Vladimirovich’s speech made Jero Bonaparte certain that, without opposition from the Kingdom of Prussia and the Austrian Empire, Nicholas I already felt isolated.
As a ruler of a country, Nicholas I may not have the great plans and strategies like Empress Catherine, but he would not make blundering moves like Tsar Paul either.
If that were not the case, Nicholas I would not be residing in the Tsarskoye Selo near St. Petersburg, but rather lying in a coffin.
In the land of Russia, filled with coups and bloodshed, any emperor without ans faces the risk of death.
The loyal Guard Army would break the "imprisonnt" of the Tsar’s Tsarskoye Selo, drag the Tsar out and hang him, then bring out the Crown Prince, who would issue an edict of pardon, and support the Crown Prince’s pardon.
This model is sowhat similar to the succession laws of the Ottoman Empire’s Imperial Guard next door, and more coincidentally, both the Ottoman Empire and Russian Empire call themselves Ro...
A glance across the European Continent shows that Nicholas I can only find allies in Britain and France.
However, Britain’s Palrston does not have a friendly attitude towards Nicholas I, and the conflict over the Dardanelles Strait makes Nicholas I have to seek alignnt with the French Republic.
Yet, Nicholas I probably does not know that Jero Bonaparte has long had the idea of teaching the Russian Empire a lesson.
"I personally also hope to work with you to maintain the prosperity and stability of Europe!" Jero Bonaparte, following Vladimirovich’s words, continued, "However, my term is only one year, and what attitude the next French Governnt will have towards the Russian Empire after I step down is not sothing I can interfere with."
"As long as Mr. President lays the foundation for cooperation between the French Republic and the Russian Empire, I believe the next president will surely cherish the hard-won peace! You will have beco a greater man than your uncle!" Vladimirovich flattered Jero Bonaparte diligently.
For Vladimirovich, as long as he can achieve his goals, not to ntion flattering Jero Bonaparte, even if it ans currying favor with demons in hell, he would not hesitate to praise the demon as an angel.
Vladimirovich also does not believe in eternal friends; as long as he can divide and stabilize the countries of Europe in the short term and prevent them from forming a stable and unified whole, the Russian Empire can proceed to do what it desires unhindered.
For example, so disputed territories in the Near East.
Of course, re flattery is far from enough. Vladimirovich tempted Jero Bonaparte by saying, "And His Majesty the Tsar promises that after you step down, you will receive a gift from the Romanov Royal Family."
Jero Bonaparte deliberately put on a facade of being very moved and yet refusing, sighed, and said to Vladimirovich, "I do not want to covet any rewards, I just want to seek as much happiness for the French people as possible. When I step down, if France rembers , I will already be content!"
"You truly are a qualified monarch!" Vladimirovich insincerely praised, "If the monarch could also be elected, I believe the French Republic would certainly choose you to be the monarch!"
Vladimirovich’s words made Jero Bonaparte unable to hold it in for a mont, and he couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
Vladimirovich watched Jero Bonaparte with confusion, as if he were telling a funny story.
"I thought of sothing happy!" Jero Bonaparte stopped laughing and replied to Vladimirovich with a sentence.
Subsequently, Jero Bonaparte swiftly changed the topic, "By the way, I have a suggestion; I don’t know if the envoy is willing to listen!"
Afterward, Jero Bonaparte deliberately emphasized again, "It’s just a suggestion!"
"I am very willing to listen to the words of a great man!" Vladimirovich smiled and said to Jero Bonaparte.
"I know your Majesty Nicholas I is planning how to restore Constantinople!" Jero Bonaparte imdiately threw a heavy bomb at Vladimirovich as he spoke.
"We only want to maintain peace in Europe!" Vladimirovich awkwardly rebutted Jero Bonaparte with a sentence: "The order in Europe is..."
Before Vladimirovich could finish speaking, Jero Bonaparte raised his hand to stop Vladimirovich’s words, "Mr. Vladimirovich, you don’t need to disguise anything! This is the dream of successive Tsars of the Russian Empire, starting from Peter the Great! In 1848, you took advantage of the European revolution to occupy the two duchies of the Danube under the pretext of preventing the spread of revolution! Haven’t you been a little tempted by Constantinople?"
Vladimirovich remained silent, disliking Jero Bonaparte’s direct speech, which was like using a stick to jab at one’s lungs in diplomatic talks.
"Mr. Vladimirovich, I am the President of the French Republic, not a diplomat! I hope we can be a little more honest with each other; you only need to answer yes or no," Jero Bonaparte "honestly" asked.
"That’s right! His Majesty the Tsar, indeed with intention..." Vladimirovich confird Jero Bonaparte’s guess and then defended his monarch: "We only want to safeguard the interests of the Eastern Orthodox Church in Constantinople!"
Jero Bonaparte smiled noncommittally, thinking that anyone who believed Vladimirovich’s words was a fool.
"Mr. Envoy, if the Russian Empire’s claim is Constantinople, then France’s claim is the Rhine Land!" Jero Bonaparte said to Vladimirovich.
Vladimirovich’s complexion changed dramatically. He spoke to Jero Bonaparte as solemnly as possible, saying, "Mr. President, the affiliation of the Rhine Region has been determined after the Vienna Congress, and no country can overturn this decision."
"What about the London Treaty? Shouldn’t the Russian Empire adhere to it as well? If Tsar Nicholas is willing to adhere to the London Treaty, then for the sake of protecting the Ottoman Empire, I hope that the Russian Empire withdraws from the Danube River imdiately!" Jero Bonaparte retorted.
Jero Bonaparte’s rebuttal left Vladimirovich speechless; Nicholas I was similarly not inclined to honor treaties.
"Mr. Envoy, France has no intention of overturning the Vienna Congress!" To avoid excessively provoking the British Envoy, Jero Bonaparte emphasized, "Our claims regarding the Rhine Region are just a small part!"
Then, Jero Bonaparte called for the attendant in the corridor and instructed him to bring the map from the study.
After a while, the attendant handed the map to Jero Bonaparte.
Spreading the map on the table, Jero Bonaparte pointed to the Saar Basin on the map and said to Vladimirovich, "France hopes to receive so compensation!"
"This is the territory of the Kingdom of Prussia!" Vladimirovich said flatly to Jero Bonaparte.
From his expression, it seed that the division of Prussian territory didn’t cause him any ntal burden.
"Pri Minister Schwarzenberg has already agreed!" Jero Bonaparte revealed a cunning smile; he aid to sow seeds of distrust between the Austrian Empire and the Tsar.
As expected, a flash of surprise appeared in Vladimirovich’s eyes, necessitating a report to St. Petersburg about this developnt.
Seeing Vladimirovich unmoved, Jero Bonaparte linked the Duchy of Danube, Bulgaria, and Serbia on the map together.
"Apart from the Duchy of Danube, the Bulgarian Region and Serbian Region can rge into one country, and Nicholas I can appoint soone as the king of this newly established country! The Constantinople region needs Nicholas I to strive for, and France will support the Russian Empire’s claims regarding the Black Sea Region."
The conditions proposed by Jero Bonaparte did not offend Vladimirovich’s bottom line, yet the offered return made Vladimirovich extrely tempted.
If the French Republic could truly support the Russian Empire, it would undoubtedly make His Majesty Nicholas I one of the greatest Tsars.
Vladimirovich believed that Nicholas I could not remain unmoved.
"Mr. Envoy! Barring any surprises, I have just over a year before I step down, so I need to ensure that the French people rember completely in the shortest amount of ti!" Jero Bonaparte smiled politely, trying to dispel Vladimirovich’s doubts.
"You will undoubtedly beco the greatest President of this country!" Vladimirovich sincerely remarked to Jero Bonaparte, feeling so fondness for him.
Here was a ruler with no greed for power, utterly unlike our His Majesty the Tsar...
Vladimirovich recalled the Decembrists’ revolt twenty-five years ago when he was just over twenty years old and almost joined the unrest with fervor.
After the unrest was quelled, he personally witnessed the Decembrists being brought to the execution ground to be beheaded.
"I rely seek to secure every possible benefit for France!" Jero Bonaparte said without a blush or a heartbeat.
"Mr. President, your suggestions are excellent!" Vladimirovich replied to Jero Bonaparte, "But this plan is not sothing a re envoy like has the authority to decide. I need to discuss it with His Majesty Nicholas I of the Russian Empire! Only by obtaining His Majesty Nicholas I’s agreent can we proceed with further cooperation..."
"Of course! I truly hope that the French Republic and Russian Empire can unite to jointly uphold the European order." Jero Bonaparte nodded with a smile, speaking to Vladimirovich with an attitude of casual acceptance towards the plan.
"I believe that, with the joint efforts of the Russian Empire and French Republic, Europe’s order will definitely be restored to stability!" Vladimirovich responded.
The two parties, having reached an agreent to cooperate, left the room together; they walked shoulder to shoulder smiling into the ballroom, drawing astonished expressions from several envoys who witnessed the scene.
European diplomacy stirs again.
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