Continuous drizzle has been falling for several days in the Fudal area of the Principality of Hesse-Kassel. The originally smooth dirt road has become bumpy under the erosion of mud and water. If you are not careful, you will face a situation where people are on their backs. There is a heavy atmosphere in the air.
It also revealed a strangely damp and musty smell, which made the people of the Principality of Hesse-Kassel living in this city feel very uncomfortable.
If it just rains, the people in the Fulda area can still tolerate it. After all, they have lived in this place for generations and have long been accustomed to the unpredictable weather in Fulda. However, there are different conditions in this area.
Something worse than rain is happening, and that is war.
What is even more unacceptable is that the leader of the war was not the Principality of Hesse-Kassel, but the Kingdom of Prussia, which supported the Parliament of the Principality of Hesse-Kassel, and the Kingdom of Prussia, which supported the Duchy of Hesse-Kassel (formerly)
The Austrian Empire of the Elector.
The two German brothers, who are not only incompatible with the Principality of Hesse-Kassel, but also can be regarded as compatriots, now have no regard for the kindness of the Principality of Hesse-Kassel and are living in the same country without any burden in their hearts.
They have been stationed in the country for a long time, and they have been stationed for more than a year.
This is simply a slap in the face of the Principality of Hesse-Kassel. However, the Parliament and the Duke of the Principality of Hesse-Kassel have never once condemned this blatant "invasion" of another country's territory. They will only blame each other.
When they insult each other, they try to please the big brother who is backing them in an attempt to gain his full support.
As for the life and death of the subjects/people (the elector calls the subjects, the parliament calls the people), how can it be compared with their crown/great ideals.
Of course, there is no worse, only worse. The conflict between the Kingdom of Prussia and the Austrian Empire has become more and more intense as time goes by. Especially after October, the two countries' military operations in the Fulda area have reached the point of fighting each other.
Every two or three days, the rumbling sound of artillery can be heard in the forest outside Fulda, some coming from the military camps of the Kingdom of Prussia, and some coming from the camps of the Austrian Empire. What is even more shocking is that the time of each artillery launch is different.
It was in the middle of the night, and the residents near the Fulda area had not been able to sleep well for a week due to the sound of artillery fired every three days.
Long-term lack of sleep has deeply tortured the people of the Fulda area. At the strong request of the residents of the Fulda area, the city council members and the mayor chose a suitable opportunity to go to the Prussian Army Camp and the Austrian Army Camp respectively to pay homage to the Supreme Leader of the Kingdom of Prussia.
Military Governor William I and Archduke Albrecht, the highest official of the Austrian Empire, had an audience (originally in history, the highest military commanders of the Kingdom of Prussia and the Austrian Empire in the Fulda region were not these two, and the other two were William I and Archduke Albrecht.
The headquarters is not in Fulda.)
William I, who had not yet suffered the "hardship" of the Prussian king, was like a template Junker noble who had undergone strict military training. William I, who was routinely inspecting Fulda, accompanied by cuirassiers and Prussian line infantry,
Meeting with the mayor and council members in a arrogant manner.
The flying dust, neat formations, shining bayonets, and the continuous gunshots not far away undoubtedly frightened the members of the parliament. The mayor, who was "forced" by the residents of Fulda, had to face this with his head held high.
William I, known as the "Prince of Shotguns".
"Your Excellency, Your Majesty the Prince!" Mayor Fulda, dressed in traditional bourgeois clothing, bowed politely to William I on horseback.
William I did not respond to the mayor immediately. After looking at the mayor in a condescending manner, he said to the mayor in a commanding tone: "What are you trying to break into the military camp for?"
William I's booming voice combined with his standard Prussian soldier expression made the mayor and councilors tremble inwardly. He showed a stiff smile and said intermittently, "Your Excellency, we represent the Fulda District.
The people hope that you can restrain your army..."
"Impossible!" Before the mayor could put forward his request, William I ruthlessly rejected their request and ordered the soldiers to expel them from the military camp.
In the eyes of William I, the "Prince of Shotgun" who always looked down on the people, they were nothing more than bargaining chips for his brother to fight against Germany. How could a pawn even try to command the Prussian army? It is really ridiculous!
The mayor of Fulda left the Prussian military camp in humiliation, while William I showed a satisfied smile and his face turned rosy, as if he had done something extraordinary.
At this moment, a soldier came to Prince William carrying a military horse. Although the soldier looked about fifty years old, he had a round and energetic face. He had rich brown hair and an air of dignity.
The mustache gave the soldier a slightly more handsome look. He glanced at the leaving mayor and warned in a cautious tone: "Your Excellency, I don't think you should really treat them. After all, they are still on our side.
!”
Prince William didn't take it seriously. He rode up to the soldier and laughed loudly. He patted the soldier on the shoulder and said, "Ron, when did you become really indecisive?"
That's right, the soldier who reminded William I in front of him was Albrecht von Rohn, who would lay the foundation for the creation of the German Empire in the future, and was also the "blacksmith" who forged the sword of German Nazism.
Ron, who had just been recommended as a major general by William I this year, went with him to the Principality of Hesse-Kassel as William I's adjutant to fight against the Austrian Empire. At the same time, Ron also served as Fulda's Prussian stationed in Kassel.
The operational bridge between the regional headquarters and Berlin. Orders from Berlin first passed through the hands of Rowan before they could reach the hands of Wilhelm I.
"Your Excellency, this is not indecision!" Ron quickly defended to William I: "Maybe, the next situation is much more serious than we imagined!"
Ron's words made William I put away his smile. He showed a serious expression and asked Ron: "Has something happened in Berlin again?"
William I had no doubt about the combat effectiveness of his Prussian army. He even arrogantly believed that one Prussian soldier could defeat two Austrian soldiers.
From 1848 to 1849, the military strength of the Austrian Empire had been completely shattered.
Not only him, but also many Prussian military personnel also believed that Prussia's victory over Austria was a matter of course.
However, military victory does not mean victory in diplomatic situations. William I also understood that the Austrian Empire was best at using diplomatic methods to achieve its goals.
My brother is also a person with a weak will.
[When William I was King of Prussia and was reprimanded by Prussian members in the Three-Level Parliament until he shut himself up, he would recall the difficulty of his brother. This was also for William I to fully delegate power to Bismarck and let Bismarck win the battle against the Three-Level Parliament.
Basics. Bismarck’s family and the Hohenzollern family can be said to have a feud, not to mention that Bismarck also offended William I’s wife. If there was no other way, William I would not choose Bismarck.]
Once his brother compromised, the Prussian army, no matter how capable they were, could only obey the king's orders and compromise.
The fact was just as Prince William had guessed. Ron reported to Prince William solemnly: "According to reports from Berlin, Prussian Foreign Minister Radowitz is likely to be impeached and resigned, and his replacement will probably be Brand."
Earl of Denburg!"
After hearing the dismissal of Radowitz, Prince William's expression suddenly changed, and his hands involuntarily tightened the reins.
Although he said he hated the liberal Radowitz, he had to admit that Radowitz was a hard-liner against the Austrian Empire in the entire Prussian court.
Such a hawkish figure, even if he is a liberal leader, will receive the goodwill of the Juncker nobles. For the Junkers, there is nothing more exciting than fighting.
Now that Radowitz has been deposed by his brother, does his timid uncle's coming to power mean that his brother has given up on his plans to work with the Austrian Empire and instead eases conflicts with the Austrian Empire?
"What did Count Wrangel say?" Prince William asked Ron again.
Count Friedrich von Wrangel is Prince William's political and military ally, and is also the current commander of the garrison headquarters of Berlin and Brandenburg. It can be said that as long as Count Wrangel is willing,
It only takes one day for the Kingdom of Prussia to be replaced by a new king.
It's just that the Kingdom of Prussia is not like the Russian Empire next door, where a tsar suffers from strokes every three days.
Unless Frederick William IV suddenly had a sudden brainstorm and said all Juncker's crazy words, Count Wrangel would be willing to help Prince William become regent.
Ron looked sad and said to Prince William: "Count Wrangel also said that he is not optimistic. He thinks..."
Ron glanced at Prince William and was unwilling to say it in front of everyone.
Prince William, who had a tacit understanding for many years, immediately understood what Ron meant. After dismissing the people around him, he asked again: "What did the earl say?"
Ron responded hesitantly: "Count Wrangel believes that His Majesty has lost the fighting spirit that a monarch should have. The poison of liberalism will destroy Prussia! The compromise with Austria will return Prussia to that shameful position.
superior!"
"This is the right earl's style!" William I commented calmly.
"If necessary, he hopes that Prince William can serve as the regent!" Ron continued, his tone couldn't help but reveal a little excitement, and he expected that William I could serve as the regent.
William I's expression suddenly changed. He certainly understood what Count Wrangel meant. The actions of the Austrian Empire had already designated the path for the Kingdom of Prussia.
Faced with Count Wrangel's hint, Prince William said firmly: "Please tell Count Wrangel that I will never replace my brother!"