Chapter 335: Balkan Crisis

The seemingly calm European situation is actually not calm at all; as long as there is any interference from any force, it is possible to completely break the calm of Europe.

Facts have proven that the title of "powder keg" for the Balkan Peninsula is not an exaggeration. Originally, Gao Da thought that the European situation would maintain a brief peace, but he did not expect that a small incident on the Balkan Peninsula would almost trigger a war between two major powers.

The matter has to start from the previous Russo-Turkish War. Although the Russians won the war, the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Britain successfully replaced Russia as the beneficiaries of this war through strong interference.

This made Russian Emperor Alexander III quite frustrated. The war he carefully planned not only did not bring a large amount of territory and population to Russia, but instead caused Russia's expansion on the Balkan Peninsula to end in failure.

This war obviously destroyed the originally good relationship between Russia and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, turning two neighboring countries from friendly neighbors into deadly enemies.

Since this war, Russia has slowed down its expansion of its territory. But on the Balkan Peninsula, the actions of the Russians have never stopped.

Although Russia did not obtain any land from the Balkan Peninsula, as the most powerful country among the Slavic nations, Russia still has a very close relationship with these Slavic nations on the Balkan Peninsula.

Russians can also be called East Slavs, and the Balkan Peninsula also possesses a large number of South Slavic nations. Currently, the independent Serbia and the Bulgaria that obtained autonomy are both Slavs; these countries naturally have a close relationship with Russia, which is also Russia's advantage in expanding its own influence on the Balkan Peninsula compared to the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Here, one must also mention Serbia, a country with a far-reaching influence on the future European situation. Although these countries on the Balkan Peninsula do not have much area or population, their military strength is worthy of affirmation.

Because of long-term resistance to the Ottoman Empire's rule, coupled with various contradictions and wars within the Balkan Peninsula after subsequent independence, the military combat effectiveness of these countries on the Balkan Peninsula is quite strong.

Serbia, as a very typical example among them, also has its own political claims. Just like the unification ideas in the German region and the Italian region, there are also relevant ideas and claims for unifying the South Slavs in the South Slavic region.

Serbia, as the most powerful among the South Slavic nations, naturally supports and promotes this claim without hesitation.

As it happens, the Bosnia and Herzegovina region, which the Austro-Hungarian Empire obtained through forced interference, is exactly an important step that Serbia regards as the unification of the South Slavs.

This actually also means that the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Serbia have irreconcilable contradictions regarding the Bosnia and Herzegovina region.

Also as Slavs, Serbia has obtained Russia's support. This also makes it very difficult for the Austro-Hungarian Empire to solve the trouble of Serbia right before its eyes, and the competition with Serbia has seriously damaged the relationship between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Russia.

The current status quo of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Russia is that Russia cannot give up supporting Serbia; doing so would cause Russia's ruling status over the Slavs on the Balkan Peninsula to vanish, and would also cause the Austro-Hungarian Empire's expansion on the Balkan Peninsula to become unscrupulous.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire also cannot give up the Bosnia and Herzegovina region. The Bosnia and Herzegovina region is also a bridgehead for the Austro-Hungarian Empire's expansion on the Balkan Peninsula; whether it is the self-esteem of a power country or the expectation for the country's future strategic planning, the Bosnia and Herzegovina region cannot be given up to Russia or Serbia.

Under the premise that neither side can take a step back, it is only a matter of time before a conflict breaks out on the Balkan Peninsula.

The location of this conflict is on the border between the Bosnia and Herzegovina region and Serbia, and the two sides of the conflict are the Austro-Hungarian Empire's army and Serbia's border garrison.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire has occupied the Bosnia and Herzegovina region for nearly 10 years, but they have not announced the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina during these 10 years.

The main reason for this is the resistance of the residents on this land to the Austro-Hungarian Empire's rule, as well as the support for these resisters from Serbia behind them and Russia behind Serbia.

Because the people of the Bosnia and Herzegovina region and the Serbians belong to the same South Slavs, the relationship between the two is also quite close.

With the support of the Serbian government, the Bosnia and Herzegovina region established a resistance army against the Austro-Hungarian Empire's rule and obtained the support of many people in the Bosnia and Herzegovina region.

In the eyes of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, this is unacceptable, and they subsequently dispatched a large number of troops to suppress the local resistance army and clear up the local order in the Bosnia and Herzegovina region.

Under the heavy pressure of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the local resistance army in Bosnia and Herzegovina certainly could not hold out. Some high-level members of the resistance army chose to flee to Serbia, seeking the protection of the Serbian army.

And behind these high-level members of the resistance army were the Austro-Hungarian Empire's troops chasing them to the border area.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire would not easily let go of these high-level members of the resistance army; even seeing that these people had already fled to the Serbian border, the Austro-Hungarian Empire's troops still demanded that the Serbian army hand over these high-level members of the resistance army to them, to be taken back to the Bosnia and Herzegovina region for trial and disposal.

Facing the demands of the Austro-Hungarian Empire's troops, the Serbian side could not possibly nod in agreement. The Serbian side is constantly promoting the theory of South Slavic unification and Greater Serbia; if the Serbian side cannot even protect its own compatriots who fled into its own territory, then who else would believe the various theories that Serbia promotes?

Therefore, the Serbian side firmly rejected the Austro-Hungarian Empire's demand and stated that the Austro-Hungarian Empire had no right to take anyone away from within Serbia's territory.

The Serbian government's clear rejection immediately angered the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Looking at this matter alone, the one in the right is certainly the Austro-Hungarian Empire side.

The Bosnia and Herzegovina region belongs to the Austro-Hungarian Empire; this was determined by the last peace negotiation, and the resistance army's behavior is destroying the peaceful environment within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which is completely illegal.

It is only natural for the Austro-Hungarian Empire to wipe them out, and even asking Serbia for people is normal; after all, there is a large gap in size between the two countries, and you, a tiny Serbia, should at least give the Austro-Hungarian Empire some face.

It just so happens that the problem occurred at this last step. Regardless of Serbia's comprehensive strength, they indeed did not intend to give the Austro-Hungarian Empire face on such a matter.

Because as long as they gave the Austro-Hungarian Empire face, it would be equivalent to slapping their own face, destroying all their previous strategic plans.

The Serbian government is quite ambitious, and they cannot possibly retreat to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. After all, Serbia also has Russia, a super power, behind it; if we talk about strength alone, Russia's comprehensive strength is stronger than the Austro-Hungarian Empire's.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire's troops here did not expect Serbia to reject their demands so decisively; upon hearing the other side's refusal, the leading commander was clearly somewhat annoyed.

But the matter at the border is of great importance, and he, a small officer, could not order fire on the Serbian army. After looking at the Serbian army with hatred, the Austro-Hungarian Empire's army commander ordered a retreat and reported the incident at the border to the country. As the news was reported back to Vienna, this matter immediately attracted the attention of the Austro-Hungarian Empire's governments at all levels.

Although it seems like just Serbia rejecting the Austro-Hungarian Empire's request for people, looking deeper, the meaning represented by this matter is more than just that.

First of all, the resistance army itself has the support of Serbia and the Russians. Supporting the resistance forces within the Austro-Hungarian Empire so blatantly is in itself a provocation to the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

If a small country dares to provoke a powerful power, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire does not have a strong counterattack, this one thing alone is enough to cause a heavy blow to the Austro-Hungarian Empire's international prestige.

On the second day of this incident, Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Joseph I summoned the Serbian Ambassador to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, severely questioned the Serbian government's attitude regarding this incident, and demanded that the Serbian government hand over the high-level members of the resistance army within three days and express apologies to the Austro-Hungarian Empire side regarding this incident.

The Serbian Ambassador's attitude was ambiguous; he neither showed an overly tough attitude of refusal nor agreed to any of Franz Joseph I's demands.

Just when Franz Joseph I was still waiting for a response from the Serbian side, a piece of news completely angered Franz Joseph I.

On the very day he summoned the Serbian Ambassador, the Serbian Ambassador transmitted the relevant news back to the country, conveying Franz Joseph I's questions word for word.

The Serbian government not only did not agree to any of Franz Joseph I's demands but instead reported Franz Joseph I's demands to the Serbian people through news.

This immediately ignited the anger of the Serbian people. The relationship between the two countries was already full of contradictions, and coupled with a news summary from the Serbian government that removed the cause and effect, it directly made Franz Joseph I the most hated European ruler by all Serbians.

The Serbian government's goal was also achieved. Under the situation of universal hatred for Franz Joseph I, the Serbian government would not, and had no reason to, agree to the Austro-Hungarian Empire's demands.

When Franz Joseph I received such news, it was already the second day after he summoned the Serbian Ambassador.

Since the Serbian side did not intend to give the Austro-Hungarian Empire and him any face, Franz Joseph I did not intend to leave any more face either.

On February 11, 1889, Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Joseph I summoned the two Prime Ministers of Austria and Hungary and demanded that the Austro-Hungarian Empire's army prepare for war.

On February 12, the Austro-Hungarian Empire issued an ultimatum to the Serbian government. If the Serbian government did not hand over the high-level members of the resistance army to the Austro-Hungarian Empire within three days, the Austro-Hungarian Empire would forcibly attack Serbia and capture these high-level members of the resistance army on Serbian soil.

Following the Austro-Hungarian Empire's ultimatum, the eyes of all Europeans immediately shifted to the situation on the Balkan Peninsula.

To be honest, even the Austro-Hungarian Empire's allies, Italy and Germany, did not expect Franz Joseph I's ultimatum to be so rapid.

But thinking about it, it is normal; Franz Joseph I's only son, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, had just passed away half a month ago.

Franz Joseph I suffered such a heavy blow, and Serbia still wanted to provoke the Austro-Hungarian Empire at such a juncture; isn't this courting death?

In order not to let cracks appear in the alliance relationship, Germany expressed support for the Austro-Hungarian Empire and condemned the Serbian government for shielding the high-level members of the resistance army in the Bosnia and Herzegovina region and inciting civil strife in other countries.

When the Austro-Hungarian Empire issued an ultimatum to Serbia, Gao Da also sent a telegram to Franz Joseph I at the first opportunity.

Perhaps it was a correction of history; Gao Da once wanted to save Crown Prince Rudolf, but in the end, he could not change his fate.

This prince, who had been the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire since birth, ultimately lost his life because of a suicide pact for love.

This was a huge scandal for the Austro-Hungarian Empire's royal family and a huge blow to Franz Joseph I.

The few kings in Europe who love beauty more than the country are already very sigh-worthy, and nobles like Crown Prince Rudolf who don't even want the country and their own lives for beauty are absolutely few and far between.

When learning that Crown Prince Rudolf had committed suicide for love, Queen Suofei cried for a whole night.

Her relationship with her younger brother, Crown Prince Rudolf, was still very good; the three sisters grew up together, and their relationship with each other was very close.

Gao Da once wanted to save Crown Prince Rudolf's fate, which was precisely to maintain a long-term alliance relationship with the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

If Crown Prince Rudolf were still alive, in the future period of the First and Second World Wars, Spain would at least have a firm ally, which is very precious.

Even if Crown Prince Rudolf has passed away now, Gao Da is still unwilling to give up the good relationship with the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

After the Austro-Hungarian Empire side issued an ultimatum to Serbia, Gao Da sent a telegram to Franz Joseph I in his private capacity, stating that the Spanish royal family would stand on the side of the Austro-Hungarian Empire's royal family in this incident and provide support within his power to Franz Joseph I.

Although this telegram was not issued in the name of the Spanish government, people with discerning eyes actually knew that this was already Gao Da's quite clear expression of attitude.

Although Spain is a constitutional monarchy, Gao Da's influence in the government is beyond doubt. Gao Da's stance and the Spanish government's stance are no different; if a war really breaks out, the Spanish government will certainly stand on the side of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Gao Da's stance also made the situation of this incident look one-sided. Just on the surface, the Austro-Hungarian Empire had the support of Germany and Spain. The strength of these three major powers combined, although not as good as the former Three Emperors' Alliance, is absolutely the most powerful force in the world today.

And on the Serbia side, at most there is only one Russia; whether Russia can support Serbia under the pressure of three powers is a question worth thinking about.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 336 =====