Chapter 1300 Charles
To be honest, the sudden establishment of the Spanish Republic confused Franz. After all, in his mind, this should have been a plot decades later.
Moreover, Franz had no impression of this Ferrante Duval, and even in the intelligence system of the Austrian Empire, this person's presence was very low.
Judging from the intelligence collected by the Austrian Empire, the French made great efforts in the establishment of the Spanish Republic. As for whether this Ferrante Duval was arranged by the French, it needs to be verified.
However, judging from the various actions of Ferrante Duval after he came to power, he is undoubtedly a scumbag, but he is also a qualified president, at least much more difficult to deal with than Isabel II and Carlos VI.
At this time, there are many ways in front of the Austrian Empire, but Franz chose the most direct one, which is to declare war.
Not only because Ferrante Duval is ready to join forces with the French to drive the Austrian Empire out of Spain, the emergence of the Spanish Republic is also a slap in the face of the Holy Alliance.
Ferrante Duval's inhumane behavior may seem to some people to be decisive, but in Franz's view, it is nothing more than kidnapping the people and the country.
The original purpose of the Holy Alliance was to prevent the recurrence of the French Revolution. At this time, not only did a revolution break out in Spain, but the king was even executed like France.
Was Carlos VI really dead or fake? It doesn't matter to the Austrian Empire.
As one of the founding countries of the Holy Alliance, the Austrian Empire naturally has an obligation to do so. More importantly, the monarchy is one of the fundamentals of maintaining the Austrian Empire, and Franz cannot sit idly by.
On the other hand, Franz has always been under the banner of liberating Spain.
If the Spanish Republic is established at this time and the Austrian Empire chooses to withdraw its troops, can it be considered that only the republic can save Spain?
In addition to the face issue, going to war in Spain was part of Franz's plan, but the opponent was changed from Carlos VI to the Spanish Republic.
In addition, from a personal point of view, Franz really disliked ambitious people like Ferrante Duval, especially the behavior of kidnapping citizens.
Franz did not intend to avenge the Spanish Bourbon. He still carried the banner of liberating Spain.
However, the public opinion position could not be abandoned. During this period, the Austrian Empire Intelligence Organization had not been idle in Spain. They collected a lot of black materials about the Spanish government.
Especially Cabrera's extortion, massacre of his own people and trampling of the law.
In fact, there was no need to deliberately collect these black materials, because in fact the Spanish government army did more excessive things, and it was not an exaggeration to say that they were innumerable.
In addition to a large amount of physical evidence, transcripts, and a large number of witnesses, the Spaniards who survived the massacre by chance and the victims who suffered from looting were the best witnesses.
Countless bloody evidences were placed in front of people, and people could not help but believe it. Although the Austrians were still ambiguous about the liberation of Spain, no one opposed this war anymore.
These were originally intended to deal with Carlos VI, but with a little modification, they could be used on the Spanish Republic. After all, the two were in the same line in some aspects.
Ferrante Duval never expected that the Austrian Empire would choose to declare war directly, and also declared war on behalf of Prussia and Russia.
The power of the Holy Alliance cannot be underestimated. If the French abandon him again at this time, Ferrante Duval will really cry.
Toledo, the Presidential Palace of the Spanish Republic.
Ferrante Duval hurriedly found the French adviser, whose name was Charles, a tall and thin young man.
The riot in the city was planned by him, and the rebellion of the garrison outside the city was also his work.
When Ferrante Duval became president, the first person to propose that Spain and France form an alliance was also this young man.
The name Charles is most likely a pseudonym, and his true identity is most likely a special envoy sent by France to Spain.
However, the other party did not admit it, so Ferrante Duval did not say it out.
"Mr. Charles, the Austrians have declared war on us!"
The young man named Charles hesitated with the teacup in his hand, but soon recovered as usual and said with a smile.
"President Duval, please don't worry. As far as I know, Russia is now deeply trapped in the vortex of civil war, with wars from Eastern Europe to the Near East, and the Russians cannot extricate themselves.
Prussia is at odds with the Austrian Empire, and was seriously injured in mid-1848, so it is unlikely that it will get involved at this time.
The Austrians are also unstable in the rear, and they still maintain hundreds of thousands of troops in Transylvania.
If the Austrian Empire really declares war on Spain, it will be tantamount to seeking its own death."
Ferrant Duval sneered in his heart. After talking for a long time, he still let Spain face the Austrian Empire alone and wear the latter out on the Iberian Peninsula.
But what is the result of the war of attrition? Wouldn't Spain be used as cannon fodder again?
Ferrant Duval said calmly.
"Mr. Charles, you know that our country has just experienced a civil war and is still very weak. We urgently need your reinforcements. We are allies, and you can't just watch us die!
And the Austrians have been trying to incite our generals to rebel. It's impossible for them to succeed!"
"Please rest assured, Mr. President, we French people have always kept our promises. But for the sake of confidentiality, I can't tell you when and where the troops will be sent.
But as long as the Austrians do not leave the Iberian Peninsula, the French government will not give up for a day.
This can also be regarded as our last effort for peace in Europe. "
The young man smiled slightly and spoke in a relaxed tone. Ferrante Duval stared into the other person's eyes to see what was going on, but the former just responded with a smile.
"Your Excellency, I am in Toledo. If what I tell you is false, it is at your disposal."
Ferrante Duvay said with a smile.
"I'm serious, I don't distrust you. It's just that the city is not very safe recently, so you can stay here with me."
"good."
Charles did not refuse. He knew very well that France had no reason not to participate in the war. Whether it was to ensure this ally or to prevent the Austrians from becoming bigger, France must send troops to Spain.
This battle must not only be fought, but also fought beautifully. Only by killing the Austrians and returning home can the Second French Republic stand up and regain its former glory.
But I have to say that this is much easier than imagined. Charles planned many uprisings in Spain. The republican force here is very weak. Many people do not understand democracy and have not heard of the Declaration of Human Rights. Some people even want to give him Exorcism.
However, the reality is that the Spanish officials have no fighting spirit and the soldiers have no fighting spirit. The seemingly powerful country will fall at a touch.
Unfortunately, there was a lack of influential figures among the Spanish republicans, and in the end they had to hand over the fruits of victory to Ferrante Duvaet.
Charles was not expecting the Austrian Empire to declare war on behalf of the Holy Alliance, but he believed in France's intelligence network and it was impossible for Russia and Prussia to send troops to Spain.
However, what Franz wanted to hold was not an internal meeting of the Holy Alliance, but an expanded meeting of the Holy Alliance.