Make France Great Again-Chapter 838 - 829: A “Chance Encounter” in Danzig
October 30, 1855.
Jerome Bonaparte and Franz Joseph, after staying in Warsaw for nearly 20 days, announced their departure to return home.
On this morning, nearly 50,000 Warsaw residents walked out of their homes to the streets to see off the two monarchs leaving Warsaw.
At 9 a.m., after Jerome Bonaparte, Franz Joseph, and Maximilian exchanged farewell hugs in the Polish Royal Palace, Jerome Bonaparte and Franz Joseph each left in their carriages.
The two entourages parted ways at a crossroads in Warsaw, with one heading towards the northern riverbank of Warsaw and the other proceeding south.
[PS: Jerome Bonaparte would take a ship up along the Vistula River to Danzig, then sail back to Paris.
Franz Joseph would return to Vienna along the same road he came.]
When Jerome Bonaparte’s entourage reached the Vistula River port, a steaming passenger steamboat was docked at the port quay.
Around the port quay, there were also many Warsaw residents gathered to bid farewell to Jerome Bonaparte, each holding flower petals in their hands.
As Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta stepped out of the carriage, the residents on both sides of the dock almost simultaneously threw the petals into the central passage.
The petals formed a shower of flowers in mid-air, making the whole farewell ceremony exceptionally romantic.
Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta, hand in hand, walked on the petal-covered path to board the steamboat.
The two standing at the edge of the deck waved goodbye to the Warsaw residents who hadn’t dispersed from the quay.
At 10 a.m., accompanied by the formal departure of the steamboat, white smoke continuously billowed out.
The vessel carrying Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta sailed up the Vistula River, gradually disappearing from sight.
When the steamboat arrived in Danzig City of the Kingdom of Prussia, it was already around 8 p.m.
After a 10-hour voyage, Jerome Bonaparte felt somewhat fatigued; he first asked Empress Augusta if she wished to rest overnight in Danzig and resume the journey the next day.
Augusta nodded, agreeing with Jerome Bonaparte’s idea.
Subsequently, Jerome Bonaparte called Mokar over and said, "Mokar, I think we should find a hotel to rest for the night before continuing!"
As an attendant, Mokar dared not defy Jerome Bonaparte’s opinion, hurriedly replying to Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, I will arrange it immediately!"
After speaking, Mokar turned around and ordered the attendants behind him to disembark immediately to find a luxurious hotel for Emperor Jerome to rest.
Jerome Bonaparte quietly waited for everyone to disembark before returning to his room with Augusta to change into casual clothes and then disembark. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞
After Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta disembarked, an unexpected figure appeared before them, blocking their way.
This unexpected figure had hawk-like eyes, which caused everyone who faced him to instinctively evade; it was Otto Eduard Leopold von Bismarck.
A cunning diplomat who believed in the policies of iron and blood, and a future founder of the German Empire and destroyer of the French Empire.
Why was he here?
Gazing at Von Bismarck, who blocked his path, Jerome Bonaparte couldn’t help but feel secretly astonished.
If his memory wasn’t incorrect, Bismarck at this time should be serving as a parliamentarian in Berlin (the Frankfort representative was forced to be removed due to De Luy’s issues), so how did he appear here?
Despite Jerome Bonaparte’s heart full of doubts, he had to feign an expression of surprise.
"Sir, what are you doing? Why are you blocking my way?" Jerome Bonaparte pretended to be surprised and asked Von Bismarck.
Seeing this, Von Bismarck promptly introduced himself to Jerome Bonaparte: "Esteemed sir, I am Von Bismarck from Berlin! My master has specially commissioned me to come here to wait for you and your wife! He eagerly hopes to meet with you!"
The wise Von Bismarck conveyed all the information to Jerome Bonaparte, trying not to reveal their identities.
Could William I, the old man, have come?
Jerome Bonaparte was startled once again, yet his expression remained calm.
"If that’s the case, please lead the way!" Jerome Bonaparte responded to Von Bismarck.
"Please!" Von Bismarck bowed and gestured an invitation to Jerome Bonaparte.
Jerome Bonaparte, holding Augusta’s hand, proceeded, and soon Jerome Bonaparte and Empress Augusta reached a luxurious carriage nearby.
Von Bismarck opened the carriage door for the two, extending his hand and saying, "Please get in!"
Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta sat inside the carriage, and Von Bismarck considerately closed the door for them before boarding the carriage behind Jerome Bonaparte’s.
The carriage carrying Jerome Bonaparte and his wife sped towards the center of Danzig City and soon arrived at an inn in the city center.
At this moment, outside the lavishly decorated inn was a squadron of Prussian soldiers in blue uniforms. After Jerome Bonaparte’s and Empress Augusta’s carriage stopped, the squadron of Prussian soldiers, led by their commander, quickly ran to Jerome Bonaparte’s carriage, where the commander spoke personally to Jerome Bonaparte.
As Jerome Bonaparte observed the commander of the soldiers closely, a hint of surprise flashed across his face.
Because the commander in charge of this troop was none other than Old Maoqi, who was later honored as the God of German War.
Although Old Maoqi’s appearance differed somewhat from the photographs taken later, in general, there was an eighty to ninety percent similarity.
Compared to the later photograph, the present Old Maoqi appeared much younger in appearance.
After all, the photographs taken later were post-1870, which was after Old Maoqi turned 70.
Presently, Old Maoqi was only 55 years old, at the prime of his life.
"Your Majesty Emperor Jerome, Your Majesty Empress Augusta, welcome to Danzig!" Old Maoqi greeted Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta in his deep voice.
In contrast to the diplomatic Von Bismarck, Old Maoqi always liked to speak directly.
"General, what’s your name?" Jerome Bonaparte pretended it was his first time meeting Old Maoqi and politely inquired.
"Helmut Karl Bernhard von Moltke!" Old Maoqi straightened his posture and saluted Jerome Bonaparte, "I am currently serving as Chief of the General Staff of the Kingdom of Prussia, assisting Regent King William in managing the army!"
Jerome Bonaparte also solemnly returned the salute to Old Maoqi and praised him as an upright soldier.
Old Maoqi merely smiled slightly and did not respond.
At this moment, Von Bismarck appeared in front of Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta, inviting them to enter the inn.
Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta turned and entered the inn, then were led by Von Bismarck to a guest room on the second floor.
When the door to the guest room opened, Regent King William I of Prussia and his wife were in the room.
The Regent King and his wife stood up to greet Jerome Bonaparte and his wife as soon as they arrived.
Jerome Bonaparte and William I shook hands "enthusiastically" and embraced.
"Please forgive me for calling both of you here in this manner! This is the quickest way I could think of!" Regent King William expressed his apologies to Jerome Bonaparte.
"It’s nothing!" Jerome Bonaparte magnanimously waved his hand at Regent King William, "Augusta and I initially planned to find an inn in Danzig to rest overnight, and then return to Paris tomorrow!"
Coincidentally, your attendant Von Bismarck appeared before us, so we went along with it and came!"
"Actually, Mr. Bismarck is not my attendant!" Regent King William explained to Jerome Bonaparte.
"Oh?" Jerome Bonaparte showed a perfectly timed expression of surprise and quickly asked Regent King William, "Then who exactly is Von Bismarck?"
"Mr. Bismarck is a member of parliament in Berlin. However, he did indeed invite you on my orders!" Regent King William replied to Jerome Bonaparte.
"So that’s how it is!" Jerome Bonaparte showed an expression of sudden realization.
Then, Regent King William’s wife invited Empress Augusta to another room for a chat.
Jerome Bonaparte and Regent King William chatted in the room together.
Regent King William first inquired about the recent situation of King Maximilian of Poland. Upon hearing from Jerome Bonaparte that Maximilian had successfully been crowned, he began to regret not attending Maximilian’s coronation.
Jerome Bonaparte also insincerely comforted Regent King William, saying that even though Regent King William couldn’t go personally, Maximilian already understood their goodwill.
Maximilian hoped that the Kingdom of Poland and the Kingdom of Prussia could adhere to the principles of peaceful coexistence and cooperation.
Afterward, Regent King William gradually shifted the topic to the Austrian Empire, first scolding its actions in Italy on a small scale, using this to test Jerome Bonaparte’s reactions.
Following Regent King William’s thoughts, Jerome Bonaparte also diplomatically commented.
There are indeed some dissatisfying issues with the Austrian Empire in Italy; they should choose to respect the wishes of the Italians appropriately.
