Transaction

Papal States.

Rome.

The black carriage rolled over the muddy road, splashing filthy water everywhere and leaving the guards' fine red trousers on either side a complete mess.

Inside the carriage, Baron Tugut, Austria's State Minister, folded up the confidential letter he had received just before departure and slipped it back into its envelope.

Baron Walter, seated opposite him, watched his deeply furrowed brow. He picked up a nut from the table, tossed it into his mouth, and said casually, "It seems His Majesty still hasn't obtained that silver mine?"

Though Tugut had no desire to speak with this fool, neither did he wish to offend a member of the imperial family. Thus, he nodded.

"General Würmser lost a battalion ten days ago. He has requested reinforcements and heavy artillery. You know, his soldiers are extremely slack..."

After all the Miners had withdrawn into the mountains, they fought desperately to hold back the Austrian invaders for another eight days, finally awaiting the reinforcements sent from Warsaw.

The five regiments greatly improved the situation in Kraków. They even briefly retook Chebinya Town by taking advantage of their familiarity with the terrain. Though they failed to hold it, the blow dealt General Würmser was severe.

Nearly two months after the Austrian Army had invaded Kraków, it was still fighting over a small town. The Holy Roman Emperor could no longer sit still.

Würmser blamed the poor campaign on low morale, and the greatest factor affecting that morale was the damned rumor of the "Pope's Call for a Holy War."

Thus, after repeated deliberations, Franz II and his ministers finally settled upon a solution.

Tugut had come to Rome as the Emperor's envoy to carry out this plan. Walter, eager to claim a share of the credit, had insisted on accompanying him.

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