Chapter 1314 Breakthrough
"Please go ahead."
The Earl of Derby said with a fake smile.
"The alliance between the Austrian Empire and Russia is only unbreakable on the surface. In fact, the two countries have never reached a consensus on the ownership of the Balkan land.
This time, Russia declared war on the Ottoman Empire not because the Ottoman side really did something."
"Of course it can't be a problem with the Ottomans. It's too late for them to avoid the war now."
Viscount Stratford sneered.
"But it's even less likely to be to support allies!"
Palmerston said with a heavier tone. He didn't like being interrupted, but he also knew that he was at odds with the Prime Minister, and his tasks had been unsuccessful one after another. Now he has become a marginal person and can no longer be bossy like before.
"Because the Austrian Empire had no idea about the Russians' actions, they were as shocked as we were. Many people in the Austrian Empire's upper echelons expressed fear and distrust of Russia's unilateral actions.
The Russian side was suspicious of the Austrian Empire's maintenance of a large anti-bandit force in Transylvania. After all, it usually doesn't take so many people to suppress bandits, let alone so much time.
Perhaps the Austrians just wanted to find an excuse to station troops in the Balkans, and the Austrian Empire had close relations with Greece, while Russia and Greece were competitors in the Balkans.
The three parties all wanted to compete for the legacy of the Ottoman Empire, and this was their conflict of interest.
In addition, the Russians never gave up infiltrating Wallachia, even when the Austrians controlled it.
It shows that the contradictions between the Austrians and the Russians are irreconcilable. As long as we stimulate them a little, they will fight each other."
Palmerston also tried his best. Repeated failures made him feel that the world was gloomy. Fortunately, the country was unfortunate, but the politicians were fortunate, so at least there would be no shortage of opportunities to turn things around.
"That's right, but how do we do it? Should we tell the Austrians that the Russians are going to harm them?"
Earl Derby said with a smile. He felt that it was easier said than done to turn Russia against Austria, but it was as difficult as climbing to heaven.
It's not that no one has tried to do this before, but the results were all the same.
Palmerston had proposed a similar strategy before, but what was the result?
Now there is no such person in British politics. It's easy to know but difficult to do.
Palmerston also understood that Earl Derby wanted to embarrass him, but now he had no choice.
"Why not? The Russians' conquest of the Balkans is itself affecting the interests of the Austrian Empire. We should not look at the Austrians' seeming indifference on the surface.
But in fact, if the Austrian Empire really didn't care, they would not have supported Greece and infiltrated Wallachia to counter Russia's influence in the Balkans.
Now we only need to create a little friction in these sensitive areas, and they will soon have a conflict."
Palmerston also has a more vicious plan, which is to assassinate Alexander and Olga. As long as the Russian prince and princess die in the territory of the Austrian Empire, the two countries will inevitably fall into a situation of life and death.
However, this conspiracy cannot be put on the table. After all, if things are not kept secret, they will lose their virginity. Moreover, this matter involves too much, and Palmerston does not want to take the blame.
Greece, Athens.
In 1848, with the help of Austria's power, Otto I abolished part of the 1843 Constitution. After abolishing the local official election system and the local government's taxation rights, the Greeks obviously felt that the tax pressure was much less.
At this time, the officials of the Greek government were replaced by professional bureaucrats from Bavaria or Austria.
These people are much more efficient than before. Although there are corruption, it is a drop in the bucket compared to the past.
Otto I won a series of victories in 1848 and recovered Crete and Thrace for the Kingdom of Greece. His reputation also rose.
Coupled with the reduction of tax pressure and the opening of trade with the Austrian Empire, Otto I became more and more loved by the Greeks.
Although the Greek government is still heavily in debt, the economy has begun to improve.
If someone else could manage the crumbling Greece to the current situation, they would have been very satisfied. However, Otto I was not satisfied. He had a greater ideal-restoring the territory of the Byzantine Empire.
Under this logic, the Greeks have been looking for opportunities, collecting intelligence, accumulating strength, and waiting for a suitable time to fulfill their great ideals.
The fact that the Russians pointed their swords at the Balkans shocked the whole of Greece. After all, if the Russians took away Constantinople, wouldn’t Greece’s great ideals be shattered?
Franz immediately told his cousin not to act rashly. The Russians were probably just bluffing. After all, this season was not suitable for sending troops.
And in the big picture, no country would allow Russia to seize Constantinople, so Otto I had no need to worry. Everything was normal and he just had to wait for the right time.
Otto I was a man of great ambitions but little talent, and Franz's request for him to wait for the right time was exactly what he wanted.
Otto I, who had already laid down, even planned to go to the Netherlands for a vacation, but his staff were anxious, and some even jumped out to criticize Otto I for his lazy governance.
So Otto I could only stay in Athens with resentment, and then another staff member suggested.
"Your Majesty the King, Russia's attack on the Ottoman Empire is an opportunity for us in Greece."
"How many times have I said this? Wait! We are not the Russians who tear up the armistice agreement when they say it is. Don't we, the heirs of the noble Komnenos family, have no face?"
Otto I shouted impatiently, and his staff were helpless. They didn't know what the king wanted to do. They clamored to revive Byzantium for a while, and then missed the opportunity here.
"Your Majesty, we do not want to tear up the armistice agreement immediately, nor do we want to start a war immediately, but for your great ideal, we should make preparations in advance."
"explain."
The staff member took a step forward and said.
"Your Majesty, we should recruit troops now, prepare food, and seize the opportunity when it comes! Your Majesty!
Last time we failed to get what was supposed to be ours because of lack of preparation! "
Otto I sat up suddenly.
"It makes sense! It makes sense!"
Otto I deeply believed in this statement, and he also felt that he had to spit out what he had eaten because of lack of strength before.
Otto I was deeply ashamed of being done this once by Nicholas I.
What Otto I didn't know was that without Franz and Austria, he would not even be qualified to have a meal with Nicholas I.
Franz just told him not to act rashly and not to provoke the Russians and Ottomans, but he did not say that he could not make preparations.