CHAPTER 336: CHAPTER 331 EMPEROR AND CROWN PRINCE

After experiencing the diplomatic "winter" of December, the French Empire finally welcomed its "spring" in mid-January.

On January 15, 1851, when Jerome Bonaparte once again conveyed the slogan "Empire means peace" to Europe, the then leader of the British Tory Party, who was also the new Prime Minister of Britain, Earl of Aladdin, dispatched his newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Earl of Malmesbury, to convey the Kingdom of Britain’s welcome to the French Empire joining the European family to the French envoy in Britain.

[PS: Earl of Aladdin of the Tory Party used the social panic triggered by the establishment of the French Empire to accuse Prime Minister Russell of various political mistakes between 1848 and 1851. For a time, public opinion surged, and Prime Minister Russell was overwhelmed by the tide of public sentiment. After the fall of the Russell Cabinet, the former opposition leader Foreign Minister Palmerston was also kicked out of politics by the Earl of Derby, replaced by the timid and inexperienced Earl of Malmesbury (a replica of Huck).

The fall of the Russell Cabinet occurred nearly a year earlier than in history.]

At the same time, a letter from the Hanover Royal Family (Queen Victoria) reached Jerome Bonaparte through the secret channels of the Rothschild Clan.

In the letter, Queen Victoria affectionately addressed Jerome Bonaparte as "my brother Napoleon III" (an appellation between legitimate kings).

Subsequently, she once again expressed her desire to travel to Paris to Jerome Bonaparte.

Unable to discern whether Queen Victoria’s intentions were genuine or suggestive, Jerome Bonaparte once more "invited" Minister of Foreign Affairs De Luy into the Tuileries Palace.

After a brief discussion between the two, Jerome Bonaparte replied to Queen Victoria saying: Paris awaits the grand arrival of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert at any time.

The letter was once again handed over to Rothschild, to be delivered to Buckingham Palace.

Having "resolved" Britain, Jerome Bonaparte no longer feared a sudden outbreak of war across all of Europe. In his view, the European Continent without Britain’s financial support was nothing but a scattered sand, not to mention war; merely maintaining contact without collapse would be considered brave.

Of course, this was just a joke. Now, in the whole of Europe (referring to countries on the continent), apart from France, which major country is not troubled by its own finances? Cases of governments going bankrupt halfway through mobilization are common. The idea of waging war with such armies against France is simply a pipe dream.

Sure enough, the day after the Kingdom of Britain recognized the French Empire, the Sardinian Kingdom, which had been lying low for nearly a month, brazenly declared its support for the French Empire.

Thereafter, Minister of Agriculture Cavour even apologized to Jerome Bonaparte through secret channels, exhibiting such humility that Jerome Bonaparte almost got the illusion that "this brother is worth associating with."

The reason, after all, was that the Sardinian Kingdom feared the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies would steal their top-tier sycophant position.

No one understands better than Cavour that the situation of the entire Apennine Peninsula does not depend on Sardinia and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, but on the French Empire and the Austrian Empire.

The Austrian Empire is destined not to allow the Sardinian Kingdom to complete its unification mission unless they are willing to give up Lombardy, Venice, and a number of Central Italian States. The French Empire, on the other hand, is different. As long as diplomatically advantageous, the French Imperial Army could be wholly enlisted to fight.

Regardless of Cavour’s thoughts, Jerome Bonaparte had already determined in his heart that this "miniature Bismarck" was not worth much interaction.

To obtain France’s "understanding", Victor Emmanuel II replaced the former president of the council of ministers, commonly known as the prime minister, with Cavour.

On January 19, the newly appointed Prime Minister of the Sardinian Kingdom, Cavour, sent a "request" to the French envoy in Sardinia, expressing his hope that the Sardinian Kingdom could also join the agricultural discussions between the French Empire and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

This blatant disrupting behavior was mercilessly rejected by the envoy. Even so, the undeterred Cavour gritted his teeth and applied for "funds" from Victor Emmanuel II, and then, as an "admirer", presented them in one swoop to Jerome Bonaparte’s sister, Mathilde Bonaparte.

This subtle gift-giving method naturally won Mathilde Bonaparte’s favor. Under Mathilde Bonaparte’s private invitation, Cavour seized the opportunity to lead a team of "agricultural experts" to France, among whom was Cavour’s "secret weapon".

On January 20, when Jerome Bonaparte learned that his sister had been "captured" by Cavour’s jewels and had invited him to Paris, he felt a headache coming on.

The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and the Sardinian Kingdom inherently had irreconcilable conflicts regarding the unification of Italy. In the event that conflicts arose and they clashed over certain issues, things would escalate significantly.

However, Jerome Bonaparte believed that Cavour should not be such a politically shortsighted person.

That night, Jerome Bonaparte went alone to Fontainebleau Palace to meet with the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

The Crown Prince and the Emperor, two people with different identities and ages, sat on the seats of Fontainebleau Palace. Above them was a gold-framed painting of Ancient Greece, and on the table beside the seats were vessels carved with Greek patterns.

These furnishings are likely from the Bourbon Dynasty period, with some items even witnessing the entire rise and fall of the Bourbon Dynasty.

Now that the Bourbon Dynasty has already "perished," they still remain intact at Fontainebleau Palace. It’s undeniable that sometimes the lifespan of artifacts far exceeds that of a dynasty.

Looking at the young and inexperienced boy before him, Jerome Bonaparte couldn’t help but recall his own self in his previous life. He vaguely remembered that back then, he was still in high school, completely ignorant of national affairs.

Jerome Bonaparte’s gaze gradually softened, and he slowly asked, "Do you know why your father sent you to France?"

"N...No, I don’t!" The sixteen-year-old Francesco II timidly responded.

With a slightly timid personality, Francesco II did not understand why his father sent him to the French Empire and what his purpose was in coming here. Since arriving in Paris, Francesco II had never stepped out of the gates of the National Fontainebleau Palace.

Looking at the future king of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, who had some personality flaws, Jerome Bonaparte suddenly understood why the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies in history was so easily overthrown.

In an absolute monarchy, the monarch’s character can influence the future direction.

Especially at the crucial point when the Italian unification war was in full swing, a weak monarch was destined to be abandoned by his subjects.

Jerome Bonaparte decided to impart some political experience to this person, who was still a blank slate when it came to politics. The unification of the Apennine Peninsula was not necessarily a good thing for France.

"Your father sent you to France to open your eyes to see the world clearly!" Jerome Bonaparte explained to Francesco II as he slowly tidied his cuffs.

"Open my eyes to the world?" Francesco II’s eyes were filled with confusion. This was a phrase he could not hear from his teachers and priests. All his teachers did was relentlessly teach him to be devout to God and to view the world with goodwill.

"Let’s take a previous example! Why was the Sardinian Kingdom not overthrown by their people? Why did your father, Ferdinand II, have to suppress the army?" Jerome Bonaparte posed a sharp question.

Francesco II showed a look of disgust and, unable to disguise his feelings, spoke ill of Sardinia to Jerome Bonaparte: "The Sardinian Kingdom betrayed the Lord and allied with mobs!"

"If you really think that, I can assure you that the rule of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies will end in your hands!" Jerome Bonaparte responded coldly, "You will become a sinner!"

Jerome Bonaparte’s cold words left Francesco II’s face pale. He couldn’t fathom what would happen if the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies ended in his hands.

"No... it won’t!" Francesco II shook his head violently in rebuttal, "We still have loyal troops, loyal nobles!"

"Loyalty?" Jerome Bonaparte mercilessly tore apart Francesco II’s facade: "Are you referring to those Swiss Guards? Don’t forget how His Holiness the Pope was expelled! So-called loyalty is relative. When the army’s guns are facing ten thousand, even a hundred thousand mobs, can they really harden their hearts? Even if your army can resist the mobs, what will you use to fend off Garibaldi? To fend off the Sardinian Kingdom?"

Faced with Jerome Bonaparte’s verbal assault, Francesco II’s complexion grew even paler. It seemed as if he envisioned the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies being overthrown.

"I... I..." Francesco II stammered, unable to speak.

Jerome Bonaparte quietly watched Francesco II, crossing his legs as he leisurely sat in the chair.

After a while, Francesco II finally realized his father’s purpose for sending him to France. Humbly, he said, "You must have a solution, right?"

Francesco II looked at Jerome Bonaparte with eager eyes. Influenced by the liberal ideas of Ferdinand II, he did not harbor the same disdain for Jerome Bonaparte as a truly orthodox monarch might. He believed that someone who had built an empire must have something extraordinary about him.

"Unfortunately, I don’t have a complete solution either!" Jerome Bonaparte shrugged, then added, "The situation on the Apennine Peninsula is far more complex than you imagine!"