Unfortunately, the reality was not as Jerome Bonaparte imagined, even though Russia, having suffered multiple defeats, still displayed their unique "arrogance" in front of Jerome Bonaparte.

"Your Majesty, I beg your pardon! The four conditions you have set are indeed too harsh for us!" Ivanov Gorchakov tactfully expressed his dissatisfaction to Jerome Bonaparte.

"What?" Jerome Bonaparte showed a surprised expression, as if he could not believe the words came from Ivanov Gorchakov’s mouth.

"Your Majesty, I believe your conditions are indeed too harsh for the Russian Empire!" Ivanov Gorchakov repeated his previous statement.

"Major Ivanov!" Jerome Bonaparte’s mouth revealed a slight sneer, his voice turned cold: "What do you think would not be harsh? Do you Russians still want to continue invading Turkey? If so, then I think there’s no need for us to talk!

After all, we’ve already wasted nearly half a year in this wretched place, I don’t mind wasting another half year!

I can assure you that after six months, you will definitely regret it!"

Seeing Jerome Bonaparte about to get angry, Ivanov Gorchakov panicked immediately, and hurriedly appeased Jerome Bonaparte: "Your Majesty, I didn’t mean that... just a personal humble opinion!"

"Hmph!" Jerome Bonaparte snorted coldly, showing a disdainful expression.

If it weren’t for the strategic deception against the Russian Army in the Crimea Peninsula, he would have already ordered this overreaching guy to be thrown out of Sevastopol.

This condition was the pre-war condition, if the Russian Empire was willing to accept it at that time, Jerome Bonaparte might not have really started the war.

Now the war has been going on for nearly a year, and France’s military expenditure has reached about 200 million francs. If it doesn’t take a bite out of the Russian Empire to recoup, he fears facing a possible economic depression.

What Jerome Bonaparte did not expect was that the conditions he offered Ivanov Gorchakov were so generous that Jerome Bonaparte questioned why he fought this battle, yet the Russian Empire still claimed they were harshly treated.

Now it seems his original decision was extremely correct. If he had not supported Duke Golitsyn to deal a hard blow to the heart of the Russian Empire, Russia would forever stubbornly refuse to back down.

Only by completely destabilizing Russia would they submit to the French Empire.

"Your Majesty, please rest assured, I will deliver your conditions to the Crown Prince!" Ivanov Gorchakov quickly promised Jerome Bonaparte: "I can assure you that soon His Majesty the Tsar will send someone to negotiate with you!"

"Oh, and! I hope during negotiations, in addition to someone who can represent your Tsar’s will, there must be someone who matches my status!" Jerome Bonaparte continued to request to Ivanov Gorchakov.

"Ah!" Ivanov Gorchakov’s mouth slightly opened, showing a surprised expression.

"What’s wrong?" Jerome Bonaparte asked Ivanov Gorchakov with conviction: "Do you want me to converse with a mere subject?"

"But His Majesty Nicholas I, he..."

Before Ivanov Gorchakov could finish, Jerome Bonaparte spoke again: "That’s not my concern, you must appoint someone befitting my noble status! Be it the Tsar or the Crown Prince! This is a necessary condition!"

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince would do?" Ivanov Gorchakov’s eyes lit up as he said.

"Barely qualifies!" Jerome Bonaparte responded to Ivanov Gorchakov, "However, you’d better have your Tsar come over! This war was initiated by him, and it should be ended by him!"

"I will relay your message!" Ivanov Gorchakov responded to Jerome Bonaparte.

Feeling that the conversation was about done, Jerome Bonaparte took out his pocket watch. The time was nearly 4 o’clock, he waved a hand at Ivanov Gorchakov: "Alright! It’s getting late! It’s about time for me to rest!"

"Then I shall not disturb you!" Ivanov Gorchakov quickly stood up and bowed to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Do you wish to rest here a while? I can order someone to prepare a room for you!" Jerome asked politely.

"No need for that!" Ivanov Gorchakov shook his head and answered Jerome Bonaparte: "I should leave while it’s still not fully bright outside!"

"Then be careful on your way!"

Jerome Bonaparte accompanied Ivanov Gorchakov out of the command center and ordered someone to safely escort Ivanov Gorchakov to the vicinity of Bakhchisaray.

Ivanov Gorchakov hurriedly expressed his gratitude to Jerome Bonaparte.

Watching Jerome Bonaparte’s distant figure fade away, Jerome’s smile quickly disappeared.

He muttered under his breath, "Hope everything goes smoothly!"

...

At 5 a.m., just as dawn broke, Ivanov Gorchakov parted ways with the troop escorting him six kilometers southwest of Bakhchisaray and continued on alone toward Bakhchisaray.

When Ivanov Gorchakov was less than two kilometers from Bakhchisaray, a Cossack cavalry unit tasked with reconnaissance happened to spot him.

The captain of this Cossack cavalry unit was none other than Ivanov Gorchakov’s friend.

At the earnest invitation of his friend, Ivanov Gorchakov rode with him on the same horse.

During the journey, his friend quietly asked Ivanov Gorchakov if he was heading to Sevastopol for peace talks!

Ivanov Gorchakov smiled ambiguously and asked where he had heard this news.

"Where else would I hear it? Look at the state of our army now! We lack equipment, lack morale, and can’t even ensure basic living conditions! In this situation, you’re telling me we can defeat the opponent? Don’t kid me, alright!" His friend said to Ivanov Gorchakov with a face full of resentment, then in a voice only the two of them could hear, asked, "Tell me now, is the progress of the peace talks going well? Can we end the fighting?"

Ivanov Gorchakov remained silent; from his friend’s words, he felt the current state of the Imperial Army.

Bluntly speaking, if the peace talks failed, the army might very likely face the risk of a revolt. (Ivanov Gorchakov underestimated the endurance of the Slavs!)

Seeing Ivanov Gorchakov remain silent, his friend showed a bitter smile, shook his head, and muttered to himself, "I knew it! The peace talks are simply..."

"Not yet concluded!" Ivanov Gorchakov finally spoke, "However, I can still see the honesty of France! Now it depends on what His Majesty thinks!"

"Alright, alright!"

...

No sooner had Ivanov Gorchakov stepped into the Bachchisarai Command than he was summoned by Crown Prince Alexander.

When Ivanov Gorchakov arrived at Crown Prince Alexander’s location, he was surprised to find Grand Duke Constantine, Marshal Jomini, Commander Gorchakov, and Count Orlov all present.

Judging from Marshal Jomini’s expression, none of them had slept all night.

Before Ivanov Gorchakov could open his mouth to salute the present dignitaries, Grand Duke Constantine impatiently asked, "How is the progress going?"

"Constantine!" Crown Prince Alexander’s authoritative voice rang out, and Grand Duke Constantine fell silent.

"Your Highnesses, Your Grace, Count..." After Ivanov Gorchakov saluted them one by one, Crown Prince Alexander gestured to the empty seat beside him and said to Ivanov Gorchakov, "Don’t stand and speak! Sit down!"

"As you command, Your Highness!" Ivanov Gorchakov walked slowly to sit beside Crown Prince Alexander.

"How are things progressing?" Crown Prince Alexander asked Ivanov Gorchakov unhurriedly.

"Your Highness, the progress is fairly smooth..." Ivanov Gorchakov recounted to Crown Prince Alexander all his conversations after meeting Jerome Bonaparte.

After listening to Ivanov Gorchakov’s account, Crown Prince Alexander pondered for a moment, then turned his gaze to those around him.

"Do you think Emperor Jerome Bonaparte sincerely wants to cooperate with us, or does he have ulterior motives?" Crown Prince Alexander asked.

"Your Highness, I believe Emperor Jerome Bonaparte sharing their action plans with Britain with Major Ivanov indicates a significant intent to negotiate peace with us!" Count Orlov was the first to speak.

"Who’s to say the action plans provided by the Emperor of France aren’t a trap!" Grand Duke Constantine also cautiously remarked.

"Your Grace, if it’s a trap, then His Majesty Emperor Jerome Bonaparte is paying a mighty high price to deceive us!!!" Ivanov Gorchakov respectfully replied to Grand Duke Constantine: "If the Kingdom of Sweden indeed joins England and France in fighting us, wouldn’t that be even more disadvantageous to the Russian Empire! The immediate concern for the French Empire should be to defeat us swiftly by attacking Finland through Sweden and then advancing toward St. Petersburg!"