The War Court and Lap Pillow, Austria's Mandate of Heaven

Chapter 1308 The Tsar's Expedition
In a beer hall in Frankfurt, two bearded men sat opposite each other. They were covered in dust, but seemed extremely excited.

Before sitting down, the two of them carefully checked the inside and outside of the store to make sure that they were not being followed.

“This world is becoming increasingly incomprehensible.”

“I think it’s much easier to understand now than before, it’s just that everything is running under certain rules.

Many people were driven crazy by this rule, including His Majesty William IV. Did he really think that others would be defenseless? "

"Why do you think this is all a conspiracy?"

"Because I smell a conspiracy."

"Perhaps, but I think His Majesty William IV will have even more headaches from now on."

"Don't make sarcastic remarks. The decline of Prussia is not good for anyone, especially for someone like you who claims to bring freedom and democracy to the world."

"Well, the freedom and democracy I pursue are different from those guys."

"Humph, in my eyes, there is no difference. It's just a bunch of cheap tricks played by children. I tell you, might is the only truth in this world."

"Then why are you running away?"

"Isn't it the same for you?"

They both raised their glasses at the same time.

"Different road non-phase plan!"

Russia, St. Petersburg.

It was rare for Nicholas I to be so happy. France and Austria were fighting in Spain, and the British were also wavering. The only drawback was that Austria did not launch a full-scale attack on France from land.

It is impossible that no one has thought of such a thing. In fact, those small countries have already thought of this possibility. The French government does not want to start a full-scale war, and is even more unwilling to bear the stigma of tearing up the armistice agreement.

So the two sides set the battlefield in Spain and agreed not to expand the war to the whole of Europe.

The French entered the war to help their allies, and alliance obligations took precedence over the armistice agreement, but there was no mention that the alliance between France and Spain came later than the armistice agreement between France and the Austrian Empire.

But the Austrian Imperial Propaganda Department was thinking about the French.

The debate on the battlefield of public opinion was very fierce, but Nicholas I did not care. He felt that he should do something for his son-in-law, the Holy Alliance, and the great Eastern Roman Empire.

So Nicholas I searched through the intelligence on his desk, and finally he found decisive evidence that the Ottoman Empire was planning to launch a surprise attack on the Austrian Empire.

"Gentlemen! Loyal soldiers of the Russian Empire! The evil Ottoman Turks are trying to attack our allies. We must not sit idly by and watch this evil!
We must declare war on the Ottoman Empire!"

Tearing up the armistice agreement is not a big deal in Russia, which is consistent with people's stereotype of Russia.

The so-called evidence of the Russians was actually a troop movement of the Ottoman Empire, which was just to recall the troops from the front line and replace them with new troops.

However, after this troop mobilization, the Ottoman Empire increased its newly transferred troops by 53 people. The Russian side believed that the former could accumulate into a large force to attack the Austrian Empire.

So Russia decided to take the initiative and launched the tenth Russo-Turkish War. Although Russia was in a very passive situation at this time, it was unknown when the endless rebellions would end.

However, there was no better opportunity to attack the Ottoman Empire than now. The great powers were fighting in Spain, and the Ottoman Empire was isolated this time. Nicholas I was not an idiot, and he would certainly seize this golden opportunity. Not everyone in Russia was optimistic about this war. Russia did not know about the conflict between the Austrian Imperial Navy and the British Navy in the Strait of Gibraltar.

At this time, Russia viewed that although Britain, France and Austria had fought in Spain, only Austria and France were involved in the bloody battle, and Britain did not actually enter the battlefield.

What worries people most are Russia's internal problems. The Poles are resisting fiercely, the Chechens are hard to find, and the Cossacks in southern Russia are even more capricious.

What was even worse was the timing, as it was already August. With Russia’s mobilization efficiency, it would take at least one to two months to assemble a force that could pose a threat to the Ottoman Empire.

It will take at least a month to send these troops to the front line.

At that time, the temperature in Russia will drop sharply in October and November and it will enter winter, and it will be very difficult to maintain supplies at that time.

The most important thing for a large army to go on an expedition is logistics. The smaller the army, the more efficient it will be in obtaining food from the enemy. Conversely, the larger the army, the less practical this strategy will be.

Therefore, the tsars of all dynasties would choose to go to war in spring and summer rather than in autumn. Another reason for not going to war in autumn was that Russia was an agricultural country with a very low degree of mechanization, which required a large amount of manpower for harvesting.

But throughout 1849, Russia was in turmoil and had lost the entire Polish granary. In order to maintain the war, a large amount of grain was sold in exchange for necessary war materials. At this time, Russia's grain reserves were running low.

In the eyes of most Russian officials, it was not wise to go to war with the Ottoman Empire at this time and they should wait until next year.

This time it was not the British who were responsible, but the conclusions drawn by the Russians based on their own experience.

However, Nicholas I didn't care about that. His desire for Constantinople was extremely strong.

"You cowards! The weather, the Poles, the Chechens, the Cossacks, the Ottoman Turks scare you!

I tell you! You are afraid, but I am not! When the Decembrists forced the emperor to abdicate, the muzzle of the gun was less than 400 meters away from my chest!
If I were not the Tsar chosen by God, I would have died long ago!
You cowards stay in St. Petersburg! I will lead the army in person! From now on, Constantinople is the capital of Russia!"

"Your Majesty, no"

Nicholas I angrily kicked to the ground the minister who blocked his way and failed to retreat, then strode out of the magnificent Peter and Paul Palace.

Nicholas I didn't want to listen to these people's nonsense, and he never wanted to follow other people's advice.

"Tell your mother I love her forever. Send your sister to Vienna and tell her I am sorry I cannot be at her wedding. If I do not come back, you shall be crowned in St. Petersburg.

The suicide note is under my pillow."

Nicholas I rarely yelled at Alexander. He just patted him on the shoulder and continued walking forward.

Looking at the Tsar's departing back, some people gritted their teeth secretly.

"It would be best if such a self-willed emperor died outside!"

Some people feel like the sky is falling.

"Now the internal troubles have not stopped, the Tsar wants to start a war and even lead the army himself.

It’s crazy!”

Some people chose to follow silently. In their eyes, Nicholas I might not be the best emperor, but he was someone worth following.