The story goes back to before the nobles approached the French. With Haynau around, the great nobles couldn't make a move directly.
After all, no one wanted to find out whether that mad dog's blade was still sharp.
So the great nobles resorted to their old trick, spreading the claim that Austria had designs on the Three Southern German States. The three southern kings couldn't care less, while their officials had already begun asking whether they would be allowed to keep their positions and salaries after joining Austria.
The Three Southern German States—Bavaria, Württemberg, and Baden—had chosen to lie low out of sheer helplessness. France had not been weakened much after the Napoleonic Wars. The situation of being caught between two lions, France and Austria, remained unchanged.
If anything, the Napoleonic Wars had wreaked havoc on the rule of the Three Southern German States. Though they had been on the winning side, their strength had not grown; instead, they had suffered a massive decline.
On top of that, Prussia had gained the Rhineland, and the pressure from that ravenous wolf on South Germany had only increased.
The Three Southern German States had no access to the sea and were agricultural countries. To develop, they had no choice but to rely on the powerful nations around them, all watching them like hungry tigers.
Trying to get a tiger to hand over its hide had never been easy.
Austria had once treated them as a bulwark against France. The French had used them as cannon fodder: the expedition to Russia had nearly drained the Three Southern German States dry, and tens of thousands of their soldiers had been left to perish in Russia's icy wastes. The Prussians had supported them only to weaken Austria; as for the price, anyone who knew, knew.
The people, the nobility, and even the capitalists at home had long been dissatisfied with this inept government. Everyone wanted the status quo changed, and a powerful state to protect their lives and property. A unified nation and a unified market were what they wanted most urgently.
That was why South Germany became the main gathering place for the Greater German Faction.
As the former imperial house of the Holy Roman Empire, the House of Habsburg held great authority, and the Austrian Empire was now the presiding member of the German Confederation. Uniting Germany by relying on Austria and the authority of the House of Habsburg seemed the fastest route.
Moreover, the House of Habsburg had a decent reputation. The nobles' status and property could be guaranteed, and they might even receive a handsome compensation. That was a considerable temptation for nobles whose finances were chronically in the red.
And if they could take advantage of the change of regime to get rid of a few creditors, wouldn't that be wonderful?
Austrian law stipulated that officials had to know German. This was wonderful news for officials and promising young people in the Three Southern German States. A larger country meant more positions.
After all, the number of Austrians belonging to the empire's principal ethnic group was woefully small for a country of its size.
With their conspiracies falling through, the great nobles could only resort to open tactics: manipulating public opinion.
But Metternich had prepared in advance. Before the negotiations, he had specifically sought out Archbishop Rauscher to explain the pros and cons.
At the negotiating table, a group of church bishops showed up uninvited. Faced with these holy men, Austria's great nobles couldn't exactly stand firm. After all, only the Brahmins could defeat the Kshatriyas.
"Public opinion? Who says public opinion is against joining the German Customs Union?" Archbishop of Linz said with some disdain.
The great nobles' advisers, who had been so domineering moments earlier, immediately wilted like eggplants after frost. Only one young man murmured, "That's the conclusion we reached after conducting our investigation."
"Oh?" Archbishop of Linz couldn't help laughing. "Which diocese are you from, child?"
The bishops around him exchanged glances and laughed too. The great nobles' advisers, however, couldn't find anything funny about it.
"The Diocese of Bohemia," the young man replied.
"Very well, child." Archbishop of Linz turned to Archbishop of Polslu. "Your Diocese of Bohemia ought to hold a vote, then let this child see the results."
The Church still wielded considerable influence in the Austrian Empire at this time. Getting the faithful to hand over their property and go off to fight might have been difficult, but manipulating an election could be done in a matter of minutes.
"Well, then. Does anyone still object to welcoming our Catholic brothers from South Germany?" Archbishop Rauscher's words were even more explicit, and carried no small measure of contempt.
In this era, the Church and the nobility were not on particularly good terms, especially with the new nobles involved in commerce and industry. They refused to pay tithes and wouldn't pay them on behalf of their employees either.
This was especially true after the Austrian Empire introduced religious freedom. The nobles and the Church had gradually gone their separate ways. The Church depended on the state, while the nobles wanted more power.
Of course, the nobles and the Church were both rivals and allies. Many bishops came from noble families, while many nobles sent their second sons and daughters who couldn't secure a good dowry into the Church, thus avoiding the division of their estates.
And when it came to manipulating public opinion, the great nobles were no match for the Church.
Not a single great noble was willing to step forward and invite trouble by taking on the Church. The only solution they could think of was to drag things out.
Metternich had anticipated the great nobles' stalling tactics, but he didn't think they could do much else. At most, they would stir up a few local revolts. He had already ordered Count Latour, the Minister of War, to keep a close eye on developments at home.
Yet Metternich had still underestimated just how low this bunch of great nobles could sink.
Before long, a letter and two hundred thousand francs were placed on the desk of Guizot, a minister in the French Cabinet.
"Esteemed Mr. Guizot,"
"Great France is being subjected to a despicable conspiracy. The vile Germans are preparing to unite against the great French Empire. The wicked Prince Metternich intends to use an alliance to gradually annex the Three Southern German States."
"If the Germans' conspiracy succeeds, the balance of power in Europe will inevitably be shattered. The shadow of war will once again loom over Europe. For the sake of freedom and peace—"
"We hope you can save the innocent and good people from the ravages of war."
—A true lover of peace in Europe
The British received similar letters, but before they had time to react, the French struck first.
Guizot immediately invoked the authority of Marshal Soult and sent a formal notice to the Three Southern German States, demanding that they not join the customs union organized by Austria. Otherwise, France reserved the right to use force to dissolve the union.
The leaders of the Three Southern German States panicked at once and hurriedly recalled the envoys they had sent to negotiate with Austria. In response to the French notice, the hawkish faction led by Count Latour, the Minister of War, advocated immediately mobilizing troops, informing the countries of the Holy Alliance, and preparing for war with France.
The great nobles were warning the emperor that Austria's treasury was empty and its forces insufficient. Most importantly, if Austria went to war with France, it would bear the brunt of the fighting and suffer enormous losses. If they didn't want a repeat of the Napoleonic Wars, the best course was to avoid war.
"You cowards! Do you think the French won't see you just because you've buried your heads in the sand? France is strong, but have you forgotten who defeated it?" Count Latour had a fiery temper. As a veteran of the wars against France, he couldn't stand anyone talking up the French.
"Latour! You fool! We have no money. Are you going to fight on the battlefield by yourself? And are we supposed to bleed Austria dry just for Bavaria, Baden, and Württemberg?" Prince Windisch-Graetz shot back.
"Ferdinand, this isn't for someone else's sake! The French are already at our doorstep. No soldier can tolerate that."
"A soldier's duty is to obey and serve the country, not to defend your damned pride."
The two sides were at each other's throats, while Francis II wavered between them. To be honest, he detested France, but the Napoleonic Wars had left him with too many painful memories, and he was afraid.
Then bad news arrived: an uprising had broken out in Bohemia, protesting the entry of South German goods into Bohemia.
The local garrison couldn't suppress it and appealed to Vienna for help.
Francis II made his decision: suspend the formation of the South German Zollverein and devote all efforts to suppressing the domestic rebellion.
After the emperor left, Count Latour glared furiously at Prince Windisch-Graetz. "You whelp! How dare you!"
Anyone with eyes knew that Bohemia had eighty thousand regular troops. That was more than enough to suppress an uprising.
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