Chapter 28, Preparation

In Franz's view, the greatest mistake Louis-Philippe made after the outbreak of the Paris Revolution was his failure to take immediate control of the army.

At that time, most of the French Army merely sympathized with the Revolutionary Party and had not yet joined it. They didn't oppose the Emperor and could have been won over completely.

Having troops in hand means everything is negotiable, whether it's suppressing the revolution or having a sit-down discussion; there would be enough room to maneuver.

Isn't the Guizot government already rotten? Then let them rot a bit more, lay all the blame on them—after all, in the eyes of the public, they're already beyond redemption.

In short, all the bad things were their doing; as long as it had nothing to do with the Emperor, it was fine.

...

Snowflakes fluttered down ceaselessly, and the biting cold wind still rampaged through Vienna.