Chapter 648: Enemies Reunite
Chapter 649: Enemies Reunite
Two Italian-speaking officers rushed into Kem's tent, holding newspapers in their hands, forgetting to salute, and shouted angrily: "General, these damn reporters actually..."
"We can't just let it go! General, let's go and settle accounts with the French!"
This sentence seemed to pierce General Kem's brain, making him surge with a huge force. Yes, as long as he can lead his troops to surround those thousands of French troops and humiliate them, tomorrow's newspaper headlines will definitely be very exciting.
As for invading Modena, haha, isn't it his choice to come and go in such a small country?
General Kem stood up suddenly, and the words "assemble the army and attack" just came to his mouth, but suddenly got stuck.
He remembered the dolphin and iris on the French flag he saw yesterday, indicating that it was the French Royal Guards.
He had experienced the Battle of Liegnitz and witnessed with his own eyes how the French Guards, which were less than 10,000 people, cut into the Prussian army, which was several times larger than them, and pressed them to the west of the Austrian defense line.
Among his 30,000 troops, there were only 4,000 elites of the Royal German Corps, and the rest were the Bohemian Guards and the Hungarian Border Infantry Regiment. This is why the sudden sound of artillery would cause chaos in the Austrian army - the latter two were mobilized nearby and had very average combat qualities.
General Kem slowly sat back in his chair.
Putting aside the danger of his impulse to trigger a war between France and Austria, even if he went to the French to settle accounts regardless of the consequences, the result would most likely be that he would be humiliated again by thousands of French Guards Corps...
He waved to the two officers with a gloomy face: "It was just an accident. Order that no one should mention this matter again from now on."
However, newspapers in various Italian countries seemed to be very happy to mention this matter.
In just two or three days, from Sardinia to the Two Sicilies, major newspapers reprinted the news of the "Genoa Business News". Of course, behind this was Segur's funding.
Italy was talking about "the Austrian army was frightened by thousands of French troops at the border of Parma", and the rumors became more and more outrageous, and soon it became "the Austrian army ran all the way back to Tuscany, with cannons and flintlocks thrown all over the ground", and "the people in Tersuco town even picked up General Kem's carved toilet".
The military exercise was originally intended to show the strong fighting power of the Austrian army, but in the end it only showed a joke.
...
Palace of Versailles.
At the door of the Peace Hall, Count Rheinfels straightened his collar and prepared to continue "fighting" with Bailly with high morale.
The situation in Italy was very favorable, and he believed that the French would soon give in.
At this moment, his assistant trotted over and handed him a letter: "My lord, it was just sent by the ambassador to Parma."
Count Rheinfels opened the letter and the smile on his face froze.
The letter first briefly stated the embarrassing incident of Kem's army, and then mentioned that Parma and the Two Sicilies both expressed their willingness to reconsider the proposal to adjust tariffs on France. Tuscany announced the proportion of tariffs imposed on France - 18% for fur products, porcelain, etc., and only 3% for other goods at most.
The Austrian Foreign Minister crumpled the letter into a ball. Fur? Porcelain? These things were not on the French export list. And the most important wine, textiles, furniture, etc., only increased by 1.5%. What's the difference between this and not adding? !
These small countries are very practical. When two giants quarrel, they naturally won't offend the one with more developed muscles.
The only one who insisted on raising tariffs was Venice, an Austrian vassal.
But Count Rheinfels knew that France would never give up the huge Austrian market for Venice.
He took a deep breath and walked into the Peace Hall.
Sure enough, today, Bailly reversed his previous delays and prevarications and firmly stated that the Rhine-Seine Treaty must be respected and France would not consider adjusting it.
...
Half a month later. Austria, Prague.
Franz II walked out of St. Vitus Cathedral. His face showed no solemnity and majesty that he should have after being crowned as the King of Bohemia. Instead, he kept muttering something while gritting his teeth.
"Volatel, this waste... damn French..."
Volatel is the surname of Count Rheinfels.
Franz II remembered that he was still talking to the ministers yesterday about "unifying the Holy Roman Empire" and "making the Empire the master of Europe again", but the reality was that he couldn't even ask France to make concessions in trade.
He turned his head and shouted to the attendant: "Let that stupid Kem go to Malosh to manage the warehouse!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After Franz II lost his temper, he soon fell into deep worry again.
If the current trade pattern cannot be changed, the Austrian market will definitely be gradually occupied by France, and Austria's trade income will continue to decline.
Even if he has a grand ambition comparable to that of Otto the Great, if there is not enough gold coins to support it, it will always be just a fantasy.
He then thought of the poor performance of the Austrian army in Italy.
It was obvious that the army needed a large-scale reform. All the kings who were famous in history had an invincible army, and he was no exception.
Military reform also required a large amount of funds.
Money became a towering mountain in front of him that he could not climb.
Franz II returned to the Prague Palace dejectedly and saw Bathurst, the British Ambassador to Austria, waiting at the door.
The latter touched his chest and saluted him, first said a lot of clichés to congratulate him on his coronation, and then continued:
"Your Majesty, there is a distinguished guest who wishes to meet with you. I believe this is very important to both of you."
Francis II asked in surprise: "Please tell me his name."
"His Majesty Wilhelm II, King of Prussia."
"What is he here for?" Franz II frowned. A year ago, Prussia and Austria fought to a bloody pulp in Silesia. Now, the King of Prussia suddenly wants to see him, which is very unreasonable.
But the British were able to pull the strings, but he had to be cautious.
Noon the next day.
A black carriage stopped in the Lage Palace Square. The attendant opened the door. William II stepped out and bowed to Emperor Shinra from a distance:
"Your Majesty the Emperor, I was originally going to attend your coronation ceremony, but as you know, the mud in Lusatia is so difficult that I only arrived now."
Franz II looked at this old Austrian enemy coldly, and then showed a standard diplomatic smile:
"Your arrival, whether early or late, demonstrates your respectful attitude as Elector.
"Oh, please come in."
William II ignored the suppression of his identity in his words and followed him into the palace. He exchanged a few casual greetings, then coughed lightly and said:
"Ah, I heard some news. Austria's financial situation does not seem to be very optimistic recently."
