Chapter 557: Dark Dealings
What Potemkin hadn't mentioned was that just a few months prior, Russia's Baltic Fleet, consisting of nearly 200 warships of various sizes, had been ambushed by the Duke of Södermanland of Sweden.
The Swedes, lying in wait at Svensksund Sound, used a large number of gunboats—mere fishing vessels in size, but equipped with 24-pounder and even 32-pounder cannons—to severely damage the Russian warships that had sailed into the trap.
The Russian fleet had incredibly bad luck. They initially hoped to force a mutual destruction based on their numerical superiority, but a sudden headwind sprang up. In the end, they lost 64 warships and thousands of soldiers, returning in utter defeat.
This defeat directly led to the end of the Seventh Russo-Swedish War. Fortunately, Russia's ally, Denmark, seized the opportunity to launch a surprise attack on Gothenburg from the south, forcing Sweden to abandon its plans to reclaim lost territories and sign the Treaty of Värälä with Russia.
Although Russia barely managed to retain its pre-war borders, after this conflict, it would undoubtedly have to invest significant resources to solidify its sphere of influence in the Baltic Sea.
This meant Russia faced the prospect of deploying forces in three directions. Even if they stripped themselves bare, they could at most muster 50,000 troops to invade Poland.
And even in its current weakened state, Poland possessed nearly 70,000 troops. Coupled with the advantage of fighting on home soil, a rash move by Russia would surely hit a brick wall.
According to Catherine the Great's original plan, Russia had signed a secret agreement with Prussia, preparing to jointly strike at Poland at an opportune moment—the fertile lands of the Eastern European plains had always been coveted by Russia.
However, fate had other plans. Just as Russia was preparing to move on Poland after the Russo-Swedish War, Prussia and Austria went to war first.
The Tsar's secretary, Khrapovitsky, nodded and smiled faintly:
"Your Highness, the British are actually in Petersburg precisely to broker a peace between Prussia and Austria. This is also why His Majesty is so eager for your return."
Upon hearing this, Potemkin involuntarily straightened up but showed no surprise. Instead, he cautiously inquired:
"What do the British want?"
As a seasoned politician, he knew there was no such thing as a free lunch.
Khrapovitsky replied, "They seem to want to help Prussia escape the quagmire of the Silesian War and gain some trade benefits.
"As you know, Prussia's financial situation is already perilous. If they remain stalemated with Austria for another year, or even half a year, their treasury might collapse.
"As their allies, the British hope we can exert our influence on Austria to facilitate a truce."
Potemkin frowned. "But we have an agreement with France not to pressure Austria over the Silesian conflict."
Khrapovitsky nodded. "His Majesty also hinted at this to the British Special Envoy. The British suggested we could offer some benefits to Austria in exchange for their signature on a peace treaty."
"Benefits? What did he mean?"
"The British mentioned that we could recognize Austria's claim to Wallachia..."
"Those scoundrels!" Potemkin's face immediately darkened in anger. "That's our passage to Constantinople! How can we hand it over to the Austrians?!"
The ultimate dream of the Russian Tsar was to inherit the legitimacy of the Eastern Roman Empire—a claim supported by the lineage brought by Princess Sophia long ago. If they could 'restore' Constantinople, the ancient capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, no country would be able to deny it.
This was the core reason Russia spared no effort in waging war against the Ottoman Empire.
To advance on Constantinople, the Balkan Peninsula was essential as a staging ground. Otherwise, transporting supplies from Russia proper to the Anatolian region, thousands of miles away, would surely cripple Russia.
The Romanian region in the eastern Balkans was the ideal forward base. After the previous Russo-Turkish War, Russia had largely controlled the Principality of Moldavia in northeastern Romania.
Potemkin had recently been in Iasi, the capital of Moldavia, overseeing construction and recruiting troops.
Wallachia, meanwhile, was a strategic stronghold in central Romania. If seized, Russia could march directly south into the Bulgarian plains. The Thrace region in eastern Bulgaria bordered Constantinople.
However, the Romanian region was also a target for Austria's strategic expansion.
Austria still preferred to protect Polish integrity, and with competition from France in the southwestern Italian Peninsula, expanding southeast into the Balkans became their best option.
In fact, Austria had once controlled most of the northern Balkans but later withdrew under the combined pressure of Russia and the Ottoman Empire, though it still maintained considerable influence.
Wallachia was in such a state—nominally still part of the Ottoman Empire, its residents were mostly Slavs, very close to Russia, yet Austria's control over the area was the strongest.
Therefore, for Austria to truly obtain Wallachia, Russia's approval was essential. Russia's incitement of Slav uprisings in Wallachia was the biggest obstacle to Austrian rule there.
Khrapovitsky, however, whispered:
"The British stated they could persuade Austria to guarantee non-interference in the Silistra region, abandon its insistence on Polish integrity, and provide assurance for this."
Silistra, located at the easternmost edge of the Balkan Peninsula, bordered the western Black Sea coast, forming a corridor connecting Moldavia and Thrace.
Although this area was not large, it would allow Russian troops to bypass Wallachia and attack Constantinople.
Potemkin's eyes lit up at the news.
Trading Wallachia, a territory Russia had never controlled, for a Prusso-Austrian armistice and Austria's cessation of interference with the Silistra corridor was, strategically, a highly profitable exchange.
It was important to remember that once the Prusso-Austrian stalemate ended, Prussia's tens of thousands of troops, combined with the Russian Army, could sandwich Poland from the east and west. A weakened Poland would almost certainly fall.
Khrapovitsky continued, "The British Special Envoy also proposed increasing the quantity of timber, tallow, wax, and furs and hides they purchase from us by at least 25% over three to five years.
"At the same time, they offered to invest no less than 200,000 Pounds Sterling in Crimea to extract coal there, with transport handled by our merchant ships."
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