Holy Roman Empire

Chapter 213: Bluffing (BONUS)

When the war started, Franz and the entire Austrian government were too tense to relax.

Although the front advanced rapidly and more smoothly than anticipated, the Austrian government continued to mobilize the entire nation.

Perhaps in the eyes of many people, this was a bit of an overreaction. It took 400,000 troops to fight one Kingdom of Bavaria, and yet the country also mobilized a million reserve troops.

As someone involved, Franz can say clearly that this was not an overreaction, but a necessary strategy.

When a lion chases a rabbit, it still gives its all.

Sending out 30,000 to 50,000 troops could complete the task of dealing with Bavaria.

Anyway, Munich was close, so they could attack secretly with 30,000 to 50,000 troops. There was no need to make a big deal out of it.

That was only militarily. Politically, however, this war could not be dealt with using common sense.

For instance, several local governments and military forces in Bavaria opted for neutrality due to the power of 400,000 troops and political persuasion.

If there were only 30,000 to 50,000 soldiers, would the local leaders in Bavaria agree easily? Without their help and absolute strength, could Austria make Bavaria’s defenders neutral?

The actual situation is not that Franz is destined to rule or that the House of Habsburg is tremendously favored, but that strength yields public backing.

The people in Bavaria have observed Austria’s power, and the region’s ruling nobility has been intimidated. At this time, the lobbyists came forward, and they naturally made the choice that best suited their interests.

Whether they’re capitalists or nobles, they won’t stand in the way. Keeping close to the strong is their way of surviving.

But these people valued their faces too. Public opinion was the best way to disguise their defections, while “neutrality” was the perfect fig leaf.

Additionally, Austria needs their help to create a welcoming atmosphere to win the hearts of the Bavarian people.

There’s no doubt that the current result is great. Public opinion is guided tacitly by everyone, using the unification of Germany as an excuse to justify the war started by Austria.

Additionally, they crowned themselves patriots, then gloriously declared neutrality, saying they couldn’t betray the monarchy they served, nor sabotage national unification.

Since Austria has gained popular support and favor as a result of all the lies they’ve told, they have no choice but to believe them.

People in the lower classes didn’t have as much to think about. The unification war started by Austria sounded good to them after they boasted a few times. At this point, anyone who considers themselves patriotic can’t hinder national unification.

There’s no doubt that Franz set the biggest trap in history, and everyone involved got caught in it.

There is a lot of talk around them about “German unification”. As a result, they also involuntarily follow along to fit in. Little did they know that, like them, the people around them were not as knowledgeable about this concept as they claimed.

In reality, Germany’s nationalists remain its true supporters. Ordinary people are only influenced by the environment and swept along by the rhythm, believing they are also German unification supporters.

The brainwashing of Bavaria has worked very well. Over one million Bavarian people have fallen for it. And it was precisely the local Bavarian leaders themselves who helped make this plan happen.

Now these leaders are stuck too. Once they supported these beliefs, they could not go back on them. It can be said that this war has deeply ingrained the concept of German unification in the Kingdom of Bavaria.

Franz knew all of this and wouldn’t tell anyone about it. All anyone outside could see was that the people of Bavaria were supporting Austria in overthrowing the Bavarian government to support German unification.

This includes Maximilian II in Munich, who also believed that he had been abandoned by the people. Otherwise, there is no explanation for why the Austrian army encountered no obstacles and appeared right outside the city.

Vienna

Prime Minister Felix said optimistically: “Your Majesty, the first step of the strategy is stable. Under the banner of German unification, the people of Bavaria had no intention of resisting. It seems that our plan is still too conservative.

Public opinion in Germany is much better than we expected. Maybe we can take bigger steps, just…”

Franz shook his head. The direction of the people in Bavaria has been cultivated by Austria for many years, plus the combination of time, place, and people. Other regions of Germany cannot be compared.

If they continue to play this way, they will be exposed. It is better to stop now and let everyone think that all the people in Germany support unification, thus leading them to make false judgments.

“Prime Minister, greed is the original sin of the world. The more critical the situation, the more we must control our desires. What Austria needs is stability, not risk!”

Startled, Prime Minister Felix broke into a cold sweat. It was true that success could easily make people lose their way and become arrogant.

Foreign Minister Metternich spoke up: “That’s right. Even though public opinion in Germany is quite good, we can’t unite Germany now.

Austria cannot stand on the opposite side of all the great powers. What we must do now is settle down and digest these spoils of war and transform them into national strength.”

Franz nodded, then ordered: “Mr. Metternich, you will personally go to Berlin. The Prussian government should be frightened now and must be stabilized.

Prime Minister, you must also make a trip. Visit the German states again, this time starting with Saxony, and try to convince them by political means.”

Does this unification war have to happen? Franz knew that history could be used as a reference. Prussia was able to regain states through political methods, and Austria could do the same.

When dealing with domestic affairs, it is better to avoid military options if possible. Shedding rivers of blood may seem easier at the moment. But later, when it comes time to govern that region, it would be hard!

These small states have found ways to survive. This is why the German Empire left them intact in the past — for the sake of stability.

Throughout history, the central government of the German Empire has used appeasement to gradually erode the rights of the governments of the various states.

Now it is easier for Austria to do so. After all, the largest state in southern Germany, the Kingdom of Bavaria, has been defeated, and the remaining small states are not even worth mentioning.

As long as the status of the monarch and the ministers is settled, everything else will be easy. The central government has both strength and justice in its hands, so it is too easy to suppress the local governments.

If politics fails, doesn’t history also talk of transferring fiefdoms by force?

If it comes to that, Franz can be even more shameless — as long as he seizes their royal seals, he can swap the territories ruled by these so-called kings and grand dukes.

It’s impossible to control them in their long-standing ancestral nests, entrenched over decades or centuries. Better to relocate them somewhere unfamiliar, without home advantage. Stripped of their native land, how could they not become docile?

Franz could go even further in his shamelessness — he could offer them an empty title, like King of Jerusalem, and swap it out for some unlucky ruler’s actual throne.

The title has extraordinary prestige, but sadly, the territory sits within the Ottoman Empire’s control. Who knows when it might be taken back?

......

In the Munich Palace, Maximilian II faces harsh truths. Perhaps now there is no escape.

Munich’s city defense army has declared neutrality. Except for his loyal palace guards, all that remains is a newly formed infantry division that has just been mobilized to defend Munich.

But can this unit be relied upon? The answer is no. Public opinion cannot be violated. Since the people of Bavaria have made their choice, they are naturally inevitably influenced.

Neutrality was not declared because the senior officers were still loyal to the king and had not been infiltrated by the nobles and capitalists, as had been the case with the City Defense Army.

On June 10, the second day of the Austrian siege, the Austrian representatives had already entered the Munich palace to demand surrender.

After a defeat, it was customary on the European continent to negotiate terms. This was not the first time in the history of the Kingdom of Bavaria.

However, unlike in the past, this time the Bavarian royal family’s position is precarious. Maximilian II himself had little confidence that he would retain the throne.

But Prime Minister Karl von Abel assures him that the Austrians will not abolish his throne, and the only reason for this is appearances.

There are so many states in Germany, and everyone is still watching. The Austrian government cannot go too far.

......

Foreign Minister Ludwig von der Pfordten said angrily: “Mr. Jonas, your country’s demands are excessive. We have all agreed to join the Holy Roman Empire, and you have made so many unreasonable demands. This is an attempt to annex Bavaria!”

Austrian envoy Jonas shook his head and said: “Wrongdoing always has its consequences. The Bavarian government is not in a position to negotiate terms at this time.

Mr. Pfordten, whether you believe it or not, even if Austria withdraws its troops immediately, the Bavarian government will still be finished. The people out there would like to send you all to the gallows.

Now the situation in the Kingdom of Bavaria is no longer suitable for the royal family to continue to rule. An exchange of territories with Austria is the best choice.

At that time, His Majesty Maximilian II could become King of Serbia, and you could also serve as ministers of the Kingdom of Serbia.

This is the limit of what Austria can do. You have lost the basis of your rule. If you continue to rule the Kingdom of Bavaria, revolution is inevitable in the future.

The unified central government of Germany is no instrument to help you in case of revolution, Mr. Pfordten. I hope you understand that.”

Bluff after bluff. Had the Bavarian government lost the support of the people? Franz knew it hadn’t, only because the local government chose neutrality instead of defection.

But they don’t know that. With a thick pile of neutral declarations, it seems that the people of Bavaria are all supporters of Austria.

From their point of view, this kind of neutrality is a betrayal. There is no need for direct defection. Austria does not need them to take action. They could save faces without disgracing themselves, right?

Foreign Minister Ludwig von der Pfordten argued further: “No, the Balkans are too far away, and Serbia is a wilderness. This is exile!

If you want to exchange thrones, you must exchange them for something of equal value. Austria must take out a rich territory to make it fair.”

This was not Maximilian II’s bottom line, but a misconception that lowered his expectations. Naturally, the negotiator, Pfordten, also lost confidence.

In their view, the Bavarian royal family has lost the support of the people. No matter who supports him, he cannot continue to sit firmly on the throne of Bavaria. Originally, he was willing to abdicate to take responsibility.

Unfortunately, Austria did not agree and threatened them. If the royal family did not cooperate, they would incite the Bavarian people to revolution and send them to the guillotine.

Maximilian II is not afraid of such threats. As long as Austria is still an imperial country, it is impossible to send him, the king, to the guillotine. But for others it was different.

When it comes to killing ministers, Austria has no qualms. After all, isn’t punishing traitors the best excuse? For their own lives and fortunes, the high-ranking officials of the Bavarian government had no choice but to convince Maximilian II.

Even the current negotiation was a show for Maximilian II to see. They are afraid that he will suddenly become suicidal. If he suddenly hangs himself, Franz will cry.

That means that this time Austria has worked for nothing. A king has died and they still dare to annex the Kingdom of Bavaria. There will be no peace in the future.

If they want to win the hearts of the people, they must work with Maximilian II. Only if he agrees to give up the throne can Franz legally gain the right to rule the Kingdom of Bavaria.

Maximilian II must survive, at least until Austria annexes Bavaria. He must survive.

He must also live very well and not allow the Bavarian people to see his misery and feel sympathy. That is why the proposal for the territory exchange appeared. The Austrian representative proposed to exchange Serbia for Bavaria.

This proposal led to a stalemate in the negotiations. Pfordten had to fight for the interests of his king, while Jonas was unwilling to make any concessions.

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