Faced with Jerome Bonaparte’s inquiry, Richard Metternich fell into a brief silence.

From an emotional standpoint, Richard Metternich still hoped that after the war, the Russian Empire would restore relations with the Austrian Empire.

Because what the Austrian Empire needed was not a Russian Empire that was in constant hostility, but a weakened one that maintained friendly relations with the Austrian Empire.

However, from a rational perspective, this idea was indeed too naive.

Not to mention Austria’s siding with England and France during the Crimean War was seen as betrayal by two generations of Tsars, even if the Russian Empire was willing to restore relations for various reasons, the Austrian Empire also had to seriously consider the opinion of the French Empire.

After all, the French Empire’s initial investment in the Austrian Empire had already reached several hundred million francs.

If the French Empire were to be angered, how would the Austrian Empire complete its industrialization?

Without industrialization, how could the Austrian Empire possibly withstand an invasion from the Russian Empire?

Peace cannot be achieved through a mere scrap of paper; any treaty must be backed by corresponding strength.

A treaty without strength has no binding force whatsoever.

Moreover, from Jerome Bonaparte’s perspective, it was best for the Austrian Empire and the Russian Empire to remain in a relatively hostile but mutually restrained relationship.

Only then could the interests of the French Empire be maximized.

"Your Majesty, indeed there are still some people within our country who have such thoughts!" After a moment of contemplation, Richard Metternich candidly responded to Jerome Bonaparte, "However, isn’t that the reason you asked me to come along?"

"Yes!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded and then extended his hand to call Alexander II over.

Seeing this, Alexander II and others quickly approached Jerome Bonaparte.

"This is Richard Metternich, the Austrian Ambassador to France!" Jerome Bonaparte introduced Richard Metternich to Alexander II, then added specially: "He is also my closest friend!"

Alexander II’s face still held a smile as he extended his hand to Richard Metternich and said, "Ambassador Richard, I’ve long admired your name!"

"Your Highness, you flatter me!" Richard Metternich humbly replied, shaking Alexander II’s hand.

After the two, each with their own motives, exchanged formal greetings, they quickly let go of each other’s hand.

Subsequently, Alexander II casually asked Richard Metternich when exactly he arrived at Sevastopol.

Richard Metternich informed Alexander II that he arrived with Emperor Jerome Bonaparte and had been staying in the French camp these past days.

Upon hearing Richard Metternich’s words, Alexander II and Gorchakov, among others, felt a sense of relief.

Since Richard Metternich said he arrived on the Crimea Peninsula with Jerome Bonaparte, it indicated that he wasn’t there specifically for peace talks.

Previous speculations about the Austrian Empire naturally fell away.

As Alexander II pondered, Jerome Bonaparte’s voice reached Alexander II’s ears: "Alright, my friends, let me lead you on a tour here today!"

Seeing this, Alexander II hurriedly nodded to Jerome Bonaparte.

Under Jerome Bonaparte’s lead, Alexander II and Richard Metternich came to a site piled with heavy artillery.

However, at this time, there was not a single cannon in the site, only rows of wooden crates stacked.

"What is this place?" Alexander II curiously looked at the rows of boxes before him.

"Wait, you’ll see!" Jerome Bonaparte immediately waved at the officer in the field, who then quickly came up to inquire about Jerome Bonaparte’s orders.

"Open them!" Jerome Bonaparte tapped the wooden crates, commanding the officer.

The officer promptly gathered the soldiers in the field to action, and the crates were opened with their combined efforts.

A large caliber bronze cannon barrel appeared before Alexander II’s eyes. As this war God lay quietly in the crate, Alexander II couldn’t help but feel a slight trembling within.

If the crates in this site were all filled with cannons like these, it would indeed be terrifying!

Alexander II couldn’t help but think silently.

Unexpectedly, Jerome Bonaparte’s next sentence turned Alexander II’s thought into reality: "All the crates are filled with this type of cannon!"

"Ah!" Alexander II couldn’t help but let out a soft exclamation.

"There are about four hundred cannons stored here, aren’t there?" Jerome Bonaparte continued to strike at Alexander II, "It is expected that nearly 300 more cannons will be transported here!"

"Your Majesty, are you planning to destroy Bakhchisaray?" Alexander II couldn’t help but loudly question Jerome Bonaparte.

"No, no, no! Alexander!" Jerome Bonaparte shook his head and replied to Alexander II, "My intention is not to destroy Bakhchisaray! I just want to sit down and have a good talk with the Russian Empire!"

"Your Majesty, I’ve never seen anyone having a conversation with cannons at someone else’s doorstep!" Alexander II responded to Jerome Bonaparte.

"What else could I do?" Jerome Bonaparte spread his hands and replied to Alexander II, "When I calmly wanted to have a conversation with you, you chose war!

When I set up cannons, you accused me of being barbaric.

I don’t really understand, what method you Russians want me to use to communicate with you.

Surely, you don’t expect me to bind my own hands while communicating with you!"

"Your Majesty, my father has already sent a special envoy for peace talks! Please be patient for a while longer for the sake of France and the Russian Empire!" Alexander II pleaded with Jerome Bonaparte.

"Alexander, I can wait!" Jerome Bonaparte smiled and said to Alexander II, "However, my army seems eager to engage in the next battle!"

"Are you planning to abandon the peace talks?" Alexander II responded grimly to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Abandon the peace talks?" Jerome Bonaparte shook his head and replied to Alexander II, "No, no, no! I am very willing to have in-depth communication with you, but I do not want you to use my olive branch as a bargaining tool in negotiations.

We are open to talks! If it comes to fighting, we will accompany you to the end!"

Jerome Bonaparte’s attitude made Alexander II, who had high hopes for peace talks, begin to doubt Jerome Bonaparte’s sincerity towards them.

However, at present, Gorchakov and Nesselrode are about to arrive at the Crimea Peninsula.

Starting a war rashly would only cause all previous efforts to go to waste.

"Your Majesty, please believe in our sincerity! We truly want to end this war!" Alexander II responded to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Alexander, I believe in your sincerity! But it’s a pity you are not the Tsar!" Jerome Bonaparte remarked, "If you were the Tsar, then such things might not happen between our two countries!"

Alexander II showed a stiff smile on his face, not daring to directly respond to Jerome Bonaparte’s words.

"Alright, let’s not talk about this anymore! The reason we called you over wasn’t to discuss such matters!" Jerome Bonaparte quickly changed the subject, then invited Alexander II and Richard Metternich to the train station platform.

In the presence of Alexander II and Richard Metternich, Jerome Bonaparte completed the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the completion event.

After the ribbon-cutting ceremony ended, Alexander II took his leave from Jerome Bonaparte.

Watching Alexander II’s departing figure, Jerome Bonaparte showed a gloating expression to Richard Metternich beside him, "Believe me, tonight Alexander will definitely not be able to sleep soundly!"

...

As it turned out, just as Jerome Bonaparte said, that night Alexander II, his mind full of heavy artillery, couldn’t fall asleep.

Unable to sleep, he climbed out of bed and walked alone in the corridors of the old Royal Palace.

When Alexander II reached the corner at the end of the corridor, Commander Gorchakov’s figure appeared in front of him.

"Gorchakov, you couldn’t sleep either!" Looking at the equally distracted Gorchakov before him, Alexander II displayed a bitter smile.

"Your Highness, I presume you couldn’t sleep because of the problem with France, right?" Gorchakov responded likewise.

"Indeed!" Alexander II nodded, then suggested to Gorchakov, "Since we’re already unable to sleep, why don’t we take a walk?"

"Alright!" Commander Gorchakov answered.

Alexander II and Commander Gorchakov left the old Royal Palace and walked in the garden outside.

The winter nights in Bakhchisaray were particularly cold, the bleak wind seeping through his collar into Alexander II’s body, causing him to feel a chilling cold.

However, this cold was nothing compared to the "chill" brought by France.

As Alexander II walked in the garden, he slowly asked, "Commander Gorchakov, tell me honestly, if the peace talks fail, can our army hold off France’s attack at Bakhchisaray?"

Commander Gorchakov told Alexander II tactfully that the Russian Army did not have enough cannons to withstand France’s artillery, and their rifles were far inferior to theirs!

In short, the Russian Empire should not hope to resist France’s next wave of attack.