Make France Great Again-Chapter 769 - 760: Covert Fight During the Recess

After hearing Valvesky’s explanation, Jerome Bonaparte nodded with satisfaction and ordered Valvesky, "Now, go immediately to the Austrian Embassy and tell Minister Bao’Er everything you told me, so he can be fully prepared! By the way, when is the next meeting scheduled to begin?"

"Your Majesty, the second meeting will take place the day after tomorrow!" Valvesky responded to Jerome Bonaparte.

"I understand!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded again, urging Valvesky to promptly go to the Austrian Embassy to inform Minister Bao’Er of the details.

Jerome Bonaparte himself did not have a high regard for Bao’Er’s political acumen. Count Bao’er was not even comparable to the late Schwarzenberg, let alone to the now energy-depleted Prince Metternich.

This type of person could occupy the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs not only because the Austrian Empire was producing fewer capable individuals but also because Franz Joseph’s own judgment was particularly poor.

Therefore, Jerome Bonaparte was somewhat worried that Count Bao’Er might misunderstand the attitude of the French Empire and thus make some decisions unfavorable to relations between the French Empire and the Austrian Empire.

[PS: Historically, Count Bao’Er was known for his foolish diplomatic policies during the Crimean War, which left the Austrian Empire in unprecedented isolation from 1856 to 1860.

Furthermore, during the 1860 Franco-Austrian War, he ignored Prince Metternich’s advice to use his powers as Foreign Minister to prevent Franz Joseph’s higher-ups, leading to a disaster.]

Unfamiliar with Count Bao’Er’s "illustrious history," Valvesky felt that Jerome Bonaparte’s order for him to specifically go to the Austrian Embassy to remind Count Bao’Er was a bit redundant. He was the Minister of Foreign Affairs for France, not Austria’s babysitter.

Furthermore, Valvesky believed that Count Bao’Er must not be a fool to hold the position of Foreign Minister; he must have already understood his intentions.

Since His Majesty the Emperor insisted on him making the trip, Valvesky had no choice but to comply with the Emperor’s orders and proceed.

Just as Valvesky was about to leave, Jerome Bonaparte suddenly called out to him.

"Your Majesty, do you have any other instructions?" Valvesky stopped in his tracks and turned to inquire of Jerome Bonaparte.

"I remember your son Alexander is now already 10 years old, isn’t he?" Jerome Bonaparte asked Valvesky.

"Yes!" Valvesky answered truthfully.

"Do bring him to Tuileries Palace for a visit when there’s a chance!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Valvesky.

"Yes!" Valvesky replied more forcefully this time. He knew that his son Alexander’s future prosperity was almost assured, as long as he didn’t act recklessly.

If Alexander exhibited a bit of ability, it was possible he could succeed him in his position!

"Alright! It’s getting late. You’d better go quickly!" Jerome Bonaparte waved Valvesky away.

A heart full of excitement, Valvesky left Jerome Bonaparte’s study, then took an unobtrusive carriage to the entrance of the Austrian Embassy.

At that moment, the Austrian Embassy was still brightly lit, with Foreign Minister Bao’Er and Austrian Ambassador Richard Metternich sitting on the sofa discussing today’s events.

"Are you saying that French Foreign Minister Valvesky is deliberately making things difficult for us?" Count Bao’Er, the person in question, frowned and asked Richard Metternich.

"Minister, I don’t think Mr. Valleski is making things difficult! From my perspective, Valvesky’s intention is merely to act as a neutral arbiter, making us contend with the Kingdom of Prussia and the Russian Empire," Richard Metternich shook his head and explained to Minister Bao’Er: "After all, the French Empire, as the host of the Paris Peace Conference, cannot favor us unilaterally!

Otherwise, it would arouse the displeasure of other countries!

Thus losing the impartiality expected of an arbiter."

After listening to Richard Metternich’s explanation, Count Bao’Er immediately realized that Valvesky’s maneuver was nothing but the usual tactic employed by Prince Metternich in the past.

Hiding one’s inclinations under the guise of fairness, then relying on the consent of the majority of countries to suppress the opposing side.

Damn, how could I forget this! Count Bao’Er thought to himself.

Subsequently, he looked at Richard Metternich with a "friendly" gaze, saying, "Richard... may I call you that?"

"It’s my honor!" Richard Metternich responded modestly yet respectfully.

"Richard! I dare bet you, ten years from now, this position will certainly be yours!" Count Bao’Er lauded Richard Metternich, saying, "In you, I seem to see the shadow of Prince Metternich!"

"Compared to my father, I still have a long way to go!" Richard Metternich humbly responded.

"No rush, you have ten years to hone your skills! No one can achieve success overnight!" Count Bao’Er said to Richard Metternich.

Ten years? Hmph!

Richard Metternich scoffed in his heart, knowing that Count Bao’Er was subtly hinting for him not to vie for the position of Foreign Minister within ten years.

After ten years, the position of Foreign Minister would naturally fall into his hands.

However, Richard Metternich had no intention of following Count Bao’Er’s schedule and waiting ten years. He had to climb as high as he could while his father was still alive.

Because only in this way can he inherit the connections and influence from Prince Metternich. Once Prince Metternich passes away, these connections and relationships would lose their value significantly.

Therefore, the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs is one that Richard Metternich cannot wait ten years to act upon.

If he found an opportunity, Richard Metternich would not hesitate to strike against Count Baur.

This was what he had learned from Jerome Bonaparte on the Crimea Peninsula.

Richard Metternich now must learn to disguise himself, striving to prevent Count Baur from sensing a threat.

Only in this way can he surprise Count Baur and take him down unexpectedly.

Despite feeling disdain for Count Baur in his heart, Richard Metternich humbly told Count Baur that his own experience was still shallow and he needed someone with rich experience like Count Baur to oversee things!

Just as Count Baur and Richard Metternich started exchanging fake compliments, a servant at the French Embassy approached Count Baur, interrupting them to inform them of a visitor.

Count Baur immediately inquired about the visitor!

"The visitor is the French Foreign Minister Valerovsky!" the servant responded to Count Baur.

"Valerovsky?" Count Baur and Richard Metternich both showed expressions of surprise, wondering what business Valerovsky had in visiting at such a late hour.

A few seconds later, Count Baur spoke to the servant: "Then go and invite Minister Valerovsky in quickly!"

"Yes!" The servant hurried to the entrance to invite Valerovsky into the embassy.

A moment later, Valerovsky appeared before Count Baur and Richard Metternich, and after each of them shook hands with Count Baur, they sat down.

"Mr. Valerovsky, what brings you here so late at night?" Count Baur solemnly asked Valerovsky.

"Mr. Baur, I’m here for the matter this afternoon!" Valerovsky hurriedly explained to Count Baur that his actions this afternoon were not intentionally aimed at the Austrian Empire.

"I know!" Count Baur flaunted his discussion with Richard Metternich: "We will strive for the unanimous consent of other nations, not making things difficult for France!"

"That puts me at ease!" Valerovsky smiled with a look of relief.

At this point, his purpose was also achieved.

"Since Mr. Baur, you’ve already seen through it, then I’m just being redundant!" Valerovsky said half-jokingly to Count Baur, then tactfully took his leave.

"Please wait a moment!" Count Baur said as he gave Richard Metternich a look.

Richard Metternich immediately understood Count Baur’s intention, and he got up and left the drawing-room.

After a while, when Richard Metternich reappeared in the drawing-room, he had a box in his hand.

Richard Metternich handed the box to Count Baur, who then passed it to Valerovsky.

"No, I can’t accept this!" Valerovsky demurred, refusing Count Baur’s gift.

"Mr. Valerovsky, we are friends, aren’t we?" Count Baur asked Valerovsky with a smile.

"Of course!" Valerovsky nodded to Count Baur.

"This is my gift to you as a friend! I hope you won’t refuse!" Count Baur pressed the box into Valerovsky’s hand.

"Then I’ll accept it!" Valerovsky accepted the gift from Count Baur.

Anyway, bribery was somewhat of an unwritten rule in diplomatic circles; as long as no crucial information was leaked, most monarchs wouldn’t confiscate this kind of wealth.

"Thank you very much!" Watching Valerovsky accept the bribe, Count Baur breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.

Subsequently, Valerovsky left the embassy, and sitting in the carriage, he opened the gift handed to him by Count Baur.

Inside the box was a full set of gold artifacts, which would fetch at least 100,000 to 200,000 francs if sold on the market.

"The Austrian Empire sure is generous!" Valerovsky muttered softly.

In the following day of rest, Count Baur discreetly visited the embassies of various countries, excluding Prussia and Russia, to discuss the situation.

Most countries, after receiving Count Baur’s bribes, expressed that they would definitely support the Austrian Empire at the next meeting.