Make France Great Again-Chapter 748 - 739: Sanctuary 9 Arrives
"Cousin, even if they agree to your terms! I’m afraid the Kingdom of Britain won’t consent to your actions!"
Jerome Bonaparte explained patiently to Queen Catherine.
"The Kingdom of Britain, why would they stop us!" Queen Catherine looked at Jerome Bonaparte in confusion, "Weren’t they the ones who forced the Kingdom of Belgium into our hands in the first place!"
"Cousin! Think about the reason why they handed the Kingdom of Belgium to the Kingdom of the Netherlands back then?" Jerome Bonaparte continued to ask Queen Catherine.
Queen Catherine then remembered, the Kingdom of Britain’s purpose in handing over the Kingdom of Belgium was to guard against France’s aggression, "To guard against France?"
Jerome Bonaparte smiled with satisfaction, realizing that his cousin wasn’t entirely naive, "You’re right! Their original objective was indeed to have you serve as the vanguard to block France’s advance.
The times have changed now, and the relationship between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the French Empire is no longer as hostile as before.
If I were Palmerston, I certainly wouldn’t agree to the Kingdom of the Netherlands’ request to annex the Kingdom of Belgium!
I would use every means to stop it, even if it meant intervening personally!"
After listening to Jerome Bonaparte, a look of horror appeared on Queen Catherine’s face.
The strength of the British and French had already been vividly displayed in this Crimean War.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands might be able to defeat the Kingdom of Belgium, but defeating the Kingdom of Britain would be nothing short of a fantasy!
"Cousin, surely France can help block the Kingdom of Britain!" Queen Catherine began to hope for France’s support.
"Cousin, didn’t you just say yesterday that you didn’t need our France to intervene?" Jerome Bonaparte showed a helpless expression.
He found that women had a common trait, quickly forgetting their own words.
"I didn’t mean for you to intervene... just..." Queen Catherine hesitated for a moment, then stamped her foot and said, "Fine, if you don’t want to help!"
Jerome Bonaparte showed a mixed expression of laughter and tears. He had no doubt that if Queen Catherine, dominated by emotions in this way, were to take charge of diplomacy, the entire Kingdom of the Netherlands’ foreign affairs might become a mess.
"Cousin, it’s not that I’m unwilling to help!" Jerome Bonaparte shrugged and continued, "It’s just that if France helps you in this matter, all of Europe will once again be plunged into war!"
"Surely it won’t be that serious!" Queen Catherine responded hesitantly.
"Alas!" Jerome Bonaparte sighed, "Britain has never backed down when it comes to protecting its own interests!
All of Europe cannot withstand a second devastation!"
"Well then... alright!"
Since Jerome Bonaparte wasn’t willing to support them, Queen Catherine had no choice but to give up. She sighed and nodded to Jerome Bonaparte.
Subsequently, Jerome Bonaparte shared his plan for a currency union with Queen Catherine, hoping she could persuade the Kingdom of the Netherlands to join the currency union he was forming.
"Will the Kingdom of Belgium join too?" Queen Catherine glanced sideways, slowly asking.
"The reason I invited Leopold is to persuade them to join this currency union!" Jerome Bonaparte responded to Queen Catherine, "The Kingdom of Belgium has already initially agreed to join the currency union!"
"I understand!" Queen Catherine nodded and responded blandly, "I will pass on your message to William, whether to join or not depends on him!"
After saying this, Queen Catherine turned away from Jerome Bonaparte and returned to the Tuileries Palace.
Jerome Bonaparte stood silently in place, muttering awkwardly, "Alas! She’s still angry!"
...
In the following two days, Jerome Bonaparte arranged Notre-Dame Cathedral meticulously and also discussed the currency union with the Wurttemberg Envoy.
The Wurttemberg Envoy informed Jerome Bonaparte that their Wurttemberg Kingdom had adopted the Austrian Empire’s currency system in 1853.
"No problem, I will also invite the Austrian Empire to join in!" Jerome Bonaparte said to the Wurttemberg Envoy, "Once the Austrian Empire joins, the entire Southern Germany can implement the scheme we’ve designed!"
"Thank you for your understanding!" The Wurttemberg Envoy nodded and replied to Jerome Bonaparte.
For the Kingdom of Wurttemberg, joining Jerome Bonaparte’s proposed currency union plan was not as eager as it was for the Kingdom of Belgium.
However, the Kingdom of Wurttemberg still needed a stable currency system to maintain domestic stability.
Historically, around 1857, the Kingdom of Wurttemberg abandoned the Austrian Empire’s currency standard system and joined the more prospering Kingdom of Prussia’s standard system.
Now, the French Empire’s currency union system is more secure than the Kingdom of Prussia’s currency, so joining France naturally falls within the consideration of the Kingdom of Wurttemberg.
This era’s Germany was unlike the Germany fifty years later; Southern Germany’s centripetal force was much stronger than fifty years later.
After conversations with the Wurttemberg Envoy ended, Valerovsky appeared in Jerome Bonaparte’s office.
"Your Majesty, according to the Marseille City Hall telegram, Pope Pius IX arrived in Marseille an hour ago!" Valerovsky reported to Jerome Bonaparte.
"That old Pope Pius IX, he’s finally here!" Jerome Bonaparte muttered under his breath.
"Yes! Your Majesty!" Valerovsky nodded to Jerome Bonaparte.
"What arrangements has your Ministry of Foreign Affairs made for Pope Pius IX?" Jerome Bonaparte asked once more.
Valerovsky informed Jerome Bonaparte that, according to their arrangements, Pope Pius IX would take the train from Marseille this afternoon and was expected to arrive at the Paris Railway Station the following morning.
At that time, Jerome Bonaparte would need to personally go to the Paris Railway Station by carriage to welcome Pope Pius IX.
"Alright!" Jerome Bonaparte responded indifferently, then continued to say to Valerovsky, "However, I think one more item should be added!"
"What item?" Valerovsky inquired of Jerome Bonaparte.
"Come over, I’ll tell you!"
...
Jerome Bonaparte immediately issued an order to the Guard Army stationed in the suburbs of Paris to blockade the Paris Railway Station.
That evening, under the leadership of General Vayan, a battalion of soldiers set up a cordon at the Paris Railway Station.
Early the next morning, Royal Chief Steward Mokar sent a maid to knock on Augusta’s bedroom door.
"Who is it!" Jerome Bonaparte, in a sleepy haze, shouted towards the door.
"Your Majesty, it’s time for you to get up!" the maid softly said to Jerome Bonaparte inside the room.
"Alright! I know!" Jerome Bonaparte replied, immediately closing his eyes once more.
After a while, the sound of knocking reached Jerome Bonaparte’s ears again.
"I know! I know!" Jerome Bonaparte shouted again.
This time, before he could close his eyes and take a nap once more, Augusta gently shook Jerome Bonaparte, preventing him from falling back to sleep.
"I know!" Jerome Bonaparte reopened his eyes amid the gentle shaking.
Subsequently, he took the pocket watch from under his pillow and glanced at the time.
9:10 am, less than 50 minutes remained until Pope Pius IX’s arrival.
"Oh no! I’m going to be late!" Jerome Bonaparte hurriedly dressed, picking up his scattered clothes from the floor.
Afterward, he glanced at Augusta, who lay naked on the bed, and said, "You should get up too! Pope Pius IX is coming!"
"Mm!" Empress Augusta stretched lazily, nodded in agreement.
After explaining the situation, Jerome Bonaparte left Empress Augusta’s room and encountered Mokar walking towards him in the corridor.
"Mokar, how are the carriages I asked you to prepare last night?" Jerome Bonaparte immediately inquired of Mokar.
"Everything is ready!" Mokar replied to Jerome Bonaparte.
"Good, let’s depart at once!" Jerome Bonaparte said.
"Your Majesty, perhaps you should eat something before we leave!" Mokar suggested.
"There’s no time to eat now!" Jerome Bonaparte shook his head and refused: "Let’s depart right away!"
"Yes!"
Mokar and Jerome Bonaparte quickly proceeded to the Tuileries Palace hall.
"Your Majesty, please wait here for a moment! I will call for the accompanying carriage!"
"Hurry up! Time is running out!"
After waiting quietly in the hall for around five minutes, Mokar reappeared and informed Jerome Bonaparte that the carriage and accompanying escort were waiting at the foot of the steps.
Jerome Bonaparte jogged out of the Tuileries Palace hall, descended the steps, and quickly got into a gilded open carriage.
"Depart!" At Mokar’s command, the carriage slowly started moving.
The dragoon cavalry quickly formed two lines, surrounding the carriage to protect Jerome Bonaparte’s safety.
Under the gaze of the subjects on both sides of the street, Jerome Bonaparte arrived at the Paris Railway Station around 9:50 am.
Upon alighting from the carriage, he quickly learned from General Vayan of the situation at the railway station, and upon hearing the train had not yet arrived, Jerome Bonaparte breathed a sigh of relief.
Then, accompanied by General Vayan, Jerome Bonaparte entered the Paris Railway Station to await the train’s arrival.
At 10:05 am, a loud whistle sounded in the distance.
