Seizing Mexico City without shedding a drop of blood and overthrowing Maximilian I’s rule, the republican government led by Juárez finally shed its rebel status and became legitimate. Before they could even celebrate, Juárez received the news that Maximilian I had taken refuge in the Austrian embassy, ruining his good mood instantly. Without a doubt, having Maximilian I remain in Mexico City was like having a ticking time bomb, capable of triggering a political earthquake at any moment. To be precise, they didn’t even have to wait for the future—Maximilian I was already causing trouble for them, albeit unintentionally. Maximilian I had not yet abdicated and was still recognized internationally as the legitimate ruler of Mexico. In contrast, the republican government led by Juárez had yet to gain recognition. The uprising was launched under the banner of “punishing the tyrant,” and now that the emperor was in the Austrian embassy, the question was whether to seize him or not. A young officer, eager for action, suggested, “Mr. President, there aren’t many troops at the Austrian embassy. Should we send someone in to capture that bastard Maximilian?” Juárez himself was inwardly cursing Maximilian I. He had a chance to escape but didn’t take it—what was wrong with him? “Bauer, have you lost your mind? That’s the Austrian embassy! Sending troops in now would only give them an excuse to intervene. Firstly, surround the Austrian embassy and have our diplomats communicate with them to demand that they hand over Maximilian I.” Juárez himself didn’t believe what he was saying, but in politics, these steps are necessary. Rushing into an embassy, especially one belonging to a great power, is suicidal. On this issue, the European powers were united in their stance. None would tolerate an assault on an embassy. Even though the Austrian embassy’s sheltering of the Mexican Emperor amounted to interference in Mexico’s internal affairs, what could be done when Mexico was just a weak country? In this harsh era, weak nations have no voice. As long as Austria insisted that they were dealing with rebels and that the republican government lacked legitimacy, the issue would simply be brushed aside. There was no hope for international opinion to support them, as this was still the age of monarchies. Even in the most progressive nation, France, no one dared to promote the idea that rebellion was justified. The Mexican republican government had already thoroughly offended the French, and now they wanted to provoke Austria as well—did they really think they could still have a good future? Even though the Americans supported their revolution, if it came down to it, you could bet the Americans would play ostrich. The primary duty of the Anglo-Franco-Austrian alliance was to suppress American influence after all. As long as they stayed out of the fray, they didn’t have to worry about a social backlash. The wounds from the civil war had only just begun to heal, and the Americans were keeping a low profile—how could they possibly stick their necks out now? From a geopolitical standpoint, a weak and backward Mexico better served American interests. On this issue, both the United States and the Confederate States were aligned. Bauer, who had been scolded, wasn’t angry—instead, he was relieved not to be made a scapegoat. As part of the first unit to enter the city, if there were an assault on the Austrian embassy, it would likely fall on them. If it happened, they would definitely have to answer to the Austrians in the future, and the ones carrying out the orders would surely face the consequences. Bauer had rushed to consult with President Juárez mainly to avoid trouble. Juárez understood these little tricks well—just as Bauer didn’t want to take on the responsibility, Juárez as president didn’t want to either. Years ago, a default had provoked a French invasion, leading to the overthrow of their government. Juárez no longer had the courage to face such a situation again. Both men tacitly ignored the reality that Austria wouldn’t hand over Maximilian. When it came to foreign affairs, caution was always the best policy. As long as nothing happened, that was the best outcome. ... In the Austrian embassy, Ambassador Kompten righteously declared, “The international community has not recognized you and you are not the legitimate government of Mexico. Therefore, you are not qualified to conduct diplomatic negotiations with Austria.” Before the negotiations had even begun, the Mexican representative, Felippe, was dumbfounded. Starting off with a challenge to legitimacy and a refusal to recognize the republican government left Felippe at a loss for how to respond. There was no way around it—Mexico’s foreign ministry was a makeshift operation that had never conducted formal diplomatic activities since its establishment, so they had no idea how to handle such matters. Before Felippe could come up with a solution, he was thrown out. Kompten then invited ambassadors from various European countries for a meeting. Although they didn’t reach any significant agreements, they did agree on one thing: refusing to recognize the Mexican republican government. Monarchies refusing to recognize a republican government required no extra justification—it was political correctness. Unless the Mexican government could offer some enticing benefits, they shouldn’t expect to gain international recognition. ... Leaves fell one by one to the ground, forming a “golden path.” Stepping on it produced a crisp “crunch” that felt so comfortable, like walking on a cotton carpet. There wasn’t a single different leaf. Each one was a golden leaf, leaving a lasting impression. The corn had opened its mouth in a grin, the millet bent over with laughter, and the soybeans were rustling with joy in the wind... Governor Hümmel, who was inspecting various regions, was still immersed in the joy of the harvest. He thought to himself, “Another bountiful year. It seems that the new railway project can be launched.” “Governor, here is a telegram from the embassy in Mexico for you to review.” An unexpected visitor interrupted Governor Hümmel’s reverie. Without any hesitation, Hümmel quickly took the telegram and began reading it. The smile that crept across his face betrayed his thoughts. This was obviously good news. After reading the contents of the telegram, Governor Hümmel immediately issued orders, “Order the First, Second, and Third Divisions to cease field training and reach Puerto Barrios within a week! Order the Caribbean Fleet to immediately cease all outings and standby in the port. Order the logistics department to immediately allocate combat supplies for 50,000 men for three months and gather them at coastal cities along the Caribbean coast. Order the foreign trade department to organize a fleet immediately…” He issued over a dozen orders in rapid succession, all to be completed with haste. Clearly, they had made prior preparations. Otherwise, they couldn’t have accomplished it so quickly. Especially the colonial divisions, which were usually undermanned. Typically, they only maintained one-fifth to one-third of their personnel, keeping the structure of the army ready for rapid expansion in wartime. Of course, regular conscription of reservists for training was essential. While other nations might not be accustomed to this regular training, for the Germans, it was routine. This was how things were done back home, so naturally, the same could be applied in the Americas. After years of development, the population of the Austrian Central American colonies had surpassed 3.78 million, with white people making up two-fifths. Of course, these numbers were somewhat inflated. Many newborn mixed-race children were also included. In this era, with less stringent oversight, as long as appearances didn’t differ much, they could pass as such. Of course, the desire of bureaucrats for achievements is also a major factor. If they weren’t lenient, how else could the Austrian citizen birth rate in the Austrian Central American region be 7.8? Globally, this birth rate is the highest, far exceeding the normal birth rate. Among Austria’s many colonies, only Southeast Asia has a citizen birth rate that can match it. This statistic is limited to those with Austrian nationality and other groups are not included. The Austrian government only cares about the birth rate of its own citizens. Germans already make up 32% of the total population, and how this figure came to be is no longer important. The fact that Germans have become the largest ethnic group locally is undeniable. Theoretically, the number of registered reservists in the Austrian Central American region is 210,000. This is the limit of mobilization, though it is only for imperial citizens. Governor Hümmel does not believe that the local indigenous people will respond to the Empire’s call, so they are naturally not included in the reserve forces. Theory aside, the highest mobilization record of the Austrian Central American colonies was only 100,000. Any more would severely impact local production. They couldn’t afford to cripple their own economy with training, as they weren’t going to war externally. This figure far exceeds the mobilization level of normal agricultural countries, but it doesn’t matter. The Austrian Central American region is an agricultural and mining economy, while the mother country, Austria, is an industrial nation. The Austrian Central American colonies combined were essentially an agricultural province within an industrial country, so their mobilization capability would naturally be stronger than that of an agricultural country. This military strength ranks among the top five on the American continent. Apart from the British, the United States, and the Confederate States of America, Governor Hümmel does not take other countries seriously. This intervention in Mexico is an opportunity to showcase their capabilities. Perhaps Franz sees the safe return of his unfortunate brother Maximilian as the goal, but for the colonial officials eager to achieve something, not stirring things up would be unworthy of their identity as colonizers. Governor Hümmel is no exception. In his view, this matter must be escalated. Otherwise, how could anyone achieve merit? If not for this, he would have long ago sent troops to rescue Maximilian. After all, the Mexican Republican government doesn’t want this troublemaker either. Keeping Maximilian I in the Austrian embassy was intended to stir things up. Never underestimate the ability of revolutionaries to create trouble. There are always some overly clever hotheads. As long as an armed conflict occurs, Governor Hümmel would have the excuse for military intervention. According to Austria’s usual principles, it generally doesn’t like to make enemies lightly, but once it does, it only aims to eliminate them. However, Hümmel doesn’t have the appetite to annex the Mexican Empire. Even if it could be swallowed, the strength of the Austrian Central American colonies alone couldn’t digest it. Moreover, other countries would intervene and wouldn’t just watch Austria expand so recklessly. How much can be bitten off now depends not only on strength but also on how big a fuss is caused. A reasonable excuse always yields the greatest benefits. What Governor Hümmel most wants to see is the Mexican Republican government recklessly sending troops to besiege the Austrian embassy. At that point, if the two countries formally declare war, no one can accuse Austria of any wrongdoing. Compared to achieving great deeds, Maximilian I’s personal safety was of secondary importance. As long as he was still alive, Hümmel could still report back to His Majesty the Emperor. Enduring some hardship was entirely acceptable. If anything unforeseen happens, as long as they do their best to rescue him, they can still manage. Others might not know the inside story, but as a senior government official, Governor Hümmel is well aware of the falling out between Maximilian I and his family. Perhaps as his brother, the Emperor wants to help him, but there are undoubtedly many within the Habsburg family who would rather this unfortunate soul perish sooner rather than later. Of course, this death must be natural, and he must not die at the hands of the Mexican rebels. Otherwise, for the sake of family honor, they would have to seek revenge on Mexico. These are things that can only be understood, not openly discussed. As for Maximilian’s safety, Hümmel was quite confident. In this era, those daring to commit regicide were still rare. The lessons of the past were there as a warning. Those who chopped off the heads of Charles I and Louis XVI basically all met tragic ends, even dragging their families down with them. Anyone with a bit of political acumen knew the consequences. While actively launching war preparations, Governor Hümmel reported the situation to the homeland and requested instructions from the Austrian government. This was just a formality. Franz had no desire to control remotely, and it was naturally impossible for the Austrian government to do so. By convention, they authorized the colonial governor to act at his discretion.
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