War Palace and Knee Pillow, Austria’s Destiny

Andrei Uvarov is definitely number one, but his calculations were wrong.

The Russian army was far less powerful than he imagined.

Especially in the Anatolian Plateau, the Russian army, which had previously been advancing vigorously, fell into a quagmire. The front cannot be attacked for a long time, the rear is insufficiently supplied, and uprisings continue in the occupied areas.

On the east route, after discovering that the Austrian army was just a bluff, Omar Pasha, an Austrian deserter, decisively concentrated his forces against the revolting Bulgarians. After suppressing the rebellion, he went directly north to support Dobroga. The Russian army was once again defeated.

On the Black Sea, as Austria and Britain reached a peace agreement, the British Navy began to secretly support the Ottoman Navy, which directly reversed the maritime power of both parties.

The Russian Black Sea Fleet missed the best opportunity to completely annihilate the Ottoman Empire's navy, and the plan to directly attack Constantinople had to be abandoned.

On the other hand, the top officials of the Ottoman Empire were besieged on all sides, with the death of the Sultan and internal and external troubles, and they finally gave up their prejudices. The 28-year-old Queen Mother Shefkefuza defied all odds and hired Orma Pasha, a deserter from Austria.

Orma Pasha, whose real name was Mikhail Ratas, was originally an Austrian Serbian military noble and served as a clerical clerk in the Austrian Imperial Army.

However, because his father offended the Hungarian nobles and was exposed for corruption, Mikhail Ratas' family fell into decline. In order not to follow in his father's footsteps, he chose to steal all 180 florins in the army vault. Flee to Bosnia.

Afterwards, Mikhail Ratas changed his name to Orma, converted to Christianity, received circumcision, and began his legendary life.

Although Orma Pasha did not receive an orthodox European military education, his influence gave him insights far beyond those of ordinary Ottoman officers.

It was precisely because of this that Orma Pasha was especially appreciated by his superiors, and through many cross-class marriages, he truly became a member of the Ottoman military.

It's just that Orma Pasha's identity and qualifications cannot lead such a large army independently, and because of his proximity to the Austrian Empire, he must beware of his second defection.

Facts have proved that Queen Mother Shevkevza was wise in appointing Orma Pasha. The latter concluded based on his own judgment and special intelligence sources that the Austrians were just bluffing, and caused heavy losses to the Russians in subsequent actions.

At the same time, Orma Pasha successfully instigated rebellion against the Macedonians, who were regarded as Greeks by the West at that time, as well as some tribes that opposed the expansion of the Greeks.

Otto I held the banner of reviving ancient Greece and offended many people along the way. Now taking advantage of Otto I's illness and returning to Athens to recuperate, the Macedonians immediately launched a rebellion and turned the Greek-occupied area into a sea of ​​​​fire.

Egypt's strength has not yet recovered, and Muhammad Ali is another old fox. He does not want to risk his life and lose his strength with the Ottomans, so the two sides began to sit in silence across the Jordan River.

The worst thing happened was the Serbian army led by Milos. There were traitors in his army, which turned the army that had marched straight into it into a lone army and was strangled by the Ottoman army and local tribes.

All this did not go beyond Franz's expectations. Russia's bad roads were very fatal to its enemies and itself. Those small countries were even unable to compete with the Ottoman Empire, a quasi-power.

The Ottoman Empire has sufficient strategic depth and population. Although it may suffer a disastrous defeat in the early stage, it is not as weak as it seems. It is not something that the Russians can take in one bite.

Franz did not want the Ottoman Empire to lose the value of its strategic buffer prematurely. What he wanted now was to be safe.

The land scraped from the Ottoman Empire must start infrastructure construction as soon as possible and complete the transformation as soon as possible, otherwise these lands will still not be regarded as the territory of the Austrian Empire.

The news of successive defeats in the war made Andrei Uvarov somewhat unbelievable. He had seen with his own eyes how vulnerable the Ottoman Empire's army was, and he had a better understanding of the Ottoman Empire's armament and financial situation at this time.

Andrei Uvarov could not figure out how the great Russian army failed. He first cursed God for not helping its believers, and then began to curse the incompetent generals and officials, as well as the soldiers who were afraid of death.

After drinking two bottles of vodka, Andrei Uvarov took a swim in the November glacier.

At this point he finally calmed down and put on his robe in the cold Russian wind.

"I want to see His Majesty the Tsar. We cannot let this war continue."

Andrei Uvarov's servants immediately got busy, and the clerk drafted a letter of greeting and the steward personally sent it to the Winter Palace.

The other servants went to prepare carriages and ceremonial guards, as well as suitable clothes that were not soaked.

In the Winter Palace, Nicholas I's face was colder than the howling cold wind. The palace residents around him all tried their best to shrink their necks and lower their heads. No one wanted to touch this bad luck.

Nicholas I was also very angry. He never expected that after more than a month, the situation would get worse and worse.

Since St. Petersburg was too far from the front line, the information Nicholas I knew was what the people below wanted him to know.

Russia's offensive had actually shown signs of fatigue for a long time, but when this information was filtered through layers of information and put on Nicholas I's desk, it had changed beyond recognition.

Even though Constantinople was still out of reach, the Tsar and his cronies felt they could capture Constantinople before the Greeks did.

According to Nicholas I's analysis, there is only one possibility, and that is that the British are causing trouble, and there must be a mole around him.

According to this wrong thinking, Nicholas I looked at everyone as a mole, so he was filled with murderous intent.

"Prince Uvarov asks for an audience."

A trusted attendant came over and said cautiously.

"Andre? Why is he back? Isn't he supposed to be discussing peace talks with the Austrians?"

The attendant on the side whispered.

"The Duke came back yesterday."

"Okay, let him in."

Nicholas I raised his hand, and immediately an attendant carefully took the bloody riding crop with a tray.

Andrei Uvarov came to the courtyard where the Tsar was sitting with ease.

"Your Majesty, I am afraid that the development of the situation has exceeded our control. We should cease the war immediately and conduct peace talks."

"Has the location for the peace meeting been chosen?"

"We are talking now."

Before the young Duke could finish speaking, Nicholas I's displeased voice sounded again.

"I asked you, have you chosen the venue for the meeting?"

"not yet."

"Then what are you doing back?"

Nicholas I was obviously very angry. If it were any other Russian minister, he would probably be tongue-tied and weak in the knees.

But Andrei Uvarov was not afraid.

"We underestimated the British. Their rapid support gave the Ottomans the confidence to resist. Now it is not only the Ottomans who are fighting us, but also the British behind them."

Andrei Uvarov's words coincided with Nicholas I's conjecture, and the displeasure on his face lessened slightly.

"We also underestimated the Austrians, and it is very likely that they have a share of the credit for our country's predicament at this time."

Nicholas I's eyes suddenly opened.

"What did you say?"