The old Austrian Emperor finally died, and the entire Austro-Hungarian Empire wept silently in the dark.

For the Austrian Emperor, but also for his uncertain future.

On a cold night, people prayed silently.

The darkness was finally replaced by dawn, and under the orange sun, the flag hung limply at half-poles.

An invisible cloud hung over Vienna, and the whole empire was shrouded in grief.

In the morning of the same day, the Empress Diana I of Russia proclaimed the throne at St. Peterburg as the new emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the king of Hungary and Bohemia, Dalmatia, Croatia, Slovenia, Galicia and Rhodomoria, Illyria, Lombardy and Venice, called Linda I.

The streets of Vienna are in order, but the country has lost its direction.

Near noon, at the Vienna railway station, a group of gorgeously dressed men were stopped by soldiers who had been ordered to check the entry and exit of the station. A second lieutenant officer in a blue coat and gray pants explained to the other party with great difficulty:

"I'm sorry, Lord Count, there is an order from above, no one is allowed to leave Vienna without a pass issued by the Vienna City Defense Command!"

"Bastard, how can Lord Earl be compared to a commoner?" A man who looked like a servant scolded him as a master.

The second lieutenant naturally didn't dare to contradict, he just resignedly said, "I'm very sorry, we just acted on orders!" ”

The count remained silent and did not speak, but his attendant was more stern than the other:

"On orders? Hum! Whose orders were you given? Dare to stop our Earl from traveling, are you tired of it! ”

The second lieutenant bowed his head and remained silent in rebuff, but he and his soldiers still did not dare to let him go until he received the order.

At this moment, the attendant suddenly noticed something, and he asked the second lieutenant in a loud voice: "Wait, why don't they need a pass?" And those people, why don't they? ”

"They ......" The second lieutenant glanced at the people who had walked not far away, and whispered, "They're just civilians!" ”

Listened to this. The majestic earl couldn't help but be furious, "What? Civilians can get by, but I can't? Licentious! ”

The second lieutenant's head hung lower, but fortunately the brim of his military hat hid his embarrassed expression slightly. The soldiers behind him clenched their rifles tightly and confronted the Count's guards from a distance.

The Count was as angry as a frog, but he knew very well the cause and effect of this situation - the old Austrian emperor not only used his military power to control the states, but also put all the noble chiefs under "house arrest" in Vienna, in order to create a favorable transitional environment for the new crown prince. But the mechanism is exhausted. Franz Joseph I never imagined that his departure would be so sudden, and that the new crown prince, who had already declared his succession to the throne, would not have time to be crowned in Vienna in person in a short time.

There was a vacuum of power in Vienna!

This situation is not only an accident, but also a man-made necessity.

The second lieutenant didn't think much about these political things, and he didn't dare to think too much. His duty was only to intercept at this entrance every list of people who wanted to leave without permission, and on this list were the Grand Duke of Bohemia, the head of the Hungarian family, and others.

Soon. The officer in charge of the inspection of the entire railway station came to hear the news. From afar, he recognized the angry Count, the Grand Nobleman of the Duchy of Carinthia, Count Ragnes.

"Lord Earl, please don't be like these creeps. They don't know you, so it's offended! The lieutenant colonel said while pretending to scold his subordinates: "I don't apologize to the earl yet!" ”

"No need!" Count Graniz didn't bother to heed this apology, he was looking at the lieutenant colonel, and he couldn't remember seeing him anywhere, but he still arrogantly demanded that he be allowed to go immediately.

However, his intimidating attempts to use his position apparently had no effect, and the lieutenant colonel did not intend to buy his account, but only reminded him with a pretended kindness: "Your Excellency, do you not wait for the end of Your Majesty's funeral before leaving?" ”

"I don't need to explain my matter to you!" The Count replied unceremoniously.

The lieutenant colonel had a smile on his face. But the words are bitter and mean.

"But Lord Earl, it's better not to have such a disrespectful thing happen!"

"You ......," the Count choked up, but did not want to go home, when he was depressed, a loud voice came from behind them:

"Who is so bold as to stand in the way of our Earl?"

Everyone looked back, and it turned out to be Baron Adamas of the Austrian family, a former candidate for the crown prince, and a famous prodigal son. Although this person has a bad reputation, he is also a prominent person in the Austrian family after Count Albert. There are extensive contacts between the upper class and the military and political circles.

"Lord Baron!" The lieutenant colonel saluted respectfully.

"I say Lieutenant Colonel Igna, you are so rude that even the honorable Count Granes dares to stop you! Aren't you afraid of being dismissed and exiled? Adamas said half-jokingly, then turned to Count Granis:

"Your Excellency, you must leave Vienna today?"

The Earl looked at Adamas with some puzzlement, he had no friendship with this guy, and he couldn't see through his intentions at once.

Adamas continued to laugh, "Lord Count, is there any urgent matter at home?" Do you need my help? ”

The Count of Granes did not seem to like the tone, he pondered it for a moment, and then told the baron: "I just want to take my men back to Carinthia as soon as possible!" I think most of the other nobles are trying to get out of Vienna at the moment! ”

"It seems so!" Adamas walked a few steps on his back, looked at the lieutenant colonel on the side, and deliberately asked: "I said Lieutenant Colonel Igna, it is said that all roads leading to the outside world in Vienna are now set up with checkpoints?" ”

"Yes!" The lieutenant colonel answered truthfully.

Adamas asked, "So, is it necessary for the city defense command to be allowed to go?" ”

"Yes!" The lieutenant colonel was a little confused, but continued to answer in the affirmative.

Adamas walked up to the front of the lieutenant colonel, got closer, and looked directly at the other party, "What if it's my order?" ”

"This ......" The lieutenant colonel hesitated, after all, this is Vienna, the capital of Austria, and after the death of the Austrian Emperor and Count Albert, it seems that this nobleman in front of him should naturally become the head of the family.

"How?" Adamas took a step forward.

The lieutenant colonel had to make a concession, "Lord Baron." I need to report to the City Defense Command about the situation here! ”

"No need. I've already looked for General Siasino before I came! Adamas said as he took out a piece of paper from his pocket, handed it to the lieutenant colonel, and turned to Count Granes with a smile.

After carefully reading the document, Lieutenant Colonel Igna immediately changed his face, and he said respectfully to Count Granis: "My lord, I am very sorry before! You and your people can leave now, and I'll go and arrange the departure for your special car! ”

The Count snorted coldly. Then he changed his previous indifference and looked at Adamas very kindly. "Thank you very much, Your Excellency! I hope that we will communicate more and help each other in the future! ”

"Definitely, definitely! At the end of such a day of deliberation, the nobles of the Duchy of Bohemia, the Kingdom of Hungary and other states left Vienna by various means, and this reluctance to flee made many people friends, and the Hungarian nobles remembered the name of the commander of the city defense of Vienna, just as the Count of Carinthia was grateful to Baron Adamas, and such "courtesy exchanges" made the relations within the empire even more complicated.

As a close neighbor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Germany's rulers had a different plan.

A week of rehabilitation training has made Chentian's physical condition much better. There is also a little more red color on the face. I can't stand and walk on my feet. But his attending doctor, Kaiser, gave a very optimistic prediction after careful observation.

When the news of Emperor Ao's death came, Chen Tian only had a faint regret for the departure of this legendary figure. After this. He convened the first military council after his wounds.

Most of the attendees were army generals. The content of the meeting was mainly the Army. The Navy is here only in a supporting role.

The theme of the meeting was expected, and each general had a battle plan in front of him, "Lightning Plan"!

Many of the generals present were no strangers. The landed people were even personally involved in the planning of this battle plan, Hindenburg, Ludendorff, Hoffmann, and Chentian himself.

"It is known that the Austrian Emperor has appointed the Russian Empress Diana I as the heir to the throne, therefore. If nothing else, the Empress will ascend to the throne of Austria-Hungary within the next month! Our Cabinet and the army had a very different view on this matter, and the Cabinet believed that we should stay out of it at this time, so as not to annoy Austria-Hungary and Russia! Although the two countries are huge, the cabinet does not seem to be worried about their merger, as most of their areas are poor and backward. Moreover, the merger will only make the contradictions between the various nationalities more acute! After expounding the cabinet's opinion, Chen Tian turned to ask the generals present, "Do you agree with this opinion?" ”

The outspoken Minister of War, Field Marshal Carl von Büllott, stood up first. "Your Majesty, the opinion of the Cabinet, although cautious, is too weak! Let's not forget that in the last war we almost single-handedly defeated France and England and inflicted heavy losses on Russia, and now Austria-Hungary plus Russia is no match for us! Therefore, I think we should stick to the established strategy and occupy the Kingdom of Bohemia, the Duchy of Austria, the Duchy of Caniola and the Coastal Provinces by surprise. After that, regardless of whether the Empress of Russia and Austria-Hungary decide to fight or make peace, we will accompany you to the end! ”

Chen Tian nodded, he was very satisfied with Bilo's courage, Minister of War, what he needed was this kind of straightforwardness and courage.

After Marshal Birlow had finished speaking, the room was a little quieter, and the non-core senior generals seemed to be very elated, most of them had come into contact with the plan for the first time, and were quickly impressed by its boldness and decisiveness.

Then the Chief of the General Staff of the Army, Field Marshal Hindenburg, stood up and expressed his opinion: "I agree with Marshal Bilow that even if another war is provoked, we must fight this one!" Because in the future, whether Russia and Austria-Hungary form a three-dimensional monarchy of Austria, Hungary and Russia, or two countries as a common monarch, their strategy will be to unite with the outside world, especially against us, Germany! Therefore, we must act before the Russian Empress fully accepts Austria-Hungary, bringing under our control the main economic regions, industrial areas, and coastal ports of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, after which we can take them for our own use and destroy them when we retreat. We will also firmly control the initiative in our own hands! ”

For Hindenburg's analysis, Chen Tian also gave positive recognition, compared with the Minister of War, the veteran's analysis went one step further.

It seemed that Ludendorff and Hoffmann were also ready to speak, but Tatsuten felt that there was no need to continue to express their opinions, and he motioned for everyone to be quiet and listen to him.

"Politically speaking, this is a period of power vacuum in Austria-Hungary, and the nobility of the states is ostensibly subordinate to the will of the Austrian Emperor. Actually all watching and waiting! Whether to remain loyal to the empire or to stand on their own, the most important factor is not their loyalty, but the opportunity and benefits! Militarily speaking, the death of the Austrian emperor will have an incalculable impact on the army. On the surface, all the armies of this empire were under the command of the commander-in-chief of the coalition forces, Archduke Friedrich, but in fact, the Austrian Emperor was the real controller of the army, and because of this, the Austrian Emperor was able to mobilize the army to intimidate the local nobles before the announcement of the crown prince's candidate! ”

In the convincing eyes of everyone, Chen Tian told everyone, "These two points are the opportunity for us to attack!" ”

"In everyone's opinion. What is the most important resource of the empire at the moment? Manpower? Coal? Steel? Or is it money? Neither. Let me tell you that the most important resource of the empire today and in the future is oil! Don't underestimate the black viscous liquid, it can allow us to evolve from the age of mechanical industry to the age of technology industry. This technological leadership will be our biggest advantage in the future! I don't need to say much about the usefulness of oil, the key is how to ensure the supply of oil to our Germany! Today, the Gulf is firmly under our grasp, but the long railway line connecting the Gulf with our Germany needs to pass through Turkey, Bulgaria and Austria-Hungary, and if only one of these three countries is at odds with us, then our oil lifeline could be cut off at any moment! Losing oil for a week, civilian vehicles in our country will have to be restricted; After losing oil for a month, our industry had to return to the coal age in full; Losing oil for half a year, our tanks will not be able to move forward! ”

After saying this. Chen Tian's gaze couldn't help but become stern, and everyone present could truly feel the importance and terrible consequences of this worry.

"The Cabinet thought that a bad deal with Austria-Hungary would make Vienna make the decision to cut the railway line, but they did not see the most fundamental thing! As long as Austria-Hungary and Russia share the same master, then even if we make concessions and concessions, they will one day threaten each other, they will demand our resources, they will demand our territory, until we perish! There is an old saying in the East, the first strike is the strongest. Aftermath suffers! We not only need to build a large port in the Gulf region, not only to build a large oil tanker, but also to build our own port on the other side of the Mediterranean, so as to make the shortest and safest oil transportation route! ”

It was only then that the generals finally understood the ultimate significance of the Lightning—the coastal provinces of Austria-Hungary, where the ports were closest to the German mainland, and ships from the Gulf could reach the coastal provinces of Austria-Hungary via the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea, the Suez Canal, and the Mediterranean, and that circumnavigating the Cape of Good Hope or taking the Strait of Gibraltar to German ports would greatly increase the range and danger.

After the signing of the Washington Naval Treaty, many German shipyards naturally began to build 10,000-ton oil tankers, although most of the oil tankers have only just laid their keels, but the future of the giant ships in the Mediterranean is already a spectacular scene.

"Attack! Offensive! The shouts rang out in the conference room, and soon became uniform, and soon overwhelmed everything.

Despite the cautious opposition of the Cabinet, the decision on the war in Germany was in the hands of the Kaiser. At the sound of Chentian's order, the terrible German war machine was put back into operation after half a year of rest.

At the General Staff of the Army in Berlin, the generals worked day and night to perfect every detail of the Lightning, and under their careful and rigorous preparation and calculations, 40 active infantry divisions began to secretly assemble in predetermined areas, and on the railway line, trains sped eastward, and under the canvas artillery, tanks, armored vehicles, and ammunition and fuel.

In preparation for a sudden military operation, Germany mobilized only some reserves in the northern and western regions, far from the German-Austrian border, and the three main naval fleets, the Atlantic Fleet, the North Sea Fleet, and the Mediterranean Fleet, remained in their respective bases, but under the calm Mediterranean, submarine hunters were moving frequently.

By 1 February, 850,000 German officers and men, including the border garrison, had been assembled on the long border between Germany and Austria, with 3,500 light and heavy artillery, 1,200 tanks and armored vehicles of all kinds, 856 aircraft of all types, 120 airships, and sufficient ammunition, fuel, and various supplies, all according to the standards of war.

At 10 o'clock in the morning of February 2, the German ambassador in Vienna officially handed over a diplomatic document to the central government of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, stating that the German team would enter these areas at the request of the Duchy of Bohemia, the Duchy of Caniola, the Kingdom of Hungary, and the Primorsky Autonomous Province to assist in the maintenance of law and order!

One hour later, the first German tank forced its way through a checkpoint on the German-Austrian border located in the western part of the Duchy of Bohemia, and a sudden and resolute large-scale military operation of the German Army began.