War Palace and Knee Pillow, Austria’s Destiny

Free City of Krakow.

The ancient buildings with strong styles, sharp edges and complicated decorations echo the modern boxy factories. When the bell rings in the early morning, workers are herded into the factory like cattle and sheep.

Corresponding to this is the bustling trading market. As the largest commercial center in the original Polish region, its influence did not decrease but increased after the demise of the Kingdom of Poland.

Especially after the completion of the railway, trade with the Austrian Empire became closer. The Free City of Krakow is located at the junction of Russia, Prussia and Austria.

This status has allowed Krakow's businessmen and politicians to gain a lot of benefits overtly and covertly. Therefore, most people are scornful and indifferent to the Polish spirit and the importance of national restoration promoted by some people.

At this time, a very bumpy train was filled with people and luggage, just like a populous country in South Asia in later generations.

Although the Free City of Krakow is already a busy commercial center, it should not be so busy.

As soon as autumn arrived, the price of new grains was low, and merchants began to hoard grains. There is nothing wrong with buying low and selling high, but

In the second-class carriage, a man wearing a windbreaker and a low-brimmed hat was reading a copy of the Pace newspaper he had just bought.

Although the content of this newspaper was already a month ago, it still made the man clenched his fists, muttered something in his mouth, and laughed loudly, causing the passengers opposite him to frown.

Fred Roonoff was a coal merchant, and honestly he had never seen anything like this. This is not to say that the steel mills in the Austrian Empire do not want coal, but that those big businesses often have their own mines.

Even if they don't have their own mines, their supply is monopolized by some leaders and related households.

But this time, a leading figure in the Free City of Krakow actually asked for 20,000 tons of coal. Not only did he directly clear out Fred Ronov's inventory, he also first made up for the shortfall with a batch of coal on credit.

Although the other party requires installment payment, as long as this transaction is completed, he can enjoy his life in peace.

But before that, Fred Ronov still needed to go to Krakow to get the down payment. After all, he had a lot of coal orders on credit.

He was originally in a good mood, but after more than ten hours of driving, he encountered a lunatic who kept talking to himself. Even a clay Buddha would have accumulated enough anger.

In this era, problems are usually solved with fists, but I couldn't bear the fact that there were two strong men sitting next to the other party, while there were only two civilian staff beside me.

Maybe he was tired of watching, or maybe he wanted to share the joy in his chest with others, but the man in the trench coat opposite him actually took the initiative to start a conversation.

"Sir, are you planning to go to Krakow?"

Fred Ronoff rolled his eyes at the other party and said to himself, "The next stop is just there. Can you tell me this is not nonsense?"

However, out of professional habit, he still handed over a business card that read [Momponi Coal, Fred Ronoff].

The somewhat strange man in a trench coat opposite also handed back a business card that read [Pest Gunpowder Processing Factory, Juraj Sinok].

Only then did Fred Ronoff answer the other party's question with some surprise.

"Mr. Sinok, I have long admired your name. I really want to go to Krakow this time." Then he added another nonsense, "Are you going to Krakow too?"

Yuraj Sinok didn't feel embarrassed at all. He took out a lighter and lit the paper cigarette in his mouth. He took a big sip and then puffed out a few smoke rings happily, seemingly casually asking.

"Mr. Ronov, how much coal do the Poles want?"

Fred Ronoff didn't think this was a trade secret. On the contrary, he knew very well that no matter what era, those who played with arms must be powerful people. At this time, it was beneficial and harmless to show his strength and make friends with them.

"Fifty thousand tons."

"Cough, cough, cough." Yurayi Sinok was choked and coughed for a moment. He took a deep breath and then spat out a mouthful of phlegm with a "hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhura" but he said slowly.

"Are these Poles really planning to keep playing for a few years?"

"Fuck?" Fred Ronov was a Czech living in Italy. He didn't understand the word, but he felt vaguely uneasy.

"Mr. Ronov, this train is full of people going to Krakow."

"Another nonsense." Fred Ronoff cursed secretly, and then listened to the other party continue.

"There are many people like you and me."

Fred Ronoff was surprised and asked: "What do you mean? You mean?"

"Yes, it's just like you thought. It's all big deals, from daily necessities such as grain, vegetables, livestock, cloth, and coal, to steel, gunpowder, and cement. They want it all."

Yuraj Sinok still looked calm and composed, but Fred Ronov had already thought of something and couldn't help but sweat like rain.

"impossible."

"What's impossible? It's not the first time for the Poles."

Fred Ronoff's throat twitched.

"Then can we still get our money?"

"Of course, after all, the Poles are not bandits."

"That's good."

Hearing Mr. Sinok's words made Mr. Ronoff's nervous mood relax a little.

"But that's just the down payment. If you want to get the balance," Sinok didn't continue, but just smiled meaningfully.

Although he didn't say it clearly, his smile alone said it all.

Having already boarded the pirate ship this time, Fred Ronov looked at the crowd in the carriage. Although everyone is busy with work, everyone is surrounded by secretaries and bodyguards. There is no doubt that everyone is a "big shot".

But in the face of the power of the country, can they really do anything? Didn’t the Austrian Empire officials notice the battles caused by the Poles?

How could the Austrian Empire's police system not know about such a large-scale mobilization, but the top brass in Vienna did not pay much attention to it.

Especially in the opinion of Prince Metternich, this is a good time to annex the Free City of Krakow. After all, the Russians have already recognized the validity of the previous agreement.

The railway between Austria and Krakow ensured that the troops of the Austrian Empire could enter Krakow within one day after the latter declared an uprising.

Annexing Krakow and completely nipping the bud of Polish Zionism in the cradle is what the Austrian Empire needs to do most.

In fact, there are 100,000 troops of the Austrian Empire in Galicia alone, but there are only 200,000 to 300,000 troops in Krakow. Is it possible that they can still mobilize all the people? However, the Austrian Empire had 420,000 troops.

The only thing that worries Prince Metternich are the refugees from the Dniester River. Once these people are incited, they will be a very terrifying force.

But fortunately, Franz had already cut these people into pieces, and the organization was horribly loose. At the same time, they had no weapons or food for the winter.

In fact, the main force of Earl Stadion is near the royal territory, which can not only help the refugees solve their problems, but also solve the problems of the refugees when they occur.