War Palace and Knee Pillow, Austria’s Destiny

Bellevue felt that an army of 40,000 was enough to wipe out all rebel areas, but in fact Sako's main force of 40,000 could not even deal with the guerrillas in the Coastal Mountains. ɱ

Compared with the guerrillas who are apparently in the mountains, those who wander around among the civilians are the most troublesome.

As French people, they can't tell the difference between Italians at all. Even if other ethnic groups in Austria speak a few words of blunt Italian, they can't tell the difference.

The difficulty of annihilating the guerrillas was completely beyond Bellevue's imagination, so his response strategies all revealed arrogance and stupidity.

The incompetence of one general will kill the entire army, not to mention that he is not the only one who thinks this way. Under the guidance of this kind of thinking, the issue of counterinsurgency can easily become an ideological issue or even a tool to attack dissidents.

Bellevue executed three presidents one after another. He seemed to understand something, but he ran out of time.

Neither Franz nor Cavaignac wanted to delay it any longer.

The first thing Cavaignac did after receiving the authorization from Parliament was to put down the rebellion in Paris, and the second thing was to start peace talks with the German Confederation.

Although the pro-British faction of the Second French Republic is still there, Cavaignac is different from people like Lamartine and Roland. He is a soldier and has an army in his hands.

Although Cavagnac knew that France had reached the moment when it had to armistice, he still had some illusions. He hoped to reach a secret agreement with the German Allied Forces.

Allowing both sides to de facto cease fighting without the need for formal negotiations.

This secret agreement is extremely unreliable. After all, it doesn't cost much to break it.

Especially for France at this time, signing such a secret agreement is undoubtedly an extremely risky choice.

Cavaignac also knew very well, but the domestic public opinion environment did not allow it, so he came up with this compromise plan.

However, Franz would never agree. France had long since lost its bargaining chips. At this time, Franz's concession was just to get Britain and France to withdraw from the war.

And even if Franz could agree, it was impossible for officials of the German Confederation and the Austrian Empire to accept it.

They were ready to let the French cede territory and pay compensation, or even dissolve the Second French Republic and restore the monarchy.

Let the French cede territory and pay indemnities, dissolve the Second French Republic, restore the monarchy, and even install a pro-Austrian government.

This will not only weaken France, but also tie the German Confederation tightly to its own tank, and even affect France's decision-making to a certain extent.

In theory, this was indeed a way to maximize the interests of the Austrian Empire, but in practice it was asking for death.

The Second French Republic was unpopular at this time, but once the overly harsh negotiation conditions were backlashed and the French refused to surrender, it was difficult to guarantee that the Gallic rooster would not rise again.

Secondly, both Britain and Russia have the ambition to become world hegemons. Although they hate each other, it does not mean that they will not join forces to deal with greater threats.

Austria, which united Germany and vassalized France, was undoubtedly the greater threat.

Thirdly, the German Confederation may not be monolithic. It is supported by nationalism at this time. However, once they calm down, there is no guarantee that they will not stab Franz.

Few of the ruling classes in various countries sincerely support German reunification. This is determined by their fundamental interests, which are not easy to compromise, let alone easy to change.

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To talk about a more realistic issue, even if France agrees to cede territory and pay compensation, the Austrian Empire does not border France, and Franz is not short of money.

Even if land can be obtained, it is an enclave. This means far less to the Austrian Empire at this time than imagined, and the price is exaggerated.

So Franz had to find a new plan, but before that he had to beat both sides to fifty boards.

It has to be said that Cavaignac is still very courageous. Franz did not expect that he could come to Strasbourg to participate in negotiations in person.

But it can't be said to be shocking. After all, the Second French Republic was at the end of its rope at this time.

As long as the war continues, civil war will inevitably occur in France.

In addition to the Bourbon and Orleans families, there are many well-known families in France who have established ties with Franz.

In addition to these famous families, speculators, capitalists, bureaucrats, churches, and even military officers and rebel leaders were also ogling Franz.

Because they all know that the future of France is very likely to be in the hands of Franz, a powerful foreign enemy.

But what they don't know is that for Austria, their value does not lie in whether they are close to Austria, but whether they can bring greater chaos to France or whether they are easy to use.

Cavaignac looked very shocked. He did not expect that Franz was really just a young man, and the advisors around him looked more like his servants.

In Cavaignac's imagination, Franz should be an ugly, fat, arrogant fool who lacks the ability to take care of himself and is ignorant of the world.

That idiot would most likely talk to him about business while eating, and then he would hit a sore spot with a few words. He would angrily push the maid who was wiping her mouth away. After a furious fit of incompetence, he would be completely impressed by his wisdom.

Of course, such a stupid and bad guy is usually followed by a group of consultants with bad ideas.

His blue eyes look deep and solemn, his tall figure, cold white skin, and temperament that he has learned in the palace for more than ten years give people an invisible sense of oppression just sitting at the negotiating table.

However, Cavaignac was no ordinary person. After a brief moment of shock, he came to his senses and then repeated his foolish plan.

Franz just listened silently throughout the whole process, with no expression on his face.

"Mr. Cavaignac, the secret agreement guarantees neither the security of your country nor that of the German Confederation.

Your secret agreement is nothing more than a non-binding truce. "

Cavaignac was a little disappointed after hearing this, but it was only for a moment, because he already knew that his plan would not work.

However, the words failure and peace talks were too sensitive in France at this time, so he had to give it a try.

However, Cavaignac did not dwell on this, because although the riots in Paris had subsided, the riots in Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Toulon had not yet subsided.

In addition to the above areas, the riots have a tendency to further expand, especially in southern France, where the royalists are also starting to make moves.

The royal party is different from those hot-headed workers and farmers. They have guns and troops in their hands, so he must end everything before things get out of control.