Holy Roman Empire

As time progressed, the overseas interests of various nations grew, and so did the friction and checks between the great powers, often arising passively.

Austria aimed to annihilate the Ottoman Empire to secure a stable rear and, in doing so inadvertently, extended its reach into Persia, gaining the capacity to threaten India.

In overseas colonization activities, Anglo-Austria checked each other’s influence in many places, posing mutual threats.

You can touch my cheese, and I can take your bread. Everyone exercised restraint, for example:

Britain’s Cape of Good Hope, right under Austria’s nose, remained untroubled; likewise, Austrian Alaska, bordering Canada, also saw no conflict erupt.

Times had changed; Austrian Alaska was no longer a barren, icy realm but a world-renowned gold-producing region.

Of course, this fame didn’t mean the local gold production was out of this world; rather, it was due to the colonial government’s effective advertising.

Ranked in terms of gold production, the main gold-producing areas in the world were South Africa, Australia, Canada, the United States, Russia, and West Africa, with Alaska coming in seventh.

Alaska’s reputation, notoriously hindered by its harsh climate, was humorously referred to by Austrian poets as "God’s trial."

The population-scarce colonial government of Alaska took that phrase and turned it into their slogan.

They proclaimed to the outside world: Alaska has the harshest natural conditions for gold mines anywhere on earth, a test left for mankind by God.

Only those who withstand God’s trial can become wealthy and reach the pinnacle of life.

Of course, Russians might dispute the claim of "harsh natural conditions," given that the Russian Empire also had its share of harsh-climate gold mines.

To call it God’s trial is also accurate because failing the trial could indeed mean meeting God.

In the icy wilderness of Alaska, every year, more than a thousand prospectors met with God on their quest for gold. Those who struck it rich were a lucky minority who survived the ordeal.

For the Vienna Government, the tens of tons of gold produced in Alaska each year was also a piece of fat they couldn’t easily relinquish.

Had the British Government not been so sensitive about India, it would have realized that the forces of mutual restraint between England and Austria were not insignificant.

Although India was enticing, the Vienna Government wouldn’t risk action without absolute certainty of success.

The premise of a potential threat is "potential"; after operating in India for so many years, Britain was by no means a paper tiger.

Now was the pinnacle of Britannia’s era, and anyone thinking British-India was an easy target would end up with a bloody nose if they rushed in foolishly.

...

In London, the goodwill released by the Vienna Government had pulled the British Government out of its panic.

As the saying goes, "If you’re afraid, then I’m reassured." Since Austria still feared Britannia, it meant that India was safe for now.

In the Downing Street Prime Minister’s Office, after rationally analyzing the pros and cons, Gladstone felt bewildered.

"What, in your opinion, does the Austrian Government actually want to achieve by suddenly showing goodwill?"

Seemingly struck by a thought, Foreign Minister George’s face turned pale: "We can’t be certain of the Austrians’ true intentions yet. However, we’re likely to be in big trouble next.

The Austrians’ willingness to sign a safeguard treaty only proves that the Vienna Government has temporarily lost interest in Persia; it doesn’t mean the Russians have too.

International politics are ever-changing, and although Austria has temporarily outpaced other European countries, their dominance over Europe is not secure.

The fact that Vienna has shown goodwill towards us reveals that Austria doesn’t have the confidence to claim the title of Europe’s dominant power.

Neither the ambitious Russians nor the proud French would recognize their position.

Sandwiched between France and Russia, Austria’s claim to European dominance is laughable. Perhaps realizing this, the Vienna Government has never presumed to act as Europe’s overlord.

As time goes on, both the French and the Russians will recuperate, and Austria’s troubles will only grow.

Based on previous experience, Austria is unlikely to confront France and Russia directly; they’re more apt to employ a strategy of diverting conflicts.

The next step is probably to incite the Russians to move south to the subcontinent, stirring up tension with us, and then focus on confronting France.

The North German Empire that we orchestrated will likely become Austria’s guard at the western gate."

The danger of an overt plot lies in its exposure, yet it still unfolds.

Russian ambition isn’t something the London Government can eliminate. Unlike Austro-Russian relations which have been allied since the anti-Napoleonic wars, continuing to muddle through to the present, the Anglo-Russian relationship is a total mess.

Even if the Austrian plans were laid on Alexander III’s desk, the Tsarist Government would still joyfully march south to the subcontinent.

Warnings from the London Government could only provoke a negative response; after all, trust is far easier to break than to build.

Over the past several decades, Russia and Austria had established a fundamental trust through three generations of monarchs. Although both were equally adept at stabbing each other in the back, the agreements they reached were ultimately honored.

When the Vienna Government encouraged Russia to head south, that was a matter of tangible interest, and the Tsarist Government would naturally believe it; but when the British pointed out that the Austrians were scheming to drive a wedge between England and Russia, the Tsarist Government didn’t take it seriously at all.

How can one speak of causing a rift when there was never any substance to begin with?

The North German Empire acting as a guard was an inevitable result of geography, for they were sandwiched between France and Austria and had no choice but to assume that role.

Unless they abandoned the North German Empire plan and allowed Northern Germany to continue to be divided, then the weak German Federation would surely be useless.

This was the worst possible choice, without a single exception. External pressure is also what propels a nation to unite.

Unless the London Government personally took to the field to help withstand the French’s military pressure, those small Sub-States in Germany might lean towards Austria at any minute.

After a moment’s hesitation, Gladstone sighed, "The price that Austria could offer is too high for the Russians to refuse.

However, that is a matter for the future, and in the short term, the Tsarist Government should remain quiet for a while. Let the Governor of India prepare; the future will bring unrest to Central Asia and the Persian region.

Warn the French to restrain their ambitions. Otherwise, if they provide the Austrians with an opportunity to reform the Anti-French Alliance, they will have nothing to do but weep!"

Now everyone must be on higher alert, especially the Foreign Office, which needs to pay more attention.

The enemy we are facing now is different from the past; they are much trickier than France and Russia, and our previous experiences won’t apply to them.

The main battleground of the future has shifted, from literal battlefields to the chessboard of diplomacy."

With the Vienna Government continuously making moves, the London Government could only react passively, much to Gladstone’s dissatisfaction.

Britain has always been known as a strong diplomatic nation and is now being led by the nose, not knowing how to counterattack. How should they proceed?

Confidently, Foreign Minister George replied, "Don’t worry, Prime Minister. We were only caught off-guard by Austria, which allowed them to exploit an opening and put us in a passive position. It won’t happen again in the future."

...

On November 18, 1882, the Anti-Turkish Alliance successfully convened on the Kizil River, leaving the Ottoman Empire in grave peril.

In the Ankara Palace, Abdul Hamid II was already desperate, far more serious than the last time Austrian airships bombed him during the Near East War.

The support from the British, who provided them with a substantial amount of resources, was indeed robust, but all that was in the past.

After the Asia Minor Peninsula was split in two, the Western Region became completely isolated, surrounded by the Anti-Turkish Alliance on all sides.

No matter how much aid was sent, it couldn’t be delivered. Theoretically, the British could still airdrop supplies via airship.

Unfortunately, that was impossible; the British support for the Ottomans was limited, and directly sending airship airdrops would be challenging the bottom line of the Anti-Turkish Alliance.

If contradictions were intensified and the British Government was dragged in, they would have no choice but to weep.

Neither Austria nor Russia had the strength to covet the Indian region alone, but once the two countries joined forces, the situation was different.

Not to mention driving the British out, at least they could bring war to the heartland of India. The London Government was not mad enough to fight against two of the top three land powers in the world.

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Start a war to defend the Ottomans? It’s estimated that as soon as that suggestion was put forward, Downing Street would have a new occupant.

In a panic, Abdul Hamid II asked, "Grand Vizier, what should we do now?"

Midhat, distracted and anxious, replied, "Your Majesty, at this stage, the enemy will not give us a way out. To save the Ottoman Empire, we can only fight with all we’ve got.

The Russian Army is only just over eighty kilometers from Ankara, and next, we need to prepare for the defense of the capital; Your Majesty could go to the frontline to boost morale."

"Do we still have a chance to win?" Abdul Hamid II asked eagerly

He very much wished to hear someone give him an affirmative answer. Midhat was not one to flatter; the domestic mess had already frazzled his nerves, and at such a time, he was naturally not inclined to ingratiate himself.

"The enemy has too great an advantage; our chances of winning the war are nearly zero, but there is still hope to save the Ottoman Empire.

If we inflict maximum damage on the Anti-Turkish Alliance, the cruel toll in casualties will make them come to their senses, then to the negotiating table.

At that point, paying a certain price to escort the enemy out of the country would allow us to end the war with dignity."

Abdul Hamid II declared firmly, "Good, I will inspect the barracks immediately."

The greatest fear is the absence of hope, and even when hope is slim, there will always be those who cannot resist trying.

At this point, Abdul Hamid II’s expectations had lowered; to save the Ottoman Empire and his throne was enough.