Holy Roman Empire

London, the emergence of the Anti-Turkish Alliance directly bankrupted all previous plans of the British Government.

At this time, Prime Minister Gladstone was no longer worried about rescuing the Ottomans but rather how to ensure the security of India.

"How is the situation in France?"

Foreign Minister George shook his head, "It’s extremely bad. This Empire is practically made of paper, unable to withstand the slightest wind.

Bourgeois Revolutionary Party, Republicans, Social Revolutionary Party, Orleans Restoration Organization, Bourbon Dynasty Restoration Organization, Italian Independent Organization..."

A country with so many anti-government forces is unimaginable; it’s a wonder how the Bonaparte Dynasty has held on."

Looking at the disconcerted British Foreign Minister, one would hardly imagine that these haphazard organizations had all received funding from the British Government at some point.

After relentless efforts, these investments finally began to take effect, but unfortunately, it was at the wrong time, and everything backfired.

There’s no one to blame; everyone does the same. The London Government supported French anti-government organizations, and the Paris Government likewise supported anti-British groups.

Gladstone nodded gravely, "The French have indeed become more active. The Pandora’s box Napoleon himself opened has finally come back to wreak havoc on his Empire."

After speaking, Gladstone realized something was amiss, as it seemed that Britannia was also lifting a stone only to drop it on its own foot.

Without their generous contributions, the French Revolutionary Party wouldn’t have grown so strong, nor would there be the current civil war in France.

If a civil war hadn’t erupted in France, Austria would not dare to rashly wage war without being able to ensure security on its western front.

Thinking of this, Gladstone revealed a trace of bitterness, "It seems we, along with the French, have been fooled by the Austrians, led by the nose to the present situation."

Foreign Minister George waved his hand dismissively, "Prime Minister, you’re being too pessimistic. The situation evolving to this point is entirely coincidental.

Although the Austrians might have had a hand in this, they could never have foreseen France being so fragile."

From a profit standpoint, Austria became the biggest beneficiary. Though Britannia seemed to have become passive, their gains were by no means low.

Whether it was short-selling the Franc earlier; or engaging in product dumping, suppressing competitors; or seizing the interests of the French overseas, Britannia emerged victorious.

Their only miscalculation was underestimating the internal conflicts within France.

The internal conflicts of France were caused by multiple factors, with the Anglo-Austrian invasion of France’s financial system and their product dumping acting merely as catalysts.

In the early days of the Industrial Revolution, France rapidly completed its industrialization relying on substantial capital.

As industrialization progressed, the shortage of raw materials became increasingly severe. To ensure smooth industrial production, the French had no choice but to import aggressively.

Impacted by the "import" of raw materials, industrial production costs in France remained high. When they played by themselves behind closed doors, it wasn’t a big deal, but after joining the free trade system, the situation became dire.

Capitalists, in their bid to dominate the market competition, sought ways to reduce industrial production costs, including intensifying the exploitation of the working class.

Where there is oppression, there is resistance. The cruel exploitation by capitalists directly led to the outbreak of the French labor movement.

Beyond internal factors, the annexation of the Italian territories also played a significant role in exacerbating conflicts.

After the merger, the market for goods within Great France increased significantly, but so did the demand for industrial raw materials and greater employment pressures.

Due to the disparity in economic development levels, labor costs in the Italian Area were much lower, leading to a large influx of Italians coming to mainland France for work.

The abundance of labor, while promoting the development of French industry and commerce, also provided capitalists with the audacity to relentlessly exploit the working class.

During the era of Napoleon III, the French industrial scale was limited, and the demand for raw materials was not very high; French industry and commerce did not need to bear higher production costs, and the economy was naturally very good.

In the period of Napoleon IV, the total French industrial output had grown significantly, industrial costs had substantially risen, and corporate profits began to decline.

Especially after joining the free trade system, market competition became more brutal, and labor-capital conflicts grew increasingly intense.

Crisis loomed, mainly limited to the lower classes. Capital controlled the media, the labor-capital crisis was downplayed or misconstrued, and the crisis was hidden in a blind spot invisible to the rulers.

Before the revolution broke out, France’s economy seemed very prosperous, and naturally, the London Government did not realize that the Empire was hollow inside.

The facade of strength, ingrained notions, geopolitics, and the French government’s assertiveness led the London Government to conclude that this was: the greatest threat.

Indeed, the greatest threat had to be suppressed with the utmost severity.

Austria also saw France as the greatest threat. Unfortunately, France, situated in the middle, suffered the combined oppression of the world’s two most powerful nations.

After a series of blows, its mighty image was deflated. Intensified internal conflicts led to the complete loss of control of the situation in France.

This was the collective responsibility of past governments. Gladstone promptly shifted the sensitive topic, "What’s done is done, there’s no point in dwelling on it.

"The key issue now is to figure out a way to help Napoleon IV stabilize the situation and recover his strength, alleviating the pressure we’re about to face,"

Finance Minister George Childs analyzed, "To stabilize the situation in France, we must first stabilize the French economy.

This is very difficult. Our domestic economic situation is also very bad, and the government can’t prevent capitalists from dumping products."

The French bourgeoisie was terrified by the Paris Revolution, and Napoleon IV has already gained the support of domestic financial groups; he isn’t short of money right now."

The French economic crisis was ravaged to a large extent by the transfer of excess production capacity by Anglo-Austrian interests, and the most effective way to recover the economy in the short term is to protect the market."

However, this goes against the free trade agreements and is part of the core interests of the Anglo-Austrian two countries. The London Government does not have the spirit of sacrificing its own interests for others and would not allow such a thing to happen."

If France were to unilaterally break the agreement without being punished, other countries facing problems would follow suit, and the free trade system that the British Government built through the effort of hundreds of thousands of years would crumble."

Napoleon IV has not announced his withdrawal from the free trade system because he fears provoking the Anglo-Austrian two countries and losing international support."

Gladstone fell into deep thought. It was a dilemma. If the London Government was willing to ease up, the French would definitely adopt trade barriers."

The consequence would be an intensification of the domestic economic crisis and an even more turbulent situation, leaving the interest-hurt bourgeoisie no choice but to overthrow him."

After hesitating for a moment, Gladstone made a decision from the heart; he was the British Prime Minister and needed to be responsible for the British public."

"Increase diplomatic support and leverage our influence to persuade more people to support Napoleon IV.

If possible, stabilize the Orleans Dynasty and the Bourbon Dynasty first. As long as they do not intervene, the French Army will not be in disorder, and this rebellion can be quickly quelled."

There was no way around it. Although Napoleon III had sought to purge military forces loyal to the former dynasty upon coming to power, the influence of such forces simply could not be completely eradicated."

The Paris Revolution had not been suppressed, mainly because some in the French Army were dragging their feet, with many troops hardly exerting any effort on the battlefield."

George nodded, "The Foreign Office has already made contact with the Orleans and Bourbon Dynasties, and the current situation is not what they want to see either.

We are planning to arrange a meeting of representatives from the three royal families in the near future to reconcile the differences among all parties as much as possible."

The situation in France is very grim now. Both the Orleans and Bourbon Dynasties are at a disadvantage in this reshuffling, and even if the Bonaparte Dynasty falls, it will not be their turn to restore their rule."

If there were several royal families in an Eastern country, they would likely have killed each other without any possibility of compromise."

However, the situation in Europe is special, and the situation in France is even more so, with the three major dynasties representing the interests of three waves of nobility, essentially backed by interest groups."

The Orleans Dynasty didn’t kill all the nobles loyal to the Bonaparte Dynasty, and Napoleon III did not go on a slaughter against the nobles loyal to the Orleans when he came to power."

Under the tradition of not killing nobles lightly, so-called purges amounted to nothing more than forcing political losers to go home."

Once at home, a significant portion of these losers remained very wealthy and still had considerable power locally."

No one wants to be marginalized, and these discontented individuals are the sponsors of restoration efforts, while those who carry out the restoration actions are the nobles who have fallen from grace due to losing in power struggles."

Their desire to return to the center of power and revive family glory makes restoration the best option."

With financial backers in place, and willing combatants available, this is why the restoration force of the French royal family remains strong."

Once dethroned, the royal families only have influence and lack the power to command armies."

Aside from Napoleon III, an anomaly of the Bonaparte Dynasty, the other two dynasties have not been proactive in their restoration efforts."

Reconciling differences is essentially a redistribution of interests. As long as the interest groups behind the scenes reach a compromise, the restoration efforts can be postponed."

...

The actions of the British did not affect the Anti-Turkish Alliance’s actions. Under the leadership of the Vienna Government, Austria, Russia, Montenegro, and Greece held an Anti-Ottoman conference in Vienna.

After brief contact, the representatives of the four countries unanimously agreed: only by overthrowing the barbaric, brutal Ottoman Government could they help the Ottomans enter civilized society.

On May 16, 1882, representatives in Vienna formally concluded an alliance with the core objective of overthrowing the Ottoman Government and the task of destroying the Ottoman Empire."

The day after the signing of the alliance, the Vienna Government, on the grounds that the Ottomans refused to hand over the murderers, formally declared war on the Ottoman Empire."

In the following week, Greece, Montenegro, and the Russian Empire declared war on the Ottoman Empire for their respective reasons, and the third Near East war broke out in full scale."

Having several allies had its pros and cons. The most direct impact was that Austria’s battle plans changed."

The war came too suddenly; Russia, Montenegro, and Greece were not prepared for it. Although Austria could supply materials, there had to be time for the armies to assemble."

To avoid the awkward situation of Austrian troops fighting hard at the front while allies cheer from the rear, Franz decisively ordered the military to delay the offensive."

A bizarre scene unfolded; the Near East war had broken out, but only the Austrian Navy was in action.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om