"Your Excellency, Ambassador, you are putting me in a difficult position! I can’t hold down the Austrian Empire with one hand and strangle the Sardinian Kingdom with the other, forcibly demanding they coexist peacefully!" Jerome Bonaparte feigned helplessness, spreading his hands and saying to Ambassador Kaotz, "Not to mention, the Austrian Empire is merely dissatisfied with Sardinia’s proposed joint investigation, and before they take decisive aggressive action, it’s best not to push them excessively.

Ambassador Kaotz, we cannot afford the consequences of backing a major power into a corner.

The Austrian Empire is not like the previous Russian Empire; rashly going to war with them could cause heavy casualties among our soldiers.

If things go awry, we might even face hostility from the entire German Confederation!

At that point, all of Central Europe would descend into chaos!

Such an outcome is of no benefit to England, France, and Austria!"

After Jerome Bonaparte finished speaking, Ambassador Kaotz instinctively nodded, the British Cabinet similarly considering this, which is why no conclusion has been reached.

Prince Albert wasn’t expecting to sway Jerome Bonaparte with words alone, asking him to lead the French Army in a battle with Austria for European peace. He just hoped Jerome Bonaparte would persuade Fuzi (Franz Joseph) to restrain himself somewhat.

"Your Majesty, of course, we understand not to excessively pressure a major power, but we only wish for the Austrian Empire to exercise some restraint!" Ambassador Kaotz replied to Jerome Bonaparte, "Relations in Europe are best between you and Emperor Franz Joseph, so we hope you would advise Emperor Franz Joseph as both a friend and brother!"

"Ambassador Kaotz, you are indeed making things difficult for me!" Jerome Bonaparte spread his hands, saying to Ambassador Kaotz, "I don’t have the ability to persuade Franz Joseph; he is the type that won’t give up until the last moment!

The joint investigation is something they oppose, their actions are entirely normal. The Austrian Empire is already prepared to cross the border at any time to teach Sardinia a lesson.

Consider what choices you would make if you were in his position!"

Ambassador Kaotz pondered, realizing that if he was in Franz Joseph’s position, he wouldn’t easily choose to withdraw the troops either.

Now, the entire Empire is watching the Austrian Empire and Sardinian Kingdom, and the Austrian Empire must not retreat at this time.

Otherwise, Franz Joseph’s authority would suffer a severe blow.

"Your Majesty, is there no other solution?" Ambassador Kaotz asked Jerome Bonaparte. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"There certainly is!" Jerome Bonaparte calmly replied to Ambassador Kaotz, "I said earlier that Franz Joseph wouldn’t give up until the last moment, so we just need to make a move similar to the Austrian Empire, and Franz Joseph will back down.

Retreating in a conflict with Sardinian soldiers is indeed embarrassing.

If the opponents of the Austrian Empire were the British and the French Army, then their retreat would become reasonable."

Ambassador Kaotz paused for a moment, then softly asked, "Your Majesty, do you mean?"

Jerome Bonaparte’s gaze carried a hint of skepticism; he didn’t believe Ambassador Kaotz was unaware of his intentions.

Since Ambassador Kaotz pretended to be ignorant, Jerome Bonaparte spelled it out, "My meaning is simple: our two nations should form a joint military force to enter Sardinia!

In this way, the Austrian Empire wouldn’t dare to act against the Sardinian Kingdom lightly!"

"Your Majesty, this might provoke a war!" Ambassador Kaotz said solemnly to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Based on my understanding of Franz Joseph, he definitely wouldn’t easily provoke a war!" Jerome Bonaparte assuredly replied to Ambassador Kaotz, "For the Austrian Empire, the cost of starting a war is equally huge!

As long as our two countries declare our intentions before entering Sardinia, the Austrian Empire wouldn’t dare act rashly."

"However, our Cabinet isn’t ready to deploy troops yet!" Ambassador Kaotz raised yet another difficulty to Jerome Bonaparte.

"There’s no other way!" Jerome Bonaparte shrugged, feigning a helpless expression in response to Ambassador Kaotz, "Just shouting a few words provides no effective deterrence to the Austrian Empire!"

Ambassador Kaotz fell silent, then after a while, tentatively asked Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, I think the French Empire alone could also form a deterrent to the Austrian Empire!"

Success! Jerome Bonaparte shouted inwardly.

Thus, Jerome Bonaparte sternly replied to Ambassador Kaotz, "Mr. Ambassador, you are pushing the French Empire into the fire pit!"

"Your Majesty, how is this pushing you into the fire pit!" Ambassador Kaotz retorted to Jerome Bonaparte, "The Sardinian Kingdom pertains to your border security. I believe you wouldn’t want the Austrian Empire’s forces directly reaching the French border!"

"What!" Jerome Bonaparte feigned a surprised expression and asked, "Could it be that the Austrian Empire has already prepared to annex the Kingdom of Sardinia?"

"We cannot rule out this possibility, Your Majesty!" Ambassador Kaotz replied to Jerome Bonaparte, "According to information from our Vienna Embassy, Emperor Franz Joseph has been discussing the issue of the Kingdom of Sardinia with us recently!

He believes that the original treaty (the 1815 treaty) no longer applies, and the Kingdom of Sardinia should be punished!"

Good brother! In his heart, Jerome Bonaparte couldn’t help but give a thumbs-up to Franz Joseph.

The harsher the Austrian Empire is towards the Kingdom of Sardinia, the more reason the French Empire has to enter the Kingdom of Sardinia.

"This doesn’t necessarily mean that the Austrian Empire wants to annex the Kingdom of Sardinia!" Jerome Bonaparte responded to Ambassador Kaotz, "Besides, annexing a country like the Kingdom of Sardinia also requires some legal basis!

The Austrian Empire shouldn’t take such an action that undermines legal principles!"

"Your Majesty!" Ambassador Kaotz said to Jerome Bonaparte in a slightly resentful tone, "Since your uncle Emperor Napoleon trampled the order of the whole of Europe, where is there any legal talk in today’s Europe?"

Jerome Bonaparte’s face showed an awkward expression, as Emperor Napoleon’s actions had caused a devastating blow to Europe’s legal order, creating a situation where might is right.

"Well... the Austrian Empire probably wouldn’t do such a thing!" Jerome Bonaparte said hesitantly.

"Your Majesty, we must prevent the Austrian Empire from maliciously annexing territories!" Ambassador Kaotz righteously replied to Jerome Bonaparte, "The order of Europe must be maintained by our two countries!"

"But we must also consider the attitude of the Kingdom of Sardinia!" Jerome Bonaparte slowly responded to Ambassador Kaotz.

"Don’t worry!" Ambassador Kaotz replied confidently to Jerome Bonaparte, "The Kingdom of Sardinia will definitely agree!"

"If the Kingdom of Sardinia is indeed willing, then the French Empire is willing to take on this responsibility!" Jerome Bonaparte answered Ambassador Kaotz.

"Your Majesty, I will have a good exchange with the Kingdom of Sardinia!" Ambassador Kaotz volunteered to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Then I must trouble you!" Jerome Bonaparte expressed his gratitude with a fake smile to Ambassador Kaotz.

After Ambassador Kaotz left, Jerome Bonaparte issued a secret order to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to monitor Ambassador Kaotz and sent someone to threaten Cavour.

If Cavour dared to tell Ambassador Kaotz about the matters of Savoy and Nice, the French Empire would abandon its assistance to the Kingdom of Sardinia.

The Kingdom of Sardinia would have to endure the "affection" from the Austrian Empire alone.

Cavour hastily assured that he would definitely follow orders and not reveal a word to the Kingdom of Britain.

...

In the following days, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported to Jerome Bonaparte on the whereabouts of Ambassador Kaotz.

"Your Majesty, Ambassador Kaotz has been continuously visiting the Sardinia Embassy for several days!" Percy said to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Do you know the content of their conversations?" Jerome Bonaparte asked in response.

Percy shook his head and answered Jerome Bonaparte, "We still don’t know what exactly they are discussing!"

"Alright! You can go back now!" Jerome Bonaparte waved his hand and ordered Percy to leave.

That afternoon, Ambassador Kaotz once again arrived at the Tuileries Palace, excitedly telling Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, the Kingdom of Sardinia has agreed to the French Empire’s request to enter the Kingdom of Sardinia!"

"I’m sorry for the trouble!" Jerome Bonaparte smiled, expressing gratitude to Ambassador Kaotz.

Unaware that he was being played by the monarch before him, Ambassador Kaotz was feeling smug about his actions, "Your Majesty, this is what I should do!"

Subsequently, Ambassador Kaotz joyfully left the Tuileries Palace.

Another day passed, and the Kingdom of Sardinia officially submitted a request to the French Empire’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Given the military threat from the Austrian Empire towards the French Empire, they especially invited the French Army to enter the Kingdom of Sardinia to mediate conflicts.

Jerome Bonaparte immediately called for Chief of Staff Nie’er and instructed him, "Chief of Staff Nie’er, I order you to immediately dispatch the Alps Army into the Kingdom of Sardinia!"