Holy Roman Empire - Chapter 108
Chapter 108: Chapter 108, Turin Falls
Translator: 549690339
Being allies is no easy task; major European powers are riddled with contradictions, and Austria can only form an alliance with one. Once a side is taken, the rest become enemies.
Perhaps Metternich had seen the essence of the matter long ago, after the Anti-French wars, he proactively contracted Austria’s sphere of influence and strove to balance the powers of European countries, which placed Austria in an extraordinary position.
From the perspective of this era, these diplomatic measures were considered successful. The only failure was that Austria’s internal reforms did not succeed, and its strength did not keep pace.
Lacking sufficient strength, naturally, it was impossible to maintain the Vienna System any longer, and Austria had to make a choice again.
“Let’s wait and see the bargaining chips the British provide first. If they continue to support Italian unification, then the Kingdom of Sardinia can no longer be spared.
We might as well take a loss at first and manage their share of territory for the French. After their domestic situation stabilizes, we can then sell it to them!” Franz said fiercely.
On the Italian question, the French were undeniably bribeable; they had long coveted the Italian Area, and the strategic focus of Austria was not there, which meant no conflict of core interests between the two.
In the Kingdom of Sardinia, Charles Albert had become like an ant on a hot pan. The development of the war was vastly different from his expectations.
In the age of hot weapons, sheer numbers could no longer assure victory in war.
Even with an unprecedented outburst from the Sardinian army, a combat morale boost of +200% on their home soil still could not change the nature of a disorganized rabble.
Add to that the shortage of weapons and ammunition, with many soldiers’ equipment still in the age of cold weapons; patriotic fervor could not block bullets flying everywhere.
“Your Majesty, quickly, we must go! The enemy is at the gates; Turin cannot be held!”
Prime Minister Azelio, with his loyalist attributes in full surge, informed Charles Albert to flee immediately after the defensive line was breached.
There was no choice, the area of the Kingdom of Sardinia was not large; Turin was merely over a hundred kilometers from Milan. Once the front line collapsed, it was time to prepare for the Battle of Turin.
Charles Albert said in despair, “No, I will not go anywhere. I want to share the fate with Turin!”
“Your Majesty, for the future of the Kingdom of Sardinia, you must leave here immediately,” the Minister of the Army Li Qi pleaded with a sullen face.
In the European Continent, a monarch is also a significant bargaining chip. If King Charles Albert were captured by the Austrian army, then the Kingdom of Sardinia would practically be over.
This wasn’t about using the Emperor to command the princes; controlling the monarch meant many schemes could be played, such as forcing Charles Albert to sign a series of treasonous treaties or even outright annexing the Kingdom of Sardinia.
Other major powers, even if they wanted to intervene, would have no moral high ground to stand on, which was extremely disadvantageous to the Kingdom of Sardinia.
Charles Albert roared, “Incompetents, fools, idiots… If it weren’t for you useless lot, how could we fail? Now, instead of thinking about how to repel the enemy, you want to flee…”
As time ticked away, under rounds of persuasion, Charles Albert still fled. Of course, whether this was related to the Austrian vanguard reaching the city of Turin or not, no one knew.
When British Foreign Secretary Palmerston arrived in Vienna, news of the Austrian army’s capture of Turin also came through.
After going over the intelligence in hand, even Palmerston, who is usually confident, felt a headache over the issue of the Kingdom of Sardinia.
Things had taken an unexpected turn. According to the British plan, Austria should still be contending with the Kingdom of Sardinia for the Lombardy Region, and at most, Austria would have only just reclaimed the lost territory.
However, the performance of the Kingdom of Sardinia had disappointed them. Perhaps the first national mobilization had drained them of their blood, and the troops mustered for a second time were nothing more than easy targets.
Especially those “patriots,” “Italian nationalists,” who were expected to fight to the death against the Austrian army, but the final outcome informed the world that empty talkers remained just that.
Those who shouted slogans the loudest were often the first to flee on the battlefield. As soon as the fighting began, they were nowhere to be found.
Charles Albert placed these individuals on the front lines as cannon fodder, yet he did not anticipate that they would quickly betray him, handing the positions directly over to the Austrians.
This put Palmerston in a difficult position, as negotiating with the Austrian army before its occupation of Sardinia, and negotiating after the fact, called for vastly different prices to be paid.
If it weren’t for the instability within France and Austria’s lack of allies, making the annexation of the Kingdom of Sardinia challenging, he could have just headed home.
This worry didn’t last long, as the welcoming banquet prepared for him by Austria’s Foreign Ministry had already begun.
Berlin
Having obtained diplomatic support from Austria, the bourgeois liberal government’s morale soared once again. In their view, with the entirety of the German Federation as their backup, the Russians did not seem so fearsome.
Do not look at how all European countries are voicing support for the Danish people; in reality, only the Russians are likely to take action. The goal of the Swedish people is merely to ensure that the Kingdom of Denmark is not annihilated, with no plans to help the Danes recover their lost territory.
Especially after seeing the French people launch the June Uprising in support of the Polish Revolution, the liberals’ resolve to support Polish independence was once again solidified.
Frederick William IV could no longer hold back; if he allowed the liberals to continue this way, the Prusso-Russian conflict would be ignited, as 250,000 Russian troops had already reached the Prusso-Russian border.
The Tsarist Government’s patience with the Kingdom of Prussia had reached its limit, and any actions that provoked the Russians were unwise.
Before the Crimean War, Russia held a prestigious reputation on the European Continent. They simply were not on the same level as the Kingdom of Prussia, which had not yet united Germany.
At his behest, the Junker nobility, who despised the revolution, formed the “Property Protection Alliance.” They also tightened control over the military, looking for various excuses to purge republicans from their ranks.
A counter-revolutionary coup was brewing within the Kingdom of Prussia. Seemingly oblivious, the inexperienced bourgeois government continued to implement their idealized unification plans.
The Anglo-Austrian negotiations had begun; Palmerston worried that if the dragging continued, the Sardinian Government would surrender to Austria, and their investments there would go down the drain.
After the pleasantries, Palmerston went straight to the point, “Mr. Metternich, for the sake of world peace, we need the Austrian Government to handle its conflicts with the Kingdom of Sardinia with care.”
With a laugh, Metternich replied, “Mr. Palmerston, the conflict between us and the Kingdom of Sardinia will soon be nonexistent, and the Italian Area will stabilize shortly. Your country has no need for concern.”
