Author: Seven Years Period

Franz knew very well that it was useless to compromise blindly, especially for great powers like Britain and France who aimed to dominate the world. Of course, it would be unwise to rashly provoke a war based on Austria's current situation, or to use counter-sanctions.

.

London, UK, Parliament.

Whig members strongly advocated Serbian nationalism at the meeting, and they hoped that the parliament would pass a bill supporting Serbian national independence.

Although this would sacrifice the interests of its ally the Ottoman Empire, it would play an extremely important role in maintaining the balance of power in Europe.

The Tories, led by Robert Peel, immediately launched a counterattack. They believed that the Whigs were playing with fire, especially by supporting Russia in sending troops to Austria, which was a bad move among bad moves.

"For many years, we in the UK have been working hard for peace in Europe. To this end, we must prevent the Slavs from expanding westward, and now you have ruined it all with your own hands!"

Robert Peel believed that the Whigs were completely destroying the Great Wall. Once the Austrians made concessions to Tsarist Russia, the latter's influence would be unprecedentedly powerful.

At this time, Tsarist Russia was not the old empire that was later ridiculed, but an arrogant European military police.

"Impossible, Belgrade is too important to the Austrian Empire. It is the key to the Balkans, an area that has been competed with the Ottoman Empire for hundreds of years. They cannot give up easily unless the last drop of blood is shed.

And we will not let the Russians dominate. The Prussians and French are all pawns that can be used. If necessary, Britain can save Europe again!"

Palmerston's confidence came from Britain's powerful military force, because even the former Napoleonic Empire, which united the entire Europe with a fragile alliance, still could not defeat the powerful Britain.

(Referring to Napoleon’s continental blockade policy.)

"You actually want to involve the entire empire in a meaningless dispute? You are a British subject, not the master. Mr. Palmerston, why do you let our soldiers die for you?"

Palmerston's reputation had been disgraced due to a certain war before. Although he won, he did not get the results that the British wanted. Naturally, all the blame for these crimes was attributed to Palmerston personally.

Now he actually once again proposed that Britain go to war with the great powers, and the entire parliament hall suddenly burst into boos.

"Austria and the Ottomans are both our traditional allies of Britain. What you do is a complete betrayal!" One member of the parliament stood up and shouted, and his words resonated.

Afterwards, there were constant denunciations of Palmerston in the parliament hall, but Palmerston seemed not to care at all.

"So what?" A very disdainful roar made the parliament quiet again. He ignored the surprised and angry members and cleared his throat and said.

"There are no eternal friends and no eternal enemies, only eternal interests. You old antiques should be buried in the ground!"

Palmerston scanned the entire audience, but no one dared to look at him.

"Victory in all previous wars belongs to Britain, and it will also belong to Britain in the future!"

The audience burst into warm applause, and Palmerston pressed his hand down and continued.

"The Austrian Empire opened up many colonies in Africa that we thought could not be colonized or were worthless in the past. They even discovered gold and diamonds in Namibia."

"gold!"

"diamond!"

"Oh my God! What a wonderful colony, why didn't we discover it!"

"This is a failure of the Colonial Office!"

When they heard about gold and diamonds, all the MPs' eyes lit up. This was much more profitable than open trade. Gold and diamonds were what they really wanted, and Palmerston naturally knew this.

"The maritime power of the Austrian Empire is simply unable to maintain these colonies, and taking them away is as simple as taking candy from a child for the British Royal Navy!"

"support!"

"Agree!"

"Long live Great Britain!"

"The cause of Serbian independence is just!"

"Justice will prevail!"

The audience burst into thunderous applause.

Russia, St. Petersburg.

Neserlov was very excited and came to the Tsar. At this time, Nicholas I was having dinner with Alexander and his new wife, Princess Maximilian Wilhelmina Auguste Sophie Marie.

Dinner is very important to the Orthodox Church, and Nicholas I was a very devout believer. He couldn't help but frowned when he looked at the very excited Foreign Minister in front of him.

Seeing this situation, Alexander immediately said: "Do I need to avoid it?"

In fact, he wanted to run away for a long time. Eating with his father was a very painful thing, and even the movements of eating were required.

Nicholas I felt that his son was unreliable. He had fooled around with a prostitute the day before his wedding night. Now that he had just gotten married, he did not want any further conflicts between the two.

In fact, Nicholas I looked down upon his son's infatuation because he was a very dedicated man and had only one mistress in his life, who was introduced by his wife.

Of course, there are also rumors that the queen had to ask her best friend to replace her because of physical discomfort. Nicholas I was 205cm tall, while Queen Alexandra was only 160cm tall.

"Sit down. As the crown prince, it's time for you to hear about national affairs."

Alexander had no choice but to sit back and do what he was doing, then turned to look at Princess Mary and raised an eyebrow, who immediately lowered her head in shame.

In fact, Alexander was seducing his new wife's maid. The European aristocratic circle at that time was very chaotic. This is just a microcosm.

"Karl, just say it. There is no need to avoid the Crown Prince's family."

As soon as Nicholas I spoke, all the waiters in the room immediately withdrew, leaving only Alexander, his wife, and two of Nicholas I's personal guards.

"Your Majesty, the Great Tsar, the British are willing to support our completely great Slavic liberation movement. Our neighbors to the west, the Austrians, have been enslaving our compatriots. This is the time to show your power."

Neserlov recounted the causes and consequences of the Serbian independence movement, and told the Tsar that the British were willing to support Russia in acquiring the territory of Austrian Poland.

Before Nicholas I could speak, Alexander played with the chicken bones with one hand and held his chin with the other.

"Isn't this using us as gunmen? Sacrifice our allies, and then seal the land we defeated to us?"

As soon as these words came out, Neserlov immediately blushed. He was a complete pro-British faction. In essence, he felt that recognition from the British was more important than anything else, so naturally he would not pursue those "minutiae".

But Alexander's words were like a basin of cold water, which immediately made Nicholas I calm down a lot. Although Russia needed to ease the conflict with Britain, it seemed that the gain was not worth the loss at the expense of its allies.

But everything soon became clear, as word reached London and St. Petersburg that the Serbs were still willing to remain a client state of the Ottoman Empire.

The Whigs had to announce their collective resignation due to this scandal, and the Tsar began to reconsider who his friends were. Milos withheld the British aid and did not intend to return it.

As for the missing British diplomat Baron Mills, no one cares about it. His body was eventually found in Istanbul. This is another story.
Chapter completed!