CHAPTER 334: CHAPTER 329: GATHERING THE DOGS

The news of Jerome Bonaparte at the Paris City Hall on December 12, 1851, sent shockwaves throughout Europe (primarily among the public). Many elderly people (mainly nobles) who had participated in the Napoleonic Wars recalled the fear of the time of the Napoleonic Empire. They called on Europe to unite once more to attack the French Empire that had risen from the grave.

Meanwhile, some revolutionaries living abroad (Mazzini, Kossuth) rejoiced at the proposal of the French Empire. In their view, the proposal signified the onset of a European war, and the countries they were in would inevitably be involved in the war, thereby winning the independence they deserved for their own countries.

Therefore, when France announced the establishment of the Empire, revolutionaries from Hungary, Italy, and Poland flocked to Paris, using their channels to convey their "blessings" to Napoleon III and their hope that the French Empire could assist them in establishing their own nations.

It can be said that the entire Europe showed a trend of polarization regarding the establishment of the French Empire.

Napoleon III had to express gratitude to some foreign revolutionaries while reiterating the slogan "The Empire means peace" to various European countries.

Even so, Jerome Bonaparte still couldn’t reverse the increasingly declining reputation of France.

According to the Strasbourg Military Region report on December 16, they had already discovered signs of mobilization by the Kingdom of Prussia in the border area.

In fact, not just the Kingdom of Prussia, the Austrian Empire was also mobilizing. According to the report from the Foreign Affairs Bureau of the National Intelligence Bureau, by December 20, the Austrian Empire had mobilized 40,000 field army troops stationed in the Lombardy Region. At the same time, the Minister of Agriculture, Count Cavour, who returned to the Sardinian Dynasty, also reported through secret channels to Jerome Bonaparte about the intelligence regarding the meeting between the Austrian ambassador and the Sardinian Prime Minister.

The entire French Empire seemed to be in a state of imminent warfare.

However, puzzlingly, the Russian Empire, which had previously clamored for a decisive battle with France, unexpectedly remained silent at this critical juncture.

Logically, the Russian Empire should be the country that hates the French Empire the most among the legitimate kingdoms. Why was there no movement at this crucial moment?

Jerome Bonaparte felt that the Russian Empire seemed to be plotting something significant, so he hurriedly ordered Minister of the Seal Mornay to bring Viscount De Lui, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, to him.

I forgot to mention, since Jerome Bonaparte was crowned Emperor, the titles of the ministers of various cabinet departments have also changed, from the previous title "Minister" to the current title "Minister."

Despite the change in titles, their functions remained unchanged.

Minister of Foreign Affairs De Lui was brought to Jerome Bonaparte by De Moreni.

"Your Majesty!" De Lui’s face showed traces of fatigue. Handling France’s diplomacy alone these days had left him feeling overwhelmed. He didn’t hope to hear any demanding requests from the emperor.

Jerome Bonaparte also noticed De Lui’s fatigue, and he quickly called Mokar to prepare a cup of coffee for De Lui.

De Lui didn’t refuse Jerome Bonaparte’s kindness.

After a while, Mokar brought two steaming cups of coffee to the table by the study’s sofa.

Sitting face to face on the sofa, Jerome Bonaparte spoke, "Minister Louis, what do you think of the Russian Empire?"

"The Russian Empire?" De Lui suddenly recalled something and hurriedly reported to Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, I was about to talk to you about the situation with the Russian Empire!"

"What happened on the Russian side?" Jerome Bonaparte put away his smile and turned serious.

"It’s like this! Just now, we received a report from the French Embassy in St. Petersburg. Our embassy has been expelled by the Russian Empire without reason!" De Lui told Jerome Bonaparte.

"Expelled without reason?" Jerome Bonaparte repeatedly chewed on De Lui’s words, giving him more reason to suspect that the Russian Empire was secretly planning a conspiracy against France.

If I were Nicholas I, what method would I use to restrain the French Empire?

Jerome Bonaparte attempted to put himself into Nicholas I’s mindset.

Referring to Nicholas I’s attitude in past major events, Jerome Bonaparte realized that the Russian Empire was very likely to join forces with the Kingdom of Britain to strike at France.

The attitude of the Kingdom of Britain was undoubtedly a crucial step.

"How is the situation in Britain now?" Jerome Bonaparte turned to inquire about Britain’s attitude.

De Lui’s face showed a hint of surprise. He hadn’t expected the Emperor’s thoughts to coincide with his own.

De Louis frowned and replied, "Not too good! According to intelligence from the British Embassy, the anti-French Empire sentiment among the British populace is growing increasingly severe, and opposition outside the Cabinet is launching an assault on the ruling party!"

"And the Royal Family?" Jerome Bonaparte once again asked about the attitude of the British Royal Family.

De Luyis shook his head and said, "Based on the current intelligence, the Royal Family hasn’t made any moves!"

"Those damned Anglo-Saxons!" Jerome Bonaparte couldn’t help but mutter a curse.

He now deeply understood the meaning of the saying that in the field of diplomacy, not trusting the Anglo-Saxons is the greatest trust in them.

Everything they agree upon or hint at is just a ploy by Britain.

Jerome Bonaparte was also convinced that Britain would definitely not launch an attack on the French Empire. Their greatest enemy now must be the Russian Empire.

The creed of British diplomacy is that until the final moment, Britain will absolutely not openly face off against another country.

"From now on, keep a constant eye on the maneuvers of Russia and Britain! Especially scrutinize the interactions between the diplomats of the two countries!" Jerome Bonaparte instructed De Luyis.

"Understood!" De Luyis responded briefly.

Jerome Bonaparte then inquired whether there were any diplomatic changes with the Kingdom of Prussia and the Austrian Empire.

"Prime Minister Felix Schwarzenberg has privately met with our diplomats for talks. He assured us that the Austrian Empire’s troops in Lombardy would absolutely not invade the French Empire. At the same time, he will do his utmost to persuade Emperor Franz Joseph to reconcile with us!" De Luyis took a sip of the coffee brought by Mokar and continued, "The Regent King William of the Kingdom of Prussia has shown no attitude. However, a parliamentarian claiming to represent the Regent King also assured us that the Kingdom of Prussia would maintain peace with the French Empire."

"Hmm?" Jerome Bonaparte showed some interest in the parliamentarian mentioned by De Luyis and logically asked, "What is the name of that parliamentarian who so boldly claims to represent the Regent King?"

"I remember..." De Luyis thoughtfully recalled the parliamentarian’s name, "He seems to be called Otto von Bismarck! Yes, that’s the name!"

"It’s him!" Jerome Bonaparte involuntarily uttered upon hearing the familiar name.

"Your Majesty, do you know him?" De Luyis asked curiously.

"One could say that I do!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded and replied, "He’s indeed a formidable fellow!" He then half-jokingly and half-seriously added, "The two of you might meet often, so be careful not to be swayed by his eloquence!"

"Yes!" De Luyis replied to Jerome Bonaparte, secretly noting the name Bismarck.

"Are there any other diplomatic news lately?" Jerome Bonaparte asked De Louis once again.

"Your Majesty, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies has recognized the French Empire!" De Luyis reported to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Are you sure I didn’t hear wrong?" The look of surprise was evident on Jerome Bonaparte’s face as he repeated, "The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies recognized us as the legitimate government?"

"Indeed!" De Luyis confirmed to Jerome Bonaparte with an assured tone.

The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, as a branch of the Bourbon Dynasty, choosing to recognize the Second French Empire as a legitimate government was indeed beyond Jerome Bonaparte’s expectations. One could say that the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies is the second country to recognize the Second French Empire as a legitimate empire (the first being the Kingdom of Württemberg, which never severed ties, while other countries continued to observe).

Even the Sardinian Kingdom wasn’t as proactive as the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

Since the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies showed goodwill toward the French Empire, Jerome Bonaparte naturally wouldn’t refuse. He wouldn’t emulate his uncle by excessively granting titles to his relatives, thereby earning himself an infamous reputation.

"Can we, in the name of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, invite the envoy from the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies to Paris under the pretext of an agricultural conference?" Jerome Bonaparte asked De Luyis. He intended to use this method to hint to the Sardinian Dynasty that they weren’t the only ones aspiring to serve France; even in betrayal, there must be some sincerity.

Furthermore, the return of the Kingdom of Naples could also stabilize the French Empire’s dominance in the Mediterranean.

"It should be possible!" De Luyis responded to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Then I won’t keep you here any longer!" Having a penchant for decisiveness, Jerome Bonaparte issued a dismissal order to Minister of Foreign Affairs De Luyis.

De Luyis drank the remaining coffee in one gulp before departing.

On December 24, 1851, the Imperial Foreign Minister De Luyis conveyed Emperor Jerome Bonaparte’s invitation to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies’ envoy in France to jointly consult on agricultural issues.

The envoy from Naples, who received the invitation, was overjoyed and quickly relayed the French Empire’s invitation to the Kingdom of Naples.