"Are you crazy!?" Count Korolav roared at once.

"Once the Duchess renounces the dukedom, then Parma will be handed over to the Bourbons!"

"That's why we need the Apennine Customs Union to protect our own interests. As long as Central Italy is integrated into the Austrian economic system. Even if the Bourbons wanted to break away from our influence, the commoners and merchants would not agree. Besides, who can't get along with money? Metternich said very calmly.

Count Korolav wasn't stupid either, and he knew that Metternich was right, and that the idea of trying to control the states with advisers was just whimsical.

Those expatriate officials, after arriving in the state, almost cut off ties with their own country, and are no longer bound by the laws of their own country, without exception, they either become officials of the state where they live, or directly become a cancer.

"What about the attitude of Britain and France?"

"Shouldn't Britain and France look at our attitude now?" Metternich asked rhetorically.

"What about the Papal States?" Count Korolav asked.

"The Pope also needs our country to help him maintain his rule, and if the Papal States are willing to join us, that would be the best. It doesn't matter to us if we don't want to. ”

Count Korolav could tell that Metternich was full of confidence in his words, and although he was very unhappy, the German Customs Union brought great benefits to the Austrian Empire was obvious to all.

And Count Korolav always believed that he was different from the embezzlers who betrayed the Austrian Empire. He was only in the service of the Austrian Empire, and by the way, he was just catering to his personal needs.

So he didn't get entangled with Metternich in this matter.

"Okay, I agree with Prince Metternich."

Grand Duke Franz Karl and Grand Duke Louis looked at each other, and honestly they didn't understand.

So, it's still the old rules, don't approve of it, don't oppose it.

In fact, when the Apennine Customs Union was first established, it was only considered a game for the Habsburgs to amuse themselves.

Because the Kingdom of Sardinia, the Papal States, and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, all refused to join.

King Ferdinando II of the Two Sicilies tried to draw the Pope into establishing the South Asian Pennine Customs Union to counter Austrian influence, but the latter refused.

Pope Gregory XVI at this time was very conservative, he hated many things, but he liked money.

In the Vatican, he engaged in the financial industry, and successively established financial institutions such as the Discount Bank, the Bank of Rome, the Bank of the Holy Spirit and the Savings Bank, but he himself lacked business skills, so he lost a lot.

Later, the pope established the holy water company, which, unlike the Austrian holy water company that sells dog meat in sheep's clothing, does not sell bleaching powder and medical alcohol, but real "holy water".

Although Gregory XVI relied on Austria to maintain his rule, he did not want the Austrians or the Two Sicilians to take his money.

France strongly protested Austria's actions and repeatedly reaffirmed that France would protect the independence of the Kingdom of Sardinia and the Papal States.

The British were ambiguous, hoping that Austria and France would fight in Italy.

If France could go to war with Austria in Italy, then Muhammad Ali of Egypt would undoubtedly be left alone, and Britain would easily achieve its ends, leaving only Russia as its enemy.

Of course, the French would not let the British succeed, so the French protest against Austria remained verbal.

It was the Kingdom of Sardinia who was most anxious, because his main source of income was to act as a second-hand dealer between France and Italy.

Once the Apennine Customs Union in Austria included the Papal States and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, the Kingdom of Sardinia would have to take sides.

This was worse for Carlo Alberto, a monarch bent on unifying Italy, than killing him.

It's just that Austria at this time is an invincible behemoth for Alberto, but he believes that one day, he will find that opportunity.

Istanbul, Ottoman Empire.

The news of the withdrawal of the Austrian Imperial Army from Transylvania soon reached Istanbul.

Palmerston let out a sigh of anger if Count Korolav took his money and didn't do anything.

Palmerston really didn't expect to one day bribe officials outside the British, and now that the Austrians had finally withdrawn their troops from Transylvania, Palmerston had one day.

Now that Mahmud II finally had no reason to procrastinate, Russia had to be restrained for the sake of the great cause of England.

In another war in Central Asia, a war to contain Russia is underway, and it is also the first time that a Western power has invaded Afghanistan.

In Palmerston's plan, he would completely block Russia's exports in Asia with three victories, forcing it to compete with Austria and Prussia for Germany, while Britain had always had only one thing to do, and that was to maintain the balance of power on the continent.

In this way, Britain can be in the position of eternal glorious independence, and no country can compete with Britain for world hegemony, for which he will do whatever it takes.

At the Grand Sarakirio Palace, the Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II, was looking at the report with satisfaction.

The total strength of the Egyptians was only 230,000, while the Ottoman army was already as high as 350,000. The ratio of forces in Syria has reached the level of 3 to 1, and there seems to be turmoil in Egypt, and the original Syrian army of 70,000 is only 30,000 at this time.

Coupled with the news that the Austrians had just withdrawn from Transylvania from Palmerston, the Ottoman Empire could mobilize 300,000 troops and completely wipe out Egypt.

It's just that Moltke's instructor poured cold water on Mahmud II.

"Your army training has not yet been completed, and at this time even the level of the third-rate armies of Europe is not up to the level. I still need time to turn them into real warriors. ”

Moltke's words upset Mahmoud II, who had a very low opinion of his army, which always seemed to carry the pride peculiar to Europeans at this time.

"How many years have you been in command of my army?" Mahmud II asked.

"It's been three years." Moltke replied.

"You haven't been able to train qualified recruits for three years, and you've been dismissed, sir." Mahmud II's tone was unmistakable.

"You're going to lose badly!" Moltke dropped these words and left the palace without looking back.

Mahmoud II really wanted to have this damned European cut down, but he didn't have that courage, he didn't have the courage to come into conflict with European countries.

The current Mahmoud II is only interested in hanging the head of the traitor Muhammad Ali on the minaret of the Grand Saraquirio Palace.

Inside a secluded base on the Syrian border.

"Abdul, if the Ottomans do not come within a month, I will shave your beard and tie you to a tree to dry." Ali's eldest son, Iprahim, said to Prime Minister Abdul.

On April 1, 1839, the Ottoman army crossed the Euphrates River and marched towards Syria.

On March 15 of the same year, the Austrian Imperial Army left Transylvania, and Mahmud II transferred the main forces of the Northern Front to Syria.

On 20 April, the Austrian army reached Novi Sad, and the Bosnian governor summoned the militia to build fortifications and sent an urgent report to the Ottoman Sultan.

(End of chapter)