Holy Roman Empire - Chapter 171

Chapter 171: Chapter 58, Countdown

Translator: 549690339

Istanbul

Ever since the negotiations had begun, Abdulmejid I’s mood had never improved, having just been threatened by the Russians, and now it was the Austrian representative’s turn to enter the fray.

Metstetz was a pure diplomat, not as aggressive as Menshikov, and Austria’s demands were not as excessive as those of the Russians, so there was still room for discussion.

Abdulmejid I declared firmly, “Mr. Metstetz, your country’s demands are too excessive. The Moldavian Principality and the Wallachia Principality are sacred and indivisible parts of the Ottoman Empire and absolutely cannot be ceded!”

(Note: The Wallachia Principality is in today’s southern region of Romania; the Moldavian Principality is in today’s northern Romania, Moldova, and parts of Ukraine.)

However, as he said this, his confidence was somewhat lacking, for they were being targeted by both Russia and Austria at the same time.

When facing just one of them, with the support of England and France, they could afford to be firm. But against both, not even Abdulmejid I could stand firm, let alone expect England and France to do so with confidence.

It thus became urgent to divide Russia and Austria. Otherwise, once war broke out, the Ottoman Empire would be nearly finished.

Metstetz calmly explained, “Your Majesty, these two small principalities are not the hereditary territories of your country, but mere vassal states. Why can’t they be transferred?

From the current situation, your country simply does not have the capability to retain these two principalities. If sold to the Austrian Empire, you could even reduce the defense line bordering Russia.”

Pride was not exclusive to the Qing; the Ottoman Empire too was not far behind. “Transfer,” “sell,” these were terms Metstetz used to care for Abdulmejid I’s pride in the best way possible.

Influenced by European culture, selling land was not a big issue. It was more acceptable than straightforward cession.

If Austria truly wished to buy these two principalities, Abdulmejid I wouldn’t mind selling them, as they wouldn’t be defensible in the event of a war anyway.

Although these two principalities featured flat terrain and fertile land suitable for agriculture, due to their proximity to Russia and Austria, they had been scarcely developed by the Ottomans, and so parting with them was not a painful prospect.

“How much is your country willing to pay?” Abdulmejid I asked, with hope.

After all, it was better to have something to negotiate than nothing, even if it was just to buy time. Abdulmejid I intended to haggle with Austria.

Metstetz spoke forcefully, “Your Majesty, the Austrian Government is willing to offer 100 million shields!”

This offer had much sincerity, considering undeveloped land was not valued highly at the time.

Before Abdulmejid I could respond, Metstetz added another condition, “However, currently the Austrian Government has fiscal difficulties and cannot pay such a sum all at once; we plan to pay it off within a hundred years.”

Paying off within a hundred years, wasn’t that preposterous? Not to mention inflation, with the power of both sides, did the Ottoman Empire have the ability to collect the money?

Anyone with a bit of sense knew that although Metstetz spoke of buying, he had no real plans to pay.

Paying over a century was, in fact, just an empty check, and as long as the century hadn’t passed, Austria could not be accused of breaking the agreement.

In such a long time, any conflict or war between the two nations could result in not a penny being paid.

Even if the money was received after a hundred years, it would be of little use. A billion might buy this area of over two hundred thousand square kilometers now, but whether it could buy even twenty square kilometers a century later was questionable.

It was too much to bully someone like this. If one were to give in after being threatened, it would be tantamount to telling the whole world that the Ottoman Empire was in decline, and those who wanted a share of the inheritance were welcome to hurry.

Abdulmejid I questioned, “Mr. Metstetz, are you not jesting? There’s no such farcical business in the entire world!”

Metstetz smiled without speaking, for the Austrian Government had no intention of actually spending money to purchase; his offer was merely a fig leaf for the Sultan Government.

By means of negotiation, Metstetz was not so naive as to think he could obtain the principalities in the Danube Basin. If it were that easy, why would there be a need to mobilize troops?

The domestic bottom line was clear, and it could be discussed at will. Even if an agreement could be reached, it could not be concluded at this moment—otherwise, how would they stage the subsequent acts?

If Austria was to reconcile with the Ottoman Empire, should it cease its war preparations? If it ceased, all prior preparations would be for naught; continuing would be even worse, as its strategic intentions would be exposed.

By then, the South German States would be ready, coupled with the intervention of the great powers, the westward strategy would be nearly voided.

In order to deadlock the negotiations, Metstetz proposed even further territorial demands on the Ottoman Empire, beyond the two principalities in the Danube Basin, claiming a large part of the Balkan Peninsula in one breath.

Even though England and France tried their best to mediate the conflict, their efforts were futile. Of course, to act out the drama fully, Metstetz also began to make slow concessions.

While negotiations commenced in Constantinople, Paris also heated up. The struggle between the Parliamentary faction and the Presidential faction had reached a boiling point, and there was no way to alleviate it.

After much preparation, Louis-Napoleon-Bonaparte was finally ready.

With the support of the British, on June 12, 1851, Louis-Napoleon-Bonaparte launched a military coup in Paris, forcibly dissolving the parliament.

The unyielding Parliamentary faction organized troops for a counterattack but failed due to betrayal, and Louis-Napoleon-Bonaparte seized significant power.

When news of the coup reached Vienna, Franz showed not the slightest surprise, despite the fact that the coup had occurred six months ahead of schedule.

The butterfly effect was growing stronger; even France was affected, and the future course of the world had changed beyond recognition. The advantage of foresight was gradually vanishing.

Franz was already prepared. His arrival had changed the fate of many people; affecting the world situation was inevitable.

Not long after the Paris coup, Louis-Napoleon-Bonaparte would restore the empire, and the alliance between England and France would emerge on the historical stage.

Franz did not intervene; comparatively, Napoleon III, an ambitious monarch, was not too difficult to deal with.

France had a strong foundation, and the emergence of an overzealous monarch was not frightening. However, a monarch who loved farming would be a true calamity for Austria.

It was better to let the Usury Empire continue its usury; as for developing industry, Austria could handle that service.

Following the Paris coup, the pressure on the British decreased significantly. With France as their enforcer, their voice in European diplomacy grew stronger.

Abdulmejid I was among those most deeply affected. Support from France increased, and the impending Napoleon III sent him military instructors to help train the Ottoman Empire army.

However, such support was insufficient to alter the current unfavorable situation. As time passed, the attitude of the Russian representative, Duke Alexander Menshikov, grew increasingly firm.

It was less a negotiation and more the Russians setting conditions, giving the Ottoman Government multiple-choice questions: accept, or war.

The Russians seemed to have made their war preparations, and on July 23, 1851, the Anglo-Russian St. Petersburg negotiations failed due to wide differences in bottom lines, initiating the countdown to a new round of the Russo-Turkish War.