Franz's breakfast is very simple, with bread, jam, milk, and some fruits and vegetables, similar to the middle-class standard.
It's just that the coffee was replaced with milk, perhaps due to the influence of his previous life, Franz had no love for coffee, and he even preferred black bread.
The black bread in the palace is naturally different from the black bread with messes added to it. At the request of Franz, it added melon seeds, sesame seeds, and walnuts...
Today, there are more people, and the kitchen is naturally richer, adding coffee, sandwiches, butter, pastries, and ham.
Everyone's taste preferences are different, and breakfast is also selected according to their own tastes. The relationship between European monarchs and ministers is different from that in the East. When dining, everyone is very casual, and there is no such prudence.
After breakfast, everyone had their schedules and dispersed to start the day's work.
"Your Majesty, your appointment with Grand Duke Alexander Nikolaevich is about to come." The maid Jenny reminded
Grand Duke Alexander Nikolaevich was the eldest son of Nicholas I, the famous Alexander II in history, who completed the reform of Russian serfdom.
He is also a scholar, mastering four foreign languages, English, German, French, and Polish. He is the best educated among all the tsars in the Russian Empire.
Alexander Nikolaevich and Franz have many similarities. Both of them received military training since childhood, and they both have the temperament of soldiers in their behavior, and at the same time they belong to the same academic masters.
Two people who share a common language should be friends, but after the outbreak of the Crimean War, the two sides stood on opposite sides.
Now history will naturally change. Far and near attacks are not necessarily correct. Austria, which is in the midst of four battles, must have at least one stable ally.
For now, the best option is Russia. Although the fur bears are greedy and greedy, when they are allies, it is difficult to take advantage of their interests.
However, this kind of alliance between monarchical countries is much more reliable than that of the British who simply look at their interests. The Tsar's personal thoughts can sometimes override national interests, and the possibility of being stabbed in the back is much lower.
Franz has decided to give up the struggle for hegemony in the Near East. If the Russians want to occupy Constantinople, let them go. If the interests of the Balkans are more or less, it does not matter to Austria.
Of course, the most important thing is that because Russia is also full of internal contradictions, it is already a paper tiger with strong external power and internal dryness. Before solving internal problems, it is impossible to really become bigger.
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In Vienna in September, the wind is cool after autumn, the rain is cool after autumn, and the weather is cool like autumn. The earth presents a gratifying harvest scene, which makes people feel relaxed and happy, and makes people sing and dance. But at the same time, it makes people feel lost, and makes people think calmly.
People who can talk on an equal footing naturally get along very casually. It was not the first time that Alexander had come to Austria, having visited Vienna as early as 1838.
It's just that Franz was still a little kid at that time. The two sides met each other and had a little impression of each other, but they couldn't talk about friendship.
As Emperor Franz, it is impossible to be a tour guide for others. Of course, if the visitor is a beautiful princess, there should be an exception.
Alexander has begun to contact Russia's government affairs, and the crown prince also has a great say in politics. This time the two met because of politics.
After a while of chatting, the two sides entered the topic of today's conversation.
"Russia and Austria have a long history, and it is necessary for us to conduct more in-depth communication on international issues and achieve win-win cooperation as much as possible.
The Ottoman Empire is in decline, and Russia and Austria should reach an agreement on the Near East issue as soon as possible, so as not to leave opportunities for Britain and France to take advantage of. ' Franz suggested
Compared with the Ottoman Empire at its peak, the Ottoman Empire in this period was indeed in decline, but their essence of being strong outside and doing in the middle has not been exposed, and the powers have not yet set off a frenzy to carve up the Ottoman Empire.
"Of course, the Ottoman Empire is our common enemy. It is natural to fight the enemy faster. They are undergoing internal reforms. Once the reforms are completed, it will not be so easy to deal with." Alexander said seriously
"Are the Russians ready to attack the Ottoman Empire now?"
This doubt flashed in Franz's mind. The Russian-Turkish war averaged once every ten years, and the time was almost up again.
"In this case, Alexander, why don't we first make a division of the spheres of influence between the two countries in the Balkans, so as not to cause unnecessary conflicts and affect the relationship between the two countries." Franz proposed.
Carve up the Balkans? Alexander's face changed drastically, which meant that Austria was no longer opposed to Russia's expansion into the Near East.
It soon became clear to Alexander that Austria gave up its expansion in Italy because of the intervention of the British in the Osa War that had just ended.
Then there is not much room for Austria to choose, either continue to unify the German region to the west, or proceed to the Balkans.
If the German region is so unified, the Habsburg dynasty has already unified Germany, so why wait until now
In order to unify the German region, the Habsburg dynasty was destroyed by the empire. A large part of the decline of Spain was because it spent too much money participating in the melee of the German princes and did not develop industry.
"No problem, in order to save the people of the Balkans from the evil Ottoman Empire, our two countries must cooperate sincerely." Alexander said cheerfully
The specific interest-sharing negotiation is obviously not something that can be completed in a few words. Even because of this issue, it is not surprising that the two countries have talked for two or three years.
"Although it is important to rescue the people in the Balkans, the friendship between our two countries is equally important. I suggest supporting each other's core interests. If there is a conflict, it can be made up elsewhere." Franz suggested
"Is Austria willing to support Russia in acquiring the Black Sea Strait?" Alexander couldn't help asking
The Black Sea Strait is not simply Constantinople. The Russians want to go further, and even the Asia Minor Peninsula must pay attention.
"Of course, Austria has no interest in the Black Sea Strait. This is not our goal. As an ally, we have no reason to hinder the actions of the Russian Empire!" Franz said cheerfully
He is not afraid of the greed of the Russians, but of the indifference of the Russians. Now Britain and Russia stand side by side on the European continent. Relying on the prestige they fought in the anti-French war, the Russians claim to be the first army power in Europe.
Strength + interests are the best catalyst for ambition. Watching the British make huge profits by opening up colonies overseas, the Russians are no longer willing to control only land power.
Russia's sea area is very large, but unfortunately most of the areas are icy and snowy. The ports of the Arctic Ocean are frozen for a long time every year, and there is no environment for the development of the navy at all.
The only areas where the navy could develop are the Baltic and Black Seas. The Russians have failed in the Baltic Sea and now have their sights set on the Black Sea.
No need to think about it, anyone with a little military common sense knows that the Black Sea Strait controlled by the Ottoman Empire is in the way, and Russia must kick this stumbling block before it goes to the ocean.
Hearing the definite answer, Alexander's heart was not as calm as he seemed.
Austria actually released the restrictions on Russia, which is different from history. In this time and space, Austria did not ask Russia to suppress the domestic revolution, and naturally there is no need to make compromises.
"Franz, Austria has completely changed its national policy. What do you want? The Danube Valley?" Alexander asked
No wonder Alexander is so excited. With the support of Austria, who can stop Russia from gaining the Black Sea Strait
The French are still busy fighting with each other, and they have no time to carve up the kingdom of Sardinia. How can they stop the Russians from joining the Mediterranean for hegemony
Ottomans? British
No way, even if the British fully supported the Russians in the Ottoman Empire, they would not hesitate. Don't say that the Russians did not take them at sea, but the Russians on land were unprecedentedly confident.
"I suggest that people from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs talk about this issue. Our identities are not suitable for arguing about interests." Franz reminded
He, the Austrian emperor, is okay and can be the master, but Alexander, the crown prince, is not necessarily.
Without the authorization of the tsar, even if an agreement is reached, who knows if things will change? At that time, where will Alexander's face go
If the two sides reach an agreement now, and the Russians are fast enough, they may have occupied Constantinople before the French can solve the internal problems, and the subsequent historical trend is likely to be reversed.
Unless the Russians open up and defeat the British at sea, then Franz will admit it and be the little brother of the bear. This possibility is no greater than the probability of winning the National Football World Cup.
Otherwise, it is estimated that Britain and France will rely on their strong capital and the Russians to consume them, and in the end, most of them will lose both.
This is what Franz wants to see most, and no matter who wins or loses, it is in Austria's interest.
If the Russians were defeated, Austria had the opportunity to expand further in the Balkans; if Britain and France were defeated, the overseas colony Austria could get an extra share.
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