Chapter 0962: The Final Battle
"Your Majesty, the German army has appeared to the west and north of Vienna—an entire four army groups. This means that the main force of these four German army groups has now reached Vienna. Even after accounting for the troops needed to secure their supply lines and key strategic points, the number of German soldiers gathered here is no fewer than six hundred thousand!" reported Field Marshal Baron Herzendorf to Emperor Karl I.
Karl I nodded impassively, saying nothing. At such a critical moment, they ought to have united in resistance against the German forces. Yet he harbored deep resentment toward his military and political ministers, who had once sought to abandon him in exchange for German clemency. Now, with the Germans spurning their overtures, they had no choice but to fight to the bitter end. In hindsight, they should never have entertained the vain hope of earning Germany's forgiveness.
Having seen these men for what they truly were, Karl I no longer placed any trust in them. He even believed that it was precisely because of such figures that the Austro-Hungarian Empire had crumbled so quickly. Otherwise, had the empire stood united, even if it could not defeat Germany, it could have at least held out for much longer. A prolonged resistance might have introduced unforeseen variables. Perhaps, if the United States and other nations joined the war against Germany, Austria-Hungary could have seized an opportunity to turn the tide. But these men had ensured that such possibilities were nothing more than a mirage.
Karl I had already formulated a plan for the future. Grand Admiral Anton Haus had left Vienna for the naval base at Trieste. If Vienna could no longer be held, Karl I himself would depart to join Haus. From there, the fleet would abandon Austria-Hungary, sail out of the Mediterranean through Gibraltar, and ultimately head for the United States.
The emperor had made up his mind—if the collapse of Austria-Hungary was inevitable, he would not remain to be a fallen sovereign but would instead seek exile in America. He had already established secret contact with the United States, which had expressed its willingness to receive him. Though Karl I's prestige within Austria-Hungary was less than illustrious, he was, after all, its emperor. At a pivotal moment, his presence might yield unexpected advantages—perhaps, one day, if the United States amassed the strength to launch a counteroffensive on the European continent, Karl I could serve as a useful figurehead in their plans.
"Your Majesty, we have amassed five hundred thousand troops in Vienna. However, morale is low. We hope that Your Majesty will step forward to inspire the soldiers, to show the people of Austria-Hungary that we have not submitted to Germany. Here, we will make our stand!" declared Archduke Friedrich.
Karl I did not refuse this request—nor did he dare to. Though he was emperor, at such a precarious juncture, whether these men still recognized his authority or regarded him as nothing more than a relic of a crumbling regime was an open question. Any misstep could provoke a backlash, and in the end, he would be the one to suffer.
Having already resolved to leave Vienna and abandon the empire, Karl I had no intention of jeopardizing his plans over such trivial matters.
"Very well, Your Highness. We must unite all the people of Austria-Hungary in defiance of Germany. We must make them pay dearly for their invasion of Vienna! Let them know that the conquest of Austria, the annihilation of our empire, is an impossibility!" Karl I declared fervently, exuding a resolute determination. Of course, it was all nothing more than a performance.
The military and political leaders of Austria-Hungary were greatly satisfied with his display. To them, despite all his flaws—and indeed, it was partly due to his failings that Austria-Hungary now stood on the brink of ruin—Karl I had not faltered in the final hour of the empire's existence. Instead, he had mustered the courage to fight to the end, a quality they found commendable.
Before the German offensive commenced, Karl I visited multiple military camps, rallying the troops and urging them to fight for the empire with unwavering resolve.
Though many Austrian soldiers were gripped by fear, his words still instilled courage in some. A number of Austrian-Hungarian troops steeled themselves, determined to continue the struggle.
Upon reaching Vienna, the German forces did not immediately launch their attack. A force of several hundred thousand soldiers required vast supplies, and the Austrian troops had already completed their mobilization. This meant that a major battle was inevitable. The Germans needed to make thorough preparations before striking. Convoys from the logistics corps were en route to Vienna, delivering enormous quantities of war materiel to ensure that once the attack began, Vienna would be seized swiftly and decisively.
In Berlin, Qin Tian followed the campaign against Austria with keen interest. The eradication of Austria-Hungary was an endeavor Germany had long orchestrated, and now, the moment of resolution was at hand. The empire's dissolution would not only add ten—perhaps nearly twenty—million people to Germany's dominion but also secure an array of satellite states. With the exception of Bolshevik Russia, no further threats would remain on Germany's periphery. Yet even Russia posed no immediate concern, as it remained under Germany's influence, engrossed in industrial expansion and infrastructural development at Germany's behest. For the foreseeable future, it would not pose a challenge. This afforded Germany ample time to consolidate its wartime gains, particularly its newly acquired territories and colonies, ensuring that the empire's future would be stronger than ever.
"Your Majesty, our forces have reached Vienna. The city's western and northern flanks are under our encirclement. The front-line commanders request instructions—should we completely seal off the city?" inquired Field Marshal von Falkenhayn.
Qin Tian pondered for a moment before shaking his head. "A full encirclement would only drive the Austrian forces to fight to the last man. Leave them an escape route, and they will instead think of fleeing. Their will to resist will crumble naturally."
Field Marshal von Falkenhayn nodded in understanding.
"Send a telegram to Field Marshal von Hausen. The Battle of Vienna will be our final confrontation with Austria-Hungary. I expect our forces to secure victory swiftly, cleanly, and with minimal losses," Qin Tian ordered.
"As you command, Your Majesty," Falkenhayn replied with a nod.