Franz had not expected the Russians and the British to reach an understanding so quickly. Everything had happened too fast, and he had not even had a chance to stop them.
Franz had still hoped the Russians would hold out a little longer, buying the Austrian Empire more time.
The Treaty of Hünkâr İskelesi had been abolished after all. The Russians had kept attacking the Ottomans from the west not only because it was closer to Constantinople, but also because there were more Slavic kinsmen there.
The real reason was that the roads in the east were too difficult to traverse, and the supply lines even harder to secure.
By sea was the only way to guarantee uninterrupted supplies to the eastern front. But once Russia lost its supremacy in the Black Sea, it would have no choice but to keep attacking from the west.
If Russia attacked from the west, it would have to win the support of the various Balkan peoples. The terrain in the Balkans was too restrictive, and taking Constantinople would be no easy feat.
Franz was not particularly interested in the Balkans, but he could never accept Russia occupying the entire region. After all, no one wanted to live with a gun constantly pointed at their back.
What was more, would the Russians be satisfied after taking the buffer zone? Would they press westward while they were at it? People had argued over this question for centuries, and no one could give a definite answer.
Whatever the case, the Austrian Empire could not tolerate such a situation. Franz would not entrust his future to someone else's good character.
And if the situation ever spiraled out of control, there was no telling whether the British might join forces with the Russians.
After all, when the Ottoman