CHAPTER 605: CHAPTER 596 TECHNOLOGY REVOLUTION

"Before the military exercises at the border, we can appropriately promote the friendship between France and Austria in Vienna and suggest that once the Austrian Empire is attacked, England and France will inevitably help us resist the Russians! In this way, the Russian army in the border area will definitely not act against us casually!"

Metternich’s approach generally still maintains the European balance of power thought from his governing period, only that Metternich’s balance has shifted from relying on Russia and defending against Russia to relying on France and defending against Russia.

"This is indeed a good plan!" Franz Joseph nodded, then recounted to Prince Metternich the guarantee given by Jerome Bonaparte.

"His Majesty Jerome Bonaparte is able to make such a promise to you! This is enough to prove that he still maintains his original intention regarding the alliance between France and Austria!" Prince Metternich said excitedly, "Your Majesty, as long as the French Empire is willing to join hands with the Austrian Empire to form an alliance, then the empire’s security is assured!"

"But, what if one day Jerome Bonaparte makes a move on the Apennine Peninsula? Then we might be in danger!" Franz Joseph frowned and said to Prince Metternich.

Although Jerome Bonaparte repeatedly assured that he would not actively attack the Austrian Empire, Franz Joseph was still unwilling to trust Jerome Bonaparte’s words.

Because a monarch’s promise is the cheapest thing in the world, just like Franz Joseph can turn to England and France without any guilt, he believes that in the face of enough interests, Jerome Bonaparte would also go to war with the Austrian Empire without any guilt.

Don’t be fooled by Jerome Bonaparte’s speeches, which extravagantly promote peace, as if he were a peace envoy with the well-being of the people in mind.

However, anyone with a slight understanding of what happened in the Crimean War knows that the rapid evolution of the Ottoman Empire issue into a war was largely due to the instigation of the whole French Empire.

It’s just that Nicholas I himself was coveting Constantinople of the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Britain (mainly Palmerston, Albert, and Russell) also wanted to take action against the greedy Russian Empire.

Therefore, the words spoken by Jerome Bonaparte and his subordinates in public about hoping for peace in Europe are seen by the upper echelons of European countries as merely a facade of righteousness.

"Your Majesty, we have no choice!" Prince Metternich repeated with a heavy tone, "The Empire’s strength alone cannot resist the Russian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia, so we must rely on the French Empire!

If one day the French Empire also becomes our enemy, then..."

Prince Metternich fell silent, knowing that he no longer needed to describe the outcome for the Austrian Empire to Franz Joseph.

"I know," Franz Joseph muttered dispiritedly, understanding that at this moment, the empire could no longer find a country with non-conflicting interests as a friend. They could only choose a country with relatively smaller conflicts of interest as an ally.

The conflict of interests between the French Empire and the Austrian Empire is precisely the smallest among all conflicts. (Actually, the conflict with England is also small, but the British Army cannot assist the Austrian Empire.)

No matter if the Kingdom of Prussia tries to dominate the German Confederation or the Russian Empire wants to establish a Slavic Kingdom in the Balkans, these are deadly for the Austrian Empire.

"Actually, Your Majesty, you don’t have to worry!" Prince Metternich comforted Franz Joseph: "Since His Majesty Jerome Bonaparte is willing to lend us money, it is enough to show that the French Empire still doesn’t want to tear up relations with the Empire!"

"Let’s hope so!" Franz Joseph gave Prince Metternich a forced smile.

At this moment, knocking sounded again from outside the door.

"Who?" Franz Joseph called out to the outside of the room again.

"Your Majesty Franz, it’s Mokar!" Mokar’s voice came from outside the room.

"Come in!" Franz Joseph responded to Mokar.

Mokar, upon entering the room, first saluted Franz Wolf, then informed Franz Joseph that he was invited by Emperor Jerome Bonaparte to the studio.

"Jerome, has he returned?" Franz Joseph asked Mokar.

"Your Majesty, he has just returned!" Mokar replied to Franz Joseph.

Franz Joseph then rose from the sofa and went with Mokar to the studio.

When Franz Joseph arrived at the studio, Jerome Bonaparte, Augusta, and Elizabeth were all posed; Elizabeth and Augusta were seated on stools, and Jerome Bonaparte stood behind Augusta.

"Franz, come over!" Jerome Bonaparte waved at Franz Joseph.

Franz Joseph took his position behind Elizabeth.

"You can start now!" Jerome Bonaparte turned his gaze to Camille Corot, who was only a few steps away.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Corot nodded and began painting.

He carefully observed Jerome Bonaparte and the others while frowning, pondering how he could perfectly capture the essence of the two monarchs and the two empresses on the canvas.

After thinking for a while, Corot looked towards the window of the studio and respectfully suggested to Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, could you please move over there!"

"Of course!" His Majesty Jerome Bonaparte agreed readily to Corot’s suggestion.

After a while, Jerome Bonaparte and others once again assumed their positions.

Corot also found his inspiration. He took out a brush from the pen holder, dipped it into paint, and began to paint on the canvas.

As the brush continually moved across the canvas, a simple outline quickly appeared, gradually becoming clearer with details emerging.

As time passed, Corot, immersed in the realm of painting, displayed an increasingly rich expression, sometimes pausing to ponder, sometimes painting with dragon-like strokes.

About an hour and a half later, Corot stopped painting, placed the brush back into the holder, and gently closed the paint.

"Is it finished?" Seeing Corot pack his things, Jerome Bonaparte hastily asked.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Corot nodded and replied to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Let me have a look at the painting!" Jerome Bonaparte said as he walked over to where Corot was.

"It’s beautiful!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded approvingly.

Jerome Bonaparte’s admiration piqued Franz Joseph’s interest as well, prompting him to step forward to view the painting.

In the oil painting, Jerome Bonaparte and Franz Joseph, dressed in splendid military uniforms, appeared stern within a hall as though contemplating issues.

Meanwhile, Empress Augusta and Princess Elizabeth sat on a sofa in front, adorned in court dresses from the imperial period, as if attending a lavish banquet.

Beneath their feet lay bouquets of flowers, seemingly symbolizing prosperity, while behind them, clouds, smoke, and flames depicted war and death.

Being able to portray two contrasting atmospheres in a single painting truly proved Corot’s skill.

"Thank you for your effort!" Jerome Bonaparte expressed gratitude to Corot once again.

"It is my honor to paint for the two monarchs!" Corot said respectfully.

After Corot left, Jerome Bonaparte pointed at the canvas and said to Franz Joseph, "Consider this painting a gift from me to you! Please make sure to accept it!"

Franz Joseph nodded.

Jerome Bonaparte then ordered his subordinates to summon a photographer, who set up a wooden camera in front of them.

Under Franz Joseph’s curious gaze, Jerome Bonaparte explained the workings of the camera to him.

[PS: The Habsburgs, as an extremely conservative court, insisted on passing their conservative ideas onto the next generation, rejecting all useless changes.

Therefore, Franz Joseph did not know what function a camera—an invention that had existed for more than a decade—served.

However, cameras truly began producing clear photographs with the advent of the "Collodion Process."]

"Are you saying this device can replace the painter?" Franz Joseph asked Jerome Bonaparte, pointing at the camera.

"Precisely!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded in response to Franz Joseph. "It can capture more realistic images at a lower cost and time than an artist!"

"What about the artists?" Franz Joseph voiced concerns about unemployment.

"Franz, artists and it do not conflict!" Jerome Bonaparte replied earnestly to Franz Joseph.

"How do they not conflict? Doesn’t it produce more realistic images than an artist?" Franz Joseph asked Jerome Bonaparte.

"Sometimes being too realistic is not a good thing!" Jerome Bonaparte’s lips curled into a meaningful smile, "Besides, they serve completely different clients! Artists serve people like us, while it will become a common household product.

The purpose of industrialization is to create a relatively affluent world and enrich people’s material lives.

I believe that one day in the future, people living on this land will be able to fly themselves to the sky and explore whether God exists.

They will also be able to dive into the deep sea to discover the unknown with their own power.

Franz, we must keep moving forward, as the world no longer allows us to stand still. Any delay means falling behind."