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

Chapter 1328 The Fourth Vienna Peace Conference
Stopping a war with a meal is definitely something to be commended.

But this was too terrifying in the eyes of the British and French. The Austrian Empire's conquest of Spain seemed to be a foregone conclusion. It was not just a simple conquest by force, but even the basic organizational structure of the government had been set up.

If they attack Spain now, they will be put on the defensive and end up stuck in the mud.

Few generals in Britain or France felt they could conquer all of Spain as quickly as the Austrians.

And now there are not only Spaniards in Spain, but also Austrians.

Is there really any point in continuing to attack Spain? Instead of attacking Spain, it is better to attack Austria itself.

But this only exists in the minds of a few radicals. After all, this idea is too crazy.

Attacking the Austrian Empire was like declaring war on the entire Holy Alliance. You must know that Franz was fighting under the banner of the Holy Alliance at that time.

The armies of the Holy Alliance in Spain were just a formality, and Austria turned a blind eye to it, but if the Austrian Empire's homeland was attacked, it would probably be a different scene.

How to attack the Austrian Empire is another problem.
Whitehall, London.

John Russell slowly put down the intelligence in his hand and rubbed his sore eyes. He hadn't slept for a week as he was given the task in a critical situation.

John Russell reviewed all the action logs and intelligence during the Earl of Derby's time, but everything indicated that things were moving in a more unfavorable direction.

The sudden escape of Queen Regent Christina and the intervention of the Americans were all caught by the British side.

"Can we bring her back if we send out warships now? Even if she has no power in Spain, we can't let her fall into the hands of the Americans."

"Prime Minister, I'm afraid there's nothing we can do. It's almost impossible to intercept a ship that's deliberately avoiding us in the vast ocean."

Admiral Francis Belling said that there was actually something he didn't say, which was that the Prime Minister lacked naval common sense. The other party had been running for several days, and he only remembered to chase them now. How could he possibly catch up?
Moreover, the other party is the United States, not an ordinary small country, so it is almost impossible to go ashore and arrest them.

"Ugh"

John Russell let out a long sigh and then said.

"Do the Portuguese still reject our proposal?"

"Well, the attitude is very firm."

Foreign Secretary Earl Grey said helplessly.

"Because the Emperor of Austria and the pretender to the throne of Portugal had a meal together?"

"That's right. Now Fernando II is like a frightened rabbit. He just hopes that the other party can't see him."

Francis Bellingham, the Secretary of the Navy, interjected.

"What a useless fellow! Didn't you tell him that the Austrians had already made this plan and that it would be useless for him to hide?"

British diplomats must have said something similar. Foreign Secretary Earl Grey said somewhat dissatisfiedly: "Prime Minister, my people have tried their best. No one can convince a rabbit to challenge a lion."

"In fact, there are many rabbits who dare to challenge lions, but Fernando II is obviously not one of them. He is just a coward."

Admiral Francis Behring commented. John Russell closed his eyes and sighed again. He knew that persuading Portugal to send troops to Spain was a low probability event, but he really had no other choice now.

The root of it all was that the Austrian Empire conquered Spain at a speed far beyond the imagination of anyone in the British government.

Everyone thought that it would take at least half a year for the Austrian Empire to occupy the major cities in Spain. After all, Napoleon, who was at the peak of his power at the time, also took nearly a year.

The idea of ​​conquering Spain was even more unrealistic. The French spent six years and exhausted all their elite troops but still failed to conquer Spain.

奥地利帝国从1849年6月17日到此时1849年10月12日，仅用时117天便完成了对西班牙全境的占领，并且消灭了已知全部抵抗势力。

All this happened so quickly that the British couldn't believe it; they didn't even have time to declare war.

John Russell cleared his throat and spoke seriously.

"Gentlemen, we must make a difficult decision here - stop interfering in Spanish affairs."

When John Russell said this, everyone was shocked, because no one knew that the Prime Minister would say this before. Everyone came to Whitehall as a routine and prepared to continue to be at a loss until dawn.

"Prime Minister, did I hear you correctly? You want to give up Spain?
If the Austrian Empire reunites with Spain, we will be forced to be involved in the European war again, and we will have to deploy a large number of troops near the Strait to prevent the Austrians from launching a surprise attack.

Foreign Secretary Lord Grey went on to give reasons that everyone had heard countless times.
"Lord Grey, we are saving England from the quagmire of Spain.

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There are countless more important things waiting for us at this time. The Russians are heading towards the Ottoman Empire. If they break out of the Black Sea, they will be a million times more terrifying than the Austrians!
The Ottoman Empire, Egypt, Persia, Afghanistan, India, the Far East, Africa, and even North America would all be exposed to the Russian threat.”

John Russell said this as if he had used up all his strength.

"Yes! But our economy will kill us before the Austrians and Russians!"

Charles Wood, the chancellor of the exchequer, said he did not understand why no one cared about domestic problems, the Irish, the Indians, the social elites of the City of London, the Chartists everywhere.
If the war continues, these people will sooner or later hollow out Britain.

"Sir, we are discussing the Spanish issue. Please be patient."

In fact, everyone else in the cabinet was aware of this, and even knew that the bankers in the City of London were planning to hold an anti-war march.

But stopping the war with the Austrian Empire was the biggest concession the government could make. The war with the Russians concerned the interests and security of the British Empire in the Middle East, and the cabinet could not make concessions.

Foreign Secretary Earl Grey stood up and said.

"Mr. Prime Minister, you are right. The Russian threat is great. But you haven't said what we should do if the Austrians unite with Spain and directly threaten our homeland?"

"The Austrians will not unite Spain."

John Russell said helplessly.

"How do you know it won't?"

Lord Grey asked rhetorically.

John Russell produced a letter and handed it to Earl Grey.

"Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I has issued a notice to all European countries that the new round of Vienna Peace Conference will discuss the issue of succession to the Spanish throne."