Chapter 1,061 The first chapter that determines fate (End)
The news that Walewski served as the French ambassador to Berlin was like a bombshell, completely shattering Prince Metternich's calm mood.
Although Prince Metternich maintained a calm attitude on the surface at this moment, he was already in a state of confusion inside.
According to Prince Metternich's understanding of Emperor Jérôme Bonaparte of the French Empire, Walewski's appointment was by no means an ordinary appointment. It was likely to be the beginning of a change in French diplomacy.
Taking a detailed look at the French emperor's past diplomatic actions, Prince Metternich found that before making major diplomatic decisions, the emperor always liked to send relatives, or trusted enough confidants, to take the lead in the countries he wanted to establish relations with.
Politicians with important decision-making power obtain certain contacts and then use these relationships to conduct secret diplomacy with other countries.
This diplomatic method was also called secret room diplomacy in the 19th century.
If combined with Walewski's trip to the Prussian Embassy in Vienna, Prince Metternich would not be hard-pressed to figure out that the French Emperor in Paris was also optimistic about Mr. von Bismarck and was willing to propose friendship to the Kingdom of Prussia behind von Bismarck.
inference.
Von Bismarck, who was sitting next to him, was also a smart man, and he was also aware of Walewski's intentions.
I didn’t expect that the (French) Emperor would think so highly of me!
Von Bismarck could not help but smile, and he could not help but feel a sense of pride in his heart.
After the joyful mood passed, von Bismarck began to calmly analyze what benefits the French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia could bring to the Kingdom of Prussia by moving closer to each other.
Soon, von Bismarck came to a conclusion.
The French Empire's act of goodwill towards the Kingdom of Prussia is itself news that inspires the hearts of the Kingdom of Prussia. The Kingdom of Prussia is now helpless on the European continent (this result is of course an atmosphere deliberately created by Jerome Bonaparte)
.).
Several countries surrounding it either had territorial disputes with it (the Grand Duchy of Warsaw/Kingdom of Poland) or were targets it wanted to defeat (the Austrian Empire). Only the Kingdom of Britain, which was outside the European continent, was willing to accept the Kingdom of Prussia.
However, anyone with a discerning eye can see that Britain's so-called acceptance does not really want to establish a military alliance with the Kingdom of Prussia, but rather wants to use the Kingdom of Prussia to contain the increasingly close alliance between the French Empire and the Austrian Empire.
Unfortunately, the Kingdom of Prussia in 1860 was not the Prussia that had grown into a complete body in 1870. Now, not to mention the combination of the French Empire and the Austrian Empire, it was even facing either of the French Empire and the Austrian Empire alone. Waiting for the Kingdom of Prussia
There is only one way to be defeated.
After the Kingdom of Prussia was defeated by the Franco-Austrian forces, would the Kingdom of Britain really send soldiers to support Prussia like it did in the Seven Years War? I'm afraid not. Any Prussian with a little sense knows that the Kingdom of Britain will never get involved in a war.
A high-risk military operation.
Once the risks outweigh the benefits, the British Kingdom will immediately abandon its existing interests, just like when the thirteen North American states became independent.
And diplomats like von Bismarck, who had certain personal connections in the Kingdom of Britain, knew that the Kingdom of Britain now only had less than 20,000 troops left in the country.
An army of this size can barely fight against a Russian army of about 50,000 men. It is simply impossible to start a war with the French Empire.
Therefore, Bismarck and all Prussian diplomats did not regard Britain as an ally they could rely on.
Nowadays, the Emperor of the French Empire actually chooses to improve relations with the Kingdom of Prussia. Why doesn't this make the Kingdom of Prussia jump for joy?
Even if von Bismarck knew that the reason why the French Emperor was willing to befriend the Kingdom of Prussia, it was probably because he still had no intention of giving up on the land in the Rhineland, so he chose to befriend Prussia.
Von Bismarck even speculated that the French Emperor's next step might be to support the Kingdom of Prussia in seizing some German rights from Austria and obtain the land in the hands of the Kingdom of Prussia.
Just like when he obtained Britain's understanding in Luxembourg.
[Previous review: During the Crimean War, Jerome Bonaparte took advantage of Britain's reliance on the French army to secretly purchase the sovereignty of the Principality of Luxembourg from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and then quickly occupied the Principality of Luxembourg.
After the British Kingdom reacts, it can only choose to acquiesce to the French Empire's occupation of Luxembourg.】
For an ordinary diplomat, he would never agree to obtain the support of another country by ceding territory.
Because doing so will arouse the hatred of domestic nationalists.
However, von Bismarck believed that blind refusal was not a good strategy, as it would only push the French Empire into the arms of the Austrian Empire.
After all, the only thing the Kingdom of Prussia could give to the French Empire was land.
If even this one cannot be satisfied, the French Empire might as well support the Austrian Empire.
Von Bismarck was quite confident that as long as the diplomatic methods were flexible enough, he could obtain the neutral attitude of the French Empire without losing an inch of land.
At the same time, he also believed that the Kingdom of Prussia, which had 2,500,000 rights to rule North Germany and 3,500,000 German war rights, would not lose to the French Empire.
As long as the entire German region is united under the leadership of Prussia, the French Empire will not want to gain an inch of the Kingdom of Prussia's territory.
"Mr. Walewski, I welcome you on behalf of the Kingdom of Prussia!" Von Bismarck said with great excitement, holding Walewski's hand, "Please believe that every Prussian in Berlin will be like me.
Welcome!!"
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Walewski smiled and responded kindly, "Mr. Bismarck, I see the enthusiasm and friendliness of the Kingdom of Prussia from you. I
I believe the Kingdom of Prussia is as friendly as you!"
Later, Prince Metternich, who was in a sad mood, also conveyed his blessings to Walewski.
Although the position of ambassador in Berlin cannot be compared with that of foreign minister, it is much better than that of ambassador in Constantinople.
What's more, the power of the French ambassador does not depend on the foreign minister, but on his status in the heart of the French emperor.
An ambassador like Walewski could report directly to the emperor, bypassing Foreign Minister de Luys.
Immediately afterwards, Walewski enthusiastically asked von Bismarck about the real power in the Kingdom of Prussia. Naturally, von Bismarck also introduced Walewski to the current power structure of the Kingdom of Prussia, including the war at that time.
Minister Albrecht von Rohn and Deputy Chief of the General Staff Helmut Carl Bernhard von Moltke.
(Due to Moltke’s bloody suppression in Koblenz, liberals strongly disliked Moltke.
Under strong opposition from the liberals, William I had to remove the elder Moltke and replace him with Karl Albert Hervath von Bittenfeldt.
Although Bittenfeldt served as Chief of General Staff, the entire Prussian General Staff was still controlled by Moltke Sr.
Not even Bittenfeldt has any objections to this!)
"I heard that the Minister of War of the Kingdom of Prussia, Ron, and the Chief of General Staff Moltke are both your friends. I don't know if it is true!" Walewski asked von Bismarck seemingly casually.
Von Bismarck looked stunned, then nodded and admitted, "Your information is correct, Ron and Moltke are indeed my friends!
However, my relationship with them is limited to personal friendship!
When it comes to the national level, they are the same people as me!"
"I believe that with their help, you should be able to take the position of prime minister soon!" Walewski complimented von Bismarck, "I think they should be very aware of your abilities!"
"The appointment of the prime minister is determined by the will of the monarch, not by ministers!" Bismarck would say modestly.
Immediately afterwards, Walewski proposed to Bismarck that he wanted to get acquainted with Ron and Moltke through von Bismarck.
Von Bismarck readily agreed to Walewski's request and assured Walewski that getting to know Ron and Moltke was definitely not a wrong principle.
After the conversation between von Bismarck and Walewski came to an end, Prince Metternich opened his mouth and guided the conversation in another direction.
Prince Metternich began to recall bits and pieces of the past, including some interesting stories about Emperor Napoleon and his diplomatic experience. Walewski and von Bismarck were like two obedient "good students" quietly
Listen carefully to the memories of Prince Metternich, and absorb as much useful "nutrients" as possible for them from Prince Metternich's words.
After all, Prince Metternich was a veteran diplomat who had traveled across Europe for decades, and his diplomatic experience was also helpful to Walewski and von Bismarck.
As Prince Metternich's speech became more and more immersive, Valewski sitting next to him gradually overlapped with the figure of Emperor Napoleon. Prince Metternich said without emotion, "Mr. Valewski,
I see the shadow of the emperor in you!
Unfortunately……"
Having said this, Prince Metternich couldn't help but shook his head.
Walewski naturally understood what Prince Metternich meant. As the illegitimate son of Napoleon, he received the help of his bloodline to hold important positions, but he was also trapped in the insufficiency of his bloodline and was unable to achieve the supreme position.
"Your Excellency, I am very satisfied to have achieved such results!" Walewski responded to Prince Metternich calmly, "If I were not of the blood of Emperor Napoleon, then I would never be able to reach the heights I am now in my entire life!
"
"Yes!" Von Bismarck, who was troubled by his bloodline, also lamented, "If I could have the same bloodline as His Excellency the Prince and Mr. Walewski, I would have been sitting in the position of Prime Minister long ago."
"Mr. Bismarck, although you do not have a noble bloodline, you have wisdom that ordinary people cannot match!
I believe that you will be able to serve as prime minister before long!"
…
The three of them chatted in high spirits from morning to evening. Prince Metternich and Walewski bid farewell to von Bismarck respectively, and von Bismarck personally watched the carriages of Walewski and Prince Metternich.
When Walewski and Prince Metternich's carriage disappeared under the stars, von Bismarck looked at the stars in the sky with his peripheral vision full of ambition and desire, and said in a particularly firm tone, "Okay! Let's