I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 474

< The Danish Dispute (3) >

When Denmark dispatched its troops, they initially had no intention of directly confronting Prussia.

‘Even if we lose Holstein, it can’t be helped. Let’s just defend Schleswig.’

‘After all, defense is advantageous in war. Let’s just lock the gates and hold out.’

If Prussia were to seize Schleswig after Holstein, the Danish straits would essentially become Prussia’s front yard.

Even if Great Britain, which is close to Prussia, might overlook this, would Russia really stand idly by?

Great Britain is unlikely to side with Denmark anyway, but Russia’s relations with Prussia have been strained recently, so we could potentially enlist their help.

Denmark’s plan was to blockade Schleswig while drawing Russia in to end the war swiftly.

However, Denmark was overlooking a crucial point.

The Prussian military strength in their minds was based on the First Schleswig War, nearly 30 years prior.

Since then, however, Prussia had invested heavily in strengthening its defense capabilities under Bismarck’s policies and gained extensive combat experience by participating in the American Civil War.

Apart from Great Britain and France, no other country in Europe could rival Prussia.

Russia, due to the decline of its imperial authority, was embroiled in a fierce power struggle with its nobles and was spiraling further into chaos, leaving it with no capacity to intervene in other countries’ affairs.

If a country with actual war experience had been in their place, they would have known this fact, but unfortunately, Denmark lacked that sense of reality.

The war 30 years ago was just a few local skirmishes that fizzled out due to the intervention of major powers.

They were bystanders in both the Crimean War and the subsequent American Civil War, so they lacked real combat experience.

Because of this, there were quite a few in the military who were unaware of the Prussian army’s true danger.

“With our current forces, we obviously cannot defeat Prussia. However, with the advancements in technology and weaponry, the dynamics of war have shifted even more in favor of the defending side than in the past.”

“Didn’t Prussia suffer considerable losses fighting the Union army in the recent American Civil War? If we study their tactics, we can defend adequately.”

“If Great Britain doesn’t intervene… then it might be possible.”

To those who objectively knew the military strength of both countries, this assessment of the situation was laughable, but Denmark had its own reasons for thinking this way.

The root cause of all this was that Prussia and France had not shown as much strength as expected in the war with the North [American Civil War].

Most European countries initially believed that the North would be quickly defeated when France and Prussia sided with the South.

Even though it was a long-distance expedition, France and Prussia had dispatched a joint force together.

Moreover, Spain was also involved, even if they didn’t contribute significantly, and the local South was providing supplies. It would have been strange if things hadn’t been resolved quickly.

However, people’s expectations were shattered, and the shock to Europe was immense.

-What is this? Were France and Prussia just big bubbles?

-Is Great Britain the strong one, and France and Prussia are just foxes boasting next to a tiger?

This perception became even more widespread when the North immediately surrendered and the war ended as soon as Great Britain intervened.

In reality, the North conceded because they couldn’t handle Great Britain’s involvement in an already tight battle, but regardless of the truth, France and Prussia had lost face.

Still, the Confederate army later completely crushed Spain, revealing that the United States was much stronger than Europe had realized.

They barely managed to save face thanks to this track record; otherwise, neighboring countries might have genuinely seen France and Prussia as mere paper tigers.

“We just need to avoid rashly advancing south and focus on countering the Prussian army as they try to move north.”

“Good. But have we heard from Russia? If they dispatch reinforcements, Prussia will have no choice but to take notice…”

“Russia’s domestic situation is said to be unstable. It seems they won’t consider joining unless we show that we can hold our own to some extent.”

“They don’t want to pour water into a bottomless vase.”

Even in a defensive war, we need to show at least minimal success to induce Russia’s participation.

Just once. We just need to stop the enemy once.

In the end, the Danish army decided to concentrate all its capabilities on repelling the advancing Prussian army.

And then.

[Iron Chancellor Bismarck’s Great Victory. Danish Army Crushed in First Battle! Estimated casualties amount to 4,000, and control over central Schleswig is completely lost…]

As always happens to those who do not know themselves or their enemy, Denmark learned the hard way that Prussia was not weak; the United States was just too strong.

* * *

Overwhelming victory.

The Prussian generals, witnessing the moment when their years of investment in strengthening national defense bore fruit, could not contain their surging emotions.

“The defeated Danish army has been pushed back to northern Schleswig.”

“If we push on like this, the entire Schleswig region will be in our hands within a month at most.”

“…What is this? Was war always this easy?”

“Is this the power of the Germanic people?”

Like a knight who has gained absolute power through long training finally drawing his holy sword and commanding the world.

Prussia, unleashing its accumulated military might against a fellow European nation, was finally realizing how strong it had become.

“Yes, this is how it should have been. This is Prussia! This is the valor of the Germans!”

“The war with the North was a very unfavorable battle for us from the start. It was amazing that we fought that well even after crossing the Atlantic.”

“That’s right. If the Northerners had sent their army across the Atlantic to Europe, would they have dared to fight us? They would have been crushed in the first battle like Denmark!”

Informing the weak Danes of the Germans’ strength felt like relieving a decade-old indigestion; they felt refreshed and full even without eating bread.

The dopamine rush was making not only the troops at the front but also the Junkers [Prussian nobles] in the rear slightly crazy.

“Hahaha! Look at this. The Danes were never our match to begin with!”

“Isn’t that what everyone already knew?”

“There was no doubt that we were strong, but this is a difference where a fight can’t even be established. I even feel sorry, like an adult bullying a child.”

“That’s true. But this is war. You have to do your best even when fighting a child. Heh heh heh.”

“Chancellor Bismarck was right. Prussia’s rights must be guaranteed by Prussia’s power. A stronger national defense is our future!”

Some of the Junkers had been saying that Bismarck was leaning too much towards Great Britain, but this victory erased such doubts as if they had melted away.

In the past, they wanted to annex Holstein but couldn’t achieve their goal because Great Britain found fault with it.

However, by improving relations with Great Britain and further strengthening their national defense, no one is stopping Prussia’s expansion.

“The Chancellor is undoubtedly a great leader who can make our Prussia even richer.”

“This time it’s Holstein, and next, it’ll be Austria, right?”

“But isn’t the Chancellor in favor of a Smaller Germany? I think he’ll just unite the rest, excluding Austria.”

“That’s a short-term goal, and the long-term goal is, of course, the establishment of a great Greater German Empire. People always want more when they have some. And we have to advocate for a Smaller Germany so that neighboring countries don’t keep us in check, right? Our Chancellor, a genius of diplomacy, wouldn’t be unaware of such a simple fact.”

With this war, the Junkers gained firm confidence.

The German army has one of the strongest forces in the world, and now the protagonist of the German Confederation is Prussia, not Austria.

And isn’t it a self-evident truth that Prussia is a country run by the Junkers?

Even Bismarck, though from a remote background, is a Junker.

If they establish a great German Empire centered around Bismarck, their status will soar even higher than it is now.

Like the Holy Roman Empire.

The Junkers celebrated the coming day of victory and busily racked their brains to reap even greater rewards than Denmark.

* * *

Austria is a tiger without teeth and an eagle without a beak.

No one was unaware of this simple proposition.

However, like the saying that even a ruined rich man lasts three years [a Chinese proverb meaning that even after a family loses its wealth, it takes time for the effects to be fully felt], there were still many who believed that the Habsburgs still had some power left.

Of course, I know that such a thing will not happen, but it seems that even a name doesn’t disappear completely overnight.

Until now, it felt like at least a minimum balance was being maintained thanks to that name value, but now too much time has passed.

In particular, as Prussia overwhelmingly crushed Denmark and advanced north like a storm, the German Confederation seemed to realize who the master of Germany was now.

And that was the same for Austria.

-We actively support the complete independence of Holstein.

-Holstein was part of the German Confederation, so it is right for it to form an independent government as a member of the German Confederation and enjoy complete freedom without external oppression.

-Merger? That is an act that violates the rights of the people of Holstein. The people of Holstein can exercise their sovereignty and must completely break away from Denmark.

“So, telling them to establish their own independent government means not even going under Prussia. They really beat around the bush.”

People who are nervous tend to be verbose, so Austria’s lengthy speech means that they are feeling pressured.

On the surface, it seemed like they were caring for Holstein, but it was obvious from the fact that almost every sentence contained words like independence or sovereignty.

If Prussia were to annex Holstein, they would criticize it as a tyrannical act of starting a war under the pretext of caring for the residents and then swallowing the land.

After Austria’s official statement was released, the eyes of European countries watching the entire Danish war began to be filled with concern.

-Will the fight between Denmark and Prussia escalate into a fight between Austria and Prussia?

-What will happen to the German Confederation if Austria fights Prussia?

-What about the balance of Europe if the German Confederation is unified?

No one in this world welcomes a strong gangster moving in next door.

And even in this complex situation.

Edward, who was sharing a drink with me, naturally brought up the main point as if it were a passing remark.

“Father, actually, the Austrian ambassador has been visiting Princess Gisela quite frequently recently. It’s not strange for an ambassador to look after his country’s princess, but it seems that the main purpose is for the Austrian royal family to instruct Gisela from the start.”

“I’ve heard the story too. They’re in quite a hurry when she hasn’t even become the Crown Princess yet. Do you like Princess Gisela?”

“She is a kind and innocent child. I am not thinking about marriage because she is too young now, but in a few years… it might be okay. But I am worried that she might be swayed by their influence because she has been too oppressed by her family since she was young and is weak-willed.”

“Once she comes to London, she will be virtually cut off from the Austrian royal family, so that won’t happen. And I don’t think you’re going to let that happen in the first place?”

“That’s right. It’s as you say, Father. So… I was wondering if you could allow me to clarify our positions in advance so that the Austrian royal family, especially Gisela’s mother, doesn’t have any vain hopes?”

Is he trying to establish a hierarchy? Considering Gisela’s weak-hearted personality, it might be good to do so in consideration of future events.

If she feels that the man who will be her future husband has power that cannot be compared to her own family, she will be able to easily shake off the pressure from her mother.

“Do as you please. Austria has to be mindful of us anyway, not the other way around.”

“Thank you. Then I will handle it my way.”

Denmark and Prussia were at war, but those who move the times are already looking ahead to the chaos ahead.

Denmark and Prussia, and Austria, Great Britain, and even Russia, which is holding its breath and watching the situation.

The commotion that started with the pregnancy of a naive princess had already expanded beyond Denmark and Germany into a massive diplomatic war involving all the great powers.