The ministers of the Austrian Empire were far angrier at the Frankfurt National Assembly's decision than Franz, the emperor, was.
Count Latour and Prince Felix Schwarzenberg in particular—two former leaders of German nationalism—were so furious that they would have gladly sent every one of those men who waved the banner of nationalism straight to hell.
No one gave the rabble of the German Confederation a second thought. In their eyes, that motley army was beneath notice, and they scoffed at the National Assembly's claim to command an army of 700,000.
"Seven hundred thousand? Seven hundred thousand stray dogs, more like! A pack of cowards who dare not go home—what gives them the right to challenge the authority of the empire?
"We can send the Italian Legion north. With the troops in Salzburg backing them up, that'll be more than enough to deal with those arrogant fools."
Count Latour was blunt and hadn't given the matter much thought. Beside him, Prince Schwarzenberg sneered.
"Seven hundred thousand? Where would they get that many men? If there really were 700,000 pigs in that little place called Frankfurt, we wouldn't even need to fight. A few months of waiting, and they'd be reduced to eating dirt.
"They'd be lucky to have half the numbers they boast of. Still, this is an opportunity for the Austrian Empire.
"We should show those princes sitting on the fence what happens to traitors. Our country should immediately stop sending food aid to the German States and suspend trade with them.
"We should also sign an agreement with Russia to stop it from shipping food and other necessities into German territory."
Count Latour didn't like the new prime minister, who was every bit as blunt as he was. He immediately retorted.
"Prime Minister, do you really think the Russians