CHAPTER 582: CHAPTER 573 FOOLING PRUSSIA

"The Kingdom of Prussia wishes to stand alongside the French Empire in battle?" De Luyis smiled as he repeated the words of the Prussian ambassador, then gently clapped his hands, "We welcome and cherish every nation willing to fight alongside the French Empire... regardless of what conflicts they may have had with the French Empire in the past..."

Upon hearing De Luyis’s response, the Prussian ambassador found a trace of solace in his heart. At the very least, De Luyis did not directly reject them, which was sufficient to prove that the alliance between the Austrian Empire and the French Empire was not as solid as he had imagined.

However, the targeted words spoken by Emperor Jerome Bonaparte at the Paris City Hall Square still left the Prussian ambassador feeling uneasy.

Thus, the Prussian ambassador once again tentatively inquired of De Luyis, "Your Excellency, what if... I mean, if after the Kingdom of Prussia befriends the French Empire, the Austrian Empire plans to harm our interests in the German Region to satisfy its needs, how do you intend to respond?"

"Ambassador, isn’t that ’if’ a bit too unrealistic?" De Luyis responded to the Prussian ambassador with a look of surprise.

"Your Excellency, we cannot help but have such concerns!" The Prussian ambassador shrugged and candidly said to De Luyis, "Ever since the Vienna Congress ended, our Kingdom of Prussia has become a thorn in the side, a bone in the throat of the Austrian Empire... from Prince Metternich to Prince Schwarzenberg, every Prime Minister of the Austrian Empire has relentlessly suppressed us because our Kingdom of Prussia is the only nation in the German Region that comes close to the Austrian Empire!"

Our repeated concessions were met with repeated blows from the Austrian Empire..."

"Ambassador, are you worried that the French Empire might be incited by the Austrian Empire to act against you..." De Luyis maintained his smile.

"I believe that with a Minister of Foreign Affairs like you, the French Empire would not be easily swayed by Austria! It’s just that..." The Prussian ambassador paused, "I am concerned that the Austrian Empire might use some unrealistic promises to obtain His Majesty’s tacit agreement in certain situations!"

What the Prussian ambassador referred to as unrealistic promises was precisely the Rhine Land territories that Emperor Jerome Bonaparte longed for.

Back when Prince Schwarzenberg used the Rhine Land territories as bait to gain Jerome Bonaparte’s support for the Austrian Empire’s attack on the Kingdom of Prussia, Jerome Bonaparte tacitly agreed to the matter at that time.

If it were not for greater interference by the Russian Empire and the fact that Jerome Bonaparte’s position had not yet been stabilized, the war between the Kingdom of Prussia and the Austrian Empire would not have ended so hastily.

For this reason, the Prussian ambassador feared that the Austrian Empire might use the same tactics to lure the French Empire to their side, thus putting the Kingdom of Prussia in a desperate situation.

The current diplomatic environment for the Kingdom of Prussia is not like it was a few years ago. A few years ago, the Kingdom of Prussia still had the support of the Russian Empire’s big brother.

With the onset of the Crimean War, not only did the Kingdom of Prussia lose the Russian Empire as its big brother, but its neutral stance taken at the start of the war also earned the hatred of the big brother along with the Austrian Empire.

[PS: In actual history, the war in Aumitz was not as contested as in this narrative! Frederick William IV did not act like Regent King William, resorting to bayonet-backed counter-revolutionary actions to win the Russian Empire’s favor.

Therefore, in the actual historical context, the Kingdom of Prussia held a better reputation in the German Region than in this narrative, and its relationship with the Russian Empire during the Crimean War was not excessively close.

Thus, after the Crimean War, the Kingdom of Prussia quickly aligned with the Russian Empire.]

The Prussian ambassador can even be certain that post-war, the Russian Empire will inevitably harbor hostility towards the Kingdom of Prussia.

Should the Austrian Empire make a move against the Kingdom of Prussia at that time, the consequences could be dire.

"Ambassador, you’re overthinking!" Minister De Luyis straightforwardly addressed the Prussian ambassador’s concerns: "If you’re suggesting that the Austrian Empire wants to collaborate with the French Empire to dismantle the Kingdom of Prussia, there’s no need for such roundabout implications!"

"I’m not...," the Prussian ambassador hastily explained, "I don’t believe the French Empire would do such a thing. Dismantling the Kingdom of Prussia would lead the Austrian Empire to dominate the German Region! That would bring no benefit to the French Empire!"

"Since, Ambassador, you understand that this brings no advantage to France, why would we do it?" De Luyis retorted, "You needn’t worry that the Austrian Empire would act against your homeland. I can assure you, not a single bad word about you was uttered when negotiating with us! On the contrary, they view the Kingdom of Prussia as also a maintainer of European order..."

"If that’s the case, then I’m relieved!"

Even though the Prussian ambassador verbally expressed reassurance, inwardly, he remained skeptical of De Luyis’s words, perceiving them as a mere diverting tactic.

The thought of the Austrian Empire speaking well of the Kingdom of Prussia was inconceivable, unless the sun rose from the west!

Even if De Luyis’s attitude was perfunctory, the ambassador still had to politely convey Prussia’s stance. Being antagonistic would not resolve issues, but might instead complicate them.

"Speaking of which!" De Luyis’s smile grew more sincere, "Your country’s ambassador’s speech in Frankfurt was truly striking!"

"What?" The Prussian ambassador was stunned for a few seconds, seemingly not understanding what De Ruyi meant.

"Have you already forgotten the classic remarks of the ambassador you appointed in Frankfurt! Speaking of that, I still haven’t forgotten those words!" De Ruyi’s tone began to turn sarcastic.

"Your Excellency, I really don’t know what the Frankfurt Parliament has said!" The Prussian ambassador responded to Jerome Bonaparte with a puzzled look.

De Ruyi recited the famous saying about "treaties" by the current Frankfurt representative Von Bismarck to the Prussian ambassador, and then praised, "Your country’s representative truly has a unique perspective on treaties!"

[PS: Von Bismarck’s speech in Frankfurt in 1851: "A treaty, if it is beneficial to us, is a treaty. If it is not, it’s just a piece of waste paper!"

This famous saying can be considered the predecessor of "historical documents lack practical significance."]

"That was just a personal viewpoint and does not represent the opinion of the Kingdom of Prussia!" The Prussian ambassador hastily defended.

"But the Kingdom of Prussia allows such a person to act as a representative!" De Ruyi showed a regretful expression: "I really doubt if the Kingdom of Prussia will genuinely act as he said, not adhering to treaties!"

The Prussian ambassador had no choice but to assure De Ruyi that they would certainly adhere to the "established" treaty and would also punish Von Bismarck.

"No need for punishment!" De Ruyi waved his hand magnanimously, "As long as the Kingdom of Prussia does not actually act as that representative Bismarck mentioned, it would be the best goodwill towards the French Empire.

Mister Ambassador, you should know that this war is destined to end with the Russian Empire’s defeat!

With the Russian Empire’s defeat, excluding France from the mainstream Holy Alliance in Europe will also collapse.

A new order will be established, led by the Kingdom of Britain, the French Empire, and the Austrian Empire!

At that time, the Kingdom of Prussia better not undermine us!

If any country dares to undermine, you will bear the consequences yourself!"

Facing De Ruyi’s threat, the Prussian ambassador had no choice but to repeatedly assure De Ruyi that their Kingdom of Prussia will definitely be one of the first responders to the new order.

"Then that’s good! I am willing to believe in the sincerity of the Kingdom of Prussia," De Ruyi nodded with satisfaction, and then responded to the Kingdom of Prussia: "Let me tell you! The Austrian Empire did discuss some matters with the French Empire!"

"What matters?" The Prussian ambassador’s heart was in his throat.

"No need to be nervous! It is not an issue concerning the German Region, but the Danube Duchy!" De Ruyi explained to the Prussian ambassador: "We hope the Austrian Empire can continue to pressure the Russian Empire in the Danube River Region, so that Russia cannot concentrate all its forces on the Crimea Peninsula. The Austrian Empire did not agree to the French Empire’s suggestion!

However, they did send their emperor over!"

Hearing De Ruyi’s answer, the Prussian ambassador finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Since there is no actual alliance between the Austrian Empire and the French Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia need not worry about being subjected to dual strikes from the Austrian Empire and the French Empire.

"By the way! I wonder if the Kingdom of Prussia is willing to continue putting certain pressure on the Russian Empire in the Konigsberg Region," De Ruyi offered an empty promise to the Prussian ambassador: "If everything goes smoothly, the Kingdom of Prussia could even regain the land lost during the Vienna Congress!"

Is the French Empire aiming to completely eliminate the Russian Empire? The Prussian ambassador had such a thought emerge in his mind.

But such an absurd thought was quickly extinguished by the Prussian ambassador.

No! It should be impossible! Having experienced one failure, the French Empire should know the difficulty of eliminating the Russian Empire! They wouldn’t do such a foolish thing!

Understanding this, the Prussian ambassador decided to use delay tactics: "This issue is really not something I can decide! I need to report back to the monarch in Berlin before giving you a reply!"