Chapter 287: Chapter 284 12.2 Coup Prelude (1)
On the night of November 22, the Prussian army began its general offensive against the Berlin region.
Nearly 80,000 Prussian soldiers and militia launched their attack under the cover of darkness, mercilessly slaughtering the National Guard troops defending various strongholds and barricades at the first instance.
Cannons shattered the barricades; the numb Prussian soldiers charged at the broken barriers, executing slaughter under the orders of the Prussian officers, ignoring the pleas for mercy from the Berlin National Guard.
The bayonets pierced through the bodies of the National Guard, splattering crimson blood onto the faces of Prussian soldiers. When the soldiers withdrew their bayonets, the tips still bore bits of gray-green foul-smelling material, a scent similar to excrement.
The National Guard fell to the ground, wailing in agony, only to have a bayonet reinserted into their bodies again for death.
It seemed as if the specter of the Nazis had been resurrected decades early, possessing the Prussian soldiers who madly massacred the citizens of Berlin on this land.
If the Prussian soldiers were merely representing the Nazi Defense Army, then the militia undoubtedly can be compared to the SS.
These Junker landlords from the Prussian countryside indulged in their atrocities on Berlin soil, recklessly venting their dissatisfaction with the city under the urban-rural divide.
Many militia landlords even took it upon themselves to break into others’ homes, indulging in their wicked deeds in front of the household owners.
All of Berlin had utterly turned into an earthly purgatory under the indulgence of Count Brandenburg and Regent King William, as Regent King William sought revenge for being disgracefully expelled from Berlin by its people two years ago.
The atrocities continued for almost three days, leaving the tears of this city hanging over Berlin’s skies.
Continuous drizzle washed over all of Berlin, blood and brain matter flowed along the paths of rainwater, and the rancid stench permeating the city seemed to diminish under the purifying rain.
The city was bleeding, the city was wailing.
Under the orders of Count Brandenburg, the Prussian soldiers began methodically clearing the streets, burying their sins under the dirt while working nonchalantly under the hateful gazes of Berlin citizens.
Rainwater might wash away the traces of slaughter; dirt might bury all the crimes they committed, but they could not erase the pain of Berlin. Such hatred was imprinted in the bloodline of the people of Berlin.
When Otto von Bismarck ordered the militia soldiers to clear away the bodies from the streets, he saw a gaze in the corner, a gaze filled with hatred that deeply pierced Otto von Bismarck’s steel-like will.
Bismarck couldn’t help but let out a bitter smile; he understood that after this, the rift between the classes within the Kingdom of Prussia would inevitably widen.
If the Hohenzollern Clan couldn’t obtain majority support within their own country, how could they gain support from others?
[PS: According to later statistics, the Prussian soldiers and militia slaughtered a population almost equivalent to the size of their army in just three days, which was about one-fifth of Berlin’s population at the time.]
On November 26, news of the massacre in Berlin reached St. Petersburg, Olomouc, Paris, and London.
Upon receiving the news, the Emperor of Russia extended his "blessings" over the Berlin massacre, considering Prussia’s actions as a return to the right track. With Nicholas I’s objectives achieved, the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia must return to the right track.
Even though Tsar Nicholas I internally regretted the Russian Empire’s inability to adhere to the secret agreement with the Austrian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia’s "submission" to the Russian Empire was without a doubt a source of greater joy for him.
In the afternoon of the same day, Tsar Nicholas I called his Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Nesselrode, in front of him and said, "Nesselrode, inform Regent King William of Prussia and Emperor Franz Joseph of the Austrian Empire that the war between Prussia and Austria is over! If any country dares to provoke war deliberately again, it will be the number one enemy of the Russian Empire!"
Nicholas I’s declaration was undoubtedly in support of the Kingdom of Prussia, and from the determined tone of Tsar Nicholas I, Carl Nesselrode knew he could only comply with the Tsar’s will.
In the court of the Russian Empire, anyone who did not comply with the Tsar’s wishes had long disappeared from the court.
"Yes!" Carl Nesselrode responded immediately.
Subsequently, Tsar Nicholas I, in a private capacity, invited the rulers of the Kingdom of Prussia and the Austrian Empire to a gathering in Warsaw.
Since Nicholas I’s message was sent via telegraph, both the King of Prussia and the Emperor of the Austrian Empire received the telegraph from Nicholas I almost simultaneously.
Right after receiving the telegraph, Emperor Franz Joseph of the Austrian Empire read its contents to Felix Schwarzenberg.
"Your Majesty, this is betrayal! Tsar Nicholas I has betrayed us!" Felix Schwarzenberg said angrily.
"Prime Minister, we cannot defy Nicholas I, can we?" Compared to Felix Schwarzenberg’s rage, Franz Joseph appeared exceptionally astonished.
In his heart, there was also some disagreement with the excessive punishment of the Kingdom of Prussia as proposed by Felix Schwarzenberg, though owing to his mother’s influence, Franz Joseph had to heed Felix Schwarzenberg’s advice.
After a brief moment of irritation, Felix Schwarzenberg calmed down once more, a bitter smile appearing on his lips as he said to Franz Joseph, "Your Majesty, I have a premonition that this might be our last chance to incorporate Germany into Austria!"
Franz Joseph was dismissive of Felix Schwarzenberg’s premonition. Having gone through this war, Franz Joseph also gained a touch of arrogance; he did not believe that the future Kingdom of Prussia would defeat the Austrian Empire.
"Mr. Prime Minister, we still have many opportunities!" Franz Joseph consoled Felix Schwarzenberg. "For now, we must heed the advice of Tsar Nicholas I!"
Felix Schwarzenberg nodded in agreement with Franz Joseph’s opinion. Now, having lost the support of both France and Russia, the Austrian Empire could not continue its actions; otherwise, Prussia’s today would be Austria’s tomorrow.
On November 28th, the Kingdom of Prussia and the Austrian Empire successively sent private telegrams to Emperor Nicholas I of the Russian Empire, agreeing with his suggestion.
Meanwhile, news of the Prussian Kingdom’s massacre reached the French Republic, causing a subtle chemical reaction.
The horrific scene of the Berlin massacre reminded the Parisians once more of the massacre that took place in Paris two years ago. As the memories were bloodily reopened, people’s hatred for the Legislative Assembly became increasingly evident.
Under the guidance of Jerome Bonaparte and the Bonaparte Faction, a movement named "Punish the June Massacre Deputies" surged in Paris, listing many Republican Faction deputies.
Lamartine and others, who were idling at home, were also listed by "caring individuals," and the Bonaparte Faction was the only group in the Legislative Assembly that managed to come out of this affair untainted.
In that massacre which shocked France, the Bonaparte Faction acted as mere spectators.
In this grand parade and demonstration, the impulsive crowd smashed Republican Faction newspapers, and the editors were beaten.
When the editors sought help from the police, the police made excuses and eventually simply disregarded the Republican Faction editors.
Some Republican Faction deputies approached Jerome Bonaparte, hoping he could organize the actions of the enraged workers.
"Gentlemen, this is a democratic demonstration!" Jerome Bonaparte replied to the Republican Faction deputies.
"Mr. President! If you are unwilling to stop this, then we will, after the next session of the assembly opens..." Republican Faction deputies threatened to vote against Jerome Bonaparte’s proposal to abolish the "President can’t be re-elected" constitution.
Admittedly, Tocqueville’s efficiency was relatively high; he managed to persuade some Republican Faction deputies to vote in favor next time.
However, they did not know that Jerome Bonaparte had long since decided not to follow any legal channels.
Before long, he would directly overturn the damned assembly and complete his own dictatorial rule.
"Suit yourself!" Jerome Bonaparte responded faintly.
Faced with a setback at Jerome Bonaparte’s place, the deputies could only leave dejectedly.
After the Republican Faction deputies left, Jerome Bonaparte summoned his newly appointed Chief of Police, Mopa.
"Chief Mopa, I don’t need to tell you what to do, right?" Jerome Bonaparte said to Mopa.
Mopa immediately indicated he understood and then left the Elysee Palace.
On November 28th, the Republican Faction’s newspaper, which had been ravaged, faced yet another blow.
The police, under the pretense of not meeting issuing regulations, completely shut down the Republican Faction, former Order Faction, and some Mountain Faction newspapers. As a result, the only newspapers allowed in all of France were those praising the government.
Mopa’s actions were impeached in the Legislative Assembly, which demanded Mopa’s immediate resignation.
In retaliation against Jerome Bonaparte, Tocqueville’s proposal to amend the constitutional ordinance once again failed to achieve the required three-quarters majority.
On November 30th, Minister of Finance Achille Fuld brought good news to Jerome Bonaparte.
According to the unanimous agreement of the Bank of France board, the Bank of France would inject thirty million into the Paris Industrial Bank to revitalize French agriculture.
This thirty million franc, ostensibly for revitalizing agriculture, was actually the military fund for Jerome Bonaparte’s coup.
"Good! The coup will be scheduled for the early morning of December 2nd!"