Speaking of the Italian question, Franz's face was also gloomy, after the Austro-Prussian War, Italy took Venice, and before that, Italy also took Lombardy and a number of Austro-Hungarian Italian vassal forces with the support of the French, Italy is indeed the biggest enemy outside the Austro-Hungarian Empire at present.

Prussia took the leadership of the German region, which was really not fought, but Italy, a rookie, was too good at taking sides, and it was still taking the territory of the Austrian Empire, resulting in only one port of Trieste left in Austria to maintain a fragile navy, which was indeed the greatest humiliation suffered by Austria over the years.

Franz greeted Italy, Prussia and Hungary in his heart, and internal and external troubles really followed.

"Do you have a way?" Franz asked.

It is now the French who protect the Papal States, and Nasan is arguably the biggest promoter of the unification of Italy, and he also joined the Italian "charcoal party" during his early years in exile in Italy. In 1851, when Napoleon III became emperor, he clearly put forward the "principle of nationalism" and supported the unification of Italy. In 1856, the Crimean War broke out, and at the end of the war, the Kingdom of Sardinia took advantage of the gap between Britain and France to side with the French and win the trust of Napoleon III. In order to win over France, the Kingdom of Sardinia defeated the powerful enemy Austria with the help of France, seized the Lombardy region controlled by Austria, and annexed Tuscany, Parma, Modena and other small states under Austria's sphere of influence, and initially unified Italy.

Looking at it this way, the Franco-Prussian and Hungarian (Sman) and Tsarist Russia, which had messed up their relations, the geopolitical environment is really bad to the extreme.

"The question now is whether France's defeat in Europe will lead to its withdrawal from Rome in support of mainland France," Ernst said. ”

Franz and Ferdinand looked at each other in disbelief: "You mean that Prussia can pose a great threat to France?" ”

It is not that Prussia is despised by France, but that France is recognized as the number one power on the European continent, and even Austria-Hungary, which is also a member of the Great Powers, has to admit this.

France has always given people the impression that it is very strong, especially in the Napoleonic era, single-handedly, and after the restoration of Nasan, the French army is still strong, and it has recovered its place from Tsarist Russia in Crimea, and Austria has suffered a lot in Italy over the years.

"To put it mildly, you yourself fought against Prussia, which single-handedly defeated the Austrian Empire."

"That was different, Prussia had Italy as an ally, and the situation within the empire was not very good at that time...... Franz retorted.

"I haven't fought, I haven't fought, and what level of Italy also knows that the level of the Italian army is honest, and it may not be able to successfully take the Abyssinian Empire in northern East Africa in Africa."

"Hehe......"

Franz and Ferdinand clearly did not believe that the level of the indigenous people could be compared to that of Europe, and that it would be similar if the opponent was replaced by East Africa.

"If you don't believe it, forget it, don't be weird, how bad the level of Italy is compared to your army, you can always admit it!"

There are cases from the last war that are there, and it is really impossible to overturn them.

"Besides, before Prussia was only Prussia, now it is the entire North German Confederation, and how fast the Prussian army has grown over the years is obvious to all, from the rookie during the anti-French war, to a draw with Denmark, and then the revenge was successful, a few years ago, it turned the Austrian Empire into Austria-Hungary, and at the same time took leadership in Germany, and now four years have passed, the Prussian army should have reached a new height."

"You're overbragging......"

"Am I bragging, in my opinion, I still have some right to speak, not to mention anything else, the quality of equipment of the Prussian army has improved a lot over the years, after all, I also made a fortune from the dividends of the Second Schleswig War, and even the Austro-Prussian War has made my business to a higher level, and then the Franco-Prussian War can make a lot of money." Ernst said.

Prussia declared war on France, not to mention anything else, with so many troops, military expenses must always be scraped up, and a lot of war bonds will definitely be issued, and the current size of the Heixingen Bank is just right to do some business, and the five billion war reparations are indispensable for their own share.

"The last time Prussia fought with you, it mobilized more than 500,000 troops in a short time, and if Prussia makes a move against France, this time I am afraid it will be a million heroes!"

Franz and Ferdinand did not refute this time, Prussia, which integrated the North German region, did have this ability, and Prussia's mobilization ability during the Austro-Prussian War was terrifying, but it was not the limit of Prussia, because there were still many Austrian allies mixed in Prussian territory at that time, and Prussia's railway system could not use its full strength.

In addition, in the last war, the states incorporated into the North German Confederation are densely populated and economically developed regions, and their populations should be close to 30 million in recent years, while the population of France is about 38 million, and the difference between the two sides is not big, because the South German region has not been counted, and the strength of several South German states is not bad, the last Austro-Prussian War established Prussia's leading position in the German region, so several states in South Germany will also support Prussia, Bavaria alone could fill the demographic gap between the two groups.

The entire population of Lesser Germany exceeded 40 million, and South Germany was able to contain a part of the French army without any effort.

"Prussia must also have a battle plan against you, although this battle will definitely not be fought, but it is certain that you will side with France." Ernst teased unkindly.

I would like to! Franz said in his heart that it was practically impossible for Austria-Hungary to enter the war, as his foreign secretary put it: "Austria-Hungary is already a 'defensive state' that cannot engage in territorial expansion, and this country is 'overweight' and can no longer take anything with it, whether it is earth or gold, and it will be overturned." ”

"If Franco-Prussian fights, I'm afraid it will be a very tragic war, the French are not terrible, because Napoleon III is not Napoleon the Great, no matter whether he wins or loses, France and Prussia will do their best at the beginning, and the nearest Roman garrison to France may also return to China to support!" Ernst sighed: "What do you think Italy will do at this time? ”

"Take the opportunity to annex the Papal States!"

"That's right, so this is the last chance for Austria-Hungary, it is difficult for Austria-Hungary to expand, but it is still possible to find trouble for your enemies."

"But how can we intervene in Italy, especially in the Papal States, which is on the west coast of Italy, and it will be difficult for us to intervene even if we want to mobilize troops! And the French are not gone yet, and we have no reason to meddle in the affairs of the Papal States. Franz asked.

"So, arrange the army first!"

"How is it arranged? It's impossible! ”

"The army doesn't have to wear a military uniform, and it doesn't have to be armed, you say it's an army, but no matter how I look at it, I look like a devout pilgrimage to the Holy Land."

"You mean to enter the Papal States disguised as a Catholic! But if you want to interfere in the affairs of the Papal States, there should be a lot of people! ”

"So these two months can be arranged slowly, the number of people is at least five thousand to be insured, and enter the Papal States in batches, as long as they can hold Italy down, the empire will almost succeed in threatening Italy from the direction of Venice."

"How to solve the weapon!"

"Of course, the merchant ships should be transported, and at the same time, a special diplomatic staff should be set up to get in touch with the Pope in time when the French troops are ready to withdraw, and invite Austria to send troops to achieve justice."

Franz fell into deep thought, this plan is still feasible, but the difficulty of specific implementation is relatively high, any mistake in any link may fall short, which is the same as gambling, making Franz, the emperor of stability maintenance, undecided.

Ernst continued to instigate: "I missed this opportunity, but there is no place to regret it, the country that Italy hates the most does not need me to say that you understand, it is nothing more than France and Austria-Hungary, according to the principle of persimmon picking and pinching, Italy will only be more-for-tat against Austria-Hungary in the future." The feud had long been settled, and southern Austria, and even the eastern Balkans, were Italy's long-cherished homeland. ”

"Okay, I'll consider this matter, but this plan is too risky, I still have to think carefully, military affairs, not child's play, I want to discuss the feasibility of the plan with the army first, and then make a decision."

(End of chapter)