Chapter 140: Stubborn Francis II

"How did it go, Sir Tom? Did the French agree to our demands?" In a secluded alley not far from the city, an Austrian diplomat waited anxiously. Seeing the British diplomat emerge, he hurried forward to inquire.

"Your Excellency, it's troubling. I just tested the waters with the French government. Their attitude is quite resolute as well. It seems this war will continue," Sir Tom said with a troubled expression.

"What! They dare to disregard even the British Empire." The Austrian diplomat was surprised. He hadn't expected the French to be so steadfast, even in the face of direct intervention by the British.

"Your Excellency, the situation is critical now. I believe the best way to resolve this crisis is through negotiations. I hope you can return and persuade Emperor Francis of Austria. If this war continues, no one will gain any advantage," Sir Tom earnestly advised the Austrian diplomat.

"Very well, it seems we have no other choice," the Austrian diplomat sighed.

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After the negotiations broke down, the Austrian diplomat returned to Venice immediately. He submitted a report to Prime Minister Joseph Jelačić of Austria.

Prime Minister Jelačić then carried this report and attended an audience with Emperor Francis II of Austria.

"Your Majesty, this is the negotiation report submitted by the ambassador who negotiated with the French. Please review it," Prime Minister Jelačić respectfully handed over the report to Francis II.

Francis II took a look at it, but his face immediately turned pale.

"Damn it, those Frenchmen dare to propose such conditions. They really have no respect for us. Do they truly think we are incapable of dealing with them?" Francis II angrily shredded the report in his hands, roaring in frustration.

"Your Majesty, the conditions proposed by the French government are indeed too harsh. They clearly see us as a defeated nation to be exploited," the Austrian Finance Minister chimed in, echoing the sentiment. He found the French demands, especially the 100 million francs in indemnities, equally unacceptable.

However, the other ministers remained mostly silent. The situation was undeniably awkward; Austria wasn't yet a defeated nation, but it seemed perilously close.

Meanwhile, the remaining Austrian forces besieged in Tuna were on the brink of collapse. Austria's hopes of turning the tide in the war were fading. Moreover, it was a considerable distance from the Balkans to Italy, making it difficult to deploy substantial military forces there promptly. Unless there was a prolonged period of patient preparation, moving troops slowly and then launching an attack, there might be a chance to turn the tables. However, the current domestic and international situations left Austria with no room to maneuver.

"Your Majesty, our military failures on the battlefield have already stirred discontent among many of our people. Internal dissenters are becoming active. If we cannot end the war quickly, the situation may become troublesome," Austrian Prime Minister Joseph Jelačić advised.

"The cost of war is substantial. With the passage of time and the accumulation of expenses, the financial burden is becoming unbearable. The royal family won't pay for it, and the Austrian government's finances are stretched thin. It's the ordinary people of Austria who must bear this burden. But as the war continues, the people's ability to endure is reaching its limit. If the war persists, internal turmoil in Austria is inevitable," he continued.

"Damn it! Now is the time for us to fight the enemy. If those rebels dare to make trouble, they will all be wiped out," Emperor Francis II angrily interjected. At this crucial moment of the war, he wouldn't tolerate any disruption.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Prime Minister Joseph Jelačić nodded quickly. He knew that the rebels had picked the wrong time to cause trouble.

"I understand that the current situation is very unfavorable for us. However, in this war, we absolutely cannot give up so easily. We must continue to fight until we achieve victory," Francis II declared to everyone present. His stubbornness was showing again!

Emperor Francis II's resolve to continue the war left Austrian officials grim-faced. Continuing the war was not an easy task; it required more than mere words.

"Your Majesty, the British have already refused our request for aid. They are unwilling to pressure the French government in negotiations. If we are to continue fighting against France, we may have to rely on ourselves," Austrian Foreign Minister Izvolsky said.

Austria's most pressing issue now was its impending financial collapse. If the war were to continue, it would require a significant sum of money. Unfortunately, Austria had long since run out of funds. With the British now unwilling to lend them money, the situation became even more dire. Without money, there was no way to mobilize troops, purchase weapons and ammunition, or continue the war.

Finance Minister Sergei opened his mouth to speak but ultimately said nothing. He had wanted to propose raising taxes, but as Prime Minister Joseph Jelačić had just mentioned, the domestic situation was already tense. Proposing tax hikes now could spark riots. If riots were indeed caused by tax hikes, he would undoubtedly be seen as the mastermind behind them, facing dire consequences. So, after thinking it over, he remained silent.

Francis II furrowed his brow tightly. As Emperor of the Habsburg Dynasty, money had never been a problem for him. He had always had an abundance of luxuries at his disposal. Money troubles had never been a concern. However, now, money was causing him difficulties.

Money was indeed a major issue. Without money, nothing could be done.

If he were willing to use the accumulated wealth of the royal family from nearly a century as military expenses, it could alleviate the current crisis. However, this proposal was almost impossible. The nobles of the Habsburg Dynasty would not agree to this request, and even Francis himself was not very willing.

After thinking it over, Francis II directed his anger toward the British.

"Damn those British! They clearly do not regard us as allies. I will never trust them again," Francis II angrily declared.

Austria and Britain shared common interests—Britain wanted to contain France, while Austria had significant interests in France's Italian colonies. Additionally, both countries faced a common enemy: the Ottoman Turks. This was why they had come together. However, it now seemed that the British were clearly using Austria as a pawn against France and the Ottoman Empire. This greatly displeased Austria, especially as its own interests were being damaged. Instead of helping, the British were applying pressure on Austria.

"If we are to reassemble our armies and defeat the French, how much military expenditure will be required?" Emperor Francis II asked sternly. Since the British could not be relied upon, Austria would have to depend on itself. Francis II was willing to gamble everything to win this war and defend the honor of the Austrian Empire. If needed, he was even prepared to empty his own treasury.

"Your Majesty, considering our recent setbacks on the battlefield, to defeat the French, we would need to deploy at least 150,000 troops to Italy. This would require extensive preparation time and a significant military expenditure. We estimate that we could be ready for a counteroffensive by next spring at the earliest. As for the military expenditure, it would exceed 120 million Austrian florins," Prime Minister Joseph Jelačić explained.

"120 million Austrian florins?" Hearing this figure, Francis II couldn't help but grimace. While he could afford this sum, it still pained him deeply. The Habsburg Dynasty had accumulated wealth for generations, always increasing the royal treasury. Now, in his generation, Francis was contemplating spending it. This decision placed enormous pressure on him.