Holy Roman Empire

When national interests are involved, Franz cannot help but be irrational.Since the tsarist government did not know what to do, teach them.

2Chapter 17 The Law of the Jungle

Franz's worries were unnecessary. Before the Vienna government could remind him, the tsarist government had already started doing it.

It's just that the methods are a bit immature, and it may be that there is no preparation in advance, and the evidence presented by the Russians is not convincing enough.

There are no movies yet, make-up has not become one of the four great magic arts, and special effects do not even have shadows. It is still difficult to fake photos.

No, to be exact, the tsarist government had no concept of fraud at all.

The Berlin government has launched a public opinion offensive. The Prussian army on the front line has long been ordered to observe military discipline. It is naturally not easy to catch the Prussian army at this time.

Many of the photographic evidence provided by the Tsarist government were kindly sponsored by the Austrian government.

These were taken unintentionally when the Austrian military was collecting information on the battlefield. There were very few real shots on the ground, and most of them were taken on airships.

Clarity can't be counted on naturally, it's not bad to be able to see people's shadows indistinctly.On the one hand, it is flying too high, on the other hand, the camera is not advanced enough.

If it wasn't for the newspaper's intention to stir up controversy for the sake of sales, the little evidence provided by the tsarist government probably wouldn't even be able to stir up a single wave, and it would have been suppressed.

In any case, it is better to have a dispute than to have no dispute.According to the usual practice, this kind of public opinion usually digresses away from the topic.

In the words of the instructor: "The Russian army is a bandit, and the Prussian army is a bandit." In short, neither is a good thing.

After you sing, I will appear on the stage. This winter, the performances of Prussia and Russia have made the European people watch a great show.

As the temperature dropped, the Prussian-Prussian War gradually eased.After winter, the non-combat attrition of the Prussian army increased day by day. In order to reduce losses, Moltke had to stop the offensive.

Bears are indeed more frost-resistant, but they also need to use this winter to accumulate strategic materials.Unless it can guarantee victory this winter, the Russian army must stop.

There is no way around this. After the beginning of spring, the ice and snow melt, the roads are muddy, and the transportation of materials is very difficult.

Having suffered from insufficient supplies once, the bureaucrats of the tsarist government have evolved.It's good to crush the enemy upright, why take risks?

Of course, there is still a "winter offensive".The Russian army continued to smash Smolensk. This fortress city is just on the Dnieper River, and water transportation is very convenient.

Forget about other areas, they are already defending, so why not use winter to strengthen the fortifications? Why go out and fight the enemy?

……

The Prussian-Russian battlefield stabilized, and the South American War underwent earth-shaking changes.The Peru-Bolivia alliance, which originally had the upper hand, gradually fell into a disadvantage after the British made a move.

Two months ago, 7000 Chilean soldiers, escorted by 6 warships, landed near the fortress of Iquique and successfully defeated the Peruvian-Bolivian coalition forces. The balance of strength between the two sides was reversed.

Looking at the information collected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Franz didn't know how to complain.Mud doesn't hold up to walls, and that's Bolivia.

Who would have thought that the Bolivian army was still using bows and crossbows?

If there is no other way, there are only these weapons.The problem was that Bolivia had the support of Austria to buy a lot of second-hand equipment before the war broke out.

Franz admitted that the time was a little short, and the Bolivian army was filled with a large number of Indians. It was indeed difficult to change clothes without training.

But no matter how difficult it is, it must be done!The foundation is too poor to be well-trained, but it is always possible to teach them to shoot.

From the preparations for the war to the fall of Iquique, it took half a year before and after.The army is not the navy. If you hold Buddha's feet temporarily, you can still train a force worthy of a battle in a few months.

Franz no longer cares about the internal issues in Bolivia involved in this.Now he is just thankful that he let go in time and did not continue to support this "Adou".

Not only the Bolivian army is rubbish, but the Chilean army as the winner is also not doing well.It took so long to deal with such a mob.

A rotten war is completely worthless, and it is impossible to learn from experience and lessons.Franz is very skeptical that if the Principality of Montenegro is placed in South America, it will be able to become a hegemon.

Originally, he was worried that after the rise of Chile, Austrian South America would be in danger, but now Franz is relieved.If there is a fight, it is estimated that the Chilean army will not be able to defeat the local militia.

The South American War is no longer called the "Pacific War". Compared with the tragic Prussian War, the wars between Chile, Bolivia, and Peru are completely child's play.

The European media have replaced the original "Pacific War" with the "Guano War" or "Nitrepe War", with no concealment of ridicule.

Now, Franz understands why the European people are so arrogant.It's not that they are arrogant, nor are they short-sighted, it's all set off by their opponents.

The center of the world in the 19th century was Europe. In this era, the world's major powers gathered on the European continent, and no challenger could be found in the world.

If there was no world war in the original time and space, this advantage would continue for many years.There is no if in history, and the world war is both a coincidence and an inevitability.

Even in the current European continent, Franz cannot guarantee that a war will never break out.To put it bluntly, war is a continuation of politics, and politics is motivated by interests.

……

Foreign Minister Weisenberg: "Your Majesty, the Minister of Chile sent us an invitation this morning, hoping that we can mediate the Pacific War. Britain and France have also been invited."

It is not surprising that since Britain, France and Austria announced their alliance, conflicts around the world have been mediated by the three countries.

Even if no one invites them, the Three Kingdoms will come to serve them on their own. The name is for "world peace", but the real purpose is naturally...

After looking at the map of South America, Franz finally said after a long while: "This Chilean government is not bad, and we will accept it when we know it is good, but will Peru and Bolivia agree?"

Chileans have taken over the regions of Antofagasta, Tarapaca, Arica, Tacna, etc., which happen to be the main producers of saltpeter and guano.

All the desired benefits have been obtained. If the war continues, it will no longer be able to obtain greater benefits. The Chilean government's choice of pocketing is undoubtedly the wisest choice.

If the war continues, I don’t know if we can achieve greater benefits. If the Prussian-Russian War is delayed, France and Austria will turn their attention to South America again, and it will be difficult to eat the spoils in their stomachs.

Weisenberg replied: "I'm afraid it will be difficult. From a military point of view, Peru and Bolivia still have the power to fight.

Especially Peru, their population is much larger than that of Chile, and the current losses are still within the tolerance range, and there is still a chance of a comeback if they continue to fight.

Politically, the situation is more pronounced.Affected by the defeat on the front line, both Peru and Bolivia changed their governments. The atmosphere of civil war is strong, and they cannot help but retreat.

Chile invited us to intervene mainly because it wanted to use our power and that of Britain and France to force the governments of the two countries to compromise. "

"Maintaining world peace" is the banner + political platform of the alliance between Britain, France and Austria. Now that the slogan has been shouted out, even if it is for the sake of face, the Vienna government cannot refuse the Chilean government's invitation to mediate.

Not only this "mediation" invitation, any country in the world invites "mediation", and the three countries will send people to participate.

Britain, France and Austria are so actively involved in international affairs, naturally they will not be without purpose.The seemingly simple international mediation is actually a division of regional interests.

As the three most powerful countries in the world today, as long as they participate in it, they can more or less take away a share. This is the essence of the era of imperialism.

"Let's cut through the motions, we don't have much interest in South America, if Peru and Bolivia want to continue the war, let them continue.

As a responsible big country, we must fully respect the opinions of small countries and not blindly impose our will on them. "

While speaking, Franz waved his hand, as if he didn't care about this matter.However, the frown between his brows revealed his inner unwillingness.

At this time of the truce, there is no doubt that the British took the lead, followed by Chile to eat meat, and France and Austria shared bowls of soup with soy sauce.

Similar things have not just happened once or twice.Suffering too many times will always make people dissatisfied.

In this era of the weak and the strong, there is nothing wrong with having as much strength as you can get. It's just that the strength comparison between Britain, France and Austria is constantly changing, but the distribution of benefits has not changed with the change in strength.

Encouraging Peru and Bolivia to continue the war was Franz's counterattack.Since the British want to take away the greatest benefits, let's continue to invest!

If the Mibo Alliance is lucky and turns the tables on the battlefield, the situation will be very different.Even though the odds were slim, Franz didn't mind taking a gamble.

If the bet is lost, the British will be blocked; if the bet is won, the British dominance in South America will be shaken.

From Austria's standpoint, it's worth it any way you look at it.

As for Peru and Bolivia, the road is chosen by oneself, and the journey must be completed with tears.

Ending this war without forcing them to cede land and pay compensation is the greatest respect in itself.

Austria is not a pure fool with empty teeth, and there is still assistance with weapons and ammunition.Although they all have to be paid, in times of war, being able to get loans, weapons and ammunition is a kind of support in itself.

Regardless of what the cause of the "Guano War" is, it doesn't matter who you are familiar with now.

For Peru and Bolivia, the enemy has come, and now the purpose of the war is no longer fighting for guano or saltpetre, but a battle for territorial defense.

Since it is to defend the country, it is natural to do it yourself, can you count on others?

……

Chapter 248 The Precarious South American War

The interests are touching, Austria is unwilling to make concessions to the British on the South American issue, and France is also unwilling to see its own interests damaged.

After Peru and Bolivia decided to continue the war, the Paris government agreed very readily.

As time went on, the French Empire continued to grow, and domestic nationalism was also flourishing.

The rising nationalists are naturally unwilling to submit to the British. Coupled with the power of centuries-old hatred and conflicts of interests, the French people are very disgusted with the pro-British faction in the government.

In the era of Napoleon III, by virtue of his achievements in annexing Italy, he was able to suppress contradictions.

In the era of Napoleon IV, the situation changed.Just after he succeeded to the throne, there was a great chaos in the government, and the pro-British faction that occupied the dominant position of the government was besieged by all parties.

Politicians are the most realistic. Choosing to be pro-British is just a matter of interest. Now it is no longer necessary, and it has even become a burden and trouble. It is natural to change your political stance.

Not only for the British, the foreign policy of the Paris government in recent years has been much tougher than that of Napoleon III.

In this era of the weak and the strong, diplomatic toughness is naturally built on the basis of strong strength.

It has to be admitted that the strength of France has grown rapidly in recent decades, accompanied by a rise in nationalism.Especially after the annexation of Italy, the trend of expansionism in France has also become stronger.

When Napoleon III was in power, capital was restrained, and interest groups knew how to restrain themselves.After the succession of Napoleon IV, the government fell into infighting, and the constraints on capital eased.

As the saying goes, "No roof tiles for three days."After a few years of free life, the capitalists were gradually blinded by their interests, wishful thinking that the French army's combat effectiveness was the best in the world.

With such a strong strength, it is natural to get matching benefits.Perhaps it was the anti-French war that left a shadow on them. They were worried that they would be besieged by public outrage, and they are still in the stage of diplomatic exploration.

The three major powers have their own minds, and mediation has naturally become "a flower in the mirror, a moon in the water."

Since the "Guano War" became a game between Britain, France and Austria, the war is not just a dispute over the territory and interests of the three South American countries.

……

London

Foreign Minister Edward slowly put down the coffee in his hand, and said: "Our two allies are restless again. It seems that the Prussian-Russian War still hasn't put enough pressure on them. They still have the energy to make small moves in South America."

"This is an inevitable result. In the past 20 years, the strength of France and Austria has grown rapidly, and ambitions have naturally grown.

As long as France and Austria do not face each other directly, the situation in Europe will not get out of control.There are lessons from the Prussian-Russian War, no matter how ambitious the decision makers of France and Austria are, they should think twice before acting. " Chancellor of the Exchequer Garfield laughed

Obviously, the changes in South America are not enough to move the London government.

As competitors, it is normal to engage in small actions with each other.If there is no movement for several years, then there is a problem.

The British are not worried about France and Austria doing things overseas. The strength of the Royal Navy is enough to suppress all the turmoil. As long as the European situation is not broken, Britain will not be in danger.

The tragedy of the Russo-Prussian War is bound to affect the strategic decisions of European countries.No one wants to engage in a war where both sides suffer, and a third party who is cheap to watch the excitement.

In the current European continent, the most important contradiction is the contradiction between Prussia and Russia.Although there were many contradictions between Britain, France and Austria, they did not reach the point of breaking out of war.

Without reshuffling the cards by war, the balance of power on the European continent will not be disrupted, and the London government will be able to sit firmly on the Diaoyutai.

Britain's world hegemony is that after the Anti-French War, Metternich led the establishment of the Vienna system, and the European continent was balanced for 30 years before the British had the energy to build a world empire.

Prime Minister Benjamin: "Since France and Austria want to play, then we will accompany them to the end. Just use this opportunity to let them sober up, so as not to continue to do stupid things."

There is no threat to strategic security, but it does not mean that the London government will let this happen.The small actions of France and Austria still harmed the interests of Britain.

International struggles have always been about you coming and going, and stabbing each other is inevitable. The British have the most experience in this regard.

Although the South American countries have become independent, they have not completely shaken off the influence of Europe because of their own strength.

Against the background that the world has been divided, the weak South American countries have also become the objects of competition among Britain, France and Austria.

It is also a good choice to turn South America into an economic colony without establishing colonial rule locally.

In addition to competing for the interests of Chile, Bolivia, and Peru, the South American War was also a game in which Britain, France, and Austria extended their tentacles deep into South America.

In this respect, both France and Austria lag behind.The Austrian colonial empire started too late, while France was affected by the anti-French war and missed the best time to expand its power.

If there was no South American War and the British did not support Chile, I am afraid that Peru and Bolivia would not fall to Fao.

……

The news that the British made a move in the Palace of Vienna has been passed to Franz.

Franz was not at all surprised that this happened.What surprised him was that the British reacted too violently, which meant to push France and Austria out of South America.

On February 1880, 2, under the pretext of maintaining world peace, Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, and Ecuador announced a material embargo on the three warring countries of Chile, Bolivia, and Peru.

It seems that the "material embargo" was imposed on the three belligerent countries at the same time, but in fact, only Peru and Bolivia were embargoed.As for Chile, sea transportation is much more convenient than land transportation.

After being embargoed by the four countries, only the Republic of Colombia is left in the Persian Union, the last "lifeline".

However, this "lifeline" is also in jeopardy and may break at any time.

Recently, Colombia has been in frequent contact with the British.If France and Austria had not had enough influence in Colombia, the Colombian government would have joined the embargo alliance long ago because of fear of the reaction of the two countries.

There are many reasons for the embargo of the four countries. In addition to the influence exerted by the British, it is more because of interests.