Austria-Hungary, Vienna, Royal Palace.
The entire palace and even the entire Viena were already in a bleak state.
The Western Front of the Russian Imperial Army had turned around and was once again approaching Viena. It would not be long before the army of the Russian Empire would arrive at the city of Viena.
And the existing army of Austria-Hungary could no longer withstand the attack of the Russian Empire.
It was clear to almost everyone that Austria-Hungary had lost the war, that it had already lost badly.
Emperor Franz Joseph I, pale, applied to sit in his place withered. His life has come to the last moment. Looking at that, there is not much time left to live.
Originally, he should have been lying on the bed and spending his last bit of time quietly. However, the current unfavorable situation forced him to drag his sick body and recong the high-level officials of the Austro-Hungarian Empire to discuss countermeasures and the next direction of the entire empire.
“Your Majesty, we have already lost a lot on the battlefield. Archduke Friedrich and General Potiocre, respectively, led their armies to surrender to the Russians. This is equivalent to the fact that our last main forces have already surrendered to the Russians. We don’t have many troops now. The entire area around Vienna, although there are still more than a million people left. However, the morale of these troops is extremely low, the equipment is rudimentary, and the will to fight can be described as very weak. Almost no one wants to fight any further. The Chief of the General Staff of the Austrian Army, Marshal Baron Herzendorf, said.
“Your Majesty, the Hungarians have surrendered to the Russians. We even suspect that they have begun to engage with the Russians, wanting to renege on the original covenant, on Austria-Hungary. Prime Minister Mario Webb reminded.
The face of Emperor Franz Joseph I suddenly became even more ugly.
Obviously, the current Austro-Hungarian Empire has been driven to the point of exhaustion.
Even he himself never thought that such a situation would occur. Or did not think at all that Austria-Hungary would be forced into this field!
Austria-Hungary was almost on the verge of extinction.
“So, what do you have for the current situation? How can we save our country? Franz Joseph I asked.
Although, he himself already knew very well that he was afraid that his life would not be long in coming. However, he still did not want the Austro-Hungarian Empire to be destroyed after his death. If he could, he certainly hoped that Austria-Hungary would continue to exist.
“Your Majesty, we have completely lost this battle and can no longer fight. We cannot defeat the Russians. Even our allies of the Germanic Empire are insecure for themselves this time. Therefore, those generals and soldiers on the front line chose to surrender to the Russians. In this way, at least their lives can be saved! The Minister of War, Duke Kasbah, said.
“Your Majesty, the war of more than two years has exhausted our treasury. Moreover, our various resources are almost consumed. Even if the troops at the front do not surrender to the Russians this time, I am afraid that we will not hold out for much time! The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Duke Andras, reminded.
War is not just about fighting armies. In fact, there are various other aspects.
Now the Austro-Hungarian Empire has almost reached the point of running out of oil. So, it is understandable that they were defeated and the army surrendered to the Russians.
Franz Joseph I nodded, and he was equally aware of it.
It can be said that now there are regrets. Why get involved in this war? (Read violent novels, just go to Feilu Fiction Network!) ）
Although, nominally, the trigger for this war was the assassination of the former Crown Prince of Austria-Hungary, Archduke Ferdinand, in Sarajevo. But if he had stopped Archduke Ferdinand after learning of this dangerous move. Perhaps there will not be such a tragedy. Maybe the war wouldn’t have broken out so quickly.
But now, there is no point in talking about this anymore. The war has begun. Most crucially, Austria-Hungary would lose the war. Or rather, they have already lost this war.
Archduke Karl, Crown Prince of Austria-Hungary, did not say a word, in fact, although he was very aggrieved in his heart. However, he didn’t know what to do. He hated the incompetence of the army, and even more hated the surrender of the army to the Russians, it was simply too honorless, and there was no military integrity.
“So, if we ask the Russians for peace, can we get the Russians to let us go? Grand Duchess Elizabeth Mary, the queen of the Russian Empire, we can send her a letter and ask her to help us talk! “Franz Joseph I seems to have finally remembered that his granddaughter was also the empress of the Russian Empire. Tsar Mikhail was even his grandson-in-law a farmer.
“‘Your Majesty, this may be a solution, but I am afraid it will not have any effect. According to the confidence we have received, the Tsarist couple is very loving. However, Her Majesty the Empress of the Russian Empire never interfered in the state affairs of the Russian Empire and would not have raised her own opinion at all. In addition, Her Majesty is probably very dissatisfied with Your Majesty. At this time, we asked her for help, and I am afraid that nothing will come of it. Foreign Secretary Baron Belchdolde said.
“Your Majesty did this entirely for our country. Grand Duchess Elizabeth Mary, she is married, but she still thinks of inheriting the throne of the empire. If she really gets her way. Well, won’t our country be annexed by the Russians in the future? Archduke Karl looked angry.
He was the crown prince of Austria-Hungary! Seeing that Emperor Franz Joseph I was about to hang, he would soon become emperor.
If at this time the Empress of Tsarist Russia had been turned to the Empress, in case the Tsarist Empire demanded that the throne of Austria-Hungary be inherited by Empress Elizabeth Mary, wouldn’t his hopes have been disappointed again? This is undoubtedly absolutely unacceptable to Grand Duke Karl.
Emperor Franz Joseph I, as well as other high-ranking Austro-Hungarian officials, could not help but frown.
Austria-Hungary has reached such a point that it is a question of whether it can continue to continue. But Grand Duke Karl still only thinks about his own interests, which undoubtedly disappoints them too much.
“In any case, this war cannot continue. If we continue to fight, we are not opponents of the Russians. It will even be destroyed by the Russians and annexed by the Russians. Make peace with the Russians and negotiate with the Russians! “Emperor Franz Joseph I has already made up his mind.
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