Chapter 536: A Grand Game of Chess
Franz shook his head. "Immediate gains aren't important. What we need now is a new strategy—a grand strategy that all the countries of Europe can believe in.
"The old German Unification Strategy can no longer fool anyone. As the Kingdom of Prussia grows stronger, we no longer have the ability to swallow them whole. No matter how loudly we shout the slogan now, the European powers won't believe it.
"Since we cannot unify the German region, we are bound to have a new strategic plan. We need to release another smokescreen to draw every country's attention, so they won't discover our true purpose."
Truth mixed with falsehood, falsehood mixed with truth—over the years, the Vienna Government had concocted many strategies, yet the only one everyone truly believed was the "German Unification Strategy."
All of these strategies were real and wholly aligned with Austria's interests. It was merely that, due to various practical factors and their low odds of success, the Vienna Government had not invested many resources in them.
For example, the Continental Hegemony Plan had been formulated by the Vienna Government to seize hegemony over Europe. But because its chances of success were too low, it had flashed into existence like an ephemeral bloom before being shelved in the archives.
Then there was the Naval Hegemony Strategy, a product of the Anglo-French-Austrian arms race. Under the plan, Austria was to build one hundred ironclads within ten years and seize Britain's position as master of the seas.
It was a fine plan, but difficulties arose when it came time to carry it out. Aside from a round of bragging in the newspapers that gave the Royal Navy an excuse to expand, things changed once actual action began.
Ironclads, too, came in all ranks