Make France Great Again-Chapter 774 - 765 Bao’er: The Damned Temptation
After dealing with Cavour, Jerome Bonaparte continued to immerse himself in his office-bedroom-dining room routine. During this time, many foreign ministers from various countries sought to meet with Jerome Bonaparte, but all were turned away by Mokar at Jerome Bonaparte’s behest.
Unable to meet Jerome Bonaparte, the foreign ministers had no choice but to go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to negotiate with Valerovsky. The decision-making center for foreign affairs gradually shifted back from the Tuileries Palace to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
As the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Valerovsky became the busiest person during this period. Not only did he have to negotiate with foreign ministers during work hours, but he also had to report the results of these discussions to Jerome Bonaparte in detail after work.
A week passed quickly, and the third Paris Peace Conference began once again.
The foreign ministers attending the meeting arrived at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by carriage, as they had done during the previous two meetings. However, upon entering the hall and seeing the names on the round table, they were surprised to discover that Valerovsky, who was originally seated in the center, was now positioned on the left side.
At the same time, a new chair appeared below the portrait!
As everyone was feeling surprised, Valerovsky appeared before them, arriving approximately 10 minutes earlier than the previous two times.
"Please have a seat, everyone!" Valerovsky greeted those present.
"Your Excellency Valerovsky, should we start now?" inquired the Earl of Clarendon.
"No!" Valerovsky shook his head and said, "This time, it will still start at 2 o’clock!"
With that, Valerovsky sat in the position designated by his nameplate.
Everyone else also took their seats, and time passed quickly in the silence of anticipation.
As the grandfather clock in the hall struck twice, the ambassador hall’s door slowly opened, and everyone’s gaze turned to the doorway.
At the entrance, they saw Jerome Bonaparte, clad in military attire, walking slowly towards the hall. Behind him were Marshal Pellissier, Marshal Canrobert, and Marshal Bocques, renowned from the Crimea Battlefield, along with French acting Chief of Staff General Nier and the Emperor’s Aide, General Vayan.
The star-studded lineup made the foreign ministers in the hall feel inexplicably uneasy, unsure of Jerome Bonaparte’s intentions.
"No need to worry, gentlemen!" Jerome Bonaparte seemed to read their minds, showing a friendly smile as he raised his hand and addressed those present: "Like you, I am here with only a pair of ears!"
Then, Jerome Bonaparte sat in the chair that had been prepared in advance.
"Valerovsky, you may begin!"
Upon Jerome Bonaparte’s order, Valerovsky commenced the third and final Paris Peace Conference.
Valerovsky first summarized the terms drafted by various countries in the previous two conferences, which were essentially similar to the treaties formulated with France and the Russian Empire. He then asked the foreign ministers present if there were any additions or terms they wished to nullify.
Perhaps due to Jerome Bonaparte’s presence, none of the foreign ministers put forward any additions. Only Gorchakov expressed opposition regarding the autonomy of Bessarabia.
Faced with Gorchakov’s opposition, Valerovsky remained silent and turned his gaze to Jerome Bonaparte.
Although the Emperor claimed he was only there to listen, who would dare take that at face value?
Seeing Valerovsky hand over the floor to him, Jerome Bonaparte pondered for a moment, then addressed Gorchakov, "I have an immature opinion; I wonder if Mr. Gorchakov would be interested in hearing it!"
"Your Majesty, please speak!" replied Gorchakov eagerly to Jerome Bonaparte.
"Firstly, Bessarabia remaining under Russian rule will not change. I assume no one has any objections to this!" Jerome Bonaparte asked those present.
"No objections!"
"No objections!"
...
All present, including the Earl of Clarendon, expressed no objections. Jerome Bonaparte then continued, addressing Envoy Gorchakov, "However, to alleviate potential conflicts between the Russian Empire and the Austrian Empire, Bessarabia must also be free of military presence! There shouldn’t be any objections to this condition either!"
"None!" Envoy Gorchakov also responded.
Seeing no objections from either side, Jerome Bonaparte put forth his "proposal," which could also be seen as a ruling.
The Russian Empire would continue to govern Bessarabia, appoint government officials, police, and gendarmerie but would not be allowed to station troops in Bessarabia.
This essentially demilitarized the entire Bessarabia Province.
"What do you think of my proposal?" Jerome Bonaparte asked those present.
The attendees unanimously agreed that there was no issue with Jerome Bonaparte’s proposal.
Then, Jerome Bonaparte once again handed over the right to speak to Valerovsky.
Valerovsky summarised once again, and this time Gorchakov did not raise any objections.
The final meeting of the Paris Peace Conference ended in less than two hours, with Valerovsky’s solemn announcement.
"Everyone, don’t leave yet! Let’s take a group photo!" Jerome Bonaparte said to those present.
Thus, at Jerome Bonaparte’s suggestion, the ministers reluctantly stopped their steps to leave and took a photo with him.
After the photo session, Jerome Bonaparte invited everyone present to attend the banquet.
The ministers all agreed to Jerome Bonaparte’s invitation, and the banquet was scheduled for 8 p.m.
At 5 p.m., Jerome Bonaparte left the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the ministers.
That evening, a grand banquet was held at the Tuileries Palace.
Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta warmly shook hands and conversed with each of the ministers.
During the conversation with Count Bauer, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria, Jerome Bonaparte recalled the promise he made to Cavour.
Thus, Jerome Bonaparte pulled Count Bauer aside to inquire whether the Austrian Empire could make some concessions regarding Lombardy.
"Your Majesty, in which aspect do you suggest concessions?" Count Bauer asked Jerome Bonaparte.
"Could the Austrian Empire hand over Lombardy to the Sardinian Kingdom?" Jerome Bonaparte asked bluntly.
"Your Majesty, this would be difficult!" Count Bauer replied tactfully, "Lombardy and Venice are an inseparable part of the Austrian Empire..."
"Oh, please!" Jerome Bonaparte responded dismissively, "Lombardy was something you acquired through the Kingdom of Belgium, nothing inseparable about it! Ultimately, you’re just wanting to have your cake and eat it too!"
"Your Majesty!" Count Bauer responded helplessly.
"How about this! What do you think of Silesia?" Jerome Bonaparte asked Count Bauer again.
Could it be...
Count Bauer subconsciously swallowed, and then dryly replied to Jerome Bonaparte, "Silesia is certainly fine, but it is now Prussian territory!"
"What’s the problem with it being Prussian territory? Can’t Prussian territory be reclaimed?" Jerome Bonaparte asserted to Count Bauer, "I believe Silesia originally belonged to the Austrian Empire! The Austrian Empire should reclaim its rightful territory!"
"Your Majesty, are you planning to act against the Kingdom of Prussia?" Count Bauer asked Jerome Bonaparte, swallowing again.
"There’s no such plan at the moment!" Jerome Bonaparte cautiously replied, "But I won’t rule it out in the future. I just want to ask you, Count Bauer, do you want to reclaim the lost Silesia?"
"I..." Count Bauer hesitated for a moment, then resolutely nodded, "Of course, I want to!"
"That’s enough!" Jerome Bonaparte clapped his hands and said to Count Bauer.
"Your Majesty, the Kingdom of Prussia is a member of the German Confederation!" Count Bauer reminded Jerome Bonaparte.
"What if they are a member of the German Confederation?" Jerome Bonaparte said to Count Bauer, "Can’t you just declare the reformation of the German Confederation and then kick Prussia out?"
"This..." Count Bauer had never considered re-establishing the German Confederation.
"Think about it, the main reason for the reconstruction of the German Confederation back then was to guard against us in France! Now, our two countries are practically inseparable, what use is there for the current German Confederation?" Jerome Bonaparte continued to ask Count Bauer, "And now the entire Germany has been bound together by the Customs Union under the Kingdom of Prussia. As long as the Customs Union exists, the German principalities will inch closer to Prussia daily, diminishing Austrian influence over Germany!"
The only solution now is to completely abolish the German Confederation and the German Customs Union, so that the Austrian Empire can re-establish its leadership position in Germany!"
"Your Majesty, why are you doing this?" Count Bauer asked Jerome Bonaparte.
"Mr. Bauer, I do not wish to see a unified Germany by Prussia at my side!" Jerome Bonaparte seriously said to Count Bauer, "Its existence will become a formidable rival to France!
Of course, my main purpose is to provide France with sufficient strategic depth! After Austria defeats Prussia, it will have convenience in Rheinland France!"
