lovenovelstory Chapter 395: Bro, Where the Hell Did They Bring Me?
Chapter 395: Bro, Where the Hell Did They Bring Me?
The night in Vienna always possessed an intoxicating haziness, especially in these hidden corners along the banks of the Danube.In the twin heart of this Empire, conspiracies bred like rats in a sewer beneath the foundations of glamorous Baroque buildings.
The very night “Raven” met with Masaryk.
Inside an inconspicuous private club box, the air was filled with the aroma of expensive cigar smoke and aged brandy.
“Raven” gently swirled the crystal glass in his hand. The amber liquid clung to the sides of the glass, slowly sliding down.
His eyes, hidden in the shadows, observed the man sitting across from him with a scrutinizing gaze.
That was a special envoy from Budapest, impeccably dressed, wearing a badge symbolizing his Magyar noble status on his collar.
“God will naturally bless the Czechs~”
The corners of the envoy’s mouth curled into a cruel arc, his tone full of undisguised contempt: “After all, the dead are the easiest to receive God’s forgiveness, aren’t they?”
“Raven” chuckled softly. His laugh was dry, like fingernails scraping a chalkboard.
“Your sense of humor is always so unique, Mr. Envoy… However, this is exactly why we appreciate the Budapest side—pragmatic, with clear goals.”
To the Magyar nobles in Budapest, the chaos in Vienna was the opportunity they dreamed of.
As long as Habsburg imperial power was severely damaged in this coup, Hungary could seize more say within the Dual Monarchy’s framework, or even… completely break free from Vienna’s constraints.
And for the Britannians, they never put all their eggs in one basket.
Just as they didn’t solely engage in covert operations within the Saxon Empire, they naturally placed multiple bets regarding subversive activities within the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
“Once the fire starts in Vienna, our people in Budapest will respond immediately. Count István will step forward to take charge.”
The envoy set down his glass, leaning forward, his tone growing greedy.
“We will cut off transport on the Danube and the railways, and seal the borders… A portion of the Saxons’ Fifth Army Group is still being transferred by rail; this will be their most vulnerable moment.”
“When that time comes, not only can we declare independence, we might even have the chance…” The envoy’s eyes gleamed with greed, “…to invite that young Saxon Crown Prince to Budapest as our ‘guest’.”
Capturing an enemy nation’s Crown Prince—this would be an achievement worthy of the history books, and an unparalleled bargaining chip at the negotiating table.
“Budapest’s plan is perfect.”
“Raven” nodded slightly, showing little emotional fluctuation.
“By the way, regarding these Czechs charging at the front…”
The Hungarian envoy seemed to remember something, a playful expression on his face: “After it’s done, you won’t really let them become independent, will you? You must know, the industrial areas of Bohemia are a fat piece of meat we’ve coveted for a long time… Before I came, Count István specifically instructed me to discuss this matter with you thoroughly.”
“Mr. Envoy, you and the Count worry too much.”
“Raven” extended a hand from the shadows and tapped lightly on the table.
“We and Budapest are long-term strategic allies~ As for those Czechs… they are nothing more than the fuse used to ignite the powder keg. Once the fuse burns out, there is naturally no need for it to exist.”
“Once the situation stabilizes, the Bohemia region will be placed under ‘temporary military administration,’ and the enforcers of this administration… will naturally be our friends in Budapest.”
Hearing this, the Hungarian representative was stunned for a moment, then burst into a burst of tacit, loud laughter: “Hahahaha! I knew it! I knew you wouldn’t really let those Bohemian bumpkins turn their fortunes around! Friend, you Britannians are truly… so much to my taste!”
“That old man Masaryk is still dreaming of establishing ‘Greater Czechoslovakia,’ and is even willing to be the vanguard of this operation. It certainly saves us a lot of trouble…”
“The vanguard is often the first to become cannon fodder.”
“Hahahaha, Mr. ‘Raven’, cooperating with smart people like you is always so pleasant.”
Seeing the mood was right, “Raven” raised his glass and clinked it lightly with the other: “To our mutual interests, and to… a new nation without Habsburg shackles.”
“To Hungary!”
After sending off the thoroughly satisfied Hungarian envoy, the smile on “Raven’s” face instantly vanished, replaced by a cold indifference as if looking at a clown.
He walked to the window, pulled back a corner of the heavy curtain, and looked at the dark streets outside.
“A bunch of greedy fools.”
He cursed in a low voice.
The Holy Britannia Empire and Her Majesty the Queen never needed a powerful Hungary… much less an independent Czechia.
What they needed was chaos.
A fragmented, war-torn Central Europe, a bottomless pit that could drag the Saxon Empire into a quagmire.
So in “Raven’s” eyes, whether it was the Hungarians before him, or those Czechs sharpening their knives outside, they were all merely pawns on the Holy Britannia Empire’s chessboard.
It could even be said that Britannia was like a top-tier “player” navigating Vanity Fair.
They simultaneously promised national self-determination to the Czech independence faction, political hegemony to the Hungarian nobles, and even flirted with certain radical groups in Croatia.
Every faction thought they were the Britannians’ “true love,” their only partner.
Little did they know, in the business plans of those gentlemen in London, the fate of these people had already been assigned a price.
And among all these pawns, the Czechs were undoubtedly the most tragic.
In the Britannians’ script, Masaryk and his Czech officer corps were the suicide squad charging at the very front, targets meant to draw fire.
While the Hungarians were the “partners” responsible for stabbing them in the back and dividing the spoils afterward… temporarily.
“Sir.”
An intelligence officer dressed as a bartender appeared silently behind “Raven”: “Masaryk’s side has just given their answer… They will launch the coup operation, with the start time set for 4:30 AM on March 17th.”
“Very good.”
“Raven” turned around, adjusted his collar, then picked up the glass on the table and downed it—after all, this was paid for by operational funds, it couldn’t be wasted.
“Tell the ‘Ranger’ team to get those big guys ready… While the Czechs are foolish and reckless, they are our ‘allies’ for these few days. We must give them some confidence so they dare to point their guns at the palace.”
“Also…”
He paused, his eyes turning sinister: “Telegraph our sleeper agents in Budapest. As soon as the coup in Vienna begins, immediately spread rumors saying the Hungarians are planning to take advantage of the chaos to annex Austria… We need these two dogs to bite each other harder.”
Just past midnight on March 16, 1915.
An encrypted telegram was sent from a secret stronghold in the Old Town of Vienna, announcing that this shocking “conspiracy” had officially entered the countdown.
Masaryk looked at the map of Vienna spread out before him, his palms slick with sweat.
Although he was the nominal political leader of this coup, when it truly came to this moment of putting his head on the line, the deputy felt an unprecedented suffocation.
His hands trembled slightly, unable to tell if it was from fear or excitement.
“Is everything arranged?” he asked the assistant behind him.
“Yes, sir.”
The assistant answered in a low voice: “The Czech officers of the 35th Bohemian Infantry Regiment are ready. They control most of the key positions in the regiment…”
“Additionally, after accepting our ‘gift,’ the Vienna Chief of Police also confirmed his participation in this operation…”
“He promised to have armed police and patrolmen cooperate with us at the critical moment to suppress the small number of Landwehr and military police loyal to the royal family.”
Masaryk nodded, his gaze fixed on the Hofburg Palace on the map.
“What about Archduke Karl?”
“His Highness the Archduke… is still hesitating.”
The assistant hesitated slightly, then spoke in an uncertain tone: “But he hasn’t rejected our contact, which shows he also desires change inwardly… As long as we create a fait accompli, he will have to step forward to clean up the mess.”
“Then we will help him make this decision. We need him to appear at the critical moment to boost morale and compel soldiers loyal to the royal family to lay down their arms.”
Masaryk gritted his teeth, a flash of ruthlessness finally appearing in his eyes: “Tell the action teams, don’t worry too much… As long as we can control the situation, no one in the future will remember the bloodshed today.”
And after receiving Masaryk’s reply, “Raven” also sent a senior officer to provide tactical guidance, striving to make the entire coup plan detailed and meticulous.
It’s just that there were indeed quite a few places they needed to control…
Or rather, completing a coup in a medium-to-large nation in the 20th century was indeed no small “project.”
Excluding the situations on the African continent where a coup could be accomplished by a dozen people…
Primary target: Hofburg Palace. Mission: Place Emperor Franz I under house arrest and force him to sign an abdication decree or appoint a new government. The Czech officer corps and armed forces will disguise themselves as Landwehr relieving the guard and storm in, with cover provided by Britannian support forces.
Secondary target: Army General Staff. Mission: Control Conrad, paralyze Vienna’s military command, and prevent the mobilization of troops loyal to the royal family. Main tasks: cut telephone lines, occupy the war room.
Third target: General Telegraph Office & Central Telephone Exchange. Mission: Cut off Vienna’s communication with Dresden, Budapest, and the front lines. Technicians dispatched in advance will sabotage the switchboards; Britannian intelligence personnel will destroy backup lines.
Fourth target: Wiener Neustadt Arsenal and Armory. The coup forces will replenish ammunition and armaments here, simultaneously securing heavy weapons to prevent a counterattack by the Landwehr. Masaryk and his team had already arranged inside help to open the armory past midnight.
Fifth target: West and North Railway Stations in the Vienna urban area. Only by controlling these can the main railways truly be severed, preventing reinforcements loyal to the royal family.
Sixth target: Parliament Building. The coup forces will forcibly announce the establishment of a “Provisional National Assembly” here to legitimize the coup. Masaryk will lead an emergency gathering of Czech deputies to declare the end of the Habsburg Dynasty.
Finally, and most importantly… the targets requiring the most troops: the three major barracks within the city of Vienna. In the eastern part of Vienna’s Inner City: the Imperial-Royal 2nd Infantry Regiment barracks… Of course, this was actually just a regimental headquarters; the main combat troops were stationed outside Vienna. In Vienna’s 11th District: the Lichtenberg barracks, where a small number of engineer and artillery units were stationed. And then the Schöneberg barracks, located near Schönbrunn Palace, where part of the Imperial Guard was stationed.
The Britannian intelligence officer sent by “Raven” helped Masaryk and the others perfect the plan. Including the proportion of various action forces, where the main force needed to be placed, how to deal with key figures after controlling them, etc. It could be said the Britannians were quite experienced in this area.
March 17, 4:30 AM.
The darkness before dawn was the thickest. The entire city of Vienna was still fast asleep, with only the occasional dog bark breaking the silence.
The marching columns of the 35th Bohemian Infantry Regiment, which had been mobilized back near Vienna ostensibly for military exercises, were approaching the outskirts of the city.
The sleepy soldiers approached the Vienna urban area in bewilderment. After being woken up and assembled early this morning, they found that only Czechs remained among the officers standing on the podium, while the usually strict Austrian officers were nowhere to be seen.
“Soldiers! The Emperor has been placed under house arrest by treacherous ministers! The Fatherland needs us to purge the corrupt officials surrounding the monarch!”
A Czech captain stood on a high platform, waving a pistol, delivering clumsy but effective pre-battle mobilization.
To these lower-class soldiers, high-level political struggles were too distant. They only knew their commanding officer had spoken, and promised three months’ pay for each person after the deed was done.
That was enough.
Approximately three battalions of troops, under the cover of night, split into multiple routes like streams of black sludge pouring into the empty streets of Vienna.
Meanwhile, in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of Vienna, massive tarpaulins were violently thrown back.
The cold gleam of metal flashed in the darkness.
Six “Hound Mark 4 Modified” Armored Knights, repainted dark gray, stood quietly in place like steel beasts from hell.
Their cockpit canopies slowly closed. The magitech engines emitted a low hum, and the eerie glow of charging magitech muscle bundles shone through the gaps in their armor.
“Operation begin.”
The cold command of this special operations team’s commander came through the communication stone.
“Targets: Hofburg Palace, Schöneberg barracks. Crush everything that stands in your way.”
These two locations were the only areas in all of Vienna where Armored Knights were stationed.
A loud explosion tore through the tranquility of the Vienna morning.
The gates of the Schöneberg barracks were instantly reduced to sky-filling wood splinters and twisted metal scrap.
The two Austro-Hungarian sentries on guard didn’t even have time to rack their bolts before they were blown away by a massive shockwave, crashing heavily into the guardhouse behind them, their fates unknown.
Amidst the flying dust, a dark gray steel giant crashed through the smoke, striding into the barracks square.
It was the Britannians’ “Hound Mark 4 Modified” Armored Knight.
Compared to the Saxons’ “Siegfried Mark 1” and the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s “Guardian of the Holy Crown,” the “Hound” series tended more towards high mobility in design due to its operational focus.
Its build was more compact, its lines sleeker. The joints of the “Hound Mark 4 Modified’s” limbs also utilized better reinforced hydraulic shock absorbers, making it agile as a true hound when running.
“Enemy attack! Enemy attack!”
The barracks instantly exploded into chaos.
Disheveled soldiers of the Imperial Guard rushed out of their barracks gripping their rifles, their faces written full of terror and bewilderment.
This was the capital of the Empire, this was Vienna!
How could enemy Armored Knights appear here?!
A few terrified Armored Knight pilots were hastily running towards the maintenance warehouse on one side of the camp, trying to urgently start the Armored Knights parked inside.
However, the Armored Knights of the “Ranger” squadron did not give them the time.
The “Hound Mark 4 Modified” that charged in first raised the assault cannon in its hand, spewing deadly tongues of fire toward the direction the Armored Knight pilots were running.
High-explosive shells exploded among the crowd. Severed limbs and body parts flew in all directions accompanied by screams.
“Counterattack! Counterattack quickly! Use the field guns!”
An Imperial Guard captain roared, trying to organize soldiers to push the old-fashioned artillery pieces placed on the drill ground.
But before he could get men to turn the muzzles around, the other two “Hounds” also charged into the barracks.
Their magitech cores emitted sharp shrieks. The magitech muscle bundles beneath their armor plates contracted and released in a short time…
Then, propelling their massive bodies, they leapt high into the air, clearing the barracks’ defensive sandbags entirely, and landed right on the field gun positions that hadn’t even been deployed yet.
A mechanical arm swung down violently. That old-fashioned artillery piece, along with the gunners beside it, instantly turned into a pile of scrap iron and minced meat.
This was a one-sided slaughter. Without the support of Armored Knights, the Imperial Guards simply could not combat these Hounds.
And at the other end of the city, the Army General Staff building had also fallen.
Britannian agents cut all telephone lines. Czech soldiers stormed into the war room, pinning the duty staff officers to the ground.
“Don’t move! Anyone who moves gets shot!”
A Czech major kicked over the sandbox. Looking at those usually high-and-mighty generals, including Chief of Staff Conrad, now lying wretchedly on the ground, a sick thrill appeared on his face.
“This is the result of you looking down on the Czechs!”
Within a short hour, the core areas of Vienna were almost entirely lost.
The telegraph office was occupied; distress signals to the outside world were cut off.
The armory gates were opened; crates of rifles and machine guns were distributed to the coup troops.
The railway stations were blockaded; any trains attempting to enter or leave were intercepted.
Masaryk stood on the steps of the Parliament Building. Looking at the smoke rising in the distance and listening to the rising and falling gunfire in the city, his hands trembled slightly.
“Did we… really do it?”
Vienna Westbahnhof, the main railway hub leading to the western part of the Empire.
At this moment, about a platoon of Czech soldiers and over sixty fully armed police officers had completely taken control of the station’s dispatch room and platforms.
The duty stationmaster and dispatchers were tied up like zongzi (pyramid-shaped dumplings wrapped in leaves) and thrown in a corner, rags stuffed in their mouths.
The operation to control the railway station could be said to be very smooth, won without shedding a drop of blood.
However, just as the captain leading the team was preparing to send a messenger to pass information to other units, he discovered that a train was actually slowly pulling into the Vienna West station in the early morning.
“Wait, where did this train come from?”
“Reporting, sir, the dispatchers don’t know either. They said according to today’s dispatch manifest, the earliest train shouldn’t arrive for another three hours…”
The Czech captain in charge of this area frowned and raised the binoculars on his chest.
In the dawn light, the locomotive of this somewhat strange-looking train indeed bore the double-headed eagle emblem of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Trailing behind were many flatcars covered with thick canvas, obscuring what lay beneath.
And in the middle section of the train, there were actually a few passenger cars that looked quite luxurious.
“Hey, talk about seeing a ghost~ How could a train be arriving at this time?” the captain muttered in confusion.
“Maybe wounded soldiers transported back from the front? Or the private train of some grand noble fleeing?”
A police officer assisting nearby guessed: “Look at those passenger cars, they’re not low-class.”
This Czech captain hesitated for a moment.
According to orders, he should intercept all trains.
But this train came from the west, obviously not a unit returning from the front. And judging by the passenger cars and flatcars, it looked more like it was hauling cargo.
The Czech captain immediately thought of nobles and large merchants smuggling supplies… If so, then this “ghost train” not on the dispatch schedule made sense.
It mostly carried the private assets of some grand noble or merchant, and they might even be able to squeeze a handsome profit from it.
“Whatever, let it in.”
The captain waved his hand and commanded: “Have the boys surround it. Wait until the train stops completely before boarding to inspect it. If it’s a fat sheep, we’ll…”
He made a gesture of counting money, and the surrounding soldiers and police all showed knowing smiles.
Amidst the harsh sound of brakes, this train fully loaded with “smuggled goods” slowly came to a halt at Platform 4.
Morin was woken up by a violent jolt from the brakes.
He groggily opened his eyes, feeling as if someone had stuffed his head with cotton, completely groggy.
After the instruction unit’s regimental headquarters departed on this Austro-Hungarian military train, the first half of the journey went smoothly.
However, not long after entering the territory of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, this locomotive, supposedly a “premium domestically developed product of the Austro-Hungarian Empire,” had already experienced three “minor issues.”
And ultimately had to stop for inspection and repair, delaying them for several hours.
According to the plan, this military train would still take almost two days to reach Njeguši on the border and rendezvous with the main body of the instruction unit and Crown Prince Georg’s “Army Group.”
So Morin was currently trying to catch up on sleep and perfect his spell study.
Sitting up with some annoyance, Morin rubbed his face to wake himself up a bit, then looked toward the train window.
The thick velvet curtains were drawn, only allowing a sliver of faint light from outside to peek through.
“Kleist, where are we now?” he called out.
Kleist, sleeping on the seat nearby, had also just woken up and was yawning while putting on his jacket: “I don’t know, Commander… This train has broken down so many times along the way, probably another part broke.”
“The stuff created by these Austro-Hungarian engineers is just like their Empire. Looks glamorous on the outside, but full of problems inside.”
Morin complained, then stood up and pulled open the window curtain.
The sight that met his eyes jolted him awake instantly.
A massive arched glass roof, exquisite cast-iron pillars, and signs on the platform written in both Saxon and Hungarian.
In the distance, the spires of a cathedral could faintly be seen in the city skyline.
“Motherf*cker…”
Morin finally couldn’t hold back a curse.
“Where the hell did this train crew bring me? Is this still the border?”
He immediately pulled up the system map in his mind.
As the map interface unfolded, Morin felt his blood pressure spike instantly.
He saw the star-shaped cursor representing his location resting steadily next to the large word “Wien (Vienna).”
“Vienna… We’re in f*cking Vienna?!”
Morin was so angry he laughed out loud, but his smile soon froze on his face.
Because on the system map, centered around the train he was on, a red unit card representing an enemy unit appeared on the surrounding platform.
“Wait a minute bro… Isn’t the Austro-Hungarian Empire an ally? How can enemies spawn in their capital?”