NOVPUBAlthough the conditions proposed by both sides were widely different, the negotiation proceeded very smoothly under the mediation of all parties involved.
It was impossible to pay money. Even if the Sultan Government was willing to pay, they couldn’t come up with the funds, as the war had already broken their bank.
The Ottoman Empire had essentially gone financially bankrupt by then, not only suspending international debt payments but also unable to pay the salaries of their domestic public servants.
Austria had initiated the war not to extort war reparations; although they claimed an astronomical figure, it was merely a sky-high initial demand.
If there was no money, they would cede territory; this was an established practice on the European Continent. In reality, there wasn’t much to discuss; territories that had been taken wouldn’t be returned.
The demands of Austria weren’t high. Apart from the occupied territories amounting to hundreds of thousands of square kilometers, they only added Jerusalem and the Arabian Peninsula.
The Ottoman Empire had long lost actual control over the Arabian Peninsula; Austria only desired nominal sovereignty over the peninsula.
What truly gave the Sultan Government a headache was Jerusalem, not because of strategic or economic issues, as the declining Ottoman Empire no longer had the standing to discuss the strategy of the Middle East, but because of the religious complications.
Just on this issue, the European nations didn’t support them. Politicians are human too, with their own desires and emotions. Curbing Austria was important, but not at the expense of their own positions.
No one could bear the guilt of betraying the Holy Land. Supporting the Ottoman Empire on this issue would result in public outrage so fierce it could metaphorically drown them.
Normally, such controversial negotiations would drag on for a long time; unfortunately, the internal contradictions within the Ottoman Empire were intensifying, and the war refugees were devouring the country.
Austria could afford to wait, but the Sultan Government couldn’t hold on. If they didn’t quickly end the war and send the refugees back to revive production, next year’s spring plowing would be doomed.
As an agricultural nation, the foundation of the Ottoman Empire wasn’t sturdy, and the war had already drained their resources. If they were unable to proceed smoothly with the spring planting, they wouldn’t withstand the famine that would erupt next year.
In contrast, the negotiations between the Ottoman Empire and the Russians had reached a stalemate. The Tsarist Government wanted to reclaim the Caucasus region lost in the previous war, as well as secure the Black Sea Strait, and even put forth demands for reparations.
From the Russian perspective, their demands were realistic. Alexander II needed a major victory to offset the negative impact of the previous wartime failure.
The war had been won, and the Caucasus region lost in the last conflict had to be reclaimed. For the Russian Empire, the strategic location of the Black Sea Strait was vital, and the Tsarist Government couldn’t afford to let it go.
The Tsarist Government was penniless, yet still sought war reparations to cover the fiscal shortfall. Their demands were too great, and naturally, the Ottoman Empire couldn’t accept them.
Austria and Russia were allies, and since they had jointly initiated the war, the negotiations between Russia and the Ottoman couldn’t be concluded, preventing the signing of a ceasefire treaty.
Franz was also shocked by the excessive demands of the Tsarist Government; he finally understood why "greed" was an attribute often associated with the Russians.
This wasn’t ordinary greed. If the Russians had fought alone and achieved the current results, the Tsarist Government’s terms might have been justifiable. However, they didn’t possess such strength.
If Austria ceased supplying logistical materials, the frontline Russian Army would collapse in no time, as the Tsarist Government now lacked funds for a distant campaign.
Franz didn’t think Alexander II was a fool. Such an obvious fact had to be clear to the Tsarist Government. Therefore, their insistence on such excessive conditions was quite intriguing. 𝓃𝓸𝓿𝓹𝓾𝓫.𝓬ℴ𝓶
"What are the Russians saying, are they planning to continue this war?"
Now was the best opportunity to annihilate the Ottoman Empire, and given the animosity between Russia and the Ottomans, it would not be strange for the Tsarist Government to take advantage of the situation.
Foreign Minister Weisenberg, "Your Majesty, the Tsarist Government seems to be wavering. They are worried about international pressure but also reluctant to let the Ottomans off easy.
As things stand, each day the war drags on brings substantial losses to the Ottomans. Despite having signed a ceasefire treaty, the Russian forces at the frontlines haven’t ceased their destructive activities.
Evicting the local population, destroying farms, roads, and water infrastructures, and demolishing city utilities, blasting mosques..."
These were routine practices during the Russo-Turkish War; once it was determined that a territory couldn’t be kept, extensive destruction ensued. Franz’s decision to partner with the Russians wasn’t to only to minimize war costs but also to let the Russians attract hatred.
The international image needed contrast, and with the Russian atrocities known, even occasional transgressions by the Austrian army seemed insignificant.
Franz, puzzled, asked, "Are you suggesting that the Russians want to take this opportunity to weaken the strength of the Ottoman Empire, but is that really necessary?"
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The war has been raging, and the Ottoman Empire is practically finished. Hundreds of thousands of young men have fallen in battle, and millions of refugees have been created. The coastal areas have been turned into barren lands, and civil wars have erupted within the country.
From Franz’s experience, he estimated that the casualties caused by this war might well exceed two million. Merely a quarter more than that number had perished on the battlefields, most had died during the flight from famine.
The biggest killer was starvation, followed by disease and the refugees fleeing together. In the face of life and death, humanity is the least able to withstand the test.
The Ottoman Empire has been greatly weakened for a long time, and civil war is yet to continue. Now, because of the foreign war concerning the life and death of the Ottoman Empire, the Reformists and Conservatives have no choice but to join forces temporarily.
Once the war is over, the situation will change, and who knows how many Revolutionary Parties will arise from this stimulation; whether the Sultan Government can survive this ordeal is a question.
Wessenberg: "Your Majesty, even if the Ottoman Empire is weak, it still has such a large size; nobody knows whether they might be reborn from the ashes.
During normal times, the Russians would not fear their threat, but at the brink of a possible Prusso-Russian war, the Tsarist Government must be careful and cautious."
People grow, and one learns from one’s mistakes; after being taught a lesson once, the Russians have learned theirs.
Multi-front warfare is an inevitable matter; these years have bred so much hatred that it cannot be resolved in the short term. When the Russian Empire was powerful, it didn’t matter, but when it declined, it was very fatal.
For a century-old foe like the Ottoman Empire, there’s no need to consider resolving the hatred; it would be best simply to obliterate them.
Nationalism has been flourishing in the Near East in recent years, and the Tsarist Government has also made a contribution to that. Once the Sultan Government, which relies on religious governance, collapses, this multi-ethnic country will explode into pieces.
After the disintegration of the Ottomans, they are destined to fall into ethnic and religious vendettas and lose the power to threaten Russians completely.
Having understood this, Franz made a decision: "Then let England and France put pressure on the Russians, and a symbolic support from us will suffice."
To drag Austria into the fray, don’t even talk about a door, there isn’t even a window. Franz also wanted to keep the Ottoman Empire as a focus for the countries of Europe, and if England and France could provide aid to the Sultan Government, that would be even better.
History has already proven that a corrupt and falling dynasty is never frightening; instead, a nascent nation might burst forth with stronger combat power.
Of course, this happens very rarely; the vast majority of new authorities are constrained by internal contradictions and lack experience in governing localities, resulting in national chaos.
Countries like the Ottoman Empire, with serious ethnic and religious conflicts, will be plunged into enduring civil wars once a split occurs.
In the original timeline, it was the genius of Kemal, the chosen one, that led to modern Turkey, but even then, it was still a significant reduction from the Ottoman Empire.
Now, there’s no need to consider whether this renowned Father of Turks even has a chance to be born; it’s all an unknown.
One must know that the butterfly effect is terrifying; this Near Eastern war has changed many people’s destinies, and perhaps even the chosen one’s parents have already met an early death.
In the face of the rolling torrents of history, individual power is insignificant. Franz does not believe there is any possibility for the Ottoman Empire to revive; this war has effectively put the final period to this old Empire.
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Prime Minister Felix proposed: "Your Majesty, the Jerusalem Kingdom has been reclaimed, and now we have to consider the question of governance.
Due to religious beliefs, the local population does not support us, and I suggest reaching an extradition agreement with the Ottoman Empire and repatriating all Ottomans."
Repatriating to the country is precedented. In previous expansions, the Vienna Government repatriated all Ottomans, thus avoiding ethnic and religious conflicts.
Franz nodded and added, "Simply repatriating Ottomans is not enough. The region of Jerusalem is almost turning into a desert, and we also need to address the problem of land desertification.
The experts’ proposal to let the land lie fallow for twenty years seems very constructive. Jerusalem is the Holy Land, and there is no need to develop industry and agriculture locally; developing the tourism economy will be enough."
In this age, people are poor, and the tourism economy cannot yet flourish. But there are always exceptions, and there are still wealthy people, like Vienna becoming a City that Never Sleeps, which attracted many people to visit.
Jerusalem, needless to say, with its special religious status, will have no lack of visitors. It might not become a source of great wealth, but it will be enough to sustain the operation of the local government.
Letting the land lie fallow is inevitable; Austria itself is an agricultural exporter and certainly does not lack this small amount of food production.
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