Bratislava is a strategic location, with lofty mountains stretching for hundreds of miles in the north and the Danube River in the south.

When the Chinese army approached the city of Bratislava, the whole of Viana was already panicked, because Bratislava was too close to Vienna, and with the speed of the Chinese army's mechanized march, if Bratislava was taken, it would only take one day, and the Chinese army's forward troops could advance to Vienna in one day.

The old Austro-Kharen emperor Franz who declared war on Serbia? Joseph died two years ago, and the old emperor's reign of 68 years was rare for a long time. It was during his reign that Vienna became a world-class city. He ordered the city walls to be torn down, the magnificent Ring Road was built, and the most famous architects in Europe were invited to build splendid buildings. Fortunately, he has a smart and beautiful queen Elizabeth by his side, who fully assists him in stabilizing the situation in the empire, and the common people affectionately call her "Sissy", the movie "Princess Sissy" is about her, and the handsome and amorous young emperor in the movie is Franz? Joseph.

Franz in his later years? Emperor Joseph suffered many misfortunes, and his only son, Crown Prince Rudolph, and his lover both committed suicide after eloping; Queen Elizabeth, who suffered the loss of her child, also lived a life of wandering, and was finally stabbed to death on the streets of a foreign country; And his younger brother, Archduke Ludwig, did not escape assassination in Mexico; His newly appointed crown prince and nephew, Ferdinand, was assassinated in Sarajevo.

After the outbreak of the war, the Austro-Hungarian Empire suffered repeated military defeats, and the old emperor took refuge in the summer palace ever since. Hanging from each other. In 1916, the eighty-year-old emperor passed away. He lost his vast empire to his appointed nephew, Karl, who became Karl I when he ascended the throne.

When Karl I ascended the throne. Austria-Hungary was already embattled, and in order to reverse its decline, he personally served as the supreme commander of the Imperial Armed Forces, and allegedly ordered the use of poison gas.

In January this year, US President Wilson put forward the 14-point principle as a platform for building world peace in a speech to Congress. On the surface, the "14 Points" flaunt "national self-determination," oppose "secret diplomacy," and advocate the establishment of a "just and lasting peace." In fact, the United States is trying to use the strength it grew in the war to weaken its rivals, British and French imperialism, and re-divide the world. Wilson's 14-point principle is consistent with Xiao Zhenlei's intention, both of which want to use war to increase their own strength. To weaken European powers such as Britain and France, China also supports the United States' proposal.

It was precisely because of Wilson's fourteen points, the tenth of which allowed the autonomy of the peoples within the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Austria-Hungary itself was a multi-ethnic state, and its internal contradictions were escalating, and after Wilson put forward these fourteen principles, the minds of all regions and nationalities in Austria-Hungary began to be activated, which restrained most of the energy of Austria-Hungary.

Last year, Karl I had secretly sued France for peace with the Entente, but the matter soon leaked. Karl I, in order not to anger Germany, had to terminate his intention to sue for peace.

Now, the Chinese army has reached Bratislava, which is only a stone's throw away from Vienna. And the Vienna city wall was demolished many years ago and rebuilt into a beautiful and wide ring road, which is not safe to defend at all, so to speak. Once the Chinese army broke through Bratislava, the Austro-Hungarian Empire was in danger of extinction.

Vienna. Hofburg Imperial Palace.

The Hofburg Imperial Palace was the winter residence of the Austro-Hungarian Emperor every winter. The Austro-Hungarian emperor spent the winter here. For nearly 700 years, from the 13th century to the present, the Hofburg Imperial Palace has been the residence and office of the Habsburg emperors.

The Hofburg Imperial Palace is a huge labyrinth consisting of 18 wings, 19 courtyards and 2,900 rooms. The palace is built according to the topography and is divided into two parts: the upper house and the lower house. The upper and lower houses each have a garden. The upper house was used for the emperor's office, welcome guests and grand events, and the lower house was used as a living room for accommodation.

Karl I was both Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary and King of Bohemia, as Emperor of Austria he was called Karl I, as King of Hungary he was called Karlloe IV, and as King of Bohemia he was called Carlisle V.

Despite the chaos throughout Vienna, there was a lot of noise in the Hofburg Imperial Palace, and Karl I had ordered the execution of three palace officials who wanted to steal the palace finances and were about to flee an hour earlier, which made the other palace people silent one by one, and no one dared to anger Karl I at this time, lest he be killed by the angry Karl I.

The entire palace was shrouded in a dark cloud, the situation of the war changed beyond everyone's imagination, Karl I wanted to rely on his country's military strength to resist the Chinese army for a year and a half should not be a problem, but he did not expect that in just a few days, the Chinese army reached Bratislava, and the Austrian army around the front line was defeated, and now in this situation, it seems that the end of the defeat of the empire can be predicted.

He thought of announcing his abdication and leaving the mess to someone else to clean up, but his queen Zita advised him that as an emperor, he should be responsible, and the country must face up to its current situation at this point and find a way to save the empire from disaster. Empress Zeta is the princess of the Duchy of Parma in the Kingdom of Italy, and he has great respect for her, and the couple are very affectionate.

Last year, when Karl I secretly sued for peace with France, he sent her younger brother, Prince Sixtus of Parma, to contact the French, but when the news was learned by the Kingdom of Italy, Italy threatened Karl I to cede part of the Habsburg territory to Italy, otherwise Italy would publish the news, and Karl I was unwilling to cede any Habsburg territory to Italy, so he cut off secret contact with France.

Remembering that some time ago, more than eighty percent of Japan's high-ranking officials and generals were guillotined as war criminals, Karl I felt cold, so he had already made up his mind that this time he would be arbitrary no matter what, and he would no longer ignore Germany's feelings and be ready to secretly sue for peace with China.

After the leak of news of the secret peace with France last year, Karl I no longer dared to leave the matter of peace with the Entente to his brother-in-law Sixtus, and this time he was ready to leave the matter to his wife, Empress Zeta.

"Your Majesty, the Empress is here!" The chamberlain reported to Karl I, who was walking back and forth in the palace.

As soon as the words fell, the incomparably beautiful Empress Zeta wearing a fur cloak walked into the palace, and the two palace maids who followed behind immediately took off her cloak, revealing her white palace clothes.

"Your Majesty!" Empress Zeta saluted.

Before Zeta could finish saluting, Karl I lifted her up, and then waved the maids and chamberlains to retreat.

"Zeta, I have already decided, I am ready to secretly sue for peace with Huaguo, in this situation, we can only sue for peace with Huaguo, even from Britain, France or the United States, Huaguo is the country that dominates our destiny!"

Zeta was silent for a moment, looked up at Karl I and said, "Your Majesty, have you thought about it?" Judging from China's attitude, China also supports the 14 principles put forward by US President Wilson, and if we follow Wilson's 14 principles, we are afraid that Austria-Hungary will be torn apart, and it would be good if we could keep Austria and Hungary! ”

Karl I shook his head and said: "My Empress, I have been thinking about it for a long time, if according to the fourteen-point principle proposed by Wilson, we let all ethnic groups self-govern and form a coalition government, if it is in other countries, this may be successful, but it will definitely not work in our country, the contradictions and grievances of various ethnic groups in our country are very deep, and now the imperial center is still there, and it can still restrain the kingdoms, but once it is announced that all ethnic groups will be allowed to govern themselves, I am afraid that not only will I not be able to keep the position of the emperor, but even Austria and Hungary will lose, In the end, I am afraid that it will have the same ending as Nicholas II! ”

Empress Zeta was shocked and said, "No, it won't, right? Could it be that serious? ”

Karl I nodded and said: "The situation will only be more serious than I imagined, but if we secretly reach an agreement with the Chinese side, as long as we can keep Austria, it is enough, at least we still have Austria to survive, and we will not fall into the tragic ending of Nicholas II's family!" ”

Hearing this, Zeta slowly stretched out her delicate hands to hold Karl I's somewhat pale hand, and comforted: "Your Majesty don't worry too much, since Your Majesty has made a decision, I support your decision, no matter what kind of situation the empire has reached, we will never be separated!" ”

Karl I hugged his wife and patted her on the back, and whispered: "Zeta, my wife, I really can't trust anyone else anymore, I can only trust you, I want you to secretly go to Bratislava to meet with the commander of the Chinese army, and express our demands for peace to the Chinese side!"

Zeta nodded and said, "Good! ”

Karl I couldn't help but confess again: "You can't tell anyone about this matter, especially not Ssixtus."

Zeta patted Karl I on the back, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I know how to do it!" ”

In alternate history, Karl I decided to accept the Fourteen-Point Agreement, agreeing to the creation of a federal state composed of self-government of the various nationalities. Subsequently, the national self-governments declared their full independence and withdrew from the First World War, and the monarchy was rejected. On 11 November, Karl I was forced to abdicate and began to live in exile. In April of the following year, Austria also deposed him from the throne. Karl I, who was in exile, was reluctant to carry out his efforts to restore it. In 1920, Hungary was re-established as a kingdom, and with the support of some conservatives, he twice challenged the throne of the throne, only to be exiled to the distant Portuguese colony of Madeira. One year later, Karl I died of pneumonia at the age of 34.

Empress Zeta lived in Switzerland after the death of Karl I, and wore black clothes for her husband all her life. It was not until 1981, under the mediation of King Carlos of Spain, that she was able to return to Vienna. In 1989, at the age of 100, Zita died in Switzerland, and her body was transported back to Vienna and buried in the royal crypts of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. (To be continued......)