On August 15, 1852, the Russian army launched the Second Battle of Bulgaria. Their main force poured out in full, crossing the Balkan Mountains to attack the Allies.
Franz found it difficult to understand how the Russians could throw in all their main forces so recklessly. At the very least, they should have left enough troops behind to guard their logistical supply lines, shouldn't they? Understanding or not, he still had to clean up after the Russians.
Austria needed this war to continue. Only if the Russians and the British and French fought until their blood ran hot would Austria find the perfect opportunity for its Western Advance Strategy.
Frowning, Franz ordered, "Tell the troops at the front to remain on standby at all times. If the Allied forces break through, they are to pose as Balkan guerrillas and help the Russians hold their supply lines."
If Austria had not been a multiethnic state, with no small number of ethnic minorities in its army, it would have been difficult even to help the Russians.
Politics meant having no shame. So long as the lid was not lifted and Britain and France had no proof that Austria was behind it, everyone would continue playing dumb and wait for another chance to strike back.
But if the lid was lifted, then there was nothing to say—they could only fight with their backs to the river. Franz deeply disliked taking risks with such extreme measures.
Marshal Radetzky suggested, "Your Majesty, intervening directly would make us too easily exposed. Why not support the local Bulgarian militias and guerrillas instead?
"The Russians may not think much of them, but reports from military observers at the front suggest that they possess high fighting spirit and a certain degree of combat capability.
"So long as we provide