Chapter 1662 - 1568: The Unwinnable War

Chapter 1662: Chapter 1568: The Unwinnable War

In the hall on the east side of the first floor of the Hofburg, all members of the Austrian Emergency Affairs Committee and the Finance Committee looked at their Speaker with complex expressions.

The Emergency Affairs Committee, previously known as the Emergency Committee, commands the power of life and death in the Austrian Republic. The Finance Committee is responsible for tax collection, budgeting, expenditures, including military expenses.

Therefore, these two committees essentially form the political nucleus of the Republic. As for the Prime Minister and his Cabinet, they currently belong to ceremonial departments.

Lucas pressed heavily against the edge of the table, speaking in a deep voice: "Under these circumstances, we must reserve the last hope for the revolution."

Bergman frowned: "Excuse my rudeness, Lucas, my friend, but this is actually a viewpoint of defeatism. We have the power from the people, no one can defeat us!"

Lucas nodded: "I’ve never doubted that the revolution will ultimately prevail, but the ’retreat plan’ won’t consume too many resources; at the least, it can expand the Republic’s control range.

"Constance has been influenced for decades by places like France and Basel, and the activity of Enlightenment thought is very high there. Especially after the Emperor’s army was defeated in Switzerland, it is almost completely managed by the local Congress now.

"Mr. Messenger and I agree that we only need to dispatch a few capable leaders along with a hundred soldiers to make it part of the Republic.

"As for Tyrol, although the local noble forces are not weak, please don’t forget that there is the great Innsbruck University there. Mr. Giovanni Albertini has always been advancing the university’s enlightenment rapidly.

"If relying on the enormous influence of the university to mobilize the students to revolt, coupled with the Military Committee’s assistance, the revolutionary process will be very smooth."

The committee leaders in the conference room couldn’t help but look at each other. These two places are in the southwesternmost part of Austria, neighboring Switzerland to the south and connected to the Rhine River to the west, belonging to the more barren frontier provinces.

Yet the Speaker wants to propose sending people to push the revolution there during the most intense battle with the Royalist Party.

What puzzled them even more is that the Speaker also intends to migrate residents to these places in a planned manner.

Jaggen raised his hand: "Lucas, although the National Assembly has controlled Linz, stubborn Royalists are in Judenburg to the south, preventing us from going to the southwest."

He didn’t mention that further south is the Klagenfurt Fortress.

And to go 200 kilometers south from Linz, then west across the Alps, one can only reach Innsbruck.

The entire route is occupied by forces loyal to the Habsburgs.

Lucas took a deep breath and said: "’Mr. Messenger’ says he has a good private friendship with the Patrol Team at the Bavarian border, and we can travel via the Bavarian border. We might even transport supplies to the southwest through this path in the future."

Bavaria is on the west side of Linz, crossing the Inn River from here, and going south there is a rather flat terrain, making it much faster than traveling within Austria, at least without the obstruction of the Alps.

Jaggen stood up excitedly: "Are you saying Bavaria will stand with the Republic?"

Lucas shook his head: "Sadly, this is merely a private act."

No way, Theodore just ascended as King a few years ago, and is in high spirits; how could he possibly support the Liberals’ revolution?

If it weren’t for the special envoy from France, even the small act of "sneaking past" the border wouldn’t receive leniency.

Yes, this is the retreat plan Joseph prepared for the Vienna revolution.

Despite being small in size, southwestern Austria boasts the fertile Lake Constance plain region, with developed agriculture. Even the eastern side close to the Alps is also an excellent pastoral area, with very good natural conditions overall.

If tens of thousands of people can migrate in, this place’s economic level would definitely surpass the average of Austria.

Meanwhile, utilizing transportation in Constance would allow trade with the entire region along the Rhine River. Even if it can’t join the Stuttgart Trade Agreement, conducting some smuggling business subtly with France’s tacit consent would have limitless prospects.

Most importantly, this region is separated from Austria’s core area by the Alps.

The National Assembly only needs to deploy ten to twenty thousand troops near the mountain pass; the Austrian Royalist Party would need to mobilize a hundred thousand troops to invade the southwest.

Whereas the National Assembly could hassle Austrian mainland from Bavaria by moving north to attack the entire Inn River area.

In the future, France would essentially hold a tool that can discomfort Austria at any time—after the Austrian National Assembly retreats to the southwest region, it would inevitably maintain close connections with France.

Lucas then added: "Although we didn’t get a clear support from Bavaria, according to ’Mr. Messenger,’ the Cologne Congress will firmly stand behind us!"

Well, the Cologne Congress says, "Behind me stands the big brother France. Anyway, I am 700 kilometers away from Austria; even if the Emperor gets angry, can he cross Bavaria, Mainz, and Hesse to hit me?"

...

Hungary, Pest.

In Petőfi Palace, Hungary’s Chief Judicial Officer of the Representative House, Janos, frowned while looking at the Frenchman in front of him, carefully saying: "Mr. President, are you suggesting that we surrender to the Emperor?"

The gaze of several seasoned Members of Parliament nearby also focused on Dipon, President of the Chevalier Chamber of Commerce.

This chamber of commerce handles half of the "private" trade volume between France and Hungary, and its headquarters in Pest is essentially a French diplomatic institution.

Dipon spread his hands: "No, what I mean is signing a truce is the best choice for now."

"What’s the difference?" Parliament Member Parfi said excitedly, "We have waited for this day for hundreds of years; we have seventy thousand of the bravest soldiers, even without any aid, we will fight to the end for independence!"

Another Member of Parliament loudly added: "The Vienna Congress’s troops have already arrived near Buda, there are forty thousand of them!

"General Hentz is fiercely attacking Buda; there are only four to five thousand Austrian garrison troops there. Perhaps they will surrender today!"

Dipon nodded: "Indeed, Buda will soon return under the control of the Hungarian Congress, but what then?"

He pointed out the window: "The Russian Army is about to complete strategic deployment; soon you will face an assault from over 160,000 troops.

"I must remind everyone, those are regular troops equipped with excellent arms and rich combat experience.

"And the Vienna National Assembly’s army has only been trained for a few months, most legion commanders have only served as battalion leaders."

Parfi interjected: "But their morale is extremely high; during the Battle of Gyor, they charged with bayonets and defeated a regular army larger in number!"

Dipon nodded again: "Okay, let’s not discuss combat power for the moment.

"Even if you truly repel the Russian-Austrian Alliance Army, what then?

"I’m referring to the issue regarding the ownership of Croatia, Slovakia, and even Serbia."