally burned the Tunisian clergyman to death, and the relationship between the government and the religious group was also like water and fire.
183 Bey became reclusive and suspicious, and his former confidants were now strangers.
Although Tripoli had less than 5,000 troops and 20 armed merchant ships, Hamed Karamanli felt that as long as Austria sent troops, all problems could be solved.
Occupying Tunisia was indeed within Franz's plan, but not now. Although Ahmed Bey was a little crazy, he had signed alliances with too many countries, and it was not easy to move him.
In a cafe in Berlin, Bismarck looked at the latest intelligence sent to him, and his mouth twitched.
"The British are really a group of greedy idiots. If they were really smart, they should start with the Russian-Austrian alliance instead of exposing their intentions."
The shotgun prince on the side didn't like this kind of place where civilians came. Although this was a famous aristocratic social place in Berlin, he didn't like this kind of place full of civilian flavor at all.
"The British were defeated just like that?"
"In the Balkans, as long as Russia and Austria oppose something at the same time, no country can accomplish it."
Bismarck's words discouraged Prince Shotgun. If Prussia wanted to rise, it had to dismantle the Russo-Austrian alliance and let Russia or Austria support itself.
Of course, there was no second option in history. However, after the continuous tossing of German nationalists, any monarch with eyes open saw the power contained in it.
At this time, Prussia not only had West Prussia (Polish Corridor), but also East Prussia connected to the three Baltic countries (at this time, it was the Russian Baltic Governorate).
Although the German nationalists were severely sanctioned by the Austrian Empire internally, their external exports never stopped, as can be seen from the fact that the Boers in South Africa could go to Frankfurt for help.
Nationalism also entered the Russian Baltic Governorate. In the stereotype, Russia did not begin to abolish serfdom until Alexander II came to power, but in fact, Alexander I had already begun to abolish serfdom in the Baltic Governorate in 1804.
The Livland Peasant Law promulgated by Alexander I allowed serfs to inherit the land they cultivated, and a judicial institution was specially established to control peasants, weakening the personal control of landlords over serfs.
Alexander I's reforms were strongly opposed, and the tsar's iron-fisted policy was enforced for more than ten years, finally liberating the serfs in Estland, Courland, and Livland.
Only the serfs in Latgale were not liberated, but with the sudden death of Alexander I and the rise of Nicholas I, the nobles fought back, and finally the serfs in Latgale were not liberated until the reign of Alexander II in 1861.
People are not worried about scarcity but inequality, so Latgale became extremely unstable. Then will the areas that have completed the liberation of serfs be grateful for the tsar's kindness and be at ease as Russians?
Of course not! Although these liberated serfs have gained personal freedom, they are burdened with heavy debts.
Although some people have successfully changed their fate, the lives of most people are not good.
Coupled with the spread of nationalism, local national consciousness began to awaken. What really took root in the Baltic Governorate was not local nationalism, but German nationalism from Prussia.
The worst thing is that this group of people are all Greater German nationalists. After all, the examples of Luxembourg, Alsace Lorraine, the Netherlands, Belgium, Transvaal, and Denmark are right in front of us.
However, the landlords and nobles do not want to change their current lives, especially Franz's policy of asking landlords to pay to liberate serfs is simply terrifying.
So a very magical scene appeared. German immigrants who were nobles and landlords frantically advocated Slavicization. A group of indigenous people and Finnish descendants who were considered by Russia to be Western Slavs began to speak German and call themselves real Germans.
When the Baltic Governorate joined the German Confederation, the only country they could rely on was Prussia. Even if someone interfered, the Baltic Governorate that entered the German Confederation would naturally lean towards Prussia, which was closer.
But it is not an easy thing to snatch food from the tiger's mouth of Russia. It must be supported by the Austrian Empire.
Bismarck did not tell the truth. He had a way to deal with the so-called Russo-Austrian alliance. The Ottoman government can break this situation by directly appointing the British ambassador as the Ottoman diplomat.
He did this in history, but Franz also had a way to deal with it.
Shotgun William did not stay depressed for too long, after all, he knew how powerful opponents Russia and Austria were.
"Mr. Bismarck, as you said, the British will need us as an ally."
"Yes, Your Highness. The help of the British will be our opportunity to rise. We only need to wait for the moment when Russia and Austria break up, and then make the most favorable choice for us according to the situation."