As a diplomat with nearly a decade of experience, the emotions displayed on Von Bismarck’s face at this moment should not appear on the face of an excellent diplomat, but rather on that of a hostile military leader.

For only the leader of a hostile nation would reveal their emotions so openly.

An excellent diplomat, no matter how much they despise the monarch of a hostile nation, would hide their emotions deep inside, facing the adversary’s ruler with absolute rationality.

The most typical representative of this was none other than Prince Metternich.

When Prince Metternich served as the Austrian Ambassador to Paris, he consistently responded to Emperor Napoleon with a gentle demeanor, catering to the Emperor’s wishes.

When Emperor Napoleon sought to find a noble consort, Metternich further persuaded Emperor Franz to agree to an alliance with the French Empire.

Through Prince Metternich’s efforts, Emperor Napoleon and the Habsburgs successfully formed a familial relationship, allowing the Habsburgs to accumulate strength over time.

For a period thereafter, Prince Metternich strove to maintain a friendly stance towards the French Empire, even contributing (with 30,000 men) to Napoleon’s campaign against Russia.

It was only after Napoleon’s failed Russian campaign and forced retreat that Prince Metternich altered his previous conciliatory attitude toward Napoleon.

Even then, he did not kick a man when he was down but rather delivered Emperor Franz’s letter to Napoleon with composure.

In the letter, Emperor Franz advised Napoleon to abandon the Rhine Alliance, maintain the 1790 borders, and offered Austria’s mediation to allow Napoleon to remain Emperor of France.

However, the gambler’s mindset of Napoleon led him to believe he couldn’t fail. He publicly insulted Metternich, declaring the Habsburgs as ungrateful wolves and likening Metternich to a scoundrel like Talleyrand.

In the face of Napoleon’s humiliation, Metternich calmly presented a formal declaration of war from the Austrian Empire against the French Empire to the court.

Von Bismarck seemed not to possess the qualities of a "recognized" excellent diplomat. During his eight years as the Prussian Ambassador to Frankfurt, his work alternated between quarreling with the Austrian ambassador and provoking Austria’s allies (for instance, during a session in the Frankfurt Parliament, Bismarck once angrily denounced the Rothschild Clan as "a bunch of despicable Jews attempting to aid Austria in unconstitutional actions, placing all errors on the Jews," although later, Bismarck seemed to forget his words in France and made every effort to invite Amschel Mayer Rothschild to visit the Prussian Mansion), behaving much like a swaggering combatant.

As the Prussian Ambassador to Vienna, Von Bismarck still retained his disdain for the Austrian Empire, frequently declaring in public that "Austria is no longer capable of maintaining stability in the German Region, and the German Confederation should reconsider its direction."

Such overt provocation to seize leadership of the German Confederation naturally earned Von Bismarck the hatred of everyone in the Austrian Empire.

The Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially protested to the Kingdom of Prussia multiple times, suggesting that the Prussian Ministry of Foreign Affairs replace Ambassador Von Bismarck.

However, the Prussian Foreign Ministry seemed as resolute as an immovable stone, not succumbing to Austrian protests, instead keeping Bismarck as the ambassador to Vienna.

Such a stance greatly frustrated the Austrian Foreign Ministry, leading them to suspect that the Kingdom of Prussia deliberately appointed such a "general-like" (crudely put, a tactless individual) diplomat to annoy them.

Nonetheless, seasoned politician Prince Metternich did not view Von Bismarck as merely a brash diplomat.

He saw Bismarck as an excellent diplomat whose style was somewhat out of place for the era.

Compared to other aristocratic diplomats, Bismarck lacked the noble demeanor expected of a diplomat (the 19th-century diplomatic arena was still dominated by nobility, inevitably imbuing diplomacy with noble finesse, known as "elegance"), and instead displayed the "brutality and cunning" typical of rural Junkers.

Prince Metternich once commented to his son, Richard Metternich, "Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs has only seen Bismarck’s savage side; they have not realized this is a tiger with the cunning of a fox.

If Austria underestimates this tiger, the clever predator will tear the hunter’s throat to shreds."

Hence, after Von Bismarck became the ambassador to Vienna, Prince Metternich was closely monitoring him; none of Bismarck’s actions in the Austrian Empire escaped Metternich’s scrutiny. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Of course, Von Bismarck was unaware that his veteran predecessor, Prince Metternich, had set his sights on him.

Yet even if Von Bismarck knew, his disdainful attitude toward the Austrian Empire would remain unchanged.

In his mind, Prince Metternich was already an old relic of a bygone era, his exceptional diplomatic acumen formidable, but such diplomacy must align with a nation’s strength to be truly effective.

However, the Austrian Empire’s resources could not sustain Metternich’s ambitions.

Moreover, Prince Metternich was already 86 years old, a stage in life where he could meet God at any moment.

Apart from Prince Metternich, the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had no one worthy of the title of diplomat.

They were mere puppets of the Emperor of the Austrian Empire, with all diplomacy dependent on his decisions for implementation.

However, the Emperor of Austria not only has surprisingly poor political acumen, but he also likes to have amateurs instruct professionals.

In Bismarck’s view, if it weren’t for the Emperor of France backing the Emperor of Austria, the Austrian Empire would have long since collapsed.

As long as the Emperor of Austria continues to maintain this level of political skill, and the French Empire no longer favors the Austrian Empire, then the Kingdom of Prussia can easily handle the Austrian Empire.

The future of Germany belongs to Bismarck and Prussia.

Therefore, when Bismarck discovered that the Emperor of Austria chose to engage in political grandstanding at Radetzky’s funeral (from the pragmatist Bismarck’s perspective, Franz Joseph was just showboating), a sense of crisis welled up inside him.

Bismarck, after dismissing the correct answer (that Franz Joseph decided on a whim), pondered who had advised Franz Joseph to stage this political show at the train station.

Thinking it over, Bismarck instinctively lifted his head and cast his gaze towards Prince Metternich not far from him.

When Bismarck directed his gaze towards Prince Metternich’s direction, he saw Prince Metternich also scrutinizing him with a critical look.

Bismarck was instantly startled into a cold sweat, feeling as though the "cunning old fox" Prince Metternich had seen through him.

This feeling made Bismarck extremely uncomfortable.

Why won’t this old man just die!

Bismarck silently cursed for Prince Metternich to meet God soon.

After Prince Metternich noticed Bismarck’s gaze, he immediately displayed a friendly smile towards Bismarck.

Despite wishing deeply for Prince Metternich’s immediate demise, Bismarck nonetheless returned the smile.

After their gazes exchanged in the air, Bismarck instantly "understood" (understood nothing) that the political show was likely orchestrated by Prince Metternich, with the purpose of better uniting the new generation of the Austrian Empire.

(Metternich: ???? )

(Franz Joseph: ???? )

This old man certainly has some tricks up his sleeve!

Having already been influenced in his mind by Prince Metternich, Bismarck admired this political show, imagining that the new generation in the Austrian Empire would quickly rally around Emperor Franz Joseph, faster replacing the older figures around him.

By then, the political climate of the Austrian Empire might improve significantly.

Considering this, a greater sense of crisis stirred within Bismarck.

At the same time, Bismarck’s fighting spirit rose higher due to the sense of crisis.

As someone who fought from the rural backwoods of East Prussia up to the rank of plenipotentiary ambassador of Prussia, Bismarck never feared anyone, always believing there is no person invincible.

Even someone as formidable as Emperor Napoleon is no exception!

An individual’s victory depends not only on their efforts but also on their opponents and allies.

The same goes for an excellent diplomat; one’s effort combined with allies’ is the key to victory.

He has a brilliant ally like Ron and a wise (listens) King like Regent King William, ensuring he will achieve final victory.

(Although Bismarck somewhat resented William I for not heeding his advice to let him serve as ambassador in Paris, William I allowed him to receive the same salary as the Prussian representative in Frankfurt during his tenure as ambassador in Vienna.

For the sake of money, Bismarck still maintained due respect towards William I.)

Fueled by his heightened fighting spirit, Bismarck looked at Prince Metternich with a hint of provocation!

Too bad, you won’t live to see Austria treaded underfoot by Prussia!