"Damn the Russians! What are they trying to do?!"
Count Latour, the Minister of War, was the first to step forward and speak angrily.
"What else could it be? The Russians are obviously trying to fish in troubled waters."
Count Giovanni Battis, the Minister of the Interior, said with a hint of teasing. It was not that he failed to grasp the gravity of the situation; that carefree Italian cynicism had simply seeped into his blood.
"The Russians reacted so quickly this time. Could they have planned this all along?"
Prince Schwarzenberg immediately offered his judgment. Once someone pointed it out, the atmosphere instantly grew tense.
Having Greece as an enemy and having Russia as an enemy were entirely different matters. Against Greece, Austria could not think of any reason they could not settle the matter within a month. But against Russia, the Austrian Empire could not think of any way to settle the other side within a month.
Duke Schmalt, the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, offered his own analysis.
"The Russian army has only a little over ten thousand men, while Greece has more than a hundred thousand troops. If they truly intended to intervene, they could not possibly have sent only ten thousand men, could they?"
Clearly, Duke Schmalt's analysis made sense. Thus, everyone began wondering once again just what the Russians intended to do.
All eyes gathered on Franz without prior agreement. It was time for him, the emperor, to make a decision.
"Proceed according to the original plan."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Franz had sufficient prestige to convince the Austrian Empire's upper ranks, though everyone still remained deeply worried that Russia might intervene.
"This operation will not use the troops stationed in Belgrade."
Franz added.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
In truth, such a move was tantamount