As soon as the news of Jérôme Bonaparte's appearance at the Paris City Hall on December 12, 1851 came out, the whole of Europe (mainly the people) was in an uproar. Many old people (mainly aristocrats) who had participated in the Napoleonic Wars recalled that
In order to overcome the fears of the Napoleonic Empire, they campaigned in the hope that Europe could once again unite to attack the French Empire that crawled out of the grave.
Some revolutionaries living abroad (Mazzini, Kossuth) cheered for the French Empire's proposal. In their view, the French Empire's proposal meant the beginning of the European war, and their country would inevitably be affected by this war.
coerce and win the independence of their own country.
Therefore, when France announced the establishment of an empire, revolutionaries from Hungary, Italy and Poland went to Paris one after another. They used their own channels to convey their "blessings" to Napoleon III and hoped that the French Empire could help them establish their own empire.
nation.
It can be said that the entire Europe showed a polarizing trend towards the establishment of the French Empire.
Napoleon III had to express his gratitude to some foreign revolutionaries while repeating the slogan "Empire is peace" to European countries.
Even so, Jérôme Bonaparte was still unable to reverse the declining reputation of France as a whole.
According to a report from the Strasbourg Military District on December 16, they had discovered signs of mobilization by the Kingdom of Prussia in the border areas.
In fact, not only the Kingdom of Prussia, but also the Austrian Empire has also mobilized. According to a report from the Bureau of Foreign Affairs of the National Intelligence Service, as of December 20, the Austrian Empire has mobilized 40,000 field troops to station in the Lombardy region. At the same time,
Count Cavour, the minister of agriculture who returned to the Sardinian dynasty, also reported to Jerome Bonaparte through secret channels information about the meeting between the Austrian ambassador and the Prime Minister of the Sardinian dynasty.
The entire French Empire seemed to be in a situation where it would face war at any time.
However, what is puzzling is that the Russian Empire, which had been clamoring for a decisive war with France, remained silent at this juncture.
It stands to reason that the Russian Empire should be the country that hates the French Empire the most among them (referring to the Legitimacy Kingdom). Why is there no movement at this most critical moment?
Jérôme Bonaparte felt that the Russian Empire seemed to be planning a big event, so he quickly ordered Morny, the Chancellor of the Privy Seal, to call the Viscount de Ruys, the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
I forgot to mention that since Jerome Bonaparte was crowned emperor, the ministers of various cabinet departments also changed their titles, from the original ministers to the current ministers.
Although their names have changed, their functions have not changed at all.
The Foreign Minister De Ruys, led by De Morny, came to Jérôme Bonaparte.
"Your Majesty!" De Ruys's face showed a little tiredness. Just dealing with France's diplomacy these days had made him feel overwhelmed. He did not want to hear unreasonable demands from the emperor's mouth.
Jérôme Bonaparte also noticed De Ruys' tiredness, and he quickly called the person in charge, Mokar, to make a cup of coffee for De Ruys.
De Ruys did not reject Jérôme Bonaparte's kindness.
After a while, Mokar brought two cups of steaming coffee to the table next to the sofa in the study room.
After the two people sat face to face on the sofa, Jerome Bonaparte said: "Minister Ruiz, what do you think of the Russian Empire?"
"The Russian Empire?" De Luys suddenly remembered something, and he hurriedly reported to Jérôme Bonaparte: "Your Majesty, I just wanted to tell you about the situation in the Russian Empire!"
"What happened to the Russian Empire?" Jerome Bonaparte put away his smile and turned to a serious expression.
"That's it! Just now, we received a report from the French Embassy in St. Petersburg that our embassy was expelled by the Russian Empire without reason!" De Ruys said to Jérôme Bonaparte.
"Expulsion without reason?" Jerome Bonaparte chewed on De Luys' words repeatedly, and he had more reason to suspect that the Russian Empire was secretly preparing a conspiracy against France.
If I were Nicholas I, what methods would I use to contain the French Empire?
Jérôme Bonaparte tried to put himself into the mindset of Nicholas I.
After referring to Nicholas I's attitude in several major events in the past, Jérôme Bonaparte realized that there was a high possibility that the Russian Empire would unite with the Kingdom of Britain to attack France.
The attitude of the British Kingdom is undoubtedly a crucial step.
"What is the current situation in Britain?" Jérôme Bonaparte turned to ask about Britain's attitude.
A flash of surprise flashed across De Luys's face. He did not expect that the emperor's idea coincided with his.
De Louis frowned and replied: "Not good! According to the information from the British Embassy, the public sentiment in the British Kingdom against the French Empire has become increasingly serious, and the opposition outside the cabinet is launching an attack on the ruling faction!"
"Where is the royal family?" Jérôme Bonaparte asked again about the attitude of the British royal family.
De Luys shook his head and said: "Judging from the current intelligence, the royal family has not taken any action!"
"These damn Ansa people!" Jérôme Bonaparte couldn't help but curse in a low voice.
Now he has deeply realized the meaning of the saying that distrusting the Angsa people in the diplomatic field is the greatest trust in the Angsa people.
All consensus and hints are just British tactics.
Jérôme Bonaparte was also convinced that Britain would never attack the French Empire, and that their biggest enemy now must be the Russian Empire.
The creed of British diplomacy is that Britain will never openly turn against a country until the last moment.
"From now on, always pay attention to the movements of Russia and Britain! In particular, strictly investigate the exchanges of diplomatic personnel from the two countries!" Jérôme Bonaparte issued an order to De Ruys.
"Understood!" De Luys responded.
Later, Jerome Bonaparte asked if there were any changes in the diplomatic field between the Kingdom of Prussia and the Austrian Empire.
"Prime Minister Felix Schwarzenberg once talked privately with our diplomats. He assured us that the Austrian Imperial Army in Lombardy would never invade the French Empire. At the same time, he would try his best to persuade France.
Emperor Lanz-Joseph has reconciled with us!" De Ruys took a sip of the coffee brought by Mokar and continued: "William, the regent of the Kingdom of Prussia, has no attitude. However, a man who claimed to be able to speak on behalf of the regent
The deputies also assure us that the Kingdom of Prussia will maintain peace with the French Empire."
"Huh?" Jérôme Bonaparte became slightly interested in the congressman mentioned by De Luys, and he asked naturally: "What is the name of that congressman who brazenly said that he can represent the regent?"
"I remember..." De Ruys carefully recalled the name of the congressman: "His name seems to be Otto von Bismarck! Yes, that's the name!"
"It's him!" Jérôme Bonaparte couldn't help but sigh when he heard the familiar name.
"Your Majesty, do you know him?" De Luys asked curiously.
"We know each other!" Jérôme Bonaparte nodded and replied: "He is a very powerful guy!" Then he half-jokingly and half-seriously replied: "You two may meet often, Qian.
Be careful not to be fooled by his sweet words!"
"Yes!" De Luys replied to Jérôme Bonaparte, and couldn't help but secretly write down Bismarck's name in his mind.
"Is there any other diplomatic news recently?" Jérôme Bonaparte asked De Louis again.
"Your Majesty, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies has recognized the French Empire!" De Ruys reported to Jerome Bonaparte.
"Are you sure I heard you correctly?" Jérôme Bonaparte's face was full of surprise. He repeated again: "The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies recognized us as the legal government?"
"That's right!" De Ruys replied to Jérôme Bonaparte with a firm tone.
As a branch of the Bourbon dynasty, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies actually chose to recognize the Second French Empire as the legal government. This was indeed beyond Jérôme Bonaparte's expectations. It can be said that the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies was the second country to recognize it.
The Second French Empire is a legal empire. (The first one is the Kingdom of Württemberg, which has never been disconnected, and the remaining countries are waiting and watching)
Even the Kingdom of Sardinia is not as active as the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
Since the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies has shown goodwill to the French Empire, Jérôme Bonaparte will naturally not refuse. He will not enfeoff his relatives to make himself infamous all over the world like his uncle did.
"Can you, in the name of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, invite the envoys from the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies to come to Paris in the name of agricultural seminars?" Jerome Bonaparte asked De Ruys. He wanted to use this method to hint to the Sardinian Dynasty.
, the Kingdom of Sardinia is not the only country that wants to be a French dog, even if it is a traitor, it must be done with some sincerity.
Furthermore, the restoration of the Kingdom of Naples would also enable the French Empire to consolidate its hegemony in the Mediterranean.
"It should be possible!" De Ruys responded to Jérôme Bonaparte.
"Then I won't keep you here!" Jérôme Bonaparte, who was accustomed to acting vigorously and resolutely, issued an expulsion order to Foreign Minister De Ruys.
De Ruys drank the remaining coffee and left.
On December 24, 1851, the Foreign Minister of the French Empire, De Ruys, conveyed to the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies to France an invitation from Emperor Jérôme Bonaparte who hoped that the two countries could join hands in consultations on agricultural issues.
The Naples minister was overjoyed to receive the invitation, and he hurriedly conveyed the French Empire's invitation to the Kingdom of Naples.