Richard tternich swore that today was the most desperate day since he assud the role of Austria’s secretary in France, especially when he saw Jero Bonaparte "inadvertently" reveal his "French war plans against Austria," Richard tternich’s originally orderly thoughts were completely disrupted.
Richard tternich felt as if his brain had been punched hard, leaving him in a daze, staring blankly in place without moving.
"Mr. Richard, Mr. Richard!"
It wasn’t until Jero Bonaparte’s voice reached his ears that Richard tternich regained his composure, bowed once more to Jero Bonaparte, and apologized: "Your Majesty, please forgive my recent misconduct!"
"It’s nothing!" Understanding why Richard tternich was rude, Jero Bonaparte shrugged and nonchalantly said, "Everyone has monts of distraction! Take , for instance, I often reminisce about past tis in various occasions, especially the ti on the Apennine Peninsula..."
Jero Bonaparte passionately talked to Richard tternich about his childhood on the Apennine Peninsula, discussing the Republic of Genoa, the Peninsula Monarch, and even the Carbonari.
Richard tternich’s face turned pale as Jero Bonaparte discussed the situation on the Apennine Peninsula. When Jero Bonaparte ntioned the Carbonari and the Italian revolution, the untrained-hearted Richard tternich almost fell off his chair.
Combining the battle plan he had inadvertently glimpsed with the current statents, Richard tternich had reason to suspect that Jero Bonaparte might have lost patience due to Austria’s procrastination, thus altering his stance towards the Austrian Empire.
If that were the case, Jero Bonaparte would surely repeat everything his uncle Napoleon did to the Empire previously.
What Jero Bonaparte said next further confird Richard tternich’s suspicions.
"My late brother and cousin were both mbers of the Carbonari. Although I didn’t join this party, under the influence of my late brother, I still have a favorable impression of it!" Jero Bonaparte expressed nostalgia for past tis, then shook his head and added, "But that’s all in the past now!"
"Your Majesty, please forgive my offense in advance! For what I am about to say may involve the late Prince Napoleon." Richard tternich began with courtesy before addressing Jero Bonaparte.
"Mr. Richard, we are friends! Speak plainly, I will not bla you!" Jero Bonaparte responded generously.
"Personally, I believe your fondness for the Carbonari stems entirely from nostalgia for past tis, resulting in a subjective favor towards them. In reality, the Carbonari are not a benevolent party. They are a group proficient at luring kind-hearted individuals with promises of a bright future to join them, engaging in assassinations and acts of terror!" Richard tternich disparaged the Carbonari to the utmost, "I believe that the late Prince Napoleon was surely enticed by their flowery rhetoric, leading him to join them."
Jero Bonaparte was internally defiant against Richard tternich’s assertion. Despite the Carbonari having indeed conducted so horrifying terror attacks, their targets were predominantly the nobles of the Italian Region, with a goal of unifying Italy.
The fake terrorists were in the Apennine villages, while the real terrorists were in the high places of power.
In truth, those who orchestrated terror events on the Apennine Peninsula were Austria, which was behind Richard tternich.
It was because the Austrian Empire controlled Lombardy, Venice, and a number of smaller states friendly to the Habsburgs that the Apennine Peninsula remained divided to this day.
However, what did this have to do with Jero Bonaparte, who only ntioned the Apennine Peninsula to force the Austrian Empire to increase its investnt in England and France.
"I see!" Jero Bonaparte pondered for a mont, then asked Richard tternich: "Let’s not talk about these! Mr. Richard, is there sothing you wanted by suddenly paying a visit today?"
"Your Majesty, I am here today to offer congratulations on behalf of His Majesty!" Richard tternich said, sitting upright: "The French Empire, under your leadership, is thriving. The French Army and the Allied Forces of Britain are gaining the upper hand in two battles against the Russian Empire. I believe it won’t be long before the Russian Empire fully withdraws from the Danube River Region! By then, peace in Europe will be restored once again!"
As for the claim that he ca to congratulate on the orders of Franz Joseph, Jero Bonaparte was utterly unconvinced.
Being a conservative monarch, Franz Joseph would oppose the Russian Empire but would not excessively flatter this "revolutionary" monarch.
Richard tternich most likely just borrowed Joseph Franz’s na to co to the Tuileries Palace to probe his thoughts.
However, the Vienna Court must have already known about the news of the Russian Empire retreating to the north bank of the Danube River.
"We greatly appreciate the Austrian Empire’s recognition of this great endeavor we are undertaking!" Jero Bonaparte feigned disinterest as he looked at Richard tternich and perfunctorily replied, "We also hope that more and more countries will see clearly the greedy nature of the Russian Empire and join us in this great cause! (Jero Bonaparte revealed a aningful smile) Standing on the fence will only lead to the collapse of the wall and the downfall of those on it!"
Jero Bonaparte indirectly reprimanded the Austrian Empire for betting on both sides, making Richard tternich feel a sense of sha.
Indeed! The Austrian Empire has been dragging its feet on this matter for too long. It’s not just that Jero Bonaparte cannot tolerate this wavering diplomatic approach; even Richard tternich himself cannot continue waiting for the Vienna Governnt to stop dithering.
That is why Richard tternich would co to the Tuileries Palace to congratulate Jero Bonaparte without receiving the latest instructions from Vienna.
The fact proves that Richard tternich’s approach is correct; the French Empire is likely no longer able to tolerate the Austrian Empire’s vacillating policy and may take action against it.
Richard tternich suddenly recalled that about a week ago, Prince tternich had sent him a letter, in which tternich told Richard tternich that he attended the Frankfurt conference of the German Confederation under the Emperor’s order, hoping the German Confederation would temporarily extend the "War Law" from the German Region (Austria, Bohemia) to the entire Empire.
However, Prince tternich’s efforts failed, as the South German Federation, led by Bavaria, and Prussia surprisingly united to oppose the Austrian Empire’s actions.
Prince tternich’s temporary addition to the scope of the war law was not passed.
After that, Prince tternich sought out the new Prussian ambassador to the German Confederation, Bismarck, to ask if the Kingdom of Prussia was willing to cooperate with the Austrian Empire, but Ambassador Bismarck, representing Prussia, refused Prince tternich.
And the military, after going to Prussia, also did not receive any response from the Prussian Conservative Faction.
All signs indicate that everything happening in the German Region is being controlled by an invisible hand, and the owner of this hand is likely...
Thinking of this, Richard tternich subconsciously glanced at Jero Bonaparte.
Jero Bonaparte still looked at Richard tternich with a smile on his face, but Richard tternich’s gaze made Jero Bonaparte feel a bit depressed; he wasn’t a man-eating tiger.
"We also hope to do our bit to provide so help against Russia’s symbol!" Richard tternich could only respond to Jero Bonaparte with so vague and grand statents, and then assured Jero Bonaparte, "Please rest assured! It won’t be long before the Empire joins the camp against Russia!"
"How long is ’won’t be long’?" Jero Bonaparte asked Richard tternich aggressively, "Must the Austrian Empire be willing to fight alongside us only the mont before our army completely defeats the Russian Empire? If that’s the case, I’d rather treat the Austrian Empire as an enemy! At least it would satisfy the people of the Apennine Peninsula’s desire for unification and the Hungarian people’s desire for independence! However, at that ti, I don’t know how much land the Austrian Empire will still hold!"
Jero Bonaparte’s war threat made Richard tternich, whose face had just regained so color, turn pale again.
"Please rest assured! The Empire will make a decision as soon as possible! Please, for my father’s sake, give the Empire so more ti!" Richard tternich pleaded with Jero Bonaparte.
"I can give you ti, but you must make a choice quickly!" Jero Bonaparte said sternly to Richard tternich, "Also, the French Empire’s army will hold a military exchange with the Sardinian army at the end of the month to discuss the form of future wars!"
Richard tternich understood that Jero Bonaparte was hinting to him that he was giving the Austrian Empire less than a month.
The Austrian Empire must make a choice within this month; otherwise, the French Empire is very likely to take military action against it.
"I will report to Vienna as soon as possible!" Richard tternich assured Jero Bonaparte.
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