Chapter 1251 Breaking off the Engagement

Chapter 1251 Breaking off the Engagement

"Your Excellency, your words are a bit serious. I don't think Spain did it intentionally.

As for Carlos’ proposal”

Franz deliberately pondered for a while and asked.

"What do you think?"

Franz actually avoided the hypothesis put forward by Prince Schwarzenberg that Spain might be humiliating the Austrian Empire, and was very contemptuous of the conditions proposed by the Carlists, and did not even call him Carlos VI but Carlos. Los.

In fact, the title Carlos VI was a trap set by the Austrian Empire officials for Franz. If Franz called him Carlos VI, it would be equivalent to recognizing the Carlos regime, and they would be able to make a big move here. Make a fuss.

However, there is a big problem with them calling him Carlos VI. However, no one will pursue this in internal meetings. If they say this in an external situation, it can be interpreted as that the Austrian official has recognized the Carlists. .

Of course, if they really did this openly, that would be easy, and Franz could deal with them directly.

However, now they would only admit that it was a slip of the tongue, and Franz would at best give some verbal warnings. Even if he scolded him harshly, he would be considered to be making a fuss out of a molehill.

Franz hated this kind of political wisdom, but these officials regarded digging holes for the emperor as an honor.

In fact, from Franz's words, tone and actions just now, a smart person should have understood what Franz meant.

However, at this time, Prime Minister Schwarzenberg was a hardliner, Interior Minister Giovanni Battista was ill at home, and Finance Minister Baron Brooke did not care about these. He only spoke based on the data.

The Minister of War is a fool, and the Foreign Minister Carl von Fiquelmont is a traditional aristocrat. It is good that he did not cause any trouble for Franz.

The remaining ministries of education, transportation, justice, and science and technology are currently only small departments, and their speeches are insignificant.

"The Carlists are still wanted by the Spanish government, and they may not be able to fulfill these so-called promises."

In fact, this is exactly what Franz wanted to say, but he said it through the mouth of a technical official.

"These things promised by the Carlists require us Austrians to use blood and money to exchange for them. This is not a problem that can be solved by sacrificing a princess."

"That's right! This is the real conspiracy! The Carlists have no good intentions!"

Franz's attitude was already clear, and Prince Schwarzenberg understood that it would be meaningless to continue talking, so he shifted the issue to a more practical aspect.

"Your Majesty, regarding the gift."

"Prepare another copy and hand it over directly to Spain. Don't let it go through other people's hands."

Two million florins may not be a small expense to the Austrian Empire, but it was a considerable expense to Spain, which was in the middle of a civil war at this time.

Originally, intervening in Spanish affairs was just a casual move, and it was a small matter of spending money. If the other party hated me, it would be more than worth the gain.

Of course, just in case, Franz decided to let the official handle the matter to avoid any further mistakes in the middle process.

However, an accident happened, and the money still failed to reach Princess Luisa Fernanda.

This time it was her sister Isabel II who withheld the gift money and claimed that the Austrian Empire wanted to marry Luisa Fernanda and offered at least ten times the gift money.

Just when Franz doubted the authenticity of the matter, the Spanish envoy arrived. The messenger brought a message from Isabel II, and his attitude was very arrogant.

The wording of the message was very appropriate, but the content clearly exposed his greed, and the messenger spoke in a commanding tone throughout. It can be seen that this is the attitude of Isabel II, and it also proves that she knows people poorly.

Austrian officials were shocked. They never expected that the Spaniards could still raise prices. However, four million florins have been invested in the early stage, and it does not seem unacceptable to invest another 18 million florins.

After all, although twenty million florins was a lot for the Austrian Empire's treasury, it was not an unbearable burden.

Moreover, officials felt that based on Franz's previous attitude, this price should not affect the previously set major policies.

"break off an engagement."

Franz's expression did not change, he just said this shocking word lightly.

In the 19th century, the word "break off an engagement" was not as casual as in the 20th century, and it was not something that could be said easily.

Especially between the royal family, if they cannot give a reasonable reason or fail to do a good job in the aftermath, it will seriously affect the relationship between the two parties and even lead to the further deterioration of national relations.

And this kind of matter is usually relatively private, and the parties involved will resolve it privately.

But at this time Franz obviously didn't want to be kind anymore. Twice, the Spanish tricked the Austrian Empire twice. It would be strange if Franz didn't show any performance.

He just wanted to make this matter bigger, so he raised it directly in front of the envoy. Of course, the so-called counterattack will not end like this, but Franz will not talk about everything he has to do.

The Spanish envoy froze. He did not expect such a result.

After all, business can always be discussed.

But Franz no longer wanted to talk, at least not with such a person.

This mother and daughter in Spain are really too much, and it would be too dangerous for Ludwig to get involved with this group of people.

Franz's own brother, he knew very well that Ludwig was a kind and good man. If such a person was placed in a better environment, there would be no problem.

But if you are in an environment full of intrigues all day long, you may be completely wiped out. Moreover, the marriage with Spain was not Franz's established policy.

In addition, Franz doesn't like the feeling of being humiliated.

"Your Majesty, did I hear you correctly? How can you live up to your status by going back on your word like this?"

The envoy of Isabel II was still talking nonsense.

"It's you who went back on your word. It's you who raised the price. You are the ones to blame for the current result. Please leave."

Franz personally issued an expulsion order, and the guards and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately stepped forward to invite the Spanish mission out.

"Your Majesty, this will seriously affect the relationship between our country and Spain. I am afraid it will be difficult to implement the agreement reached between our two countries at this time."

Carl von Fiquelmont, the foreign minister, said that he would be happy to see Franz's words and actions contradict each other.

"Duke Fiquelmont, then there were no difficulties in the implementation of the previous agreement with Spain?"

Franz asked rhetorically.

Duke Fiquelmont did not answer. His behavior was very confusing, and some people who did not know the inside story would make random guesses.

Franz naturally would not give him such a chance.

"Miss Artiles."

Mia immediately took out a pile of documents that had been prepared. In fact, there were many documents that had been sorted out in her briefcase, and there were more outside the door and in the archives room.

Franz took the document and looked through it, and then said angrily after confirming that it was correct.

"These are complaints about the Spaniards not fulfilling the agreement, and there is also your personal letter in it."

Franz threw the document in Fiquelmont's face. He had long been fed up with the subterfuge and self-righteousness of these traditional nobles.

Austrian diplomats often lost their composure and resorted to full-scale violence at every turn. Of course there are problems with young people's brimming blood and inflated national self-esteem, but it is also inseparable from the fact that these old guys stand by and watch.