Make France Great Again-Chapter 744 - 735 Polish Consensus
"Cousin, you wouldn’t want to see the remnants of the Orleans Clan continue to control the Kingdom of Belgium, would you?"
Queen Catherine’s words made Jerome Bonaparte feel a sense of doubt, questioning whether he had traversed into an indescribable world.
"This day..." Jerome Bonaparte paused for a moment, and hastily corrected himself: "Cousin, I think the two of us here, openly discussing the division of a country like this, isn’t it somewhat improper!
Although the Kingdom of Belgium did belong to you in the past, they have truly become a nation with independent sovereignty now.
We should at least consider international concerns, shouldn’t we!"
"Cousin!" Queen Catherine clearly did not care about the so-called international reactions, and spoke candidly to Jerome Bonaparte: "Now, in all of Europe, is there any country that dares not to obey your orders? What are you afraid of!
Before I came, William (King of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) told me that we do not need you to send troops to aid us!
As long as when we deploy troops, you stand by our side!"
"But..." Jerome Bonaparte evasively said: "Cousin, you should understand! The Kingdom of Belgium was successfully established with the help of France at that time!
Therefore, France’s feelings towards the Kingdom of Belgium are much more complicated than you imagine!"
Queen Catherine assured Jerome Bonaparte again: "It’s simple, once our army completely occupies the Kingdom of Belgium, we will hand over the Luxembourg Province to you, in this way, the area of the Luxembourg Duchy will be doubled out of thin air!"
"This..."
Hearing Queen Catherine’s assurance, Jerome Bonaparte felt a slight stir in his heart.
Just as his cousin said, the friendship between the French Empire and the Kingdom of Belgium is far less than it was during the Orleans Kingdom.
Jerome Bonaparte was under no obligation to protect them like the Orleans Kingdom did; instead, supporting the Kingdom of the Netherlands to annex the Kingdom of Belgium was more in line with his interests.
Despite the fact that the Kingdom of Belgium is currently sending its Crown Prince here, it is actually just a formality.
"I... will consider it!" Jerome Bonaparte finally responded, "In any case, cousin, you’re not in a hurry!!"
"Alright then!" Though there was a slight reluctance in Queen Catherine’s heart, she still chose to give Jerome Bonaparte some time to consider.
Subsequently, Jerome Bonaparte excused himself to handle state affairs and left Empress Augusta’s room, fearing that his cousin would entangle him in a web of complex issues.
Walking along the corridor, Jerome Bonaparte, after a moment of thought, decided to head to the "Ossai Pier" to consult Valerovsky’s opinion.
He then quickly descended the stairs and arrived at the Tuileries Palace Hall.
Mokar, within the hall, promptly approached Jerome Bonaparte to inquire if there were any directives!
"Immediately prepare a carriage for me, I need to personally go to the Ossai Pier!" Jerome Bonaparte succinctly said.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Mokar slightly bowed and turned to leave.
Before Mokar disappeared into the corridor, Jerome Bonaparte called out to him again.
When Mokar turned to ask if there were any other instructions, Jerome Bonaparte replied: "And also, prepare in advance a wig and glasses for me! Choose a carriage that is as simple as possible, nothing too flashy... Also, this time there’s no need for anyone to accompany me!"
"Understood!" Mokar nodded and then disappeared into the hallway on the right side of the hall.
About 10 minutes later, Mokar reappeared before Jerome Bonaparte and said: "Your Majesty, everything has been prepared for you!"
"That’s good!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded, then asked again, "By the way! If Queen Catherine asks for me, tell her: I’m already considering what she said!"
"As you command!" Mokar bowed to Jerome Bonaparte in response.
Afterward, Jerome Bonaparte left the Tuileries Palace alone, riding in a modest black carriage toward the Ossai Pier.
The carriage rushed out of the Tuileries Palace Garden, down the Champs-Élysées to the Seine River, then along the Seine River all the way east until it reached the vicinity of the arranged pier.
As Jerome Bonaparte entered the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a clerk immediately blocked Jerome Bonaparte’s path.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" The clerk looked puzzled at Jerome Bonaparte, who was wearing a wig and glasses.
"Take me to see your Minister of Foreign Affairs!" Jerome Bonaparte lowered his voice, feigning a hoarse tone as he commanded the clerk.
The clerk, completely failing to recognize Jerome Bonaparte’s disguise, eyed him up and down and then inquired with a slightly arrogant tone: "Do you have an appointment? If not, Minister Valvesky will not meet with you!"
"I have no appointment!" Jerome Bonaparte shook his head calmly as he removed his glasses and wig. "I wonder if that’s enough to meet your minister!"
The clerk’s expression turned increasingly fearful as Jerome Bonaparte gradually removed his disguise.
He probably never imagined that the Emperor of the French Empire would one day choose to "privately tour" in plain clothes.
"I... I..." The clerk’s face showed an embarrassed expression as he stammered to Jerome Bonaparte: "Your Majesty, you... you certainly can! You can come anytime you wish!"
"Hahaha!" Jerome Bonaparte smiled slightly, then patted the clerk’s shoulder and said, "Don’t be nervous; I’m not some man-eating monster!"
"Yes... yes!" The clerk could only respond meekly.
"Let’s go! Take me to your minister!" Jerome Bonaparte motioned for the clerk to lead the way.
The clerk led Jerome Bonaparte up the stairs; when they reached the landing between the second and third floors, the Secretary of State from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs appeared in the corridor.
He first glanced at the clerk and then at Jerome Bonaparte, then bowed to Jerome Bonaparte in salute.
"Just in time, take me to see Valerovsky!" Jerome Bonaparte said with a smile when he saw the Secretary of State, then gently patted the clerk’s shoulder, saying, "Thanks for your hard work!"
"Not at all! Not at all!" The clerk shook his head and replied to Jerome Bonaparte.
After that, the Secretary of State and Jerome Bonaparte continued upward. When they reached the floor where Valerovsky’s office was located, the Secretary of State informed Jerome Bonaparte that Minister Valerovsky was in conversation with someone.
"Who?" Jerome Bonaparte asked curiously.
"The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria, Count Baur!" The Secretary of State replied decisively.
"Baur? When did he arrive?" Jerome Bonaparte was stunned for a few seconds before asking.
"Count Baur has been in Paris for more than a week!" The Secretary of State responded immediately.
Jerome Bonaparte slightly furrowed his brow; it had been four days since he arrived in Paris, and yet no one told him about Count Baur’s arrival.
(In fact, Empress Augusta mentioned it once, but Jerome Bonaparte was too exhausted from handling domestic affairs to remember.)
"Do you know what Count Baur and Valerovsky are discussing?" Jerome Bonaparte asked the Secretary of State again.
"Seems to be the issue of Poland!" The Secretary of State replied, "Your Majesty, I don’t know the specifics! They just started talking!"
"So what were you going downstairs to do just now?" Jerome Bonaparte asked the Secretary of State.
"Ah!" The Secretary of State suddenly realized he seemed to have forgotten his task, "Minister Valerovsky had just asked me to prepare two cups of black tea for him!"
Jerome Bonaparte shook his head and then replied to the Secretary of State, "Make it three cups of black tea... better yet, bring a pot of tea!"
"Your Majesty, are you going in too?" The Secretary of State asked instinctively.
"Exactly! Hurry along!" Jerome Bonaparte said, and immediately headed to the door of Valerovsky’s office, then gently pushed it open.
"How could you..." A reprimand from inside the room began, followed by the surprised voices of Count Baur and Valerovsky: "Your Majesty!!!!"
"Mr. Baur!" Jerome Bonaparte gently closed the door and nodded with a smile at him.
Count Baur and Valerovsky hurriedly stood up to salute Jerome Bonaparte and offered him a seat.
Jerome Bonaparte slowly took the main seat on the sofa, invited Count Baur and Valerovsky to sit down, and only then did they both take their seats. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶
"I’m here uninvited!" Jerome Bonaparte initially stated his unexpected visit, "I didn’t anticipate that Valerovsky and you would still be in discussions when I arrived!"
"Your Majesty, Minister Valerovsky and I are discussing the issue of Poland!" Count Baur quickly explained to Jerome Bonaparte.
"Indeed, Your Majesty!" Valerovsky nodded to Jerome Bonaparte and said, "I had planned to deliver the results to you once the discussion concluded!"
"Discussion? Discussing what?" Jerome Bonaparte looked puzzled at Count Baur, "Is Maximilian unwilling to take the position of the Grand Duke of Warsaw?"
"No! Not at all!"
Count Baur shook his head and replied to Jerome Bonaparte, "Franz Joseph is prepared to appoint Maximilian as the Grand Duke of Krakow and Galicia and sent him to inquire about your opinion, Jerome Bonaparte."
