Before the spring of '98 it had become clear that something radical had to be tried. The Austrian Army was just too wel trained for the O.E to take on. Battles were lost too easily. I knew Emperor Matto would come for me when the rain stopped. His forces were better-and now Austrias moral was higher.
If I stood on the defense-even in the mountains-he would defeat my forces. If I withdrew deep into the Ottoman Empire-he would just follow. The idea of surrendering was considered multiple times-and discussed with Terje, Emperor of France. The possible solution to this situation was penned several months prior to its implementation. I could not set a precise start date as Austria needed to move to the East bank of the Danube before I could put the plan into operation.. Matto did not waste any time-in May, he marched.
The plan was to seize the imitative by marching on Vienna itself. There was even a small possibility to capture the capital, although that was not counted on. I simply wanted to have Austria waste time recapturing its territory in the east-and then having to race back to its capital.
Two things made this plan possible; it would clearly come as a surprise-and that I chose the rapid march doctrine. This gave me flexibility in advancing and withdrawing at he last minute-and getting away. Supply was going to be an issue as I had not mastered sea supply yet-and money was short anyway. Sea deports would have had to be set up from Athens to Illyria. The losses from attrition and lack of supply would have to factored in.
