War Palace and Knee Pillow, Austria’s Destiny

The New Army of the German Federation claims to have 700,000 troops, but in fact it only has 250,000 troops. Although the Austrian Empire's Salzburg garrison only had 80,000 troops, there was no tension in the entire fortress as if facing a powerful enemy.

The surrounding people were immediately sheltered in the city, and the queue at the temporary recruitment office was longer than the queue at the relief center.

Salzburg is an important military center on the frontier of the Austrian Empire. The people's customs are martial, and the catalysis of nationalism has magnified this military tradition without limit.

From fifteen-year-old boys who have just completed their coming-of-age ceremony to elders in their fifties and sixties, all of them are waiting with firm eyes for selection by the recruiting officers. However, the momentum of united efforts and common hatred cannot be underestimated.

National emotions are most easily aroused at the moment of life and death. The confused and fearful people urgently need a sense of justice. As long as someone provides a little guidance, an irreversible torrent will form.

Defending the country is obviously just, while those invaders are undoubtedly unforgivable enemies.

We have to admit that nationalism has incomparable advantages in military mobilization and boosting morale, and it can easily drive people crazy.

Especially for the people at the bottom, not only can they sacrifice themselves, but they can even force their families to fight with them.

The father takes his sons to the battle together, and the mother who stays behind will say when parting: "If you can't win, don't come back."

As the ancient Spartans said, "With it or on it!" ("Take your shield and triumph, or die in battle!")

In addition, according to the new code of the Austrian Empire, if there is a war, all nobles other than scholars and officials must serve, otherwise they will have to pay ten to one hundred times the service fee (depending on the title).

Scholars include: scientific researchers, master workers in all industries, etc.

The nobles of this era still need to have some face, even if they are scared to death, they still have to pretend to be leisurely and upright.

In fact, the main reason is that most aristocratic families cannot afford the expensive service fees, and it is even more unacceptable to be deprived of their aristocratic status and sent to the colonies for reform.

In fact, the colonial life in the Austrian Empire was much better than that in the colonies of other countries, but people's fear of the unknown was engraved in their bones.

Especially at that time, the African continent was also called the "white man's forbidden area", "the diseased continent", and the "monster's lair". Unless they were desperate or on a pirate ship, it was an area that most people did not want to set foot in their lives.

The nobles complained at first, but soon some people linked the actions of the German Federation at this time to the French Revolution.

The Parliament wanted to kill the emperor first, and then guillotined the nobles one by one and deprived them of their property.

These people know the truth of the matter very well. After all, many families have taken in the widows of French nobles, and even robbed and deceived the convoys of nobles in trouble.

Soon they became more radical than ordinary soldiers, even those loyalists and nationalists of the Austrian Empire.

As the martyrs said, "The power of examples is infinite." The ability of nobles to stand up is a great encouragement and comfort to ordinary people and soldiers. It is also an incentive, more powerful than any words and reward and punishment mechanisms. Real motivation.

Of course, the church will not be lonely at this time. While distributing Holy Communion and relief to the refugees, the pastors help them remember the bitterness and sweetness.

The priests did not say a bad word about the German Confederation, but everyone in the audience was so angry that they gritted their teeth and wished they could hang the factory owner's thugs and Jewish accomplices in the National Assembly on the crooked neck tree at the head of the village.

Those Protestants who were bewitched and aided the evil deeds should be crushed to ashes (Catholic characteristics, although Franz asked the church to be tolerant, he can only control the top management at present, and some hatred is engraved in his bones).

In fact, many Bavarians do not approve of the Bavarian government's obsequious attitude towards the National Assembly, and they do not want to go to war with the Austrian Empire next door.

As a result, before the arrival of the German Federal Army, several Bavarian troops defected to Austria in an organized manner. The garrison commander of Salzburg did not trust these rebels and therefore did not allow them to enter the city.

After learning about this, Franz placed these Bavarian troops in abandoned villages far away from the center of the battlefield, and sent people to send them food supplies.

In Franz's opinion, there is nothing wrong with having more spectators. In addition to these Bavarians, there are also many volunteers and noble armed forces from other German states.

In addition to the traditions originating from the Holy Roman Empire, some keen nobles have noticed the unusual nature of this war, and the bold have begun to place bets.

Due to the existence of the railway, the military strength of both sides increased rapidly.

However, the waiting time did not last long. Franz did not personally lead the army this time. After all, today is different from the past. As the emperor, he had too many things to deal with.

Especially the aftermath of the war will be a big trouble. If you are not careful, you will have to follow the old path of others. Although it may seem satisfying to some people, in Franz's opinion it is just a meaningless massacre.

Franz decided to let Archduke Albrecht, a hero in the hearts of German nationalists, take charge of the expedition and mobilize elite troops from Pressburg and Vienna to deal with the Western threat.

Troops were transferred from Italy to the east to fill the line, but the coach did not change. Marshal Radetzki went north, while Hainan stayed to continue to deal with the Hungarians.

Vincent Morris, Commander-in-Chief of the German Federation, was not a mediocre person. He had seen the power of the Austrian Imperial Army, and he understood that if he did not take action at this time, his advantage would only become smaller and smaller.

And once the Austrians are allowed to send their main force to Salzburg, the Austrian army will have a hundred ways to kill this ragtag group of people in their hands. The Austrian airboat force alone is an unsolvable problem.

The French are the best example. They have tried countless ways but they just can't get rid of the Sword of Damocles hanging above their heads.

In the end, Henry Arsène came up with a solution that was not a solution and that was to run. The Austrian airboat troops had no way to deal with the fleeing French army.

So Vincent Morris decided to concentrate his elite troops on conquering a star-shaped fortress on the outer flank of Salzburg.

When Archduke Albrecht arrived in Salzburg, the battle was already over. What he did not expect was that in the face of the fierce attack by the main federal force, the fortress defenders, instead of panicking, organized a counterattack.

"What's the damage?"

"Our army had 512 killed, 3,398 wounded, and 208 missing."

"Where are the enemy troops?"

“Not sure it’s all over the place”

"Are there no prisoners?"

"No!"

The officer answered in a loud voice, with pride in it.

"Go back to your post."

"As you command, sir!"

Archduke Albrecht sighed imperceptibly, thinking that it was exactly what Franz said, if he didn't come, more people would die.

Albrecht stood on the main castle of Salzburg and stared at the endless campfires across the river for a long time, and finally called his adjutant.

"Your Majesty Commander, do you want to send a letter of surrender to the enemy as usual?"

"No, the decisive battle will be tomorrow."