Holy Roman Empire

After the Russian Embassy incident spread, European public opinion exploded. Such a severe event, involving the complete annihilization of staff members at an overseas embassy, hadn't occurred in modern history. The clamour for retribution was incessant, calling out "barbarism," "brutality," "uncivilized" and a series of other labels were once again pinned on the Japanese. How many people were stoking the flames behind the scenes was still unknown, but it was clear that there were many who wanted to incite a war between Japan and Russia. Support from public opinion is important, but excessive support can be problematic. For the Tsarist Government, the current wave of public support was not what they desired. Dispatching troops to punish the Japanese may sound easy, but the execution was an entirely different matter. The Siberian Railway was not yet operational, and to hastily wage war at this time would be suicidal. Unlike in their original timeline, the Tsarist Government had suffered numerous logistical failures in recent decades. Even the most stubborn people would learn their lesson after so many losses, and the Tsarist Government was no exception. "The public outcry is so fierce, does anyone have a strategy to handle it?" Nicholas II asked, barely containing his anger. Having suffered such a blow, not only could they not retaliate, but they were also forced to suppress anti-Japanese and pro-war sentiment at home. It was as if the world was being reintroduced to the Tsar. There was no choice; they were truly not in a position to take military action against Japan. For the sake of the larger strategy, Nicholas II had to suppress his anger for the moment. Prime Minister Sergei Witte said, "Your Majesty, there are two main reasons why public opinion is so inflamed right now: first, the people are outraged by the massacre in Tokyo and need to vent; second, the War Party and international forces are stirring things up. Quieting the public's rage is simple; as long as we obtain a satisfying explanation through diplomatic channels, that should suffice. The international community supports us, and the Japanese simply lack the leverage to refuse; achieving such conditions should not be difficult. The real trouble is the agitation by the War Party and international forces. The surge of anti-Japanese sentiment among the people is getting stronger and stronger. We might be able to work with our own War Party domestically, though it's a bit troublesome, there's still a way to make them hold their tongues. However, the instigation by international forces is much harder to stop. The British have gone to great lengths to draw us into the Far East, even stooping to ally with the Japanese. They have prepared for so long, and they have no reason to stop now that the opportunity has arisen. Besides the British, we also need to be wary of the Far Eastern Empire, Spain, and the Nordic Federation, among others. Despite each having different motives, they all want the Empire to go to war with the Japanese. What we need to do now is to keep our cool, first engage diplomatically with the Japanese Government, and use the power of the international community to suppress the Japanese." Frankly speaking, Nicholas II was not one to keep his cool easily. The only reason he had managed thus far was that the government's higher-ups were anti-war. Even the military's top brass, who supported war with Japan, did not wish to launch immediately. Everyone preferred to bide their time, and the easily persuaded Nicholas II naturally followed suit. After pondering for a moment, Nicholas II slowly said, "The Foreign Ministry should take action. We've already whipped up public opinion, we cannot let it go to waste. Now is the time when every country in Europe feels the strongest antipathy toward the Japanese. Let's take this opportunity to further tarnish the reputation of the Japanese. Especially with Britannia, we must focus on PR. The best outcome would be to dissolve the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, or at the very least, make the London Government hesitant and wary of blatantly supporting the Japanese Government. Then there's the Holy Roman Empire. Whether we're leveraging international support to pressure Japan or planning future military operations in the Far East, we can't do without their support." It was clear that Nicholas II was very unwilling to make this decision. It's well known that one of the greatest traits of the fighting nation is to not tolerate a "weak" government. The common folk couldn't fathom the difficulties of deploying troops to the Far East; in their eyes, attacking Japan was as easy as crushing a bug. Now that they've been provoked by a bug, if the government didn't immediately send troops for retribution and instead resorted to so-called "diplomatic measures," it would be nothing short of a disgrace. In actuality, the situation was even more dire. The military enthusiasts among the populace had even drawn up battle plans for the Tsarist Government. The navy's lack of strength was no issue, as they could recruit allies to form an Allied Forces and replicate the plan from a few years earlier against the Far Eastern Empire. As for whether other nations were willing to send troops, that was the job of the diplomatic corps. Failure to do so would simply reflect their incompetence. Especially after the media reported that the Shinra Southeast Asian Fleet and Britannia's Far Eastern Fleet had assembled in the Sea of Japan, everyone was more convinced of their own judgments. Against the background of the civilian cry for war, opting to bide his time was a major blow to Nicholas II's personal reputation as a monarch. For Nicholas II personally, it was a matter of "swallowing his pride for the moment" and then "getting angrier the more he thought about it." ... Vienna Palace, watching the snowflakes fluttering in the sky, Franz sighed helplessly. Another cold winter had come. Perhaps it was due to his advancing age, but in recent years Franz's dissatisfaction with the winters in Vienna had grown ever stronger. There were plenty of cities within Shinra that enjoyed springlike conditions year-round, but unfortunately, they were all too far from Vienna. Thinking of going somewhere to spend the winter was a hassle. Frankly speaking, Vienna could no longer be considered the center of the Holy Roman Empire at this point in history. If one were to ignore proportions and just look at a map, Vienna could even be considered a border city. Despite its many shortcomings, this still did not change the fact that Vienna was the capital of Shinra. Relocating the capital was out of the question. In fact, after the unification of Shinra, there had been discussions and even major debates about relocating the capital, but unfortunately, when compared to its flaws, other cities in Shinra had even greater defects. A city that was superior in all aspects only existed in dreams. After comprehensively considering history, politics, culture, economics, strategy, and other factors, Vienna was still the most suitable choice for the capital of Shinra. Since there was no better option, Franz naturally wouldn't engage in unnecessary disruptions. In fact, even if there had been a better option, Franz would still not have left his old nest. The Habsburg dynasty had been established here for hundreds of years and had a very deep popular foundation, which other cities could not compare with. As for the winter, if it was colder, then so be it. Happiness was all relative, after all. Compared with the Russian Empire and the Nordic Federation, every winter in Vienna was mild. If worse came to worst, he would just spend the next winter elsewhere. After all, his son was already grown up, and as an Emperor who was semi-retired, he had the privilege to roam around. ... Frederick: "Father, the Tsarist Government's delegation has left St. Petersburg. It looks like the Russians intend to give up on sending troops in retribution." One had to admit, the Russians were forthright this day in age. Anyone slightly familiar with them could deduce their decisions from their actions. It wasn't guaranteed to be 100 percent accurate but guessing right eight or nine times out of ten was no problem. If it were the British, it would be completely unpredictable. They could be engaging in amiable conversation while simultaneously sending troops to attack. Looking at his son beneath the falling snowflakes, Franz nodded, "They're probably waiting for the Siberian Railway to be operational. Without a railway, deploying troops to the Far East is almost impossible. However, the Russian's plan this time is likely to fail. Just because they are willing to wait doesn't mean the Japanese are. This embassy incident has pushed both Russia and Japan to the edge of a precipice. It's a showdown between the brave on a narrow path, and war is inevitable. Looking at the current situation, neither Russia nor Japan is ready for warfare, so they probably won't be able to start a war in the short term. What follows will depend on who can prepare faster. Whoever completes their war preparations first will have a significant advantage in the upcoming war." To be frank, Franz was quite surprised by the restraint shown by the Tsarist Government. Since when could Nicholas II hold his temper like this? According to the usual practice of the Tsarist Government, when such an incident occurred, they would fight first without considering the consequences. It wasn't just the Tsarist Government; most of the great powers would consider—going to war, or how to engage in battle first when faced with such situations. Shinra was no exception. Had the victims of the massacre been their own diplomats, Franz would have been unable to refrain from launching a war for retribution. Of course, the prerequisite was that they could win the battle. If faced with an opponent that was too tough, it was still necessary to admit weakness when it was time. Frederick asked incredulously, "The Japanese dare to provoke a war on their own? That's impossible, right? This incident was their fault to begin with. If they initiate a war and then lose, the Russians would be able to colonize Japan as a matter of course. Given the huge gap in strength between Japan and Russia, even if the Japanese Government could gain an advantage in the short term, they would still end up defeated once the Siberian Railway was completed and Russian reinforcements arrived." It was not only his thought, but few people in all of Europe believed that Japan had the courage to provoke a war. "Why wouldn't they dare?" Franz asked in return. "We are at this point now, and everyone knows that a war between Japan and Russia will break out sooner or later. What does the Japanese Government have to fear? Acting before the completion of the Siberian Railway, they still have some hope of victory, the later it gets, the slimmer their chances. Moreover, the British are cheering them on from behind. Hasn't the British Government been preparing for so long just to exhaust the strength of the Russians in the Far East and alleviate the military pressure on India? As long as the Japanese Government reacts quickly, they can seize the Far Eastern region before the Siberian Railway is completed. Then, it will be the British Government providing the funds and the Japanese Government providing the manpower, using time, space, and exhaustion to slowly wear down the Russians. Japan has no shortage of people, and their military combat strength is passable. As long as the British support keeps up, they can hold on for ten or even eight years without an issue. No matter the final outcome, the Russians will be severely weakened. And the Russian-Austrian Alliance will also encounter problems because of this." It was not that Franz was pessimistic; it was just that cracks had already appeared in the Russian-Austrian Alliance. It was only because of the vigorous efforts of the Vienna Government that the alliance had lasted until now. Outsiders might not see much, but as a party involved, Franz was very aware that the contradictions between Russia and Austria were accumulating rapidly. Not only were there imbalances in political power between the two countries—along with the Tsarist Government's increasing sense of crisis—but also the intensification of economic and trade frictions. As beneficiaries of the Russian-Austrian Alliance, the old nobility of the Russian Empire earned money through agriculture and mining and perhaps did not have too many thoughts. However, Russia's emerging national bourgeoisie and intellectuals were very dissatisfied with the current situation. In the eyes of these "enlightened minds," if they did not break the current positioning of raw material production and commodity market destinations, the Russian Empire would sooner or later become an economic colony. To change all this, it was necessary first to break the economic dependence on Shinra, including withdrawing from the free trade system and implementing tariff barriers. If possible, it would be best to erase debt as well, to avoid the burden of heavy repayments hindering the modernization of the Russian Empire. Although this group of people did not have a high say in the Tsarist Government, it is always easier to wreak havoc than to accomplish things. As for the consequences of such actions, Franz did not think that a bunch of idealistic teenagers would be afraid, nor did he think that a group of profit-driven capitalists would care. In fact, the situation is far worse than that. Inside Shinra, the voices opposing the Russian-Austrian Alliance are also increasing day by day. The military nobility and farms dependent on the agricultural industry chain were equally discontented with the large imports of Russian agricultural products. In the past, the Russian Empire was powerful enough, and the empire had to deal with France to the west; they needed this ally. For the greater good, everyone could barely accept it. With the resolution of the European wars, the Holy Roman Empire soared strategically, significantly reducing its need for the Russian Empire. Against this backdrop, everyone is naturally not keen on economic policies that favor the Russian Empire economically. The Russian-Austrian Alliance has endured to this day, and the economic care policies of the Vienna Government are inseparable from it. The foreign exchange income from the export of grain and ore accounts for 94.6% of all foreign exchange income of the Russian Empire, with the majority of these raw materials headed to Shinra. Once this income was cut off, the Tsarist Government's bankruptcy was only a matter of time, with no room to struggle. Naturally, the alliance could not be maintained. These people were not without a voice; if it weren't for Franz using the struggle for world hegemony to keep them hooked, it's likely that there would have been chaos already. According to the current situation, once Britannia declines, the Russian-Austrian Alliance is also about approaching its end. Ultimately, it's all because of interests. The existence of the Russian-Austrian Alliance harms their interests, so naturally, they'd find a way to kick it aside. Being able to endure for the Empire's interests for a few years, that in itself was already quite a broad view of the big picture. Beyond that, even God couldn't stop what was to come. Of course, by the time it got to that step, the mission of the Russian-Austrian Alliance would also have been completed, and indeed it'd be time to kick it aside. Clearly, this is just the ideal state. The Russians are not fools; the Tsarist Government has long been aware of the danger, or else Nicholas II wouldn't be trying to shake off dependency on Shinra. Since it's destined to be abandoned in the future, the Tsarist Government is naturally also making preparations. For example, the strategies of advancing to the south and east are the Russian responses. To sum it up in one sentence: keep your pockets full. A Russian Empire with full pockets fears nothing, and even if it can't bother Shinra, self-preservation is guaranteed. The British are now calculating to heighten the crisis awareness of the Tsarist Government, to force the Russians to jump ship and join them. This is not impossible to happen. Although Britannia's market cannot compare with Shinra, it's still hopeful that they could consume half of Russia's grain and ore exports. Lend another sum to the Tsarist Government, and they could get through the short-term shock. As for the aftermath, the British Government probably wouldn't worry too much. As if sinking into thought, Frederick said coldly after a while, "Once the British fall, the Russians will be our greatest competitors. After all, the Russian-Austrian Alliance has lasted so many years; without sufficient reason, it would be difficult for us to act against them. If the Tsarist Government insists on maintaining the alliance, we wouldn't even be able to suppress them openly. For the sake of the Empire's reputation, we can only let the Russians decline ahead of schedule. Anyway, in the upcoming struggle for hegemony, we don't need them anymore." "Ruthless," not just "mature." In Franz's view, Frederick's decision to do this is a sign of maturity. To be a monarch who isn't ruthless is to be unstable. The Russian-Austrian Alliance has continued for so many years. Although there were opponents within both nations, the friendship among the people was truly profound. Not to mention the countless intermarriages, during past cultural exchanges and trade, nobility from the upper echelons of society to common citizens between Russia and Austria created many marital bonds. If they were to attack an ally without good reason, they wouldn't get past the domestic public opinion, let alone international reputation damage. If it's not convenient to take action ourselves, then we can only kill by borrowing another's hand. The British want to pull the Russians to their side, on the premise that the Russian Empire still retains certain strength. If the Russians are ruined, even if they are pulled over, it would be futile. "The Siberian Railway is not yet operational, and the Russians' strength to invest in the Far East is limited, so even in defeat, their losses would be limited. Once the railway is operational and the Russians can go all out, the Japanese would be seriously deficient in strength. Even with British support, they can't make up for the gap between the two nations' powers. After all, we are still allies with the Russians; the necessary support should not be lacking. At the very least, loans should be issued, weapons and strategic materials sold." The premise of killing by borrowing another's knife is that the knife is sharp enough, and clearly Japan isn't quite there yet. It might be possible to severely wound the Russians, but thinking about crippling the Russian Empire is delusional.