Fox hesitated beside them. "But what if Russia chose to withdraw after occupying Poland?
"And for Austria, I'm afraid they wouldn't want an excessively powerful Russia appearing at their doorstep either..."
Grenville and Pitt the Younger exchanged glances and smiled.
These two masters of strategy were discussing matters on the "third level," while their mediocre Minister of Foreign Affairs was still tangled up in the "first." Pitt the Younger could only patiently explain, "What Russia wants is not merely Polish territory, but also a passage connecting it to Central and Western Europe. That is why, for more than a century, they have poured every effort into expanding into the Balkans. Hmm, how many times have they fought the Ottomans over this?"
"Six times," Fox said.
"Oh, yes, six times. They've been fighting from over a century ago right up to the present." Pitt the Younger nodded. "Yet despite winning so many wars, the Russians have obtained only Crimea and Iasi, and to this day have failed to reach the southern bank of the Danube River.
"That was not because the Ottomans were so powerful, but because Austria, France, and even our own country were unwilling to see Russian influence penetrate deep into Europe, and thus acted to keep them in check.
"So Russia will certainly not miss this chance to use military force to 'persuade' us and Austria to let it control the Balkans. Oh, and defeating France is an important step in that as well."
Grenville added, "The Russians have long secretly supported Greek independence in order to weaken Ottoman power on the Balkan Peninsula. This time, we can help Greece accelerate its break from the Ottomans, letting the Russians see hope. They will be even less able to restrain their urge to meddle in the affairs of Central