African Entrepreneurship Record

Chapter 307: Chapter 294 Taking Down Venice

”I apologize, everyone. Our Mozambique is very sensitive about this matter and will not open the port. This concerns Mozambique’s security issues.”

”So, this matter is not negotiable? We only hope that you can provide the port for economic development. Personnel can operate under your supervision, and it will not involve your security issues.”

The Mozambican reception staff shook their heads and said, ”You should return. This is the governor’s decision.”

The East African diplomats exchanged glances, realizing that the new governor of Mozambique is indeed difficult to deal with, but they have no choice. Given the circumstances, they can only return to report the situation.

Mozambique’s disagreement on the port rental issue was not unexpected for the East African government. They never expected Mozambique to agree, as they approached it with a ’try and see’ attitude.

Think about it from another perspective; if a country were to ask East Africa to open its market, East Africa would also refuse. Of course, renting a port and opening a market are different things, but the principle is the same.

East Africa completely understands the Portuguese because, in the past, the British pulled such a stunt on them, and they would definitely not let their guard down.

...

Time quickly turned to December.

The highest commander of the Austria-Hungary Empire, Archduke Albert, finally began the final battle against the Kingdom of Italy. Continuing to delay was not a solution. Venice had been besieged for several months, with most of the population having left—some heading to East Africa, some to South America, and others fleeing to nearby areas. Now that the Austria-Hungary Empire’s overall objectives were achieved, the war could not be dragged on to prevent unforeseen changes.

”All-out attack!”

With the order given, the whole of Italy returned to a scene of heavy artillery fire. The heavy artillery brought in from the rear of the Austria-Hungary Empire fiercely bombarded Venice’s city defenses, increasing the pressure on the Venice garrison suddenly.

On the same day, the Austria-Hungary coalition in the Lombardy area launched a large-scale offensive towards Lombardy, with expeditionary forces circling back to rest in the Pope Country, now steadily advancing towards Florence again, accompanied by the Pope Country’s forces.

The Kingdom of Naples did not take large-scale action, mainly to guard against the southern Sicily Island. The Sicilians were indifferent to the Kingdom of Naples and did not want to revert to the former Two Sicilies Kingdom and had no desire to get by together.

Due to internal instability within the Kingdom of Naples, they did not join the war, which the Austria-Hungary Empire agreed to.

Though Sicily Island is still under the rule of the Kingdom of Italy, as long as the Kingdom of Naples and the Pope Country exist, its connection can only rely on the Mediterranean. Even if they don’t separate from the Kingdom of Italy, demands for autonomy are highly likely in the future.

During these months when the Austria-Hungary Empire suspended its offensive, the Kingdom of Italy was not inactive. Aside from dealing with the irritating fly in the form of the expeditionary force, the Kingdom of Italy managed to maintain order overall.

Taking advantage of this gap, Emmanuel II sought help from the British again. This time, the British did not refuse, and a mass of military aid shifted towards Italy. The British did not want the Austria-Hungary Empire to easily defeat Italy. The Prussian-French War had ended conclusively; unless a figure like Napoleon emerged again to save France in its time of crisis, the chances were very low. Hence, the British began to free their hands to restrain the expansion of the Austria-Hungary Empire.

Meanwhile, in the Kingdom of Italy.

”The Austria-Hungary Empire is not as fearsome as imagined. The achievements they previously made were due to a long-conceived plan suddenly set in motion, causing us severe initial losses. But looking at the results of several months of exchanges, we can clearly see the progress of our soldiers.” The Kingdom of Italy’s Minister of Defense said.

It is an objective fact that the Kingdom of Italy’s military power has progressed, but it is also true that the Austria-Hungary Empire did not exert strength in the preceding months.

This created a very interesting outcome: although in the Venice area, the Italian side suffered daily losses in terms of troops and territory reduced, the Italian military was indeed constantly reporting victories.

Especially after Venice fell under siege, it still confidently assured the kingdom, ”The Austria-Hungary Empire is already at the end of its tether. With Venice’s fortifications, we can completely hold onto this bridgehead without loss.”

The Italian military reported this because they had not been truly struck. Soon after the war commenced, the Austria-Hungary Empire’s attack intensity rapidly waned, enabling the Italian main force to slowly contract, finally clustering within the narrow city of Venice.

At the same time, the Kingdom of Italy, leveraging assistance from the British, organized an additional hundred thousand troops at the rear. Hence, this war saw other nations assess that Austria-Hungary may not achieve victory. Although Austria-Hungary possesses overall greater strength, with British support for Italy, it is possible they could reverse the situation.

However, at this time, the Austria-Hungary Empire isn’t like its state during World War I, nor are its army and navy commanders inept fools but are recognized as two world-famous generals: Archduke Albert and Von Tegetthoff.

Thus, the current Austria-Hungary military’s strength, within the great powers, is still online; not nearly as ineffective as having difficulty in defeating Serbia in the past.

Archduke Albert gave a formidable test to the Kingdom of Italy’s army on land, and the Austria-Hungary navy also began to harass Italy’s Sicily Island, Sardinia Island, and the mainland.

The restoration of the Kingdom of Naples guaranteed it a place for resupply and stopovers in the western seas of Italy.

The Kingdom of Italy felt the pressure right from the start against Archduke Albert’s final battle, with crises beginning on multiple fronts, and the once-solid bridgehead of Venice was not as secure as they had imagined.

After many rounds of artillery shelling, Venice’s defenses quickly opened a breach, and the Austria-Hungary Empire entered the Venice area to engage in street battles with the Italian army.

Under normal circumstances, as the party fighting at home, Italy should have had the advantage in Venice street battles.

However, this time it was different because Italy’s army faced not only Austria-Hungary’s army but also local Venetian citizens.

Once Austria-Hungary’s army entered Venice, it immediately received the support of Venetian people, who served as guides, assisted in combat, and shot the Italian army in the back.

As for why the Venetians acted this way, it was because the people of Venice had already reached their limit with the so-called Kingdom of Italy.

The Venetian elites seized the opportunity to profit immensely at the time of national disaster, while they had acted recklessly over several months, they shifted blame onto the Italian army.

In the cramped city of Venice, nearly a hundred thousand Italian troops consumed a great deal of provisions themselves, coupled with governmental exploitation, the citizens of Venice were said to be gradually crumbling.

When Austria-Hungary’s army had not yet invaded, it was still manageable. The moment Austria-Hungary entered Venice, the citizens’ pent-up rage exploded completely.

With the assistance of Venetian citizens, Austria-Hungary gained an advantage in street battles, and the Italian army’s already low morale collapsed instantly after being stabbed in the back; by the end of the first day, Venice had completely fallen.