Chapter five hundred and fifty-seven beautiful feet
For Jerome Bonaparte, the war with the Russian Empire was just a means for him to consolidate his own rights and expand France's diplomatic space on the European continent. He did not want to overly weaken the Russian Empire.
A weak Russian Empire is only good for Central Europe and Britain, and does not do any good for France in Western Europe. On the contrary, it will make the German regions spend all their energy on guarding against France.
Even though the relationship between the Austrian Empire and the French Empire is pretty good now, once the Russian Empire falls into weakness, the conflicts between France and Austria in Germany and Italy will immediately break out.
At that time, either he will lead the French army to crush the German states, or the German states, led by Austria and Prussia, will put bayonets on his neck.
However, in terms of current national strength and equipment, Jérôme Bonaparte is still confident that he will smash the South German princely states before Germany can react, preventing the entire German region from being completely integrated.
Once France enters southern Germany, it may be difficult for Prussia and Austria to coordinate again.
The French Empire only needs to defeat them one by one.
But if Jérôme Bonaparte really does this, it goes without saying that the anti-French alliance's encirclement net will once again open up.
In short, France must not be the country that fires the first shot when it comes to the German region.
He would only join the war when a "powerful country" in the German region led troops to declare war on another "powerful country" in order to unify Germany (actually unify Germany and expand Prussia's territory).
During this period, Jerome Bonaparte had to make Prussia think that France supported their expansion of territory.
Thinking of this, Jérôme Bonaparte considered whether to give some hints to the French ambassador to Prussia so that they could slightly advance the Austro-Prussian War.
After a while, Jerome Bonaparte gave up this idea. The most important thing at this stage was the Crimean War.
And the Crimean War was indispensable without the help of the Austrian Empire. If Austria was rashly abandoned, it might lead to new variables in Crimea, and it would also make Prince Metternich and his son face the emperor's questioning in the Austrian Empire.
Of course, Jerome Bonaparte himself did not care about the success of Metternich and his son's career in the Austrian Empire, but he preferred to deal with smart people.
Because smart people can assess the situation and make the right choice.
A guy without some intermediate ac will only mess up a stable situation.
That’s right! I’m talking about you, Joseph Franz!
"Are we going back?" Just as Jérôme Bonaparte was thinking about it, Eugenie's oriole-like voice reached Jérôme Bonaparte's ears.
After coming back to his senses, Jerome Bonaparte quickly gave Eugenie a smile and said: "That depends on you!"
Hearing Jérôme Bonaparte's answer, Eugenie also had a smile on his face.
After a brief confrontation between heaven and man, Eugenie shook his head and said: "Forget it! I may not be suitable to participate in such a serious dance! My existence will only make things difficult for you!"
Faced with Eugenie's self-deprecation, Jérôme Bonaparte first denied it and said: "How could it be?"
Then he praised again: "Don't you realize that you are the most beautiful among all the ladies here today! It is my honor to attend the ball with such a beautiful lady!"
After saying that, Jerome Bonaparte stood up and bowed to Eugenie like a gentleman, then stretched out his hand and said to Eugenie: "Beautiful Mademoiselle Eugenie, can you please accompany me to dance another one?"
dance!"
Eugenie smiled and nodded, stood up and placed his soft palm on Jérôme Bonaparte's hand.
Jérôme Bonaparte gently took Eugenie's hand and returned to the ballroom with her.
When Jérôme Bonaparte and Eugenie returned to the ballroom, the new movement of the court orchestra had just played.
Jérôme Bonaparte and Eugenie quickly adjusted themselves to the tune and started dancing.
After the song ended, Jérôme Bonaparte let go of Eugenie and asked her how she felt.
Eugenie smiled and nodded.
Just as Jerome Bonaparte and Eugenie were preparing to dance the next dance, an "uninvited guest" came to Jerome Bonaparte.
"Who are you?" Jérôme Bonaparte looked curiously at the middle-aged man in front of him who was wearing a black suit and had a round figure.
Judging from his clothes and attire, Jérôme Bonaparte did not feel the temperament of a traditional aristocrat, but instead had the aura of a nouveau riche, so he concluded that the man in front of him must be from the New World.
"Your Majesty, I am John Young Mason, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to France!" Ambassador Mason in front of him hurriedly introduced himself to Jerome Bonaparte.
"Ambassador of the United States?" Jérôme Bonaparte could only let go of Eugenie again and said, "What can I do for you?"
"Your Majesty, I want to have a simple conversation with you!" Ambassador Mason said in a respectful manner, and then emphasized: "Please don't worry! I promise it won't take too much time!"
Damn it! Why do things like this always have to be said at balls? Is there anything you can't go to the Foreign Minister for?
Jérôme Bonaparte's eyes flashed with a trace of annoyance. This was the first time that he felt tired of diplomacy.
Boredom came to an end, Jérôme Bonaparte really didn't dare to entrust all diplomacy to De Ruys.
After all, De Ruys does not stand on the shoulders of "giants" like him.
Certain general directions still need to be controlled personally by Jérôme Bonaparte himself.
"I want to discuss it with my dance partner!" Jérôme Bonaparte responded.
"Thank you very much!" Mason said knowingly and staying away from Jerome Bonaparte and Eugenie.
"Sorry!" Jérôme Bonaparte said to Eugenie slightly guiltily.
"Your Majesty, I understand you! After all, you control the destiny of a country, so you don't need to apologize to me!" Eugenie shook his head and said to Jérôme Bonaparte.
"Then I'm going over!" Jérôme Bonaparte pointed at Mason, who was not far away from them.
"Um!"
Jerome Bonaparte, who had obtained Eugenie's consent, came to Mason and repeated what he had said to the Swedish minister,
Ambassador Mason agreed with Jerome Bonaparte's suggestion and left the hall together with Jerome Bonaparte.
Jérôme Bonaparte, who was walking in the corridor of the Tuileries Palace, casually opened the door of a room and entered, followed by Ambassador Mason.
The two people sitting face to face on the sofa began to communicate.
"Ambassador Mason, I wonder what you want from me?" Jérôme Bonaparte asked Ambassador Mason.
"That's right!" Ambassador Mason said to Jérôme Bonaparte: "There are... certain exchanges (which translates as trade) between us and the Russian Empire, which your country and the British Kingdom have hindered since the beginning of the war.
This exchange, so we hope..."
Before Ambassador Mason could finish speaking, Jérôme Bonaparte asked: "Does the United States of America want to join the Russian Empire and declare war on the Empire and the Kingdom of Britain?"
As soon as Jérôme Bonaparte finished speaking, Ambassador Mason's expression suddenly changed. He quickly denied: "No, no, no! The United States of America has always been a neutral country!"
"Since the United States of America has chosen neutrality, why do you still trade with the Russian Empire! Don't you know that we are at war? Any country that funds the Russian Empire in any form will be demonstrated as a provocative act against the French Empire!" Hot
Rome Bonaparte's tone could not help but become much harsher.
"Your Majesty, there seems to be no law that stipulates that neutral countries cannot conduct transactions with countries at war!" Ambassador Mason's tone was also tougher than before.
For the current United States of America, the Russian Empire is their most important partner in Europe.
There are more trade exchanges between the United States and Russia than there are between the United States, France, and the United States and the United Kingdom. It can be said that the Russian Empire is the most important trade market for the United States.
Especially in the early days of the Crimean War, the Russian Empire had to turn to the United States of America for help in certain areas, and exchanges between the two sides became more frequent.
Orders from the Russian Empire arrived in the United States via the Baltic Sea, sparking a short-lived boom in the United States of America.
As the British and French fleets restrained ships in the Baltic Sea, American ships bound for the Russian Empire were seized immediately upon arrival in the Baltic Sea.
The Russian Empire refused to pay the United States of America on the grounds that it had not seen the equipment.
As a last resort, the United States of America wanted to use diplomatic means to ask Britain and France to release the seized ships.
"The United States has the right to trade with the Russian Empire, and we also have the right to seize your ships! Not to mention, your ships themselves contain a large number of guns and ammunition! You have seriously violated the principle of neutrality! This move by the United States of America,
It's like shooting yourself in the foot!" Jérôme Bonaparte protested to Mason: "Every bullet you transport to the Russian Empire will help the Russian Empire shoot our soldiers!"
"Then we can promise not to transport weapons and equipment in the future! That should be enough!" Ambassador Mason asked Jerome Bonaparte.
Jerome Bonaparte shook his head and said: "No! Any assistance from the United States of America to the Russian Empire will become the driving force for the Russian Empire to continue the war! We will never allow this to happen!"
"If this is the case, the United States of America may have to reconsider its relationship with the French Empire!"
