Chapter 579: Go south, all the way south
With reference to France’s behavior in the Russo-Japanese War, the milk method has an additional meaning of encouragement. If it can make the French feel shame and change their past mistakes, then It couldn't be better.
The French do not think this is an insult. On the contrary, they hope to increase cooperation with the Russian Navy.
Although France does not need to worry about the German High Seas Fleet, it also faces strong challenges from the Italian Navy and the Austro-Hungarian Navy in the Mediterranean.
After the Italian Navy built the battleship "Dante Allegri", it successively started construction of two classes of battleships, namely the "Count of Cavour" class and the "Caio Durio" class. A total of 5 ships will be built.
At present, except for the No. 2 ship "Julio Caesar" of "Count Cavour", which has been commissioned, the other warships are under construction.
Three of the four "United Forces" class battleships of the Austro-Hungarian Empire have been completed, and the "Prinz Eugen" will be launched at the end of the year and will enter service next year.
It is precisely because of the pressure from the Italian Navy and the Austro-Hungarian Navy that France adopts a supportive attitude towards the Russian Empire on the issue of the Black Sea outlet.
Since the water in the Mediterranean is already so mixed, letting the Russian navy also come in may achieve another balance.
Like the British, the French were curious about the servant armies of the Russian Empire.
Regarding the issue of colonial servant armies, the French started earlier than the Russians. As early as 1831, France established a foreign legion in North Africa. In 1850, the French foreign legion landed in Crimea as an intervention force and participated in the ninth The Russo-Turkish War.
George did not participate in the subsequent reception because he was returning to the Balkans to be responsible for the military coordination of the Balkan Alliance.
Nicholas did not want George to go to the Balkans.
But only George can convince all the Balkan countries.
Just when George returned to the Balkans, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the Crown Prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was planning to take his wife Sophie on a trip to the Balkans.
This year marks the 14th anniversary of the marriage of Archduke Ferdinand and his wife.
Sophie was born into a declining Czech aristocratic family. Due to poor economic conditions, Sophie had to work as a maid in the house of an Austrian grand duchess when she was young. The grand duchess hoped to marry her daughter To Archduke Ferdinand, he invited Archduke Ferdinand to his home.
Unexpectedly, Archduke Ferdinand did not fall in love with the Grand Duke's daughter, but fell in love with Sophie at first sight.
Sophie was already in her 30s at the time. She was not a female official in the Grand Duke's family, but a maid.
This incident caused an uproar in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Almost everyone opposed Archduke Ferdinand to marry Sophie. According to the royal marriage law, if Archduke Ferdinand and Sophie married, their children would not be able to become Heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Archduke Ferdinand's persistence in love is commendable. He endured huge pressure to date Sophie, and solemnly announced at a cabinet meeting that his and Sophie's daughter would voluntarily give up the right to inherit the throne.
After two years of stalemate, Emperor Joseph I of the Austro-Hungarian Empire had to agree to let Ferdinand marry Sophie.
The huge Habsburg family, only Ferdinand's mother and sister, attended the wedding of Ferdinand and Sophie. Neither the emperor nor Ferdinand's brothers appeared.
After the wedding, although Ferdinand and Sophie lived happily and soon had a child, Sophie was not accepted by the Austro-Hungarian royal family. When traveling, Sophie could not ride with Ferdinand. In the same carriage and in the theater, Sophie could not be in the same box as Ferdinand.
As the Crown Princess, Sophie was ranked last among all royal women when attending palace balls.
July 1 is the wedding anniversary of Ferdinand and Sophie.
For 14 years, Ferdinand and Sophie have never arranged any celebrations on their wedding anniversary, because even if they were arranged, no royal family members would attend.
This year, due to the increasingly severe environment in the Balkans, the Austro-Hungarian Empire decided to hold its annual military exercises in Bosnia.
As the General Prosecutor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Archduke Ferdinand decided to take Sophie to Bosnia to inspect military exercises and spend a pleasant weekend.
Coincidentally, Nicholas had also previously decided to hold the Russian Empire’s annual military exercises in Constantinople. After more than a year of construction, Constantinople has become quite large. The first port to resume operation is the port. Since the materials from the Russian Empire are concentrated in Constantinople, Constantinople has become the Russian Empire's The largest material distribution center.
George attaches great importance to the defense of Constantinople. The troops stationed in Constantinople are the Vladivostok Armored Division from the Amur Military District.
The Vladivostok Armored Division is equipped with 160 new armored fighting vehicles alone, in addition to more than 600 various vehicles. This is the empire's first true armored division.
In the name of participating in the exercise, George also transferred the Yuriev Armored Division to strengthen Sofia's defense.
The equipment level of Master You is similar to that of Talisman Master, and they are also the ace troops of the Amur Military Region.
George is not optimistic about the Kingdom of Serbia. Once the war breaks out, if the Kingdom of Serbia cannot withstand the attack of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the war will spread to the Kingdom of Bulgaria.
Sofia is only 40 kilometers from the border.
Sending Youshi to Sofia and supplementing it with the Gaori Army, George is confident that he can defend the enemy from outside the country.
Forget about counterattack.
Unless France shows its defeat, the Russian army will attack to relieve the pressure on France.
Otherwise, the Russian army will only take a defensive stance.
Vasili frowned, which was seriously inconsistent with what he expected.
Vasily did not participate in the Balkan War. He thought he would be able to show off his skills in the war against the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Unexpectedly, George would take a defensive stance, which made Vasily sigh.
"Our goal is to win the final victory at the minimum cost, the process is not important."
George reminded Vasily that his own selfishness should not affect George's overall arrangement.
It doesn't matter how the local battle is fought. It is best to let the Austro-Hungarian Empire suffer, retreat and transfer the main force to France.
"It doesn't matter, we will always fight back, and there will be plenty of opportunities when the time comes."
Brushinov had enough of the Balkan War, and now he doesn't have much demand.
"How about I take an expeditionary force to North Africa?"
Vasili rolled his eyes, thinking about it.
Italy obtained Tripoli and Cyrenaica from the Ottoman Empire through the Italian-Turkish War. Once the war broke out, these two places would definitely be battlefields.
George's mind moved slightly.
After the Russian Empire broke through the Black Sea outlet, the next step must be Africa.
When European countries carved up Africa, the Russian Empire was still under British blockade and gained nothing.
Now that the Russian Empire has finally broken through the British blockade, it is time to change the political landscape of Africa.
Africa not only has Italian colonies, but also many German colonies.
(End of this chapter)