CHAPTER 335: CHAPTER 330: BRITAIN DRIVEN TO MOUNT LIANG

When the invitation from Minister De Luyss of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Second French Empire was conveyed to the capital of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, Palermo, via the channel of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies’s envoy to France, the then Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, Gennaro Spinelli, quickly proceeded to the Royal Palace of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

At this time, in the Royal Palace of the Two Sicilies, two individuals were engaged in secret talks around a table in a room within the palace; their chairs were not adjacent; each sat on one side of the table, with space remaining on both sides. Although it was only a quarter past four in the afternoon, the room was already dark, with only feeble light filtering through the windows, and a wind lamp made of mutton tallow hung from the ceiling to illuminate the entire room.

The one sitting near the window was a middle-aged man of about forty years, with a square face, wearing a black military uniform on the upper body and white trousers on the lower body, he was Ferdinand II, the King of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

Born in 1810, Ferdinand II was already 41 years old, and he had been the King of the Two Sicilies for twenty-one years.

In his forty-one years of life, he had experienced splendor and also downfall (the Bourbon Dynasty lost control of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies in 1808), had ideals (implemented partial liberal reforms in 1830), and had also faced cold, harsh reality (forced to acknowledge and then dissolve the liberal constitution in 1848). By now, he had completely shed his idealistic guise, becoming a truly opportunistic monarch.

The man in black civilian attire sitting opposite him was the Diplomatic Envoy of the Kingdom of Britain to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. The reason for his presence at the Palermo Royal Palace was to issue a query to Ferdinand II under orders from the British Foreign Ministry.

"Your Honorable Majesty, Britain does not intend to interfere with the rights of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, but we hope that the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies can maintain Mediterranean security..." The British Envoy had just started speaking when he used the verbose diplomatic language typical of British officials to hint at Ferdinand II.

"Ambassador, could you perhaps use more indirect language?" Naturally, Ferdinand II understood the meaning behind the British Envoy’s long-winded diplomatic words, but he was unwilling to follow the path Britain had laid out for him.

"We hope your country can maintain distance from certain nations! Only in this way can we better maintain the balance and stability of the Mediterranean!" The British Envoy continued to say to Ferdinand II: "Your country’s recent actions are quite likely to severely disrupt the balance and stability of the Mediterranean!"

Indeed, the "certain nations" mentioned by the British Envoy were none other than the French Empire.

Although the Kingdom of Britain and the French Empire had reached a certain level of understanding, in other areas, Britain would still unhesitatingly take a stab at the French Empire.

In the eyes of British political elites, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies is a vital part of the overall Mediterranean balance; their political orientation could significantly influence Britain’s vested interests in the Mediterranean.

Before Jerome Bonaparte established the French Empire, Britain’s political elites were not particularly concerned about the political orientation of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

After Jerome Bonaparte established the Second French Empire, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies unexpectedly (in the eyes of Britain) became the first to support the establishment of the French Empire.

This undoubtedly sent a dangerous signal to the Kingdom of Britain. Now that the Sardinian Kingdom had tacitly become a vassal of France, if the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies also became a vassal to France, Britain’s interests in the Mediterranean would likely face a significant challenge.

Even though there was a considerable gap between the French Fleet and the British Fleet, Britain was unwilling to see their enemy of several centuries closing in on them in any way.

Upon learning that the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies acknowledged the French Empire, British political elites swiftly ordered the British Envoy to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies to proceed to the Palermo Royal Palace to inquire why the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies supported the French Empire.

"Hmph!" Ferdinand II snorted coldly and said, "This is our country’s established diplomatic strategy; the Kingdom of Britain has no right to interfere! I also do not believe that a simple diplomatic establishment would destabilize the entire Mediterranean! If that is the case, then the Mediterranean’s stability is indeed too fragile!"

Of course, the British Envoy heard Ferdinand II’s dissatisfaction, and he still replied slowly: "This is merely a hypothesis, such a hypothesis can exist or not exist! I... or rather, we hope that the Kingdom of Britain can communicate with Your Majesty in an open manner to promote more intimate cooperation between our two nations."

"If the Kingdom of Britain agrees to hand over those rebels to me, I will agree to sever relations with the French Empire!" Ferdinand II proposed a condition that was downright impossible to concede.

The moment he heard Ferdinand II’s condition, the British Envoy’s face changed, as he certainly would not hand over those revolutionaries exiled to Britain.

If the Kingdom of Britain handed them over, Britain would face demands from other countries to turn over their exiled revolutionaries, leading to a massive political crisis for Britain.

Furthermore, keeping them might prove useful at some point.

"Those revolutionaries are not criminals; they are merely unfortunate souls who wish to change the nation! We have adopted them with our unique compassion and will not hit them when they’re down!" The British Envoy courteously declined Ferdinand II’s request and added, "If one day, Your Majesty also, due to some misfortune, falls into such a plight, Britain will definitely extend a helping hand to you as well!"

"I believe it entirely unnecessary!" Ferdinand II could clearly hear the threat from the British Envoy, and he responded stubbornly.

"Since Your Majesty does not wish to communicate with us frankly, then I shall take my leave!" Seeing Ferdinand II’s unwillingness to communicate, the British Envoy rose and departed.

Ferdinand II, who was seated, also rose to escort the British Envoy out of the Palermo Royal Palace.

Just as Ferdinand II was about to return to the palace, Gennaro Spinelli’s carriage pulled up at the palace gates, and Ferdinand II stood in place, waiting for Prime Minister Gennaro Spinelli.

Upon stepping out of the carriage and seeing Ferdinand II at the palace gate, Gennaro Spinelli quickly approached him to convey the invitation from the French Empire’s Foreign Ministry to Ferdinand II.

Ferdinand II was immediately overjoyed, having just refused the coercion of the Kingdom of Britain; France had now extended an olive branch: "Let’s go; we’ll discuss this in detail at the palace!"

Gennaro Spinelli entered the palace with Ferdinand II, where Gennaro Spinelli fully reported the situation obtained by the Foreign Ministry to Ferdinand II.

Ferdinand II, eager to embrace the support of France, couldn’t hide his enthusiasm and impatiently asked Gennaro Spinelli when they would depart.

"Your Majesty, this is merely a private seminar; it’s not appropriate to make a grand display!" Gennaro Spinelli reminded Ferdinand II.

After a lengthy discussion lasting over an hour between Ferdinand II and Gennaro Spinelli, they decided to form an unofficial agricultural delegation. To show the importance of agricultural exchange, Ferdinand II specifically arranged for his 15-year-old son to join this delegation.

The agricultural team underwent a selection process over a few days and was finally chosen by December 28.

Besides the special envoy and prince, all other members were outstanding agricultural scholars selected from the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

On December 29, this unofficial agricultural team departed from Naples and arrived at Marseille Port by the morning of the 30th.

Then, traveling from Marseille Port by train, they endured a long journey day and night, finally reaching Paris on the last day of 1851.

Upon their arrival in Paris, the agricultural delegation was warmly welcomed by Minister De Luyss.

Under De Luyss’s arrangement, the delegation stayed at the Rhine Inn.

Meanwhile, Ferdinand II’s son, also a prince of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, was personally arranged by De Luyss to reside at Fontainebleau Palace.

The news of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies’ agricultural delegation quickly reached the ears of diplomats from various countries.

That night, Lord Cowley, the British Envoy, came before Jerome Bonaparte to inquire discreetly about Jerome Bonaparte’s intentions.

"It’s merely mutual exchange!" Jerome Bonaparte responded leisurely and then said nonchalantly, "Just like your nation’s recent interactions with the Russian Empire, the French Empire also needs more friends!"

Just a few days ago, Jerome Bonaparte received news from London that the Kingdom of Britain’s special diplomatic envoy was engaged in secret negotiations with the Russian Empire’s envoy.

Lord Cowley looked awkwardly at Jerome Bonaparte. Although he did not know where Jerome Bonaparte obtained this information, Britain’s secret actions clearly violated its previous agreement with France.

"Britain needs to uphold public opinion..." Lord Cowley defended Britain.

"If it’s truly public opinion, why not conduct exchanges as openly as France does?" Jerome Bonaparte retorted, "France longs for peace and is equally willing to maintain it! We do not desire war, nor do we fear it!"

"I will promptly report to the British authorities!" Lord Cowley replied to Jerome Bonaparte, "However, we earnestly hope that the French Empire can maintain peace in the Mediterranean!"

"France will always be the guardian of order!" Jerome Bonaparte assured Lord Cowley.

Under the subtle pressure from Jerome Bonaparte, the Kingdom of Britain finally began to impose limited restraints on domestic voices opposing the French Empire.