Replacing France as a protectorate of the Papal States, and criticizing Italy in the name of religion, and most importantly, delaying the process of Italian unification, was a great temptation for Austria-Hungary.

Although the Papal States are now very small, they are not other than Rome, one of the most economically developed regions in Italy, and at the same time cultural, historical, and politically important in Italy. The most economically developed were Venice and Lombardy, the former homelands of the Austrian Empire.

Ernst only came up with a rough plan, and if he wanted this to become a reality, and he needed professionals to perfect the details, and if he could get Franz's attention, it would mean that the matter was half done.

……

"Ernst!"

Ferdinand, who had just walked out of Schönbrunn Palace, called his future son-in-law.

"Father-in-law, what's wrong?"

"Do you have any enmity with the Italians? Come up with such a way to damage! ”

"Hahaha, how is it possible, Italy has not offended me, and my business dealings with Italy are not small, how can I have an opinion on them."

"You are a merchant, according to your old style, you will definitely be unprofitable, there must be some reason to let you cheat the Kingdom of Italy like this."

"Nonsense, where did you hear the rumors, I have always been honest businessmen, friends are willing to cooperate with my company, and the business has always been legal and compliant, but it is not comparable to those unscrupulous capitalists, you tell me the rumor-monger, I definitely want to give him some color!."

Franz said.

"Forget it, but being an emperor shouldn't be black and white."

"What is the reason for you to take the initiative to dig a hole for Italy?"

"Don't think about it, the reason is simple, East Africa needs a strong Austro-Hungarian Empire, not a strong Italy, it's as simple as that." Ernst interrupted Ferdinand.

"Well, that's right! It seems that I am thinking too much, by the way, what did you mean by what you said earlier at Schönbrunn Palace that if you fight the law, you can make a lot of money from it? ”

Compared with politics, money is not small to Ferdinand, if someone else said this, Ferdinand would definitely not believe it, Ernst has a talent beyond ordinary people in this regard.

"If you want to make a steady profit without losing money, just buy bonds issued by the Prussian government."

"You are so unoptimistic about France!"

Ernst's words are equivalent to clearly saying that France will be defeated, otherwise Prussia will take the head to pay off its debts? The military expenses and debts spent in the previous war have not been paid off.

"France is slightly stronger than Austria-Hungary in terms of its army, and it has no obvious advantage over Austria-Hungary in other aspects, so what can it do to fight Prussia?"

"Although I am Austrian and a member of the Habsburg family, Austria-Hungary is honestly too much inferior to France, and the Hungarian question alone is very difficult."

"Do you think France is also monolithic? Now there are three royal families in France, Orleans and the Bourbons are opponents of Napoleon III, and there is one of the largest reactionary groups in France, the Republicans. ”

Ernst said that the French republicans were reactionary groups, and that the government of the big capitalists, who colluded with the enemy countries in the war and brutally suppressed the people, could enter the top two of the most disgusting governments in France, and the other was the French government during World War II.

"You mean the French will backstab Napoleon III?"

"Those people are soft-boned, it's okay to play with the wind, as long as Napoleon III makes a slight mistake on the front, these idiots will definitely do bad." Ernst said.

To tell the truth, Napoleon III, the emperor's ability, is still good, France has indeed developed impressively under him, in terms of national strength, France is indeed above Prussia, but in the Franco-Prussian War, the operation of the French rear government said that they were insects and pigs lifted them.

Napoleon III is still not ruthless enough, but if he has half of Napoleon's decisiveness, he will not be stabbed in the back by his subordinates.

……

Schönbrunn Palace.

"Go and call the generals in Vienna."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Vienna's leading imperial generals gather at Schönbrunn Palace before dusk.

"Do you think the Franco-Prussian War can be fought?" Franz asked, sitting on the couch.

"It's definitely going to be fought, but it's hard to grasp the time."

"What if the Franco-Prussian War would break out in two months!"

"Your Majesty, it should be unlikely!"

"Let's talk about whether it's a possibility."

"There is a definite possibility, France has always been hostile to the German region, and Prussia is not good at it, and its army has always been at the upper level."

"Then, if the Franco-Prussian War suddenly breaks out, what should we do in Austria-Hungary?" Franz asked.

"Well, to be honest, we, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, better not end early."

"But if we don't end early, we won't get anything, we can only sit back and watch one of the exclusive spoils of the law."

"So what can I do? Joining the battlefield will not be too high for our odds of winning, and the risks and benefits are completely disproportionate. ”

Seeing the fierce quarrel between his subordinates, Franz was silent, Austria was indeed in decline, and the attitude towards Prussia and France at the level of generals became ambiguous, in other words, not confident enough.

"Okay, don't discuss this matter, how about if our side of the Franco-Prussian War does not stand, but opens up a new battlefield?" Franz said.

"Huh?" The Austrian generals were confused by Franz's words!

"Imagine if the Franco-Prussian War broke out, would there be a country that would be ready to move."

"Your Majesty, you mean England!"

Franz shook his head and said: "I have already said that if we do not discuss the matter of popularizing the law, the empire will not interfere in the popularization of law this time, but if the popularization of law really fights, Italy will not be idle." ”

"Italy? Could it be that Your Majesty is referring to the Papal States! "There are sharp generals who immediately perceive the elemental way.

"Yes, if a Franco-Prussian war breaks out...... Franz explains Ernst's analysis and plan.

"Do you think this plan is feasible?"

"Meddle in the Papal States and prevent Italy from uniting the Apennines! If this is just the goal, it doesn't seem too difficult. ”

"What's in it for us?"

"The non-unification of Italy is the greatest benefit to us, and I think that Italy is much more of a threat to the empire than Tsarist Russia and Prussia, and the unified Italy will definitely be unfavorable to us, in addition to the navy, it may also have ambitions for the Balkans." This was stated by the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Wilhelm von Tegersov.

The Ottoman Empire can actually be counted, but the Ottoman Empire only has strength on paper, and the actual cost is not to be akan.

"Well, if it's against Italy, I think the pattern of this plan is still too small, can we take this opportunity to regain Venice?" An army general suddenly proposed.

His words instantly opened the minds of the Austro-Hungarian generals.

"That's right, this is an opportunity, if the Franco-Prussian war breaks out, then Italy will have no backers, and the Franco-Prussian two countries will ...... in order to win us over"

"Wonderful! We all know the fighting power of Italy, and if it were not for the support of the Franco-Prussian people on the first few occasions, it would not have posed a threat to us at all. ”

"Your Majesty, since you want war, you should act now, this is a golden opportunity."

The military generals, who had just been submissive to Franco-Prussia, suddenly changed their style, as if Austria-Hungary had won victory in sight, and Italy had become meat on the board.

Morale is available, Franz is satisfied, Austria-Hungary is at the bottom of the four great powers, it is more than enough to fight one Italy, now it is time to send personnel and weapons to the Papal States as soon as possible.

As long as the French army retreated, the Pope and Austria-Hungary reached an agreement, the pretext for war was available, and as the generals said, Venice was not impossible to consider taking back.

As for the risks, even if the front line did not advance smoothly, it would be impossible for Italy to counterattack into Austrian territory, but if it succeeded, then Venice ......

Venice was too tempting for Austria-Hungary, and as for the population problem, if there are too many lice, there is no itching, and if there are many debts, don't you want to emigrate? When he arrives, pack up the opponents and send them to him, and contribute to Africa's development.

"Now, you come up with a careful plan, this operation must not attract the attention of those who are interested, and when the time comes, we will take the Kingdom of Italy by surprise."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" This time, everyone is the main battle faction.

(End of chapter)