Thanks to the telegraph, news of what had happened in Persia swiftly spread across the European Continent, shocking the world in an instant.
In Jerusalem, Franz, one of the first to learn of the Ottomans' actions, was also struck by the decisiveness of the Young Ottomans.
It was not the best choice, but it was the choice best suited to the Ottoman Government. With its treasury drained dry, diverting refugees into neighboring countries was the most effective way to weather the crisis.
Austria and Russia were not foes they could afford to offend. Both nations had sealed their borders, leaving only a handful able to sneak across. That meant they could only seize Persia, the soft persimmon, and bully it to death.
As for the horrifying consequences, did they not have the British to vouch for them? Striking at the Persians was something the London Government wanted to see. With the British mediating, it would most likely end with a major matter reduced to a minor one, and a minor one swept away.
Franz asked with concern, "How many Ottomans have entered illegally recently?"
Though Austria was not well suited for illegal crossings, under the pressure of hunger, the number of Ottomans entering the country unlawfully had still surged sharply in recent times.
Felix said, "More than eighty thousand, approximately. Of those, seventy-eight thousand were caught. The border troops have already tried to arrest as few as possible, but some Ottomans were so desperate from hunger that they deliberately presented themselves to be caught by the guards.
"Under the regulations, these people violated Austrian law and must be punished. The border troops could only apprehend them and bring them to justice."
Franz thought wickedly that it was likely not merely some of them who had deliberately let themselves be caught.