Franz actually knew the Russians were about to make a major move, but he habitually assumed that, just as in history, their sights were set on Sinop, the Ottoman Empire's Black Sea port.
The Battle of Sinop was regarded as one of the greatest naval victories in Russian history, yet it was also a classic case of tactical victory and strategic defeat.
At this point, the Russian navy was stronger than it had been in history, while the Ottoman navy was weaker. Franz was certain that the Russian navy could score an opening victory.
As for whether Britain would enter the Black Sea and declare war on Russia as it had in history, with the French attitude still unclear, he had no idea.
But by now, whether Britain joined the war or not made little difference to the Austrian Empire, and Franz naturally could not care less.
Yet Nicholas I chose to attack Constantinople directly. In fact, every nation had considered this possibility before, but without exception, they had concluded that its feasibility was close to zero.
The Ottoman Empire had occupied this place for centuries. Across the thirty-one-kilometer stretch from the mouth of the Bosphorus Strait to the Golden Horn stood more than ten forts of varying sizes, all arranged in overlapping positions that could effectively form a web of fire, leaving any ship that entered with nowhere to hide.
There were also at least three chain barriers, each located at a narrow point in the channel and protected by corresponding forts and barracks.
Each chain barrier consisted of thick, heavy iron chains paired with floating logs. The two ends of the chains were fixed to shore-side forts or barracks. They normally lay submerged on the seabed, but once war broke out, they would be raised by winches to