Chapter 187: Austria-Phobia Sufferers
Franz's troubles were beyond Abdulmejid I's understanding. Had he known Austria's plans, he would not have had to abandon Serbia.
In fact, the Sultan's Government was giving up more than just Serbia this time. Bosnia and Herzegovina were also among the territories being abandoned.
The reason was painfully practical—there was no way to hold them.
Since they knew they could not hold them, why waste troops for nothing? The Ottoman Government made what it believed was the right choice: concentrate its superior forces to defend against the Russian advance.
As for Austria, after occupying Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, its front line would be stretched too long. It would not even have time to stabilize its rear, so how could it possibly continue its offensive?
Britain and France had already promised the Ottoman Government that, so long as they defeated the Russians, they were confident they could make Austria spit out everything it had swallowed at the negotiating table.
With so many favorable conditions, Abdulmejid I naturally chose to concentrate his forces against the Russians.
To slow the Austrian Army's advance, the Ottoman Army damaged roads and bridges along its retreat route, burned granaries, and conscripted large numbers of young and able-bodied men as they withdrew.
Constantinople
Staring at the enormous map on the wall, Abdulmejid I let out a sigh. He did not want to abandon the legacy of his ancestors either, but reality did not bend to a man's will.
Abdulmejid I had never fully trusted the promises of Britain and France. Take the present situation—the British reinforcements had not arrived in full.
They had promised eighty thousand reinforcements, yet only twenty thousand had come. As for the rest, they would have to wait until Britain expanded its army; for now, they simply