Chapter 0648: The Austro-Hungarian Empire's Concerns

In the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Vienna, within the splendid Schönbrunn Palace, Emperor Franz Joseph I lay upon his bed, listening to his ministers' reports on state matters.

At 85 years of age, Franz Joseph was the oldest among the monarchs of Europe, undoubtedly the most venerable. However, his advanced age, compounded by failing health, had rendered him too weak to manage the affairs of the empire. The majority of state matters were entrusted to Archduke Karl, the heir to the throne, who had been given the responsibility as a means of training him for the eventual inheritance of the imperial crown.

Archduke Karl, still young at 28, found himself tasked with overseeing such a vast and complex empire—a daunting challenge for one so inexperienced. Nevertheless, it was worth noting that Emperor Wilhelm III of Germany, at a similar age of 27, faced comparable difficulties, making any direct comparison less meaningful.

Despite the similar ages of the two heirs, there were notable differences in their personal abilities. Karl, in particular, was headstrong and harboring animosity toward Wilhelm III and the German Empire. This was a matter of concern for Franz Joseph. Had he been younger, he might have considered selecting a more suitable heir. However, time was no longer on his side, and he could only pray that God would grant the Austro-Hungarian Empire the strength to persevere.

"Your Majesty, the German Navy has once again triumphed decisively in battle. The combined fleets of Britain, France, and Italy were defeated at minimal cost. The German Navy has firmly established its dominance on the seas. No other nation, even in coalition, can rival Germany's naval strength. Soon, the world's oceans will be under German rule," Admiral Anton Haus of the Austro-Hungarian Navy reported.

"Send a telegram to His Majesty Emperor Wilhelm, congratulating the German Navy on their victory at sea. I know that the Austro-Hungarian Navy will never be able to compete with Germany's might," Franz Joseph sighed.

"Indeed, Your Majesty. In comparison to the German Navy, we are woefully outmatched," Admiral Haus replied.

Although the Austro-Hungarian Navy had made strides in development, it remained far from ranking among the world's top fleets. Against the unparalleled might of the German Navy, even the smallest German task force could easily crush the Austro-Hungarian forces.

"Your Majesty, I believe the German Navy is becoming too powerful, which is bad news for the Austro-Hungarian Empire. I am certain that with their expanding strength, the Germans' ambitions will grow accordingly. The German Navy will inevitably move into the Mediterranean, which will pose a grave threat to the Austro-Hungarian Empire and shift the balance of power in that region. The Empire must begin investing heavily in its own navy, or else our interests will be severely undermined," Crown Prince Karl asserted.

He was deeply envious of the German Navy's continued victories and their humbling of the once-mighty Royal Navy of Britain. How he longed for the day when the Austro-Hungarian Navy could be similarly powerful, giving the Empire the means to rival Germany.

Franz Joseph fell silent for a long moment before finally speaking: "The navy is indeed crucial; it is one of the Empire's greatest weaknesses. We should have directed more resources toward it, much as Britain did."

"Your Majesty is wise," both Crown Prince Karl and Admiral Haus responded in unison.

"With the German Navy victorious, it is clear that France and Italy will soon be unable to resist. They will likely surrender quickly. The Empire's interests in this war must be guaranteed," remarked Mario Weber, the Prime Minister of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The high-ranking officials gathered in the room felt a surge of excitement. The war was drawing to a close, and the moment to divide the spoils of victory had arrived. As a member of the victorious alliance, the Austro-Hungarian Empire was entitled to a share of the spoils—how large that share would be was a matter of great concern.

"What worries me now is whether the Germans will deliberately deprive the Empire of what is rightfully ours, much as they did with Russia's gains," Crown Prince Karl suddenly interjected.

The room fell into stunned silence. Germany had almost completely absorbed Russia's gains, leaving the Austro-Hungarian Empire with only the barest scraps. Though Germany had voiced its support for the Empire's expansion in the Balkans, this action still left a bitter aftertaste.

"No matter what, the Empire is a victor in this war, and we remain allies with the Germans. I doubt they would overstep too far," Franz Joseph replied.

"In our negotiations with France, we should strive to secure our interests. If the Germans obstruct us, we will have no choice but to concede. After all, we did not participate in the war against France. However, in the negotiations with Italy, the Empire's core interests are at stake. We must ensure that our position is firmly protected," Prime Minister Weber said.

"Though we did not send troops to fight France, it was our campaign against Italy that tied down a significant portion of the French forces. By both reason and principle, the Germans should not be allowed to encroach on our rightful share of the spoils," Crown Prince Karl said, his voice tinged with anger.

The wealth of France was well-known to the Crown Prince. He was certain that Germany would extract a considerable ransom from the French. The very thought of the Germans reaping such vast profits from France filled him with bitterness and jealousy, flames of resentment burning within him.

"We must not alienate Germany at this stage. It is crucial that we avoid creating animosity with them. A reasonable compromise would serve the Empire's interests," Franz Joseph counseled.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Crown Prince Karl replied reluctantly, though his thoughts were harder to read.

"Your Majesty, we have just received word from Germany: Italy has officially requested peace talks with the Germans. The German government has asked us to send a delegation to attend," Baron Leopold von Berchtold, the Empire's Foreign Minister, reported.

"Where will the talks take place?" Crown Prince Karl inquired.

"In Berlin," Baron Berchtold answered.

"How audacious! The Germans have completely disregarded us. They did not consult us at all, yet they have decided the location of the negotiations without even asking our opinion," Crown Prince Karl said angrily.