Prince Metternich's statistics on France's standing army are truly shocking to both the military and the government.
What does the 600,000 standing army mean? The 600,000 standing army means that France alone is enough to defeat the entire German regional army.
The only two countries in Germany that had the real determination and ability to confront France were Prussia and Austria, and Prussia's standing army numbered 180,000 (in view of the collapse of Prussia's second-level reserves in 1851, the Austrian Empire did not transfer Prussia's second-level and third-level reserves to
Reserves are counted as combat effectiveness.), the existing standing army of the Austrian Empire is only a little over 400,000, and it can be said that the entire German region can only mobilize about 580,000 to 700,000 troops for a war.
These armies were unable to effectively suppress France. As long as the French army mobilized quickly enough, the vassal states of South Germany would not dare to take action against the French Empire because of France's accumulated military power over the years.
One plus and one minus, the French Empire only needs to send some soldiers to Lombardy and Venice, and those lurking Apennine rebels will rise up.
By that time, the Austrian Empire may have to repeat the events of the Great Revolution of 1848. This time their opponent has become the French Empire, whose equipment and morale are more than one level better than the Kingdom of Sardinia.
Austrian generals, including Radetzky, did not guarantee victory.
The four-cornered fortress that once defended Albert's 60,000-strong army could not defend itself against the French Empire's attack.
[ps: The essence of the Four-Corner Fortress is to protect against the poor and not against the rich. As long as there are enough cannons, the Four-Corner Fortress can be completely flattened. 】
Furthermore, is the Kingdom of Prussia really willing to join forces with Austria to form a joint army against France? Only God knows this question.
This is the reason why Metternich's words met with fierce opposition from Minister Hess.
Once Minister Hess admitted that France had 600,000 troops, he would have to think about how to defend against the attack of France's 600,000 troops.
To defend against an army of this size, the only way is to form an army of the same size. However, the finances of the Austrian Empire may not be able to afford such a large army.
Since the Napoleonic Wars, the Austrian Imperial Army has been silently watching the development of military technology and strategy in European countries like an ostrich.
A strategic and military master as powerful as Archduke Karl was ultimately unable to change the Austrian Imperial Army from its roots. He could only choose to repair the existing foundation to make this vase, which was not very solid in the first place,
The appearance can intimidate people.
Not to mention the old Marshal Radetzky. After being ordered to defeat the invasion of the Kingdom of Sardinia and put down the rebellion in Northern Italy, the old Marshal also decisively chose to disband and return to his field and return to a life of seclusion. He saved Lombardy and Venice for the Austrian Empire.
, but there is no way to completely improve the imperial army.
The Austrian Imperial Army under the leadership of Minister Hess no longer wants to restore the glory of the Holy Roman Empire, but responds to everything with a defensive and counterattack attitude.
Regarding Minister Hess's almost ostrich strategic thinking, Prince Metternich bluntly criticized: "Minister Hess, your news is out of date!"
Afterwards, Prince Metternich told all about the recent military reforms of the French Empire (these were all heard by Richard Metternich and then relayed to Prince Metternich)
"Minister Hess, the army of the Austrian Empire..." After hearing the reform measures described by Metternich, Franz Joseph looked at Hess with eager eyes, and the meaning was self-evident.
"Your Majesty, I'm afraid not!" Minister Hess shook his head and responded with a wry smile to Franz Joseph: "Not to mention, the Austrian Empire does not have a service system at all! Even if it did, the finances needed for an army of 600,000 people would be too much.
An astronomical figure! Only a country like France can afford huge military expenditures!"
"Let's put it this way! Once the Austrian Empire and the French Empire are at odds with each other, our army will not be able to resist the French Empire at all!" Franz Joseph frowned slightly and said in a dull tone.
"We are not alone, there is also the German Confederation, Your Majesty!" Minister Hess quickly reminded Franz Joseph.
"Minister Hess, according to the "German Confederation War, the Kingdom of Bardie and the Kingdom of Venice are not included in it!" Prince Metternich "kindly" helped Minister Hess.
"Prince Metternich, are you acting as a lobbyist for the French Empire? Don't forget that you are a subject of the Austrian Empire, and everything about you belongs to the Austrian Empire!" The angry Minister Hess angrily launched a personal attack on Prince Metternich.
attack.
"It is precisely because I am loyal to the Austrian Empire that I analyze with a calm mind instead of being blindly arrogant and inferior!" Prince Metternich retorted decisively.
Prince Metternich, who is not in his position and does not pursue his political ambitions, will not compromise as before in order to unite his colleagues.
"Okay! You two, don't say inappropriate words on such a serious occasion!" Franz Joseph knocked on the table again to emphasize, and then turned his attention to Count Baoer: "Baoer
Count, what do you think of this matter?"
As Foreign Minister, Bolta had been in a state of silence since he entered the door, which made his impression in Franz Joseph's mind lowered.
Baoer, who was suddenly named by Franz Joseph, was stunned for a few seconds. Then, when he realized what he was doing, he immediately told Franz Joseph.
On this issue, he stood with Prince Metternich. The Russian Empire did threaten the interests of the Austrian Empire in the Two Danube Principalities, so they must leave, and the Two Danube Principalities must also be under the control of the Austrian Empire.
It’s just that Bauer did not agree with Britain and France immediately siding with each other. The French Empire must ensure the interests of the Apennines, so the Austrian Empire is willing to stand with Britain and France! Bauer also suggested that the Austrian Empire should not really participate.
In the war against the Russian Empire, it is best to scare away the Russian Empire through the Three Kingdoms Alliance of Britain, France and Austria, thereby achieving the goal of subduing the enemy without fighting.
Minister Hess still maintained his opposition to Earl Bauer's suggestion, and Prince Metternich also criticized Earl Bauer's rigid diplomatic policy. Now is no longer the time to sit on the fence, the Austrian Empire must show its true ability.
To be able to occupy a place in this seemingly harmonious military alliance.
Immediately, Franz Joseph named a general from the army and asked him what he thought.
The result was not what Franz Franz thought. Minister Hess's attitude represented the attitude of the entire military towards this matter.
Immediately afterwards, Franz Joseph threw the question to Bach, his trusted interior minister. Bach's answer was roughly the same as Count Bauer's answer, except that Bach's answer was closer to Prince Metternich.
Faced with the completely different approaches of the government and the military, Franz Joseph once again encountered difficulties. On the one hand, he was afraid that after the war with Russia, he would fall into a series of disasters and lose his position on the international stage. On the other hand, he was also afraid of the French Empire.
Because the Austrian Empire was unable to give an answer, it lost patience and launched an attack in Lombardy and Venice.
What is even more frightening is that if the Kingdom of Prussia formed an alliance with the French Empire and launched an attack on the Austrian Empire when the French Empire launched an attack on Lombardy and Venice, the Austrian Empire would probably fall off the world stage completely due to being attacked from both sides.
Franz Joseph was in a dilemma and looked at Prince Metternich with pleading eyes. He knew that his teacher, who had traveled across Europe for decades, would definitely have a solution.
Looking at his former student in front of him, Metternich couldn't help but worry about the future of Habsburg.
Things have obviously developed to this point, and his student still wants to have both sides. However, complaining, Prince Metternich proposed a solution that is not a solution: "Your Majesty, we can use the French Empire to suppress the Kingdom of Prussia.
, and at the same time, the German Confederation and the Kingdom of Britain can also be used to ask the French Empire to safeguard the interests of the Austrian Empire..."
After everyone listened to Prince Metternich's method, they immediately thought of the Congress of Vienna for which Prince Metternich was famous.
At the beginning, he took advantage of the contradictions between the European powers to seek enough benefits for the Austrian Empire.
However, everyone present also knew that such superb diplomatic methods were simply not something that junior diplomats like Count Ball could perform.
I am afraid that only senior diplomats like Prince Metternich can truly achieve this with ease.
"Prince Metternich, since this question was raised by you, please realize it!" Franz Joseph covered Prince Metternich and said.
"No!" Prince Metternich shook his head and refused Franz Joseph's appointment, and then explained: "If an old minister is appointed, those monarchs will definitely be wary of me! There are still ministers like Bauer and Herbert in this matter.
Minister Si will achieve the best!"
There was a look of surprise on Minister Baoer's face. He was surprised by Prince Metternich's noble words. At the same time, he also felt a little ashamed of his previous thoughts about Metternich's desire to seize power.
Minister Hess had a constipated expression on his face. He didn't understand why Prince Metternich wanted him, a military attache, to serve as the diplomatic ambassador. Wasn't he afraid that he would screw up all his plans?
"Okay! Let's do it!" Franz Joseph made the final decision.
