"Look, these are slaves!"

Leopold II angrily said:

What exactly are they trying to do?!

Marquess Hartmann said uncertainly:

"Your Majesty, the Hungary separatists have been looking for a pretext to Rebellion, and this could very well be an insult to Vienna. If we don't handle this properly..."

Although Hungary is currently part of the Austrian Empire, it has always had its own "mini-government," with independent Finance and a complete system of officials at all levels, and has always maintained a strong tendency toward independence.

Austria offered Hungary a host of preferential policies in an effort to keep them in check, but the Hungarian separatists caused trouble every year.

Joseph saw this as an opportunity and decided to make Hungary the scapegoat. The Hungary separatists, however, were unlikely to come to the Schönbrunn Palace to defend themselves—unless they wanted to explain themselves from prison.

That afternoon, Austria's most influential ministers gathered in Joseph II's Bedroom to discuss how to deal with the current situation.

The anti -Prussia faction, led by Kaunitz, and the peace faction, led by Count Franz, stood on two distinct sides.

Joseph II was so ill that he could barely speak, but he managed to raise his hand with difficulty to signal the start of the meeting.

Count Lecam of Lecam, a member of the peace faction, spoke first:

"Your Majesty, there are no longer any major obstacles to our recapture of Southern Netherlands. It is completely pointless for the Empire to continue to expend resources in Silesia."

Anti-Putinists immediately countered:

"Count lord, if we fail to achieve a strategic breakthrough this time, as you know, it will be difficult for our country to concentrate so many resources to wage war against Prussia in a short period of time, and the recapture of Silesia will become a distant prospect."

"We've wasted too many resources, that's why we should cut our losses as soon as possible!"

"Listen to the voices of the people!" Baron Ferrari held up a list. "When everyone heard of Marshal Lacy's victory, they donated 35,000 Florin to the front lines yesterday alone! And now you want to negotiate peace with the Prussia? Then please return these donations to them."

"The claim of victory is nothing but a rumor!"

By this time, these high-ranking ministers all knew that there was no such thing as a "Great Victory of Liegnitz"; it was just a rumor spread by the Hungarians to humiliate Vienna.

"No, that is the long-cherished wish of all Austria," Baron Ferrari declared passionately. "They all believe it to be true!"

Count Frenz, considering the benefits promised by the United Kingdom, also began to join the fray:

Are we going to continue fighting over a rumor?

Marquess Lange said in a deep voice:

"Unless you take everyone to Silesia to see for yourself, there will always be people who believe that Liegnitz has been recaptured. Moreover, negotiating peace will damage Marshal Lacy's reputation."

Yes, yesterday everyone was saying you had won a great victory, but today the government is denying it, saying you didn't win anything at all— Lacy's political and military career is over.

Count Franz immediately said:

"In fact, Marshal Lacy also supported a ceasefire."

Count Lecam added:

"I've been to the front lines in Gnitz. Given the current situation, it's simply impossible for our army to retake Silesia before our Finance collapse."

Minister of Foreign Affairs Baron Thugut glanced at Kaunitz and said:

"The Crown Prince of France has formally expressed his willingness to increase support for the Silesia campaign. The intervention of the French Army will help us defeat the Prussia, just as we did in the Southern Netherlands."

Baron Ferrari immediately replied:

"The whole country is now immersed in the joy of victory, and you all know what retreating at this time means!"

He pointed the South: "The Hungary separatists are the ones who most want us to make peace with the Prussia!"

The recapture of Silesia was ultimately Austria's greatest political correctness. As the pro-war faction intensified its attacks, Count Franz and others could hardly get a word in edgewise.

Just then, Kaunitz, who had been silent until now, suddenly stood up, tilted his head back at a 45-degree angle to look at the Smallpox, clenched his fists, took a deep breath, and said loudly:

Have you all heard of this poem that has been circulating among the people recently?

If We Do Not Go To War?

If We Do Not Go To War,

The Prussia used bayonets.

They killed us.

They also pointed to our bones and said:

"Look,

"These are slaves!"

The entire Bedroom fell silent. The peace advocates lowered their heads, while the war advocates' eyes burned with fury, and some were even on the verge of tears.

This poem is absolutely soul-piercing!

Everyone instantly recalled the humiliation of Silesia being forcibly occupied by the Prussia.

The last sentence, in particular, filled them with rage. They wanted nothing more than to go to the front lines, point Flintlock Gun at the Prussia ' heads, and roar, "The Austria are not to be trifled with!"

This was the "ultimate weapon" Joseph provided to Kaunitz —a short poem that had inspired countless patriotic soldiers to fight valiantly in later generations. In any country suffering from foreign invasion today, it would be a bombshell. So Joseph told Kaunitz about the poem and instructed him to recite it when necessary to turn the tide.

On his sickbed, Joseph II suddenly trembled, raised his withered right hand, and made a "uh uh" sound.

Leopold II quickly put his ear to his mouth to listen carefully, and after a moment stood up, looked around at everyone, and said:

"His Majesty said that Silesia must be retaken at all costs. We must immediately discuss aid with France and send reinforcements to the front lines."

He turned around and saw His Majesty the Emperor's lips moving, then added:

"Austria will prevail!"

Baron Ferrari immediately raised his arms and shouted:

"Austria will prevail! Long live His Majesty the Emperor!"

Other pro-war advocates also shouted excitedly, and after a moment, Count Frenz and others had no choice but to join in the shouting:

Long live His Majesty the Emperor!

"Reclaim Silesia!"

There's no way around it. Given the current atmosphere, who would dare to propose peace again? His Majesty the Emperor would certainly send him back to his hometown to be fed pigs without hesitation.

Joseph turned his head to listen to the crowd outside the window chanting loudly—

"And they would point to our bones and say:"

"Look,

"These are slaves!"

He couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief; it seemed that Kaunitz had won at the Schönbrunn Palace, and France's strategic investment in the Southern Netherlands would not be in vain.

Given Austria's current national strength, it would need France's help to defeat Prussia. Therefore, it could then set its own price.

However, some concrete support must be provided to Austria this time; otherwise, once the hype surrounding the "Great Victory of Liegnitz" has died down, Vienna will still choose to negotiate peace.

Now that Hanover and Prussia have withdrawn from the Southern Netherlands, his own Royal Guard Legion can finally set out to make its mark in Silesia.

Of course, it's also not advisable to conquer the entire Silesia, as that would severely weaken Prussia and create the possibility of Austria reunifying Germany.

Basically, helping Austria reclaim one province in Silesia would be enough. Exchanging that province for the Walloon region of the Southern Netherlands would be a win-win situation for Austria, both in terms of area and in terms of politics and economy.

However, getting involved in a major war against Prussia would require detailed strategic planning—the goal was to capture a province without incurring too many losses, and to be able to withdraw at any time...

As Joseph was deep in thought, Eman knocked on the door and entered with an old man.

Joseph recognized the man; he was Madame Delvaux's old butler. A bad feeling immediately welled up in his heart.

Sure enough, after bowing respectfully, the old man lowered his head and said in a low voice:

"Your Highness, the Lady... has passed away..."