Alexander II was confused, but for the sake of the overall situation, he agreed to Jérôme Bonaparte's request to hold negotiations in Yalta.
After determining the location of the negotiations, Russia and France began to agree on the date and time for the negotiations.
In terms of negotiation date, the Russian Empire still adheres to the concept of quick victory and hopes to negotiate with the French Empire as soon as possible.
The French side obviously had no intention of a quick victory. Under the instructions of Jérôme Bonaparte, the French side first set the date on December 2 (the Russian Empire expressed firm opposition), and then set the date on
Late November (the Russian Empire still disagrees).
After several days of discussion, it was finally decided to hold the first bilateral meeting on November 15th.
The Russian Empire and the French Empire began to carry out preliminary preparations in full swing.
During the period of preparation for the negotiations, light snowfall has been falling intermittently on the Crimean Peninsula. Under the intermittent snowflakes, Crimea is placed in a world of white.
Time gradually passed as the snowflakes fell, and the negotiation period soon arrived. On the afternoon before the negotiation, Jérôme Bonaparte and Walewski had already led a regiment of soldiers to station in Yalta for the second time.
days of negotiation.
Early the next morning, Jérôme Bonaparte got up from the warm earthen bed early. Looking at the falling snowflakes outside the window, he quickly put on his cotton clothes, then walked out of the room and went to the canteen to eat.
When Jérôme Bonaparte arrived at the canteen, he found Valewski who was already dining in the canteen.
Seeing this, Jerome Bonaparte walked slowly to Valewski's side.
After a while, a steaming bowl of shredded pork porridge was placed in front of Jerome Bonaparte.
Just as Jerome Bonaparte began to eat, an officer in military uniform appeared in front of Jerome Bonaparte and reported to Jerome Bonaparte the arrival of the Russian Empire negotiators.
information.
"So fast?" Jérôme Bonaparte had a look of surprise on his face, and he had no choice but to put aside the idea of dining and stood up to leave the canteen.
Walewski on the side also followed Jerome Bonaparte and left.
When Jerome Bonaparte, Walewski and a group of entourage arrived at the gate of Yalta, he saw Alexander II on horseback and the members of the envoy behind him.
After Alexander II saw Jerome Bonaparte, he quickly gave an order to the envoy behind him: "Dismount!"
Neserrodie, Gorchakov and other members of the envoy dismounted at the order of Alexander II.
Immediately afterwards, Alexander II, who was holding the horse, came to Jerome Bonaparte's side, shook hands with Jerome Bonaparte and said: "Your Majesty, we meet again!"
"Yes! Alexander!" Jerome Bonaparte glanced at Alexander and found that he seemed to be thinner than half a month ago. He couldn't help but sigh and said: "We haven't seen each other for half a month, how come you are so thin?"
So much!”
A bitter smile appeared on Alexander II's lips. If he wasn't too sad, how could he be in this situation?
However, of course Alexander II could not say this in front of Jerome Bonaparte. He could only tell Jerome Bonaparte that he was on a diet recently.
"Alexander, dieting is bad for your health!" Jérôme Bonaparte said to Alexander II with sincerity: "At our young age, we must take care of our bodies! How can we do it without eating?"
Jérôme Bonaparte paused, seeming to remember something, "By the way, you haven't eaten yet!"
Alexander II shook his head. The distance between Bakhchisarai and Yalta is about 30-40 kilometers. How could they eat at this time (8:00)?
"I haven't had a meal yet! Just come and have a meal with me!" Jerome Bonaparte invited Alexander II.
"This..." Alexander II hesitated for a moment and refused: "We think it's better to get to the point as soon as possible!"
"It doesn't matter if you negotiate sooner or later! The most important thing is to fill your stomach. Only by filling your stomach can you have the strength to negotiate! If your stomach is full, you can't do anything!" Jérôme Bonaparte made a pun.
Said to Alexander II.
Alexander II glanced at Neserrodie and Gorchakov behind him, then turned his head and nodded in agreement with Jerome Bonaparte's opinion.
On the way to the dining hall, Alexander II introduced Neserrodie and Gorchakov, who were the negotiators for this time, to Jerome Bonaparte.
"Are you Gorchakov?" Jerome Bonaparte looked curiously at the half-bald old man in front of him, who also wore a pair of round-rimmed glasses.
To be honest, he was accustomed to the rule that a diplomat must have a good skin (this was also a rule in the 19th century). He really couldn't put this half-bald old man in the same position as the "future" foreign minister who would guide the rise of the Russian Empire.
.
After all, Bismarck, who was at the same time as him, was considered to be one of the more handsome.
And Richard Metternich even inherited part of his father, Prince Metternich’s appearance, and can be said to be universally recognized in European social circles.
"That's right, Your Majesty!" Ambassador Gorchakov bowed slightly. He didn't understand why Jerome Bonaparte looked at him with a trace of disappointment. Could it be that he did something wrong?
?
"Mr. Gorchakov, what is your current position?" Jerome Bonaparte asked Gorchakov again.
"Thanks to the grace of His Majesty Nicholas, I am appointed ambassador of the Russian Empire to Austria!" Gorchakov responded to Jerome Bonaparte with a solemn face.
"Then you have no interest in changing jobs!" Jérôme Bonaparte tried to poach someone in front of Alexander II: "As long as you are willing to come to France, I promise to appoint you as the French Foreign Minister immediately!"
Jerome Bonaparte's naked poaching behavior not only made Alexander II feel a little embarrassed, (after all, Jerome Bonaparte was able to offer Gorchakov such generous conditions, which was enough to prove that Gorchakov
The husband's own value, but they (the Russian Empire) have always allowed him to serve as ambassador to Austria, which is really a bit of a slap in the face), even Valewski is also a little embarrassed (Valewski himself, the Foreign Minister
After a few days of sitting down, Jérôme Bonaparte actually gave such a favorable condition to a Russian. Isn’t this just a disguised way of saying that he is far inferior to Gorchakov!)
Of course, the one who was least able to come to power was Gorchakov.
He really didn't expect that Jerome Bonaparte would actually poach people in public. Although it was a common thing to change jobs as ministers between countries, how could such a thing be brought to the table?
The best plan is for the monarch to invite quietly, and then the invitee refuses or goes.
In this case, both parties lose face.
Jérôme Bonaparte's blatant poaching behavior obviously brought the unspoken rules of poaching to the surface. What's more, he couldn't refuse the most serious person directly.
If his remarks make the monarch in front of him, who does not follow the rules, unhappy, the peace talks will immediately fall through.
Gorchakov cannot bear the charge of sabotaging the peace talks.
After Gorchakov thought for a moment, he responded in a neither humble nor condescending manner: "Thank you for your kindness to me! However, I am not very talented and knowledgeable, so I am afraid that I am not able to assist you with all my heart! I hope you can forgive me!"
Hearing Gorchakov's words, Jerome Bonaparte sighed, with a cold and sad expression on his face: "Mr. Gorchakov, I understand what you mean! If you feel that you
If you are not happy in the Russian Empire, you are always welcome here!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Gorchakov responded quickly to Jerome Bonaparte.
Later, Jérôme Bonaparte and others entered the cafeteria again.
At this time, a bowl of bacon shredded porridge and a few pieces of black bread had already been placed on the table in the canteen. Jérôme Bonaparte showed an apologetic smile and said to everyone present: "Because we are in a hurry, I only prepared
This is all! Please forgive me!"
Alexander II immediately said that it was very good to be able to eat these!
Immediately afterwards, Alexander II and others sat down one after another under the arrangement of Jérôme Bonaparte.
The already hungry people ate up the shredded pork porridge and black bread like a whirlwind. After eating and drinking, Jérôme Bonaparte, who was sitting on the chair, spoke again: "Otherwise, we will be here.
Let’s talk!”
"That's fine!" Alexander II nodded and responded to Jerome Bonaparte.
As the protagonists of the negotiations, Nesserrodie and Valewski officially started negotiations. Nesserrodie first introduced himself: "I am Nesserrodie, and I have been ordered by His Majesty the Tsar to come here to talk to you."
This is my assistant Gorchakov!"
"I am Valewski, and I have been ordered by His Majesty Jérôme Bonaparte to communicate with the Russian Empire!" Valewski said with a serious face, and then ordered the attendants in the cafeteria to hand over documents one by one.
Neserrode: "This is the condition we have proposed at this stage, please take a look at it!"
Neserrode read the document carefully, and after reading it item by item, handed the document to Gorchakov.
After a while, Gorchakov also saw the entire contents of the document.
This time the document did not change much from the one he handed over to Nicholas I, except that in the third article amending the Black Sea Treaty, there were some additional clauses (limiting the number of the Russian Imperial Navy, dismantling the Kremlin
All military installations on the Mya Peninsula)
"Please forgive us for not being able to accept your harsh conditions! You are not negotiating for peace, but you treat us as a defeated country!"