Make France Great Again

The Empire’s relationship with Russia, on the other hand, offers precious little room for maneuver! As long as we are unwilling to relinquish the protection of the Danube Duchy for even a moment, the Russian Empire will continue to harbor animosity towards us!"

Upon saying this, Prince Metternich paused, casting a sidelong glance at those present. A trace of perplexity appeared on the faces of everyone, including Franz Joseph.

He continued, "Even if we were willing to abandon the protection of the Danube Duchy to make it a buffer zone between us and the Russian Empire, I doubt our relations would change in the slightest. Instead, they might become even more aggravated by our concessions!"

Prince Metternich’s remarks undoubtedly dealt a critical blow to the ministers who still harbored the idea of playing both sides diplomatically.

"Advisor Metternich, do you think we should accept Jerome Bonaparte’s goodwill?" Franz Joseph asked Metternich with knitted brows.

"Yes! Your Majesty!" Prince Metternich nodded, deciding to peel away the final veneer of the Austrian Empire, saying: "We all know that His Majesty Jerome Bonaparte’s goal is to ensure that our relationship with the Russian Empire remains adversarial, which is why he is willing to hand over the Danube Duchy and Polish Duchy to us!

If we were to act against the French Empire’s diplomatic strategy, I think France could effortlessly make us relinquish all the benefits we gained in Crimea!"

Prince Metternich’s words undoubtedly incensed many ministers, including Franz Joseph.

In Franz Joseph’s heart, even if the Austrian Empire cannot become the dominant power over the entire European Continent, it should not fall to the status of a mere pawn for the French Empire.

At least, the Austrian Empire is on par with the French Empire in terms of status.

"Advisor Metternich, are you suggesting that the Austrian Empire should merely serve as a pawn for the French Empire to guard against Russia?" Franz Joseph responded to Prince Metternich in a calm tone.

"Your Majesty!" Prince Metternich once again bowed to Franz Joseph, "If the French Empire did not have a strategy to make the empire guard against the Russian Empire, I really cannot fathom why His Majesty Jerome Bonaparte would favor us so much.

In this Crimean War, we have already acquired two duchies and are about to gain another one.

Even during the Vienna Congress, we could not secure such a rich bounty."

During the Vienna Congress, which marked Prince Metternich’s rise to fame, the Austrian Empire ceded Belgium in exchange for Lombardy-Venice and sacrificed part of its Polish territories to gain Galicia.

This land swap pales in comparison to obtaining the Danube Duchy and Polish Duchy without any cost!

Seeing no objection from those present, Prince Metternich continued to address Franz Joseph: "Your Majesty, throughout the continent, there is no shortage of countries harboring malice towards Austria!

If we are unwilling to cooperate with the French Empire, then both Germany and the Apennines, among others, are ready to align with France."

With Metternich’s words, Franz Joseph’s expression changed immediately.

The French Empire’s brilliant achievements on the Crimean Peninsula filled the Austrian Empire with dread.

Franz Joseph even doubted whether his army could withstand a wave of attacks from the French Empire like the Russian Empire did.

After all, attacking Austria is far simpler for the French Empire than attacking the Russian Empire.

The Austrian Empire could only rely on Marshal Radetzky in Venice.

"From now on, must we follow the French Empire’s lead?" Franz Joseph said with a slightly downcast tone, feeling somewhat stifled in his role as Emperor of Austria.

Was my grandfather the same as I am now?

Franz Joseph recalled his grandfather, the last Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and the first Emperor of Austria, Franz. During his reign, the Austrian Empire also survived under the oppressive power of Bonaparte, often having to comply with the directives of the French Empire!

"Your Majesty, aligning with the French Empire’s tempo presents no harm to us!" Seeing Franz Joseph had "yielded" to the idea, Prince Metternich spoke leisurely to him: "This Bonaparte is different from the last one, and we can leverage their strength to implement our diplomatic policies!"

After a moment of hesitation, Franz Joseph raised his head and said to Prince Metternich, "Let it be done according to Advisor Metternich’s suggestion!"

Subsequently, Franz Joseph turned his gaze toward Count Baur, "Minister Bao’Er!"

"At your service!" Count Baur responded earnestly to Franz Joseph.

"You will lead the delegation to Paris to discuss the disposition of the Polish Duchy with my brother Jerome Bonaparte!" Franz Joseph commanded Count Baur.

"Your Majesty, His Majesty Jerome Bonaparte is still on the Crimean Peninsula!" Prince Metternich reminded.

Only then did Franz Joseph realize, and after pondering for a while, he reissued orders to Count Baur.

Count Bao’er will represent Emperor Franz Joseph in the French Empire to offer blessings for the full month of Crown Prince Friedrich Bonaparte.

Then Count Bao’er can stay in Paris until the arrival of His Majesty Jerome Bonaparte.

...

After the Imperial Council, Franz Joseph was preparing to return to his room to rest when a maid appeared before him.

"What’s the matter?" Franz Joseph asked the maid in front of him.

If Franz’s memory is correct, the maid before him should be his mother’s personal maid.

The maid gracefully curtseyed before Franz Joseph and meticulously said, "Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager requests your presence!"

"Alright! I understand!" Franz Joseph nodded, following the maid to the room where Empress Dowager Sophie resided.

Walking towards the Empress Dowager Sophie’s room, Franz Joseph kept pondering about what business the Empress Dowager Sophie might have with him.

When Franz Joseph was only a few steps away from Empress Dowager Sophie’s room, he suddenly remembered that his mother might have also heard about the Grand Duchy of Poland, which could be the reason she summoned him after the Imperial Council.

After all, among the ministers of the Austrian Empire, quite a few are his mother’s people.

As the door slowly opened, Franz Joseph discovered that in the room, besides Empress Dowager Sophie, were his father Grand Duke Franz Karl, and his three brothers, Grand Duke Maximilian, Grand Duke Karl Ludwig, and Grand Duke Ludwig Viktor.

In short, this was a family meeting for Franz Joseph.

(Princess Sisi teary-eyed)

Upon entering the room, Franz Joseph first paid his respects to his parents, and upon receiving responses from Grand Duke Franz Karl and Sophie, he finally sat down!

"Maximilian, Ludwig, Viktor, pay respects to your monarch!" Empress Dowager Sophie instructed Maximilian and the others.

The three of them approached Franz Joseph and simultaneously bowed to him, after which Franz Joseph gently raised his hand, signaling them to return to their original seats.

After the simple etiquette, Empress Dowager Sophie immediately proceeded to the main topic, casually asking Franz Joseph, "I heard that Jerome Bonaparte is preparing to make your brother the Grand Duke of the Polish Duchy, is that true?"

Indeed!

Franz Joseph thought to himself while glancing sideways at his brother Maximilian. He suspected that the reason his mother inquired about this matter might have been due to Maximilian’s influence.

Among Franz Joseph, Maximilian, Karl Ludwig, and Viktor, his mother’s favorite has always been Maximilian.

If not for his mother’s excessive affection, Maximilian’s character might not have developed as it has.

Among the four brothers, Maximilian is the most "rebellious."

(The Habsburg Court actually produced someone as liberal as Maximilian.)

Franz Joseph even suspected that, as rumors had it, Maximilian was truly the child of his mother and the King of Rome.

However, this did not hinder the brotherly bond between Franz Joseph and Maximilian.

At this moment, Maximilian sat quietly in his seat, and from his current expression, Franz Joseph couldn’t discern anything unusual.

"Yes!" Franz Joseph nodded in response to Empress Dowager Sophie.

"How are the discussions going?" Empress Dowager Sophie inquired again.

"I’ve dispatched Count Bao’er to France under the pretext of celebrating Jerome Bonaparte’s son, Friedrich Bonaparte, to await Jerome Bonaparte’s return and then discuss matters concerning the Polish Duchy with him!" Franz Joseph immediately replied to Empress Dowager Sophie.

"Hmm!" Empress Dowager Sophie nodded, then continued to ask Franz Joseph about how to handle the relationship between Galicia and the Polish Duchy, reminding him not to make it difficult for Maximilian in the Polish Duchy.

Sitting beside Empress Dowager Sophie, Grand Duke Franz Karl also chimed in.

The "pressure" from Empress Dowager Sophie and Grand Duke Franz Karl made Franz Joseph’s heart a bit troubled. Maximilian is the brother closest to him; how could he let his brother be wronged!