Gorchakov Envoy’s face revealed a long-lost smile after receiving Jerome Bonaparte’s military assurance for the Caucasus Region. This counts as Gorchakov’s only diplomatic victory.

"Congratulations, Gorchakov Envoy! You have ushered in a generation of peace for the Russian Empire!" Minister Valvesky said to Gorchakov Envoy.

Standing by, Jerome Bonaparte had a slight look of embarrassment, pondering whether Valvesky’s words at such an occasion might sound like a jinx.

The Kingdom of Britain had once said this, and not long after, World War II broke out.

Though the Russian Empire will not take any action in the short term, he believes that sooner or later, it will rise again.

Perhaps, by then, France will face another arduous war.

However, the time it takes for the Russian Empire to rise again will definitely be no less than twenty years.

Therefore, Jerome Bonaparte is not particularly worried about the animosity from the Russian Empire.

"Minister Valvesky!" Gorchakov Envoy forced a bitter smile, "I am now nothing but a traitor to my country! If it weren’t for this war, how good it would be!" 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"Gorchakov Envoy, time cannot be reversed!" Jerome Bonaparte replied to Gorchakov, "Although you couldn’t stop the war from starting, you contributed to its end!

Moreover, the territories your country ceded are not your core territories! They were lands acquired through cunning and plundering. When you chose to annex them, you should have expected to be forced to give them up one day!"

"Your Majesty! Unless there is no other choice, no country is willing to give up its territories! Wasn’t your current Alsace-Lorraine once taken from the Holy Roman Empire?" Gorchakov replied to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Alsace-Lorraine has now become an inseparable part of France!" Jerome Bonaparte asserted to Gorchakov Envoy, "I dare say, you can go to these territories and ask the French citizens there! Whether they wish to join France or Germany, I believe more than ninety percent would refuse to separate from France!

And how many people in your territories—the Grand Duchy of Poland, the Grand Duchy of Finland, and Crimea—wish to remain within Russian borders!"

Despite Jerome Bonaparte using public sentiment as a cover, his words still exposed a double standard.

In the end, France’s occupation of Alsace and Lorraine was simply due to its strength overpowering Germany.

"I sincerely hope that the French Empire won’t fall into our situation!" Gorchakov Envoy earnestly responded to Jerome Bonaparte.

"You needn’t worry about that!" Jerome Bonaparte replied nonchalantly, "The French Empire will not, like the Russian Empire, try to scoop everything into its own bowl. I prefer to cooperate and achieve mutual benefit with other nations!"

Gorchakov understood that Jerome Bonaparte’s so-called "mutual benefit" was based on aligning with France.

"I look forward to the Russian Empire cooperating with the French Empire in maintaining peace in Europe!" Gorchakov Envoy subtly expressed their intention to align with France.

"I also look forward to the Russian Empire joining the league of mutual benefit in Europe after their civil war ends!" Jerome Bonaparte responded with a smile.

After the talks ended, Gorchakov tentatively asked Jerome Bonaparte whether he would be willing to assist them in the form of a volunteer army, promising to pay 20% more than French wages.

Faced with Gorchakov’s plan to drag the French Empire into their affairs through loans and borrowed troops, Jerome Bonaparte mercilessly rejected them.

For France, nothing is more suitable than neutrality.

Whether it’s Duke Golitsyn or Alexander II, they cannot avoid dealings with France.

Perhaps France could even profit from their civil war.

"Your Majesty, our troops will surrender to you in succession over the coming days! I hope you can notify all the troops of the surrender, to prevent any unnecessary misunderstandings!" said Gorchakov as he departed Bakhchisaray, giving his final words to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Rest assured!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded and replied to Gorchakov, "I’ll notify the other three nations’ armies as soon as possible!"

...

Watching Gorchakov’s slightly hunched figure under the sunset, Jerome Bonaparte couldn’t help but sigh, "Ah! It’s finally over! Fortunately, we didn’t lose this war!"

Standing beside Jerome Bonaparte, Minister Valvesky immediately flattered him, saying that the Crimean War, personally orchestrated and commanded by Jerome Bonaparte, was enough to rival most battles of the First Empire.

From the moment Gorchakov signed the agreement, all of Europe would be prostrated at France’s feet.

"Far from it!" Jerome Bonaparte shook his head and humbly said to Minister Valvesky: "Emperor Napoleon relied seventy percent on military and thirty percent on politics for his foreign wars, while the Crimean War relies seventy percent on politics and thirty percent on the military.

In terms of military, I am far inferior to him, but in politics, I might be slightly better than him.

Overall, compared to my uncle, I am still very far behind!"

Faced with Jerome Bonaparte’s self-deprecation, he could only respond with a few "mmhm, uh-huh" sounds.

Soon after, Jerome Bonaparte had Jerome Pat called over and ordered him to summon Marshal Lagren of Saki, Omar Pasha, Marshal Pellissier and Marshal Malamor of Guard Village.

"Yes!" Jerome Patterson quickly responded and then swiftly rode away.

A while later, the Austrian Empire’s envoy to France, Richard Metternich, appeared in Bakhchisaray.

"Your Majesty, congratulations!" Richard Metternich respectfully said to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Mr. Richard, could it be you have the ability of foresight?" Jerome Bonaparte showed a hint of surprise; he remembered not having informed Richard Metternich of the peace talks’ time.

"Your Majesty, I don’t understand what you mean?" Richard Metternich looked equally confused at Jerome Bonaparte.

"Then what are you congratulating me for?" Jerome Bonaparte also showed a puzzled expression.

"Your Majesty, please take a look!" Richard Metternich hurriedly handed the telegram to Jerome Bonaparte.

Upon reading the telegram, Jerome Bonaparte immediately showed an ecstatic expression. He quickly grasped Richard Metternich’s hand excitedly and exclaimed, "I have a son! I have a son!"

"Your Majesty, congratulations!" Richard Metternich congratulated Jerome Bonaparte once more, understanding that for a monarch of an empire, nothing is more joyous than having a healthy offspring.

A healthy offspring means that a hundred years later, the empire won’t fall into others’ hands; it means the subjects of the empire have someone to pledge allegiance to, stabilizing people’s hearts!

After a while of excitement, Jerome Bonaparte finally calmed down and released Richard Metternich’s hand, saying, "Mr. Richard, I also have some news to tell you!"

"Please speak, Your Majesty!" Richard Metternich said to Jerome Bonaparte with difficulty.

Thus, Jerome Bonaparte told Richard Metternich about the surrender of the Russian Empire to them and revealed some content of the agreement to Richard Metternich.

Upon hearing that Jerome Bonaparte had secured the protection of the Danube Duchy for them, Richard Metternich was elated. However, he felt a bit awkward about the liberation of the Grand Duchy of Poland from the Russian Empire.

Back in the day, it wasn’t just Russia that annexed Poland; the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia also participated in the partitioning.

If the newborn Grand Duchy of Poland backed by France were to demand from them, it would be difficult for them to handle.

However, Jerome Bonaparte’s next words eased Richard Metternich’s concerns: "Rest assured! I will have the Grand Duchy of Poland give up demanding territory from the Austrian Empire!"

"Thank you very much!" Richard Metternich replied to Jerome Bonaparte.

"However, I hope your country could also provide us with some support on certain issues!" Jerome Bonaparte answered Richard Metternich.

"Your Majesty, please speak!" Richard Metternich promptly said to Jerome Bonaparte.

"I need to find a support for the newborn Polish Grand Duchy in the German Region. What do you think of Grand Duke Maximilian?" Jerome Bonaparte asked Richard Metternich.

"Maximilian?" Richard Metternich widened his eyes, not daring to believe his ears for a moment, "Which Maximilian are you referring to?"

"Of course, Franz’s younger brother!" Jerome Bonaparte answered Richard Metternich, "If he were to serve as Grand Duke of Poland, I think he could bring democracy to the Polish citizens!

The only question is whether the Habsburgs would be willing to let him serve as Grand Duke of Poland!"

"On this matter, I need to consult Vienna before I can give you an answer!" Richard Metternich replied to Jerome Bonaparte and then added, "You just need to wait patiently for a while!"

"Very well! I hope you can provide us with a reply as soon as possible!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded and then added, "If you are unwilling, I will choose someone from Saxony or Bavaria!"