The madness of the short and stout terrified many.
This included Mustafa Pasha and Grand Vizier Suleiman of the Ottoman Empire, consuls of various nations in Ottoman leased territories, and spies sent by other countries to gather intelligence in the Ottoman Empire. All were shaken by these short and stout individuals.
It was utterly terrifying!
Especially Alexander, George III, and Franz II, upon receiving relevant news, rushed to the Habsburgs' Eagle's Nest.
It was too dangerous outside, and perhaps only the easily defensible Eagle's Nest could offer a sense of security?
Alexander furrowed his brow slightly, looking at George III and Franz II, and asked, "How are your allies? How many are willing to join us?"
However, George III's reply greatly disappointed Alexander: "No one is willing to join us. Yes, you are right; they do worry about future attacks from the Ming Dynasty, but they are more concerned that resisting the Ming Dynasty with us now will lead to their swifter demise."
Franz II also poured cold water on their hopes: "Yes, no one is willing to join us. The smaller nations in the Western Kunlun Mountains are currently busy dealing with the French offensive and cannot resist the Ming Dynasty with us. As for the smaller nations in Europa, ever since England lost to France last time..."
Franz II did not continue, but Alexander and George III understood the unspoken meaning of his words.
England couldn't defeat France, Russia had lost a Tsar, and the Habsburgs were even worse off. With just the three of you, did you still think you could organize a resistance against the rule of the Great Ming?
In essence, that was the situation.
As the saying goes, it's better to live a humble life than to die a glorious death. The small nations of Europa preferred to continue observing, to continue being exploited by the Great Ming, rather than to resist the Great Ming alongside England, Russia, and the Habsburgs.
Alexander's face immediately darkened like the bottom of a pot.
Let alone not winning a single ally, even if they had rallied a few allies, it would be the same as having no allies if the number was insufficient.
Would England, plus Russia, and the already crippled Habsburgs dare to fight the Great Ming to the bitter end?
Even though George III had previously boasted that he would fight the Great Ming to the bitter end even if he had to do it alone, Alexander knew in his heart that this fellow was all talk. If England were truly to fight the Great Ming to the bitter end single-handedly...
Never mind whether George III had the courage, even if he did, how many divisions would England have? How many days could they last under the Ming Dynasty's artillery?
Thinking that Russia's strength was not much better than England's, Alexander's face grew even darker.
George III, sitting beside Alexander, was not much better off. George III was the one who had bragged the most initially, and now that the boast was about to burst, George III's expression could not be pleasant.
In comparison, Franz II appeared more rational.
After all, the Habsburgs were beaten by France, then by Russia, and later by that art student from Austria. They had become accustomed to being beaten. Simply put, when the idea of giving up arose, the world suddenly became wide and open.
If Alexander and George III, these two, could resolve the issue of allies, Franz II wouldn't mind joining them in some trouble. But if Alexander and George III couldn't secure allies, and ultimately only the three families decided to resist the Ming, then Franz II wouldn't mind if the three became two.
Franz II tentatively asked, "What should we do now? Should we declare war as planned, or should we first..."
Just as George III and Alexander were cursing Franz II internally for hitting a sore spot, Franz II's eyes lit up. He then looked at George III intently and asked, "Silly Eagle, although Silly Eagle no longer pledges allegiance to your England, Silly Eagle and England ultimately share the same origin. If you can win over Silly Eagle, then the problem will be much easier to solve!"
Hearing Franz II's words, Alexander couldn't help but turn his gaze to George III: "Yes, Silly Eagle and your England are still one family after all. If you are willing to promise Silly Eagle England's colonies on the continent of Yin Dian, then Silly Eagle will definitely be willing to help us attack the Ming Dynasty."
However, to Alexander and Franz II's surprise, George III merely pouted at their words and said disdainfully, "Do you think I haven't contacted Silly Eagle? Unfortunately, Silly Eagle is now solely focused on doing business with the two princes of the Ming Dynasty, and also on scalping those barbarians. How would they have the courage to resist the Ming Dynasty?"
Franz II was immediately greatly disappointed and then frowned slightly, muttering in a low voice, "We can't beat them directly, and we can't find helpers. Otherwise, let's just break up. Your England can defend the three islands alone, your Russia can divide Poland with that art student, and we Habsburgs can continue to play dead."
George III coldly glanced at Franz II, then narrowed his eyes and feigned indifference. George III naturally wanted to rebuke Franz II righteously, but considering England's current strength and realizing that rebuking Franz II would not only bring no benefit but might also provoke another enemy for England, George III decided to swallow his anger.
Alexander, on the other hand, was more stubborn and unceremoniously attacked Franz II: "Mr. Franz, as you said, England can defend the three islands alone, and our Russia can divide Poland with that damned art student. However, your Habsburg family's plan to play dead will fall through."
"Whether it's the French frogs, who have always been hostile to the Habsburgs, or that insatiable art student, or the Ming Dynasty, which is about to occupy and rule the entire Ottoman Empire, do you think they will allow your Habsburg family to play dead?"
"Or, to put it another way, if the Habsburg family had the upper hand today, would you easily let go of Louis XVI and that damned art student? If your Habsburg family could defeat the Ming Dynasty, would you still allow the Ming Dynasty to continue attacking the Ottoman Empire? You would likely march on the Ottoman Empire yourself!"
As Alexander's words fell, an eerie silence once again descended upon the room. Both George III and Franz II knew very well that Alexander's words were directed not only at Franz II but also at George III.
Moreover, neither of them could find any reason or excuse to refute Alexander.
Seeing that both George III and Franz II were speechless, Alexander sneered again, "I remember the Ming people have a book about monkeys, and it contains a pig that always drags its feet—that pig only thinks of dividing the spoils whenever it encounters the slightest difficulty, but never thinks of solving the problem."
Franz II's face immediately darkened, and he stared at Alexander with a displeased expression, saying, "Are you cursing me?"
Alexander dismissively pouted and said with a cold smile, "Why don't you guess?"
Franz II let out a cold laugh, his expression becoming even more somber, "Alexander, it seems you haven't understood one thing? This is the Habsburgs' Eagle's Nest, not your Russian imperial palace!"
Alexander retorted with a cold laugh, "So what if it's the Eagle's Nest? So what if it's not the Russian imperial palace?"
Seeing the atmosphere becoming increasingly tense, George III quickly stepped in to smooth things over: "Look, what are you two arguing about? Our biggest problem now is how to deal with the Ming Dynasty. If we start fighting amongst ourselves, wouldn't it be even more difficult to deal with the Ming Dynasty?"
Alexander glanced at George III and snorted, "Then let me state my position: since things have reached this point, no matter what you do, I will immediately march on the Ottoman Empire and declare war on the Ming Dynasty. But what about you, George III? What did you say before? What are you going to do now?"
George III was immediately pushed into a corner.
Despite George III's confident boasts at the last meeting that England would declare war on the Ming Dynasty even without any allies, boasting was ultimately just boasting.
In George III's opinion, as long as he put on enough of a show and shouted loud enough slogans, he had a good chance of convincing a few European countries to resist the Great Ming together.
However, the crux of the problem was precisely that no European country was willing to respond to George III's call.
In this situation, with no allies rallied, should they declare war on the Great Ming?
George III was somewhat reluctant to be the first to act.
Seeing that he was cornered by Alexander's taunts, George III had nowhere to retreat and simply snorted, "There is nothing more to say about England. We will declare war on the Ming Dynasty according to the original plan."
Alexander then nodded with satisfaction and turned his gaze to Franz II: "And you? What do you say?"
Franz II also snorted, "Of course, we will declare war on the Ming Dynasty like you!"
After the three had deliberated, they discussed returning to their respective homes and announcing the commencement of hostilities to their armies.
However, when George III sneaked back to London from the Eagle's Nest, he received news that completely devastated him: the English fleet sent to reinforce the British East India Company in Sri Lanka, while passing through the waters near Mogadishu and the Ottoman Empire, was attacked by the Great Ming Emperor's Fleet, and the entire fleet was annihilated!
George III was immediately thrown into disarray.
After being beaten by France last time, England's navy had suffered heavy losses. The fleet sent to reinforce the British East India Company in Sri Lanka was already considered England's last naval reserve. Now that even this reserve was destroyed overnight, what was left of England's navy? What use were those few small sampans?
When he recovered, George III grabbed Fox and roared, "Why? Why did the Ming Emperor's Fleet attack our fleet sent to Sri Lanka? Has the Ming Emperor already declared war on us?"
Fox shook his head slightly. After struggling to break free from George III's grasp, he replied with a troubled expression, "Your Majesty, we also do not know why the Ming Emperor ordered the attack on our fleet. The only thing that can be confirmed now is that our last fleet has been annihilated, and Sri Lanka cannot be held."
George III became even more displeased. Looking at Fox and the other nobles and ministers, he shouted, "Yes, I know, I know Sri Lanka cannot be held. You don't need to remind me repeatedly. I would prefer you to offer solutions—I have already discussed with Alexander and Franz II that we three families will declare war on the Ming Dynasty together. You all should also make preparations for declaring war!"
After George III finished speaking, Fox's eyes lit up.
However, Fox looked at George III with a slightly unfriendly gaze, "Your Majesty, you are saying that you have discussed with Alexander and Franz II and will declare war on the Great Ming?"
George III snorted, "Indeed. Since the Ming Emperor has disregarded the face of the Five Benevolent Ones and is madly humiliating us English, there is no need for us to continue to tolerate it."
Fox did not respond but frowned and asked, "Then, Your Majesty George, when did you begin contact with Alexander and Franz II, and where did you discuss it?"
George III was taken aback, and then looked at Fox with an unfriendly expression, asking, "What do you mean by that? Are you suggesting that our discussion with Alexander and Franz II has been leaked?"
Fox nodded slightly, "Based on the timing, the period when those short and stout individuals began their frenzied attacks on Sri Lanka should be the time you first met Alexander and the others. And the time the Ming Emperor ordered the Ming Emperor's Fleet to attack our English fleet also coincides with the time the Ming Dynasty took action against the Ottoman Empire, and envoys from England and Russia had arbitrarily agreed to secretly provide military supplies to the Ottoman Empire."
After a thorough analysis, Fox frowned slightly and said, "If this is the case, then your discussion with Alexander and Franz II this time will definitely be leaked to the Ming side, and the Ming side will inevitably take targeted retaliatory measures in advance."
After Fox finished speaking, the old Sir Richard, who managed England's treasury, sighed, "With the news of the East India Company being besieged in Sri Lanka spreading, England's stock market has fallen repeatedly. If the news of the annihilation of England's last fleet also spreads..."
Fox nodded and then looked at George III, asking, "Your Majesty George III, the subjects of England need an explanation from you. Why are you, one of the Five Benevolent Ones of the Little Broken Pot, proactively provoking the Ming Dynasty?"
PS: I have a cold. On the first day, my throat hurt, and I started coughing constantly. Taking medicine didn't help much, or rather, it had little effect. On the second day, I developed a low-grade fever accompanied by a cough. Today, the third day, I am sweating profusely and coughing incessantly. The coughing hurts my throat, larynx, and chest. This is just a common cold caused by catching a chill.
So, if a common cold can take half my life, how severe must that so-called "big flu" be?
(End of this chapter)
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Heavenly Emperor's Noble Lineage reminds you: Remember to collect after reading.