Chapter 402: Chapter 89: The Great Powers Want to Eat Meat
 

Paris—Napoleon III had been utterly dazed by the unexpected windfall that seemed to have fallen from the sky.

France’s diplomatic situation had always been precarious, with European nations seemingly excluding them with an unspoken agreement, often leaving France out of various activities.

Among the four major powers of Europe, France’s political influence was the weakest; any slightly unconventional action could provoke neighbors into preparing for war as if facing a formidable enemy.

After ascending to the throne, Napoleon III made great efforts to improve the diplomatic environment, yet the results were minimal.

Countries spoke well of France, but in practice, they still guarded against it vigilantly, especially after the annexation of the Kingdom of Sardinia when a united defense alliance emerged directly.

In the beginning, Napoleon III was somewhat worried, fearing another Anti-French Alliance. As time went on, he got used to it.

Let them guard; it only affirmed France’s strength from another aspect.

Being Emperor for a long time, and constantly flattered, it was inevitable to become somewhat conceited.

As time went on, Napoleon III’s ambition grew day by day. Luckily, France did not win the Crimean War, otherwise he might have become even more arrogant.

Facing the united defense of the nations, Napoleon III still dared not act rashly. He had that much self-awareness.

To break the deadlock, Napoleon III had also made many efforts, such as maintaining a good relationship with the United Kingdom and Austria as much as possible.

He coveted the Rhineland region yet refrained from acting impulsively; he gazed greedily at the Italian Area and likewise controlled himself.

The lessons left by his uncle told him that an Anti-French Alliance could be deadly. Without a reasonable excuse, any expansion by France on the European Continent would provoke a joint opposition.

The Kingdom of Sardinia was looking for its doom; no one could say anything. Now, the Austrians were closely watching the Italian Sub-States, leaving no room for France to intervene.

Had it not been for the plea for help from Francis II, without a reason for intervention, Napoleon III could only stand by and do nothing.

Napoleon said spiritedly, “The opportunity has come. Whichever of our forces is available should be dispatched to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies immediately. If we wait for the Austrians to suppress the rebellion, there will be no room for us to intervene.”

Without a doubt, Garibaldi’s Rebel Army was completely overlooked by him. In his view, the combat effectiveness of the Italian Army was merely rated as five, and even less for the Rebel Army.

In face of an absolute power disparity, even if viewed with contempt, it wasn’t a big issue.

The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies was within easy reach, and the forces the French could employ were sufficient to annihilate any Rebel Army.

In the original timeline, Garibaldi’s Red Shirts Army had the covert support of the Kingdom of Sardinia. But now, when Sardinia had become history, naturally, they would not support him.

If the United States Federal Government counted as a supporter, then Garibaldi did have backers. However, this supporter was still licking its wounds and in a period of keeping a low profile, without the capacity to aid them, let alone daring to support them.

Minister of the Army Edmond-Leboef responded, “Your Majesty, the 3rd, 4th, 7th, 9th, 12th, and 15th Infantry Divisions, and 2nd Cavalry Division, among others, are available for deployment.”

It was evident that Edmond-Leboef was well-versed with France’s military deployments, rattling off the numbers of the mobile forces in one breath.

France was now in its prime, maintaining a large number of mobile forces even during peacetimes. If war broke out, they could easily mobilize an army of a million.

Interfering with the civil war in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, a division or two of troops would suffice, as Garibaldi’s Rebel Army totaled only thirty to forty thousand men.

Napoleon III immediately ordered, “Form the intervention army from the 4th, 7th, 9th, and 15th Infantry Divisions, appoint Marshal Patrice McMahon as the Commander, and proceed to the battlefield at the fastest speed.

Deploy the navy to provide escort, while simultaneously blockading the coastline of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, forbidding any vessel from docking in the areas controlled by the rebels.”

Mobilizing four infantry divisions wasn’t just for suppressing the rebellion; the rebels were not worth such high regard from Napoleon III. It was more to prepare for a potential conflict with Austria.

This move by France was akin to reaching into Austria’s backyard, and an excessive reaction from the Vienna Government would be expected.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” replied Minister of the Army Edmond-Leboef.

This outcome was disheartening for Foreign Minister Abraham. Intervening in the civil war of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies would not only displease Austria but also the United Kingdom and Spain.

The Spaniards can be set aside for now, as they currently lack the energy to care about this matter. But the reactions from London and Vienna cannot be ignored; if they triggered a chain reaction, there would be trouble.

Foreign Minister Abraham cautioned, “Your Majesty, the matter of intervening in the civil war in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies probably requires further deliberation. Acting rashly now, we would have to face significant international pressure.”

This was to be expected; one could imagine that as soon as the French Army entered the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, protests from the United Kingdom, Austria, and Spain would appear at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The consequences of such actions are unknown, but certainly, they wouldn’t bring anything good.

Under the current international situation, France can at most spread its influence to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, gaining very little actual benefit.

Annexation is even less feasible. Francis II’s telegrams requesting aid merely provided France with an excuse to intervene in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies’ internal affairs; it does not mean that annexation of the Kingdom is possible.

On the European continent, annexing a country is extremely difficult, and the good fortune of the Kingdom of Sardinia cannot be encountered every day.

Moreover, the same pretext can only be used once, as repeated use would render it ineffective.

“Don’t worry,” Napoleon III said confidently, “This time it is Francis II who has invited us over. Even if other countries’ governments are unhappy, they’re unlikely to interfere forcibly.

The only ones we have to face are the Austrians, and the Vienna Government certainly would not start a war with us over the mere Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, would they?”

The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies is the largest state in the Italian area and is also the poorest. It seems to be a sizable market, but the purchasing power is extremely low.

Food is basically self-sufficient, and the demand for industrial and commercial products is very small. Trade with its primary trading partner, Austria, does not exceed three million shields in total import and export value each year.

Beyond strategic value, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies has nothing else. However, this strategic value is equally trivial for Austria.

It’s true that Sicily is located in the center of the Mediterranean, but with multiple powers converging, Austria has no way of directly occupying the area.

Even if they established a naval base, it would be of no use. To the east lies the Royal Naval Mediterranean Military Base—Malta, and to the west lies the French Naval Headquarters.

Placing the Austrian Navy between these two powers seems unreliable no matter how one looks at it.

Even ignoring these two naval powers, what else could they do? Surely Austria wouldn’t dare blockade the Mediterranean, something even the British wouldn’t dare to do!

Therefore, the Vienna Government made the most rational choice to ignore Sicily. Austria doesn’t currently have troops stationed in this smaller state, just a little economic interest.

This minor interest is, in fact, negligible. They’re already poor; did they think they would strike oil?

Thinking himself clever, Napoleon III dispatched an intervention force to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies at the fastest speed possible. At the same time, the Austrian intervention force also set off.

…

On February 11, 1866, the Austrian intervention force arrived in Gaeta, while the French Army, due to proximity, had already reached there a day earlier.

Before the rebellion suppression campaign even began, the tension between the French and Austria armies thickened. If it weren’t for the restraint on both sides, these troops could have well started fighting each other first.

Francis II, who had just fled Naples and sought refuge here, fully experienced what a place of chaos was like.

At the military conference, the officers of France and Austria did not show each other any amicable faces. Sincere collaboration should not be dreamt of.

Since both sides dislike each other, they might as well fight their own battles. Neither viewed the rebel army seriously, each possessing the strength to crush the rebellion.

Francis II felt awkward, caught between France and Austria; walking a fine line, a misstep could spell his doom.

Indeed, when Francis II sought help from the French, ministers had already warned him. Indecision when picking sides is a major political taboo.

For some reason, Francis II had a moment of folly, fancifully believing that having France and Austria counterbalancing each other could maximize the interests of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

Reality told him that he was thinking too much. The great powers are all carnivores, and it makes no difference wherever they go.

Franz had always been conscious of his appearances, engaging in fair trade without suppressing the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

The situation is different now, with the French joining in. How much the price will be ultimately is yet unknown, but the military expenses of both countries deploying troops have fallen on the Kingdom.

Starting at ten million shields at the least, there’s nothing to discuss; great powers are not here for charity.

For the major countries, it’s just a matter of arranging the military expenses. For the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, however, it’s a matter of several years’ fiscal revenue.

How many years precisely, that would depend on the fighting strength of the rebel army. If the rebels unexpectedly pull out a surprise, pushing the war to continue, the financial bankruptcy of the Kingdom is only a matter of time.

The likelihood of such an event is quite high; if only one country intervened, a swift resolution might be possible.

Now that France and Austria have sent troops together, deliberately tripping each other up and dragging their feet is expected to be unavoidable.

When the rebellion will be suppressed depends on the capacity of the double-crossing allies.