```
Leopold II still spoke with fury, "Austria must also make its stance clear!"
Joseph II, tired, waved his hand to interrupt, "General Willemze has just suffered a defeat at Rochefort. Now all the German states are watching our response; we must deliver a powerful counterstrike against the Prussians."
Immediately, Leopold II's gaze dropped.
He was well aware that due to his brother's reforms, the Austrian nobility was extremely dissatisfied, utterly unwilling to exert themselves for the nation. Similarly, Bohemia, Croatia, Hungary, and other nations also resisted the Royal Family because the reforms had touched their interests[Note 1].
In such a situation, Austria simply didn't have the strength to confront Prussia decisively. But if Southern Netherlands were allowed to become independent, then the German states would certainly perceive Austria as weak and defect to Prussia's embrace.
This was an unacceptable situation!
