The first update

Joseph I believed that sooner or later there would be a war between the Australian Empire and Russia, and although both sides tried to maintain the current peace in the Balkans, it was not far off. Every turmoil in the Balkans exacerbates conflict and friction, and Austria-Hungary cannot always win, and Russia cannot keep holding its breath. This is also why Emperor Joseph I asked such a question to Count Andráhi. Sometimes even if they don't want to go to war, the war will find them.

Western Europe was already preparing for war, and the Balkans were also filled with gunsmoke. They were already aware of what could be the biggest crisis since the founding of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, because Germany simply did not have the time to take a break from its busy preparations for war and manage the problems of the Balkans.

The newly appointed Frederick III was so busy grabbing territory that he had no time to pay attention to the Bulgarian crisis, and Berlin would have intervened long ago. However, in the face of this greater political interest, Austria-Hungary could only rely on itself to fend for itself.

"I have an ominous premonition that Count Andrach first used diplomatic means to stabilize Serbia and to confine the crisis within Bulgaria instead of spreading to the entire Balkan Peninsula. This time the Bulgarian crisis would have been the trigger for the conflict, and once Russia began to intervene openly, Austria-Hungary would have to respond. I will go to meet with the Kaiser once and hope to get his permission to increase the number of troops. It would also be best if it could be supported by German troops. ”

For the Austro-Hungarian emperor, Vienna and Berlin were inextricably linked, and it was absolutely impossible for them to sit idly by and ignore them if something happened to them.

Therefore, the Austro-Hungarian emperor had to rush to reach an agreement with Berlin before the war, so that in the next geopolitical conflict, they had a bottom in their minds.

The train from Vienna was rushing to Berlin, and now Joseph I was very nervous, because he did not know what the outcome of the war with Russia would be. But there are two countries that must be co-opted, one is Germany, and the other is Ottoman Turkey. Creating a multifaceted conflict for Tsar Alexander III was the top priority of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Obviously, this time, after Joseph I arrived in Germany, he was not treated seriously by the Kaiser. Since the assassination of Wilhelm I and the expulsion of Bismarck, the plans of the Triple Alliance have been nullified. The Franco-German agreement on cooperation meant that Austria-Hungary might be being marginalized by Germany.

Originally, Austria-Hungary was a bargaining chip between Germany and Russia, and Germany used Austria-Hungary to balance Russia and avoid conflict in the Near East.

Now Austria-Hungary openly offered to go to war with Russia, a proposal that gave Frederick III a great headache. They have concentrated all their forces in the vicinity of Belgium. , hoping that through this battle, he can fulfill the unfulfilled wishes of his fathers.

Become a true European hegemon.

"Russia is now taking advantage of the Bulgarian problem, and the tsar has publicly declared that he wants to create a great Bulgaria of the Slavs, and even to start a war at all costs. The interests of Austria-Hungary in the Balkans were already threatened. So we now seek German protection. There is a very good chance that Russia will start a war in the future, a war that makes us feel tricky, so we want to ......"

"We are closely concerned about the problems of the Balkans. But I also hope that Vienna will forgive us for our troubles, and now that Germany has used all its troops to help our allies resist the British invasion. If we rush out now, I'm afraid that there will be a shortage of manpower. The battle plan of the General Staff has already been drawn up, and we cannot change it rashly because of the conflict in the Balkans, sorry, Joseph. While we are very sorry for what happened in the Balkans, Germany is now focused on waging a war against the British, rather than intervening with a part of its forces. ”

Both sides were Germans, and Frederick III also realized that his words were a bit like selling out his teammates, so he changed his tone and comforted, "In this case, Germany will issue a statement of condemnation to Russia on the Bulgarian question, and warn the other side not to act rashly." If he acts excessively, he will immediately start a war. Even Russia had to weigh whether it could defeat the combined forces of Germany and Austria-Hungary. ”

Joseph I was not impressed by Frederick III's words. He knew that Germany had absolute power, but he would rather use it to calculate his allies and Britain than to help his old allies.

Emperor Joseph confronted Frederick III and finally spoke his mind.

"Actually, you're trying to clean up England and France together, right? As for the resistance to the British invasion, and the so-called opposition to the British colonies, it was all in preparation for Germany's future turn against France and England. You are cooperating with France only to reap the fruits of victory. So you concentrated all your forces near Belgium, not to cut off the British rear, but to cut off the rears of both countries at the same time. ”

"Compared to the life and death of Austria-Hungary, Germany is the first thing you think about."

"But I have to warn you, Your Majesty, Frederick, that I can see through this little calculation of yours, do you think the French can't guess? With such a large number of troops deployed on the border, do you think that the French are really so stupid that they will only think that it is a battle of combined armies? Perhaps the French have long been prepared and waiting for your attack. ”

Frederick III was not moved by Joseph's words, but instead asked, "Even if it is, what can Germany do now?" Can you fight a Franco-Prussian war with us? Germany is waging war hard-lined, and who can stop it? ”

"I don't know."

"But don't you think it's strange that Russia has chosen to jump out at this time and take a tough stance on the Bulgarian crisis?" ”

The smile that had been on Frederick III's face faded away, replaced by a solemn expression.

Joseph saw the change in Frederick III's expression and knew he had hit the nail on the head. He continued, "Isn't it strange to you that one thing? ”