War Palace and Knee Pillow, Austria’s Destiny

Russia, camp of the Third Roman Empire Expeditionary Army.

After dealing with the rebellion at home, Nicholas I really fulfilled his promise and began to lead the army in person, but this also put a lot of pressure on the Russian generals.

Nicholas I received military education since he was a child and always maintained his enthusiasm for it, even participating in drills himself.

He regarded himself as a role model of Russian soldiers and governed the country in a militarized manner. Some people at that time even believed that Russia was a huge military camp.

No matter from which perspective you judge Nicholas I, he was a qualified soldier, but he was not an excellent commander.

Moreover, they had a strong sense of self-esteem and could not tolerate even the slightest failure. Many of the Russian generals accompanying them had already written their suicide notes, because they knew that failure would mean death.

Russia's civil servants were equally miserable. Since Nicholas I led the army in person, they were forced to join the march.

This made the already sluggish civil service system even more sluggish, and the Austrian imperial delegation had to work very hard to catch up with the Tsar's team.

Nicholas I had no objection to Franz's request to formally annex Wallachia and Moldavia. After all, in his mind, these two lands had long been assigned to the Austrian Empire.

However, Nicholas I's decision was fiercely opposed by the Russian civil service.

"Your Majesty! The Austrians are getting more and more aggressive. We can't let them succeed!"

"That's right! This is a conspiracy of the Austrian Empire!"

“Your Majesty, the Austrian Empire is our ally. Our current enemies are Britain and the Ottoman Empire. We must unite all the forces that can be united!

Wallachia and Moldavia are worth the sacrifice for the Third Roman Empire!"

"After the Austrians occupied the two Danube principalities, they will be able to threaten Dobruja at any time. Once the Austrians go down the river and cut off Dobruja, the situation will be very unfavorable to us."

"What's the point of the Austrian Empire invading Dobruja? We have control of the Black Sea. You don't think the Austrian river fleet can defeat our Russian Black Sea Fleet?"

Hearing the word "Black Sea Fleet", Russian Navy Marshal Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev, commander of the Black Sea Fleet, immediately raised his chest and stared at the civil servants.

Since the navy was not highly valued in Russia, Marshal Lazarev had been bragging to Nicholas I about the unrivaled power of the Black Sea Fleet in order to get some military funds.

"Your Majesty, the Austrian Empire is our ally. We should choose to trust our allies instead of the British running dogs!"

"Who are you calling a running dog?"

"You've spent more time in London than in St. Petersburg! What Russian man carries an umbrella with him all day?"

"Your mother is from Thuringia! How dare you, a bastard, show off here?"

"What did you say? Your Majesty the Tsar! I want to duel with you!"

The Russian civil servants were talking to each other, with the pro-Austrian and pro-British factions confronting each other, as if agreeing would mean falling into a trap set by the Austrians, and failing to do so would mean falling into a trap set by the British.

In fact, the pro-Austrian faction had already gained the upper hand within Russia at this time. After all, no matter how big a beacon is, it is not as real as real benefits.

The trade exchanges between the Austrian Empire and Russia over the years have greatly deepened the relationship between the two sides, especially the complex and complicated conflicts of interest.

However, the only one who could have the final say in Russia was Nicholas I himself. He personally hated civil servants, and the way these people would do anything to eliminate dissidents made him feel disgusted.

Nicholas I had already made plans in his mind, and these civil servants' debates were nothing more than a monkey show to him.

Nicholas I looked at his wife affectionately, and Alexandra shook her head. The latter finally remembered who her son inherited his absurd character from.

This old man is so frivolous, still doing cosplay at such an old age.

Alexandra still stood up and said.

"The Tsar has ordered that everyone listen carefully. Play music!"

The royal band on the side immediately played the "Tsar's March", also known as the "March of the Third Roman Emperor", sent by Franz.

(The lyrics will be posted in the next chapter. The music score used is the theme song of Red Alert 3.)

Nicholas I stood up to the passionate music. He liked the piece of music very much because it was unique in the world, different in style from any famous composer in ancient and modern times, and it was composed by an emperor himself.

It was passionate, sharp, and even had a heaviness like the roar of a cannon, which was completely different from the classical music of the time, but it had a special appeal to Nicholas I, who felt that this was his passionate and turbulent life.

"Listen! The Eastern Roman Empire belongs to the Eastern Roman Empire, and the Western Roman Empire belongs to the Western Roman Empire. Wallachia and Moldavia have been ceded to the Austrian Empire. We have a greater goal, which is to recover Constantinople!"

At this time in Russia, the will of Nicholas I was the will of the country, and no one would doubt it.

After receiving the Tsar's reply, the Austrian imperial delegation immediately dispersed in all directions to spread the news.

Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna.

Maximilian returned to Schönbrunn Palace in a good mood. From Venice to Vienna, he received a lot of flowers and applause along the way.

This made Maximilian eager to show off his achievements to Madame Sophie.

"Mother, you don't know how brutal the Ottomans were. They scared Ludwig silly! Fortunately, I am here.

At first they wanted to release only one, but I silenced them with just a few words and they had to hand over the poor people to us.

Now my story is being told all over Europe."

Madame Sophie had listened to Maximilian's nagging for the third time.

"Then why is your elder brother so gloomy lately?"

“He’s just jealous of my talent! So many kings in Europe signed the proclamation of emancipation, but who actually took action?

Just me and Britain! When I take the throne I will send a fleet to Africa to stop the slave trade."

Madame Sophie patted Maximilian's head lovingly.

"He's just an eighteen-year-old boy and he's going to be king? Am I being too hasty?"

Madame Sophie thought to herself, but she felt a little more at ease with Franz's example.

"Maximilian, do you know why so many countries don't take action?"

"They are weak and hypocritical!"

"No, it's because they have no direct interest in it, and no one is willing to share the blame. Morality is a treasure of mankind, but too high a moral standard is a burden.

I'm not asking you to be a cold person, but you have to know who you are."

In the future, chapters in which Maximilian appears will be marked with (Arima). Please be informed.