Chapter 702: The Deal
Papal States. Rome.
A black carriage rolled over the muddy streets, splashing filthy water onto the red trousers of the escorting guards. Inside the carriage, Austrian State Minister Baron Thugut carefully folded a secret letter he had just read and placed it back into its envelope.
Opposite him, Baron Walter, lazily munching on a nut he had picked up from the table, glanced at Thugut's furrowed brows and remarked casually:
"So, His Majesty still hasn't secured that silver mine?"
Thugut, though reluctant to engage with this fool, decided not to offend a royal relative and nodded.
"General Wurmser lost an entire battalion ten days ago. He's now requesting reinforcements and heavy artillery. His troops, as you know, are severely demoralized…"
After the miners relocated to the mountains and held off the Austrian invaders for eight more days, reinforcements from Warsaw finally arrived. With five regiments bolstering the defense, Krakow's situation significantly improved. At one point, Polish forces even recaptured Chrzanów, dealing a heavy blow to Wurmser, though they couldn't hold the town for long.
Nearly two months after entering Krakow, the Austrians were still bogged down in skirmishes over a small town. This stalemate finally forced Emperor Francis II to act.
Wurmser blamed the poor morale of his troops on rumors about a so-called "Papal call for a new crusade."
After lengthy deliberations, Francis II and his ministers devised a plan to resolve the issue. Baron Thugut was dispatched to Rome to implement it, and Baron Walter insisted on tagging along to share in the credit.
Walter, chewing on another nut, smirked confidently:
"The Pope won't be able to resist such a tempting offer. Once the lie is debunked, the poor Poles will lose Krakow. You and I will bask in His Majesty's rewards. Simple as that."
Thugut's gaze drifted out of the window, his expression complicated.
"Let's hope it goes as smoothly as you predict."
4:00 PM.
Thugut emerged from St. Peter's Basilica, his face grim. Walter, waiting in the corridor, hurried over.
"Well? When will His Holiness head to Vienna?"
Thugut shook his head, frowning.
"The Pope has rejected our proposal."
"What?!" Walter's voice rose in shock. "Our archbishops are all appointed by the Holy See, and we ensure the absolute security of the Papal States. All he has to do is go to Vienna and make a public statement! How could he refuse such a deal?"
Indeed, Francis II's offer was exceptionally generous.
Under Emperor Joseph II, Austria had begun distancing itself from Rome, refusing to recognize papal appointments for key archbishoprics. This significantly reduced the Vatican's influence.
Furthermore, while the Pope's spiritual authority remained immense, the Papal States were perpetually under threat from surrounding nations, each harboring territorial claims. Even minor states like Modena posed a risk due to the Papal States' lack of a robust military.
Historically, when Napoleon later provided a pretext, the Papal States were quickly dismantled, leaving the Pope with only the city of Rome.
In this precarious position, the Pope should have leapt at Austria's offer. All Francis II wanted was for the Pope to visit Vienna and publicly deny rumors of a "new crusade."
Such a statement would immediately boost Austrian troop morale and weaken the Polish resistance, potentially ending the Krakow conflict.
But the Pope refused.
The reason lay in the very nature of the "New Crusade." Joseph's design was a brilliant political maneuver.
The current war between Poland and Russia was widely perceived, thanks to Mesmer's persuasive propaganda, as a clash between Catholicism and Orthodoxy.
If the Pope now denied any connection to a crusade, it would be seen as a concession to the Orthodox Church, a humiliation for Catholicism.
For the increasingly weakened Roman Church, this could be a fatal blow.
Especially for Pope Pius VI, who would bear the full blame. He couldn't afford to take the risk.
Three days later.
Thugut had his second audience with Pius VI but failed once again to sway him.
Desperate, Thugut prepared to return to Vienna. That evening, however, Walter mysteriously led him to a café.
In a private room, a hooded figure awaited them. Upon Thugut's arrival, the figure rose and said,
"By divine providence, we meet here, Baron Thugut."
The man removed his hood, revealing the face of Cardinal Muzarelli. Thugut was taken aback.
"Cardinal Muzarelli?"
Muzarelli, one of the most powerful figures in the Vatican, oversaw the Secretariat and wielded significant influence over church finances.
With a polite smile, Muzarelli gestured for Thugut to sit. He got straight to the point:
"I hear His Majesty has encountered some difficulties?"
Thugut shot a sharp look at Walter, furious that such sensitive information had been shared.
Muzarelli smiled again.
"Forgive me, but Baron Walter was right to inform me."
Thugut composed himself and asked,
"So, you brought me here to discuss this matter?"
"Precisely." Muzarelli clasped his hands, his eyes gleaming. "I believe I can help His Majesty."
"Oh? And how would you do that?"
"As a papal envoy, I often represent His Holiness in dealings with foreign powers. In other words, I can speak on the Pope's behalf."
Eastern Poland. Minsk.
Amid the distant roar of cannon fire, an unassuming carriage slowly made its way into Russian-controlled territory via a small village road.
Russian soldiers raised their muskets, one shouting in Polish, "Stop! Who goes there?"
Stanisław Piatoli, secretary to the King of Poland, stepped out and addressed the highest-ranking officer.
"I am the King's secretary. I bear an urgent message for General Koreshenikov."
An hour later, in the Russian Lithuanian Army's command post, Koreshenikov stared at Piatoli in shock.
"Are you saying... His Majesty intends to surrender?"
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 40 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/johanssen10