Make France Great Again-Chapter 765 - 756: Negotiations on the Eve of the Peace Conference
Upon hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s nonchalant words, a flash of anger crossed Gorchakov Envoy’s eyes. In all his years in diplomacy, he had never encountered a monarch like Jerome Bonaparte.
Compared to Jerome Bonaparte, even the traitor Franz Joseph seemed exceptionally agreeable.
Despite being infuriated by Jerome Bonaparte’s words, Gorchakov Envoy still dared not display an intention of breaking off.
Because if they choose to break with France, only Nesselrode would benefit.
"Your Majesty, for the sake of being fellow legitimate monarchs, please help us! The Russian Empire will never forget the help from you and the French Empire!" Gorchakov Envoy implored Jerome Bonaparte.
Jerome Bonaparte shrugged his shoulders and responded to Gorchakov Envoy with a look of helplessness: "I’m sorry! Gorchakov Envoy, it’s not that I don’t wish to help you! But you both have a Tsar, and I really can’t be too biased!
After all, who will win your struggle is still a mystery!"
"Your Majesty, if we fail, then the conditions we’ve promised may turn into a mere scrap of paper!" Gorchakov Envoy bit his lip, weakly threatening.
"Gorchakov Envoy, you don’t have to threaten me with this!" Jerome Bonaparte responded lightly, "The battle between you and the Golitsyn Government cannot be decided in a short time!
Even if the Golitsyn Government ultimately wins, do you think they would dare to openly tear up the agreement?
Do they dare bear the consequences of breaking the agreement? Besides, isn’t it better for them to let French capital enter the Russian Empire, effectively destroying the existing aristocratic economy!
So as to establish a whole new system, although the Golitsyn Government is nominally a monarch government, we all know it is actually a republican system in the guise of monarchy!
Do you think they are willing to bring in French power to completely eradicate the entrenched aristocracy in feudal areas?"
Jerome Bonaparte’s words left Gorchakov Envoy feeling powerless, as the old government could never reform like the Golitsyn Government, because once they shook the interests of the aristocracy, the nobles who originally supported them would turn to support the Golitsyn Government.
After all, the Golitsyn Government at least still holds St. Petersburg.
Even though Alexander II understood the problem of the Russian Empire, he could not directly solve them.
Especially in the aspect of gaining support from the Russian serfs, Duke Golitsyn dared to directly emancipate the serfs, while Alexander II could only promise cautiously that the serfs could leave the nobles’ grip after paying in full.
However, although Alexander II was not as decisive as Duke Golitsyn in this area, he had made considerable progress compared to history.
Historically, Alexander II, after the Crimean War, took five more years to negotiate with the nobility before introducing the policy of emancipating serfs by paying a ransom. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢
If it weren’t for Duke Golitsyn’s immediate emancipation of serfs, those nobles attached to the Tsar wouldn’t have agreed so readily.
Gorchakov Envoy believed Jerome Bonaparte’s words, if the Golitsyn Government really achieved victory, they would certainly unite with French capital to eradicate the living space of the Russian Empire’s aristocracy.
Just like the current French Empire, where those Orthodox Faction aristocrats besides hiding at home have no other rights.
Gorchakov Envoy didn’t want to become like that.
"I just spoke harshly, Your Majesty!" Gorchakov Envoy hurriedly apologized to Jerome Bonaparte, "Please forgive me!"
Seeing Gorchakov Envoy’s admission, Jerome Bonaparte’s face showed a smile again, he replied to Gorchakov Envoy, "It’s nothing! I’m not a narrow-minded person!
I can assure you clearly, although I allowed the St. Petersburg government to participate in this conference, I still hope that a more traditional monarch can return to monarchical sequence!
I hope you will not disappoint the expectations I have of you!"
Having said that, Jerome Bonaparte patted Gorchakov Envoy on the shoulder, "Alright, it’s getting late now! We should go downstairs!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Although Gorchakov Envoy was still somewhat unwilling, he had no choice but to follow Jerome Bonaparte downstairs.
Before entering the hall, Gorchakov Envoy deliberately entered with Jerome Bonaparte in front and behind, creating the impression for the attending ministers of foreign affairs that Jerome Bonaparte supported them.
Jerome Bonaparte merely smiled faintly at Gorchakov Envoy’s gesture.
He himself wasn’t averse to Alexander II, he even somewhat agreed with Alexander II’s government.
After Alexander II ascended to power, he would inevitably rely on the nobility and thus implement incomplete reforms, which would severely slow down the industrialization of the Russian Empire.
It can be said that Alexander II is another shackle imposed by Jerome Bonaparte to limit Russia’s development.
As for this shackle, Jerome Bonaparte must do his utmost to maintain it.
Entering the lounge, Jerome Bonaparte smiled and said to everyone present, "Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in going to the dining room!"
Saying this, Jerome Bonaparte set off for the dining room, followed by the ministers of foreign affairs from various countries.
Meanwhile, the Empire’s generals and politicians, along with foreign military officers, were led by Mokar to another dining room for their meal.
After everyone arrived at the dining room, they sat in their respective seats according to the names written on them.
Naturally, Jerome Bonaparte sat in the principal seat, but the ministers sitting beside him were not Austria’s Foreign Minister Bao’er and Britain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Earl of Clarion, but Sardinia’s Prime Minister Cavour and Britain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Clarendon.
This arrangement made all the diplomatic envoys, including Cavour, feel a sense of incredulity. Clearly, France and Austria are in a quasi-alliance now, so why was Cavour the one seated on the other side?
Sitting beside Clarendon was Count Baur, who even showed a hint of embarrassment.
As for Cavour, an expression of excitement appeared on his face.
Cavour even speculated whether there was some unpleasantness between Emperor Jerome Bonaparte and Count Baur.
If there was indeed a conflict between the two sides, then wouldn’t it be the opportunity for the Sardinian Kingdom?
"I am very pleased to invite you all to join me for the parade..." Jerome Bonaparte said, raising his glass to those present.
The foreign ministers seated at the table stood up one after another, holding their glasses as a sign of respect.
Jerome Bonaparte continued to speak eloquently for about a minute before finally concluding, "I hope that our countries can bring this war to a perfect end within the framework of peace!"
After speaking, Jerome Bonaparte drank his wine in one go, and everyone else followed his lead, finishing the wine in their glasses.
Immediately afterward, a series of delicious dishes were brought in by the servants from the Tuileries Palace, and the guests, who had been hungry for half a day, began to enjoy the cuisine of the Tuileries Palace.
The entire banquet lasted nearly three hours and ended after Jerome Bonaparte saw off most of the foreign ministers from the Tuileries Palace.
The British Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Earl of Clarion, appeared before Jerome Bonaparte and said to him, "Your Majesty, may I take a moment of your time! I would like to speak with you privately."
"Of course!" Jerome Bonaparte extended a hand in invitation to the Earl of Clarion, "Please, follow me!"
Jerome Bonaparte and the Earl of Clarion found a room and sat down, then the Earl of Clarion began to ask Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, how do you view the current situation of the Russian Empire?"
"Mr. Willis, is this a question you’re asking on your own behalf or one Palmerston instructed you to ask?" Jerome Bonaparte did not hurry to answer the Earl of Clarion’s question but instead asked him in return.
"Your Majesty, it’s both!" the Earl of Clarion said calmly, "It’s my duty as the Minister of Foreign Affairs!"
"I still maintain my previous stance, without wavering! This war is merely a matter of Russia’s internal affairs!" Jerome Bonaparte shrugged and said to the Earl of Clarion, "Even if Duke Golitsyn wins, it will merely result in a government concentrating more power in the parliament!
And if Alexander wins, then the Russian Empire would simply maintain the status quo!
However, speaking personally, I slightly lean towards Alexander!"
After hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s words, the Earl of Clarion nodded in response to him, "Prime Minister Palmerston shares your view; he also believes that Alexander continuing as Tsar benefits both sides!"
"Hmm!" Jerome Bonaparte hummed lightly.
"However, since you lean towards Alexander, Your Majesty, why involve the Golitsyn government in these negotiations as well?" the Earl of Clarion curiously asked Jerome Bonaparte.
"Mr. Willis, though I lean towards Alexander, it doesn’t mean I can ignore the Golitsyns! They naturally hold power not inferior to Alexander II, and we cannot exclude this power!" Jerome Bonaparte replied to the Earl of Clarion, "Moreover, their victory is yet to be determined!
The Golitsyn government still represents the exercise of part of the Russian Empire’s rights!"
