Unfortunately, the reality was not as Jero Bonaparte imagined, even though Russia, having suffered multiple defeats, still displayed their unique "arrogance" in front of Jero Bonaparte.
"Your Majesty, I beg your pardon! The four conditions you have set are indeed too harsh for us!" Ivanov Gorchakov tactfully expressed his dissatisfaction to Jero Bonaparte.
"What?" Jero Bonaparte showed a surprised expression, as if he could not believe the words ca from Ivanov Gorchakov’s mouth.
"Your Majesty, I believe your conditions are indeed too harsh for the Russian Empire!" Ivanov Gorchakov repeated his previous statent.
"Major Ivanov!" Jero Bonaparte’s mouth revealed a slight sneer, his voice turned cold: "What do you think would not be harsh? Do you Russians still want to continue invading Turkey? If so, then I think there’s no need for us to talk!
After all, we’ve already wasted nearly half a year in this wretched place, I don’t mind wasting another half year!
I can assure you that after six months, you will definitely regret it!"
Seeing Jero Bonaparte about to get angry, Ivanov Gorchakov panicked imdiately, and hurriedly appeased Jero Bonaparte: "Your Majesty, I didn’t an that... just a personal humble opinion!"
"Hmph!" Jero Bonaparte snorted coldly, showing a disdainful expression.
If it weren’t for the strategic deception against the Russian Army in the Cria Peninsula, he would have already ordered this overreaching guy to be thrown out of Sevastopol.
This condition was the pre-war condition, if the Russian Empire was willing to accept it at that ti, Jero Bonaparte might not have really started the war.
Now the war has been going on for nearly a year, and France’s military expenditure has reached about 200 million francs. If it doesn’t take a bite out of the Russian Empire to recoup, he fears facing a possible economic depression.
What Jero Bonaparte did not expect was that the conditions he offered Ivanov Gorchakov were so generous that Jero Bonaparte questioned why he fought this battle, yet the Russian Empire still claid they were harshly treated.
Now it seems his original decision was extrely correct. If he had not supported Duke Golitsyn to deal a hard blow to the heart of the Russian Empire, Russia would forever stubbornly refuse to back down.
Only by completely destabilizing Russia would they submit to the French Empire.
"Your Majesty, please rest assured, I will deliver your conditions to the Crown Prince!" Ivanov Gorchakov quickly promised Jero Bonaparte: "I can assure you that soon His Majesty the Tsar will send soone to negotiate with you!"
"Oh, and! I hope during negotiations, in addition to soone who can represent your Tsar’s will, there must be soone who matches my status!" Jero Bonaparte continued to request to Ivanov Gorchakov.
"Ah!" Ivanov Gorchakov’s mouth slightly opened, showing a surprised expression.
"What’s wrong?" Jero Bonaparte asked Ivanov Gorchakov with conviction: "Do you want to converse with a re subject?"
"But His Majesty Nicholas I, he..."
Before Ivanov Gorchakov could finish, Jero Bonaparte spoke again: "That’s not my concern, you must appoint soone befitting my noble status! Be it the Tsar or the Crown Prince! This is a necessary condition!"
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince would do?" Ivanov Gorchakov’s eyes lit up as he said.
"Barely qualifies!" Jero Bonaparte responded to Ivanov Gorchakov, "However, you’d better have your Tsar co over! This war was initiated by him, and it should be ended by him!"
"I will relay your ssage!" Ivanov Gorchakov responded to Jero Bonaparte.
Feeling that the conversation was about done, Jero Bonaparte took out his pocket watch. The ti was nearly 4 o’clock, he waved a hand at Ivanov Gorchakov: "Alright! It’s getting late! It’s about ti for to rest!"
"Then I shall not disturb you!" Ivanov Gorchakov quickly stood up and bowed to Jero Bonaparte.
"Do you wish to rest here a while? I can order soone to prepare a room for you!" Jero asked politely.
"No need for that!" Ivanov Gorchakov shook his head and answered Jero Bonaparte: "I should leave while it’s still not fully bright outside!"
"Then be careful on your way!"
Jero Bonaparte accompanied Ivanov Gorchakov out of the command center and ordered soone to safely escort Ivanov Gorchakov to the vicinity of Bakhchisaray.
Ivanov Gorchakov hurriedly expressed his gratitude to Jero Bonaparte.
Watching Jero Bonaparte’s distant figure fade away, Jero’s smile quickly disappeared.
He muttered under his breath, "Hope everything goes smoothly!"
...
At 5 a.m., just as dawn broke, Ivanov Gorchakov parted ways with the troop escorting him six kiloters southwest of Bakhchisaray and continued on alone toward Bakhchisaray.
When Ivanov Gorchakov was less than two kiloters from Bakhchisaray, a Cossack cavalry unit tasked with reconnaissance happened to spot him.
The captain of this Cossack cavalry unit was none other than Ivanov Gorchakov’s friend.
At the earnest invitation of his friend, Ivanov Gorchakov rode with him on the sa horse.
During the journey, his friend quietly asked Ivanov Gorchakov if he was heading to Sevastopol for peace talks!
Ivanov Gorchakov smiled ambiguously and asked where he had heard this news.
"Where else would I hear it? Look at the state of our army now! We lack equipnt, lack morale, and can’t even ensure basic living conditions! In this situation, you’re telling we can defeat the opponent? Don’t kid , alright!" His friend said to Ivanov Gorchakov with a face full of resentnt, then in a voice only the two of them could hear, asked, "Tell now, is the progress of the peace talks going well? Can we end the fighting?"
Ivanov Gorchakov remained silent; from his friend’s words, he felt the current state of the Imperial Army.
Bluntly speaking, if the peace talks failed, the army might very likely face the risk of a revolt. (Ivanov Gorchakov underestimated the endurance of the Slavs!)
Seeing Ivanov Gorchakov remain silent, his friend showed a bitter smile, shook his head, and muttered to himself, "I knew it! The peace talks are simply..."
"Not yet concluded!" Ivanov Gorchakov finally spoke, "However, I can still see the honesty of France! Now it depends on what His Majesty thinks!"
"Alright, alright!"
...
No sooner had Ivanov Gorchakov stepped into the Bachchisarai Command than he was summoned by Crown Prince Alexander.
When Ivanov Gorchakov arrived at Crown Prince Alexander’s location, he was surprised to find Grand Duke Constantine, Marshal Jomini, Commander Gorchakov, and Count Orlov all present.
Judging from Marshal Jomini’s expression, none of them had slept all night.
Before Ivanov Gorchakov could open his mouth to salute the present dignitaries, Grand Duke Constantine impatiently asked, "How is the progress going?"
"Constantine!" Crown Prince Alexander’s authoritative voice rang out, and Grand Duke Constantine fell silent.
"Your Highnesses, Your Grace, Count..." After Ivanov Gorchakov saluted them one by one, Crown Prince Alexander gestured to the empty seat beside him and said to Ivanov Gorchakov, "Don’t stand and speak! Sit down!"
"As you command, Your Highness!" Ivanov Gorchakov walked slowly to sit beside Crown Prince Alexander.
"How are things progressing?" Crown Prince Alexander asked Ivanov Gorchakov unhurriedly.
"Your Highness, the progress is fairly smooth..." Ivanov Gorchakov recounted to Crown Prince Alexander all his conversations after eting Jero Bonaparte.
After listening to Ivanov Gorchakov’s account, Crown Prince Alexander pondered for a mont, then turned his gaze to those around him.
"Do you think Emperor Jero Bonaparte sincerely wants to cooperate with us, or does he have ulterior motives?" Crown Prince Alexander asked.
"Your Highness, I believe Emperor Jero Bonaparte sharing their action plans with Britain with Major Ivanov indicates a significant intent to negotiate peace with us!" Count Orlov was the first to speak.
"Who’s to say the action plans provided by the Emperor of France aren’t a trap!" Grand Duke Constantine also cautiously remarked.
"Your Grace, if it’s a trap, then His Majesty Emperor Jero Bonaparte is paying a mighty high price to deceive us!!!" Ivanov Gorchakov respectfully replied to Grand Duke Constantine: "If the Kingdom of Sweden indeed joins England and France in fighting us, wouldn’t that be even more disadvantageous to the Russian Empire! The imdiate concern for the French Empire should be to defeat us swiftly by attacking Finland through Sweden and then advancing toward St. Petersburg!"
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