Chapter 1169: Stirring Europe
"Hot air balloons?" Honecker exclaimed. "Those things used for high-altitude performances?"
"Yes," Ramsdorf nodded. "They can be used to monitor enemy movements from the sky, with much higher efficiency than our Hussars."
"This time, we have the same weapons as the French, along with an army far larger than theirs—if you count the British, we will have more than double the French force. Combined with ample war funds, we will surely wash away the humiliation from three years ago!"
The speaker at the podium shouted at that moment, his voice rising in a crescendo: "The God of Victory will favor us forever! Long live a united Germany!"
A wave of feverish cheers immediately erupted throughout the hall.
...
Vienna.
In front of the main gate of the Schönbrunn Palace, the Austrian Minister of State, Ludwig von Cobentzel, frowned as he stared at the empty square, muttering as if to himself, "The Englishman is late. We must do our best to prevent him from seeing His Majesty the Emperor."
"It rained heavily just now, and the roads are muddy; delays are inevitable," noted the newly appointed President of the War Council, Count Bellegarde, who stood beside him. "Perhaps Lord Hawkesbury will bring good news after all."
He glanced at the President of the War Council. "That is why I asked you to meet him with me."
"I heard that Prussia is likely to join the conflict," Count Bellegarde remarked. "Those warmongers have mobilized 150,000 troops. Good God, their entire country only has a population of eight million. If only we had such a high mobilization rate."
Cobentzel shook his head. "Domestic reforms are currently underway. We must wait until everything is stable before considering anything else."
Under the push of his brother and Metternich, Austria had implemented reforms in taxes, trade, and the judiciary. Simultaneously, Archduke Charles was pushing for military reform. Everyone in the Austrian leadership understood that the Empire had to undergo radical changes to avoid further decline.
"By the time we are fully prepared, the situation in Europe might look very different," Bellegarde countered.
As they spoke, several carriages entered the square, coming to a slow halt not far from them.
The surrounding palace guard immediately presented arms, and the band began to play.
Cobentzel reluctantly stepped forward to greet the British Foreign Secretary as he stepped out of the carriage, placing a hand over his chest in a formal gesture. "Fortunately, this wretched weather did not prevent your arrival, your lordship."
Lord Hawkesbury returned the salute, and the group walked side by side into the palace.
"I heard that your country's military operations in Gibraltar are not going particularly well," Cobentzel said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "The French are flaunting their spoils everywhere. You see, even with news censorship in Vienna, such reports are still circulating."
Everyone knew he was referring to the two captured British warships.
Lord Hawkesbury merely smiled. "It is of no consequence. British soldiers are still stationed in the Gibraltar fortress, and its defenses remain rock-solid."
Cobentzel's expression stiffened—the Englishman was clearly alluding to the Mantua Fortress, which was now under French control.
As they entered the Great Gallery, Lord Hawkesbury turned his head and said seriously, "In fact, you should say that we have used Gibraltar to firmly tie down 15,000 Franco-Spanish troops. They are forced to waste countless artillery shells there every day, urging their soldiers to charge the fortress and die, while we have lost nothing."
Indeed, Britain had only "temporarily" lost control of the Mediterranean entrance; in his eyes, that didn't count as a loss.
He sat down on a chair covered in thick flannel and continued smoothly, "Now, the whole of Europe faces a massive threat from the French. We must..."
Cobentzel, a skilled diplomat in his own right, immediately interrupted. "To be precise, it is Britain that faces a threat from France. To be frank, His Majesty the Emperor has no intention of getting involved in a war right now."
A disdainful smile flickered across Lord Hawkesbury's lips as he cast a subtle glance out the window. He wasn't a dogmatic fool like Fox; he had made extensive preparations before coming to Vienna.
Sure enough, just as a servant brought him black tea, the sound of shouting like crashing waves echoed from the distant streets: "Return to Italy! Reclaim Lombardy!"
"Venice belongs to Austria forever!"
"Refuse war reparations! Refuse special war taxes!"
"Send the army! Drive the French out of the Rhineland!"
Cobentzel's brow furrowed instantly. A moment later, a palace official hurried over and whispered in his ear, "My lord, radicals are protesting on Ringstrasse. Over a thousand people."
"Confound it, disperse them immediately!"
Lord Hawkesbury watched the servant hurriedly close the windows before turning back to Cobentzel. "You cannot keep your eyes closed forever. The fact is, Austria needs to defeat France more than anyone."
He no longer needed to waste his breath; the protesters outside had said everything he intended to say.
Austria constantly desired to regain control over Italy, drive the French out of the Rhineland, and reclaim the entire South German market. Moreover, they had paid less than 15% of the 30 million florin war reparations and had long wanted to default on the rest. No, it would be even better if the French were forced to pay reparations to the Empire!
Indeed, this protest had been orchestrated by Lord Hawkesbury's subordinates at a cost of 5,000 pounds.
The radicals in Austria had always existed, demanding war against France to take back Italy and the Rhineland, and even to unify Germany. These people only needed a little provocation to take to the streets, especially when backed by funding.
Cobentzel's face turned grim. "But now is not the time..."
"There is never a perfect time," the Englishman said. "To tell you the truth, His Majesty William III has already decided to deploy his troops. We have provided him with 800,000 pounds in military aid."
He paused, setting down his teacup. "That is 800,000 pounds annually. If war breaks out."
The Austrian Minister of State's pupils contracted sharply. Eight million florins a year? That was enough to make Prussia's military budget exceed Austria's!
He swallowed hard and shook his head again after a long silence. "No, no, the probability of victory is too low..."
Lord Hawkesbury stared at him with hawk-like intensity and said in a low voice, "You are wrong. The fact is, we cannot possibly lose!"
"The British Empire possesses an unshakable and powerful navy, capable of drawing a steady stream of resources from the Far East and North America, while France can never threaten the British Isles. As long as the war continues, a France that suffers constant losses will one day be defeated."
He leaned forward. "If Austria is unwilling to participate, then after the victory, I believe the German states will gather around Prussia."
Cobentzel frowned immediately, but then regained his composure. "I think you may be overconfident. Britain is not the only one with colonies; France and its allies have even more."
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