War Palace and Knee Pillow, Austria’s Destiny

The main force of the Russian army was transferred to Wallachia, which was something that Orma Pasha could never have imagined. After all, theoretically the two sides should be in a stalemate.

However, according to Russian observations, the Ottomans seemed to have built breastworks only within a very limited distance of the front.

As a result, the Russian army turned all its attacks in the north into feints, while the real main force had quietly entered Wallachia in batches and took advantage of the chaos to cross the Danube.

Of course, the more than 200,000 Ottoman new troops were not there to sit back and wait for the troops to arrive. It was just that at a time when the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Greece were advancing by leaps and bounds, Olma Pasha did not dare to fight head-on.

After a bloody battle, the Ottoman new army retreated into Bulgaria.

The first phase of the war seemed to be a complete victory for the Holy Alliance, but in fact, except for the Austrian Empire which did not suffer much loss, both Russia and Greece paid a heavy price.

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Especially the Greek side, although it easily invaded Macedonia, it only occupied a small number of cities, and most areas still remained loyal to the Ottoman Empire.

Not to mention the bloody battle in Western Thrace, in just two weeks, the Greek side lost more than 20,000 people.

Twenty thousand people may not mean much to other countries participating in the war, but it is extremely terrible news for Greece, whose population is less than 1.7 million. It means that they have lost nearly 2% of their population.

The Greeks who had experienced the Chios Massacre understood that it would be truly terrifying if they chose to retreat at this time.

In the Chios massacre, the Ottomans killed less than 2,000 of the 120,000 inhabitants of the island, with a survival rate of only 1.6%.

However, according to later Turkish scholars, it was the Greek soldiers who burned the Turkish ships first. The Turkish army was forced to fight back, killing 23,000 enemies. Another 47,000 rebels were sold as slaves to compensate for Turkey's losses, and the rest of the islanders disappeared or fled.

There is another set of data that is recognized by both sides. In 1821, before the massacre, there were more than 120,000 residents on the island, and in 1828, after the massacre, there were about 18,000 residents on the island.

At this time, the Greek nobles, landlords, and opposition parties rarely reached a consensus. They decided to unite and fight against the Otto I together.

What we need is peace, not an unwinnable war!"

Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs George Villiers wiped his glasses and then looked up and said.

"This is a difficult task, but I will complete it, please rest assured."

John Russell nodded. In fact, there was a more suitable candidate, but that person was really worrying in some aspects.

Istanbul, Topkapi Palace.

Faced with the overwhelming war reports, the Ottoman high-ranking officials were in a mess. They didn't want to fight at all, but the Russians were not satisfied, and there was no news from Vienna.

As for the Greeks, the mighty Ottoman Empire really didn't take them seriously.

"Now we can only let Olma Pasha defend Bulgaria to the death. With God's blessing, we may be able to repel the joint attack of Russia and Austria."

However, the person who spoke did not have the confidence, and the senior officials beside him were looking at each other in bewilderment. They seemed to be facing the same choice as Constantine XI did back then.

"We can't count on Olma Pasha. He's a Serb who defected from the Austrian Empire. We should transfer all the new troops back to defend Istanbul, and then gather the troops in Anatolia to fight a decisive battle with the Holy Alliance."

"A fight to the death? Don't be ridiculous! Do you know how many people there are in the Holy Alliance? They are more numerous than locusts in the field! Your Majesty, let's move the capital!"

As soon as the word "move the capital" was uttered, the whole audience was shocked at this man's cowardice and shamelessness, and even more shocked at his amazing wisdom!

Since death is not an option, no one would want to die.

"Queen Mother, move the capital!"

"If we don't move the capital, once the city is breached, the consequences will be disastrous. No one wants the tragedy of the Great Interregnum to happen again, right?"

All the ministers responded at once, and Queen Mother Shefkefza was so angry that her chest heaved violently.

"Damn it! Giving up Istanbul is equivalent to declaring to Europe that the Ottoman Empire is no longer able to protect the holy land given by God!

Do you want to surrender to the Europeans?"

An old official with a white beard beat his chest and stamped his feet, shouting angrily, but in the end he was alone and powerless.

Although there were others who argued against the relocation of the capital, they could not resist the overwhelming public sentiment. The cowardly faces of these high-ranking officials and nobles made Queen Mother Shefkefuza feel sick.

Especially when someone dared to mention the Great Interregnum, Queen Mother Shefkefuza wanted to throw that person into the Black Sea and drown him immediately.

In fact, it was not only the Holy Roman Empire that had a great interregnum, the Ottoman Empire also had a great interregnum. Bayezid I once swept across the Balkans in Europe, swept across Anatolia in Asia, and defeated Venice at sea. The world praised his achievements and called it "Thor's Hammer".

Bayezid I was not satisfied with this. In his reply to Timur, he stated, "If you are willing to offer your wives and concubines to our army, I will consider temporarily giving up the eastward advance."

Bayezid I wanted to prove that he could defeat the most powerful Venice at sea and the strongest Tatar Empire on the road.

Then according to unofficial historical records, Bayezid I was caught and put into a cage by Timur, who turned his wife into the lowest dancer.

Bayezid I's Serbian wife had to serve Timur's guests so that Bayezid I could survive in Timur's prison cell.

Of course Bayezid I himself also had work to do. Timur was lame, so it was difficult for him to get on the horse and he needed a stirrup.

Bayezid I's usual job was to act as a stirrup.

Of course, there is another record. It is said that after Timur captured Bayezid I, he was deeply impressed by the latter's personal charm. The former claimed more than once that he wanted to restore the latter's Sultanate, but was rejected by the latter.

After Bayezid I died, Timur cried for three days and three nights, fasted and bathed for him, and sent his body to Bursa.

The capture of Bayezid I triggered the Great Interregnum of the Ottoman Empire, which was also the most humiliating period in the history of the Ottoman Empire.

Mentioning this history at this time made Queen Mother Shefkefza feel a chill down her spine, because she knew very well what would be waiting for her if she really waited until the city was broken.

But if they fled Istanbul, the Ottoman Empire might never return to Europe.