Got It Wrong

If war broke out between Prussia and Austria, Saxony would stand even more firmly on Austria's side. Even if Austria won, it couldn't touch Prussian territory, since that would provoke the Great Powers into intervening.

But it could certainly use Saxony, Bavaria, and other states to dismember Prussia, and even make Saxony Austria's spokesperson in North Germany.

That way, Austria's influence in the German Confederation would reach its peak, allowing it to control the Federal Assembly for the long term. In a sense, that would amount to resurrecting the Holy Roman Empire.

Saxony would get its lands back, but with the Austrian Empire so close by—and with Prussia's fate serving as a warning—it would be hard for Saxony to entertain thoughts of resistance again.

This kind of remote control wouldn't make the most of manpower and resources, but it would also be less likely to spark civil war, and the Great Powers would find it difficult to interfere.

The only problem was that this approach would leave a bad taste in people's mouths, and it would obstruct German unification. Saxony wasn't strong enough to unite North Germany; it couldn't even make the others submit in name only.

To avoid wasting manpower and public resources, the minor states and free cities would need to be consolidated. But a war between the three larger states—Prussia, Saxony, and Hanover—would be inevitable.

And if they fought, Austria would be in the most difficult position. If it stayed out, the conflict would most likely spread far and wide. If it intervened, it would become a feast for the Great Powers, with nearby Britain, France, and Russia all joining in.

Whatever the outcome, Austria would definitely have to take a beating first.

That left Franz's historical fiancées and wives: Princess Nene and Empress Sisi. Though they