Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 080
Chapter Title: Nightmare of the Bosphorus (3)
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One of Europe's undisputed greatest cities, Constantinople.
Constantinopolis, Kostantiniye, Istanbul—this magnificent metropolis had countless names and was once the very symbol of an impregnable fortress.
Surrounded by sea on three sides, it could only be attacked from the west, and even those walls were impossible to breach with conventional tactics.
There had been fully twenty sieges around Constantinople, but only one had ever succeeded through a direct assault.
Yet ever since Constantinople became Kostantiniye, the Ottoman capital, not a single siege had threatened the city.
Until now.
As Austria's army of 80,000 approached within sight of the capital, the citizens' terror reached fever pitch.
There was a world of difference between "might be attacked" and "about to be attacked."
On the flip side, the Austrian forces launching the assault appeared utterly relaxed to any observer.
If the siege dragged on, Russian troops would sweep in from the north, and if they truly aimed to capture Constantinople, the Empire would pour in even more men.
But in truth, this siege was little more than a grand theater orchestrated by Franz.
In the chaos of this battlefield, no nation knew where to start or where to end.
The Austrian army had stumbled into Constantinople almost by accident.
Britain and France couldn't intervene without being framed as rejecting Christianity in favor of Islam.
Russia charged furiously into the Black Sea, eager for gains equal to Austria's.
And the Ottomans had no clue how far to yield to end the war.
With no one able to control the situation, someone had to draw a line.
In short, Austria's assault on Constantinople was a giant "end war" button.
"Ahem! Hasn't the great cause of liberating Eastern Christians, proclaimed by Austria and the Papacy, been fully achieved?"
"The Balkan Peninsula seems entirely liberated already. Maybe it's time to call it quits..."
Though Constantinople had once been the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, it had been Ottoman for nearly 300 years now.
The city was now filled with far more Muslims, their lifestyles and culture thoroughly Islamicized. Calling it an Orthodox city was a stretch, even as flattery.
Further advances would be pure war, unrelated to Christian liberation.
It was the perfect timing to suggest wrapping up and negotiating.
The Austrians felt the same.
Even in the cannon-advanced 18th century, Constantinople remained a natural fortress.
With nearly 50,000 defenders entrenched, a real fight would cost them dearly too.
They might take it with a desperate all-out push, but maintaining it afterward? The bill would be astronomical.
Still, with the local mood half-hypnotized into smashing Constantinople, they had to stage at least one assault.
Plus, it earned Franz the historic title of the first Holy Roman Emperor to attack the Ottoman capital.
Boom! Boom boom boom!
"Fire! Smash it all to pieces!"
A barrage meant not to capture the city, but to deliver psychological shock.
With more time, they could have razed it flat—but with Britain, France, and Spain intervening, this painted the perfect image of restraint.
Having saved the Balkan Christians, they regretfully shelved the fall of Constantinople.
Serbian Archbishop Arsenije IV felt the pang, but he wasn't so thick-headed as to think this wasn't already overflowing success.
They'd agreed with Russia beforehand not to yield to other powers' interference, but clearly, this wasn't submission.
They'd achieved everything. Now it was harvest time.
The Austrians besieged Constantinople for exactly one week, staging shows of force, and the Ottomans proposed an armistice under British mediation.
"As proxy for His Majesty Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor, I accept the mediation proposal from Britain and France for the sake of European peace. Yet, in service to His Majesty and His Holiness the Pope, I shall do my utmost to ensure our suffering brothers and sisters, tormented for over 200 years, endure no more."
A~ if we'd had just one more month, we could've taken Constantinople. So. Damn. Regrettable.
So this was purely Austria holding back.
Don't even think about eyeing Balkan interests.
They phrased it nobly, as fulfilling Christian duty.
Everyone got the message loud and clear.
The talks were set for Edirne, Austria's frontline in the occupied territories.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Rahkip Efendi, the Ottoman chief diplomat and chief negotiator for these accords, gazed mournfully at the Austrian and Habsburg imperial banners fluttering over Edirne.
It had begun as a holy war to reclaim the borders of 20 years prior, yet they'd handed the entire Balkan Peninsula to the enemy.
Those fools who'd insisted they could win with proper preparation had caused this treasonous disaster.
Common sense: Russia alone demanded full effort—fighting Austria simultaneously? Impossible.
Reviewing the war records now, the Austrians had even thrown in their heir apparent, staking everything on a PR war.
Would foes this honed settle for easy terms at the table?
Especially when their position was so dire.
"The Ottoman Empire has oppressed Christians and denied them religious freedom, or so I've heard."
"Oh, that's a misunderstanding. We have the millet system..."
"I mean real freedom, not formalities. Can you call it freedom if it's confined to someone else's framework?"
As feared, it started right away.
Franz Stefan—that devil incarnate—struck the most sensitive spot from the outset.
British Ambassador Everard and French Ambassador Villeneuve just watched silently.
Were they avoiding the Christian persecution topic, or had they already cut a secret deal?
Cornered, Efendi flailed desperately.
"But... in Christian countries, you can't even practice Islam, can you? At least we allow existing faiths to continue."
"That ignores the root: forcibly annexing Christian lands. Every Balkan region welcomed our occupation. The uprisings across the theater prove it."
"......"
"Let me be clear: we didn't start this war to annex the Balkans. Nor will we claim these territories. Instead, we demand independent Christian states with legitimacy and autonomy there."
"Hah..."
Misfortune or blessing?
If Austria swallowed the Balkans outright, the Ottomans had to resist at all costs.
France and Britain wouldn't allow it either, giving ammunition to call Christian liberation a pretext.
But this? As a defeated power, rejecting it lacked justification.
"I understand the intent, but... the territorial losses would be immense. The Empire itself would stagger—it's unrealistic to accept..."
"Realism demands it all the more. Can the Ottomans reclaim the Balkans now? Orthodox faithful will flood the streets in revolt. Besides slaughtering them all with gun and blade, what's your plan? We'd respect it if you have one."
If that were possible, they wouldn't be in this mess.
Despair blurred Efendi's vision yellow.
That young devil was calmly carving out chunks of imperial flesh and organs, true to rumor.
Better than losing the capital, but allowing Christian states spelled long-term doom for the Empire.
"Everyone here knows: the Sultan won't accept such terms. It shakes his authority. Not unwillingness, but impossibility—please understand."
"Fair point. Your Highness Franz, consider not just the ambassadors, but the Ottoman Emperor's prestige."
"Indeed. My head got too hot thinking of our siblings' 200 years of suffering."
Oddly, the British ambassador sided with them, and Franz nodded readily.
"How about this? Independence and autonomy for Christian states up to the Austrian-occupied Edirne. In turn, as Your Highness said, Austria must not annex them."
"Naturally. But local nobles fear Ottoman reinvasion. So, as a Holy Roman imperial prince, they've agreed to protection under the Empire."
"That's acceptable. But consider Ottoman losses—do you have thoughts on compensation?"
"These Christian states won't invade Ottoman core lands; they lack the power. They'll buffer us nicely instead."
"But the Ottomans border more than just the Balkans, right?"
Efendi nodded vigorously.
Truth be told, the Balkans as buffer meant no more clashes with Austria.
But weakened so, how to fend off Russia? No clear solution emerged.
Franz furrowed his brow briefly, then sighed.
"Ambassador Everard, what mediation does Britain propose?"
"Adriatic and Aegean open, boosting Mediterranean trade. Plus, open the Black Sea under Ottoman control to us and France, slash tolls and tariffs?"
"What? What gain is that for us?"
"It lets Britain and France establish Black Sea trade bases, merchants flowing freely. Naturally, harder for others to provoke Ottoman force, no?"
Sounds good, but wasn't this Britain and France planting stakes in Ottoman waters as mediation fee?
Who but highway robbers would propose...
Britain, leaders in colonies and slave trade.
France hot on their heels.
Ah, they were the robbers!
Entrusting mediation to them birthed this outrage.
Efendi accepted the grim reality.
"...But it must benefit us and uphold His Majesty's authority."
"Of course. We'll draft the accord framing it as: Balkans yielded, but Black Sea sealed tight, security threats nullified."
Finally, mediation worth it.
The stone-faced Everard and Villeneuve exchanged brief glances and nodded.
Watching it all, Franz extended a hand to Efendi, expression inscrutable.
"With rough agreement reached, let's fine-tune for lasting peace between our nations."
"...Yes."
So this was bloodsucking alive.
Efendi dreaded returning to the capital.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ An hour after the first day of harmonious, peaceful talks concluded.
"Thanks to you, Ambassador, the meeting flowed splendidly."
"Hahaha, how could it be my doing? Your Highness set the stage perfectly."
"I'm always eager to stay close with Britain... er, the British Empire."
"Ambassador Robinson says the same. I felt Your Highness's friendship toward us anew today."
Why do I click so well with British ambassadors?
Like thesis-antithesis-synthesis: wise, conscientious me yields better outcomes with devilish Britain's envoys.
This time too.
Main goal achieved: Christian principalities in the Balkans ballooned Austria's votes.
Bonus: drawing in Britain and France checked Russia's Black Sea nibbling.
They stood firm now, but sane Russia wouldn't push south forever—insanity defined Russia.
So guard Black Sea peace in my stead.
"Black Sea, Mediterranean, Adriatic now safely linked—prime trade route. British merchants thriving means overall wealth grows, benefiting Austria too."
"Exactly, exactly. Win-win happiness, right? Hahaha!"
"Hahahahaha!"
My friend Great Britain—cheering you on sincerely.
May you become blood enemies with Russia.