NOVPUBAnkara, the news of the events in Ava City had spread. Sultan Abdul-Aziz, in high spirits due to this good news, generously pardoned Brigadier Erzucher, who had abandoned the city.
To consider a "massacre" as good news is to admit that the Ottoman Empire was completely ruined. At any other time, the Sultan Government would have sent troops for revenge long ago.
Now, it’s better to use diplomatic means! It’s not that Abdul-Aziz didn’t want to retaliate, but that he truly couldn’t win.
"Immediately release the news, call on the citizens to resist to the death, tell the people that the wicked enemy wants to destroy ****, and we have reached a critical moment for survival."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and England and France continue to communicate, asking them to intervene in this war. Expose the tragedy of Ava City to the international media, reveal the enemy’s atrocities on the European Continent, and initiate international public condemnation of Austria and Russia."
Relying on international intervention is the harsh reality forced by the situation. In recent days, the coastal cities of the Ottoman Empire had effectively been greeted by the Austrian Navy, including Ankara and many other inland cities, which had also been bombed by airships.
The Sultan Government wasn’t without countermeasures, even managing to shoot down an airship. But this did little to change the overall situation.
The Austrian Airship Troop, primarily bombing at random without specific targets, could simply increase their flight altitude if harassed by rifles, but how far off could they be with such a large target as a city?
As long as the bombs were dropped into the city, hitting factories and warehouses was considered a win.
Affected by the bombings, Abdul-Aziz had moved out of the Palace, running to a manor in the suburbs to work, and the government officials followed suit.
With no choice, as dozens of airships appeared over the Palace, Abdul-Aziz became a bird frightened by the mere twang of a bow.
With Ava only a few hundred kilometers from Ankara and well within the bombing range of airships, it naturally became a key target, with Abdul-Aziz’s Palace being a focal point within.
Who made him build such a large Palace? If it were smaller, perhaps the airships above wouldn’t have been able to find it.
The results of the bombings were down to luck. Even Ankara, which received focused attention, didn’t actually have many casualties, but the panic it caused was irremediable.
The wealthy fled, leaving behind a bunch of poor devils who couldn’t escape. In recent months, the number of emigrants from the Ottoman Empire exceeded the total of the past five years, indicating many issues.
With rich folks leaving, purchasing power in the market declined. Many cities in the Ottoman Empire deteriorated, suffering a catastrophic economic blow.
Since the outbreak of war, the Sultan Government’s industrial and commercial tax revenue had completely collapsed, leading to a severe fiscal crisis. If this continued, the Ottoman Empire was doomed.
...
In London, the city was boiling over with the news of the massacre in Ava. Newspapers were working overtime to rush out stories, and no one wanted to miss this hot topic.
Even though Ava was a bit distant and lacked telegraph connections, making it impossible to gather on-site information, it didn’t matter—imagination could fill in the blanks.
Every capable newspaper editor could spin a tale with ease. A bit of conjecture and reasoning could produce an excellent article.
The "truth" was what they decided it to be, and as long as it wasn’t too exaggerated, there was no fear of being caught out in a lie. Since it was a massacre, the brutality of the Russian Army and the helplessness of the Ottomans were enough to highlight.
It was as if everyone became the messenger of justice, standing at the moral high ground, and condemned Austria and Russia for their invasion of the Ottoman Empire.
Of course, there were also those who supported Austria and Russia. How could the Ottoman Empire, after incurring so much hatred over the years, not have enemies?
But such voices were not mainstream at the moment. Only when the public’s sympathy ran out, would the newspapers start revealing the dark history of the Ottoman Empire.
Sensational reporting was what increased newspaper sales. If they released everything at once, where would they find so many scandals?
Within the Downing Street Prime Minister’s Office, Prime Minister Gelson was worried about the current situation. The domestic issue of Ireland lagged unresolved, and international troubles were burgeoning.
The London Government didn’t want to see the Ottoman Empire fall apart amidst the bitter struggle with Austria and Russia in the Near East.
The "massacre" in Ava presented the perfect opportunity for intervention. Sadly, their best ally, Napoleon III, had recently died, and the Prussians had set their sights on the Kingdom of Poland.
Without enforcers on the European Continent, the London Government, even if willing to intervene, was powerless.
In the original timeline of the Russo-Turkish War, the British could intervene strongly because the Great European Nations did not want to see the expansion of the Russian Empire, and Queen Victoria took a forceful stance only because of that.
Gelson solemnly said, "The Ottoman Empire is on the verge of collapse. We have just received news that the Austrians have dispatched troops to the Middle East, and it may not be long before they reach Jerusalem.
The Ottoman Empire is currently unable to resolve the crisis in Asia Minor Peninsula and is utterly incapable of supporting the Middle East Region.
If we don’t want to see Austria and Russia divide the Ottoman Empire and extend their reach into the Persian region, we must find a way to intervene."
Foreign Minister McLean said, "Prime Minister, intervention is inevitable, but the timing is still not right.
Napoleon III has just died and Napoleon IV has been on the throne for less than a month, with the French government a mess inside.
The opposition, suppressed by Napoleon III, is now emerging, and for several years to come, the Paris Government may be embroiled in infighting.
The election for the King of Poland is about to vote, and without external intervention, Wilhelm’s success is almost certain.
I suspect the Berlin Government may have reached a deal with Vienna. With France caught in internal strife, if Austria refrains from interfering, the Prussian ambition will likely succeed.
At this time, if we want to intervene in the Near East war, we can’t find any strong ally on the European Continent. Surely we can’t expect our silver tongues to make Austria and Russia compromise, can we?"
Does Britannia have the means to check Austria and Russia? The answer is: yes.
Unfortunately, the power was not enough, or it simply could not be used. For instance, the loan agreement signed between Britain and Russia allowed the London Government to cut off the Tsarist Government’s purse strings at any time.
But these loans were also based on an exchange of interests. The Russians joined the British-led currency system, and that’s why they offered the loan.
If the agreement were truly torn up, the Tsarist Government would inevitably exit the British Pound-Gold system, something the British financial consortium could never agree to.
The currency reform that pegged the Ruble to the British Pound had just started and would need several more years to complete. Before the plan was completed, they had to keep the Tsarist Government on board.
Threatening Austria was even more troublesome, and could easily lead to war. A fight between two countries that could not defeat each other would only benefit a third party.
Unless it was absolutely necessary, the London Government would not make such a decision under normal circumstances. British foreign policy always revolved around national interests, and they would not engage in actions that harm themselves for the sake of others.
Finance Minister Laruoke Lloyd questioned, "Allowing Prussia to annex Poland, has the Vienna Government gone mad?"
Foreign Minister McLean replied, "The Vienna Government is not mad, Prussia’s desire to annex Poland cannot be achieved in a short time, they have only taken the first step now.
Prusso-Polish consolidation will affect the Russian Empire first and foremost. Even if there were concerns, it would be a headache for the Tsarist Government.
A conflict between Prusso-Russian is inevitable, and this could take place within the next ten years. Wars nowadays are extraordinary, and the losses from a war between two great powers would be astronomical.
Prussia would have to thoroughly defeat the Russian Empire before they could pose a threat to Austria. Before that, the Berlin Government would not challenge Vienna.
If the Austrians could dominate the German Federation, the power disparity would widen, offering a strategic advantage over Prussia. 𝓃𝓸𝓋𝓅𝓊𝒷.𝓬𝓸𝓂
Perhaps Emperor Franz is waiting for the Prussians to eliminate his good ally, so that Austria can conveniently accept the Russian legacy in the Balkan Peninsula. I don’t believe they have no designs on Constantinople."
Laruoke Lloyd nodded, "With such allies, the Russians are truly tragic. What’s laughable is that now all of Europe considers Austria the most reliable ally, and the Vienna Government’s credibility is recognized as the highest by everyone."
No one continued this topic; the credibility of the Vienna Government was established through a series of international events.
It could not be tarnished by potential events. Who could ensure their occurrence when speaking so eloquently of things that had yet to happen?
If the Vienna Government considered betraying an ally within the stipulated period of the alliance, their reputation would certainly be ruined. But once the alliance expires, such moral pressure would cease to exist.
It is impossible to form an alliance and expect everyone to be friends forever. No one in international politics is that naive.
In recent years, the London Government has also been trying to change its international image, but they have too many incidents of betraying allies, and everyone is cautious.
Even though the Tripartite Alliance between England, France, and Austria has been formed, the private alliance between France and Austria still exists and has not been declared void.
Initially, the London Government joined to dismantle the France-Austrian Alliance, but later discovered that the alliance could bring greater benefits and immediately changed course. While undermining France-Austrian relations, they were also maintaining the Tripartite Alliance.
England, France, and Austria were all colonial great powers. Satiated, they became vested interests of the international order, with the British taking the largest share.
In contrast, the newcomers, the rising powers, posed a real threat. After all, resources and markets are limited, and while the old empires feast on meat, the newcomers don’t even get soup. Could it be otherwise?
Had it not been for the fear of rising powers, Prussia would have merged with Poland years ago.
Prussia and Poland have a common enemy. Prussia holds great influence over Poland, and Wilhelm I has always been a favorable contender for the throne of Poland.
Many believe that only with a shared monarch can they cooperate closely and fend off the invasion of a common enemy.
An ailing camel is still larger than a horse. Even in decline, the Russian Empire is still a major European power, exerting significant pressure on Prussian and Polish.
Not to mention the Russian Empire, even the declining Ottoman Empire, many people stubbornly consider them a strong power.
After a moment of silence, Prime Minister Gelson asked cautiously, "So, what does everyone think about Wilhelm I becoming the King of Poland? Should we obstruct it?"
This question was also troublesome. The Kingdom of Prussia was a little brother to the British, but this little brother was a bit too strong and completely out of control. Once Prussia annexed Poland, that little brother would be no more.
Finance Minister Laruoke Lloyd remarked, "Prussia’s annexation of Poland has little impact on us, but we can’t let them succeed easily.
Isn’t there a rumor that the Berlin Government wants to trade with France and Austria to gain their recognition?
True or not, what can Prussia offer for such a trade? If they conclude the deal, France and Austria are likely to grow further, and there would be no room for small countries on the European Continent.
This is extremely dangerous. If they continue to expand in this way, it will be increasingly difficult to restrict them later on. Calculating the economic output of the mainland alone, France and Austria both surpass us.
If they keep expanding, perhaps in the future they won’t need to unite, and any one of them would have the power to threaten us.
The strength of the Royal Navy was built on countless British Pounds. If not for their focus on land forces, both France and Austria would have the capability to build a Royal Navy.
This threat has already been felt by Britain. Unlike the original timeline, France and Austria have been growing like a snowball in this one.
Maybe their per capita income is still behind Britannia, but their total economic output has surpassed by virtue of their larger population.
Currently, Britannia’s industrial leadership is in jeopardy. Since the outbreak of the second industrial revolution, they have lost their edge in the emerging industries.
With their substantial wealth, they can still hold on, but the crisis is brewing. If not for the vast colonies giving them confidence, perhaps many would feel the crisis already.
Unfortunately, all of this was covered up. Laruoke Lloyd saw only the continuous increase in the fiscal revenues of France and Austria, which made him uneasy.
