Faced with Jero Bonaparte’s inquiry, Richard tternich fell into a brief silence.
From an emotional standpoint, Richard tternich still hoped that after the war, the Russian Empire would restore relations with the Austrian Empire.
Because what the Austrian Empire needed was not a Russian Empire that was in constant hostility, but a weakened one that maintained friendly relations with the Austrian Empire.
However, from a rational perspective, this idea was indeed too naive.
Not to ntion Austria’s siding with England and France during the Crian War was seen as betrayal by two generations of Tsars, even if the Russian Empire was willing to restore relations for various reasons, the Austrian Empire also had to seriously consider the opinion of the French Empire.
After all, the French Empire’s initial investnt in the Austrian Empire had already reached several hundred million francs.
If the French Empire were to be angered, how would the Austrian Empire complete its industrialization?
Without industrialization, how could the Austrian Empire possibly withstand an invasion from the Russian Empire?
Peace cannot be achieved through a re scrap of paper; any treaty must be backed by corresponding strength.
A treaty without strength has no binding force whatsoever.
Moreover, from Jero Bonaparte’s perspective, it was best for the Austrian Empire and the Russian Empire to remain in a relatively hostile but mutually restrained relationship.
Only then could the interests of the French Empire be maximized.
"Your Majesty, indeed there are still so people within our country who have such thoughts!" After a mont of contemplation, Richard tternich candidly responded to Jero Bonaparte, "However, isn’t that the reason you asked to co along?"
"Yes!" Jero Bonaparte nodded and then extended his hand to call Alexander II over.
Seeing this, Alexander II and others quickly approached Jero Bonaparte.
"This is Richard tternich, the Austrian Ambassador to France!" Jero Bonaparte introduced Richard tternich to Alexander II, then added specially: "He is also my closest friend!"
Alexander II’s face still held a smile as he extended his hand to Richard tternich and said, "Ambassador Richard, I’ve long admired your na!"
"Your Highness, you flatter !" Richard tternich humbly replied, shaking Alexander II’s hand.
After the two, each with their own motives, exchanged formal greetings, they quickly let go of each other’s hand.
Subsequently, Alexander II casually asked Richard tternich when exactly he arrived at Sevastopol.
Richard tternich inford Alexander II that he arrived with Emperor Jero Bonaparte and had been staying in the French camp these past days.
Upon hearing Richard tternich’s words, Alexander II and Gorchakov, among others, felt a sense of relief.
Since Richard tternich said he arrived on the Cria Peninsula with Jero Bonaparte, it indicated that he wasn’t there specifically for peace talks.
Previous speculations about the Austrian Empire naturally fell away.
As Alexander II pondered, Jero Bonaparte’s voice reached Alexander II’s ears: "Alright, my friends, let lead you on a tour here today!"
Seeing this, Alexander II hurriedly nodded to Jero Bonaparte.
Under Jero Bonaparte’s lead, Alexander II and Richard tternich ca to a site piled with heavy artillery.
However, at this ti, there was not a single cannon in the site, only rows of wooden crates stacked.
"What is this place?" Alexander II curiously looked at the rows of boxes before him.
"Wait, you’ll see!" Jero Bonaparte imdiately waved at the officer in the field, who then quickly ca up to inquire about Jero Bonaparte’s orders.
"Open them!" Jero Bonaparte tapped the wooden crates, commanding the officer.
The officer promptly gathered the soldiers in the field to action, and the crates were opened with their combined efforts.
A large caliber bronze cannon barrel appeared before Alexander II’s eyes. As this war God lay quietly in the crate, Alexander II couldn’t help but feel a slight trembling within.
If the crates in this site were all filled with cannons like these, it would indeed be terrifying!
Alexander II couldn’t help but think silently.
Unexpectedly, Jero Bonaparte’s next sentence turned Alexander II’s thought into reality: "All the crates are filled with this type of cannon!"
"Ah!" Alexander II couldn’t help but let out a soft exclamation.
"There are about four hundred cannons stored here, aren’t there?" Jero Bonaparte continued to strike at Alexander II, "It is expected that nearly 300 more cannons will be transported here!"
"Your Majesty, are you planning to destroy Bakhchisaray?" Alexander II couldn’t help but loudly question Jero Bonaparte.
"No, no, no! Alexander!" Jero Bonaparte shook his head and replied to Alexander II, "My intention is not to destroy Bakhchisaray! I just want to sit down and have a good talk with the Russian Empire!"
"Your Majesty, I’ve never seen anyone having a conversation with cannons at soone else’s doorstep!" Alexander II responded to Jero Bonaparte.
"What else could I do?" Jero Bonaparte spread his hands and replied to Alexander II, "When I calmly wanted to have a conversation with you, you chose war!
When I set up cannons, you accused of being barbaric.
I don’t really understand, what thod you Russians want to use to communicate with you.
Surely, you don’t expect to bind my own hands while communicating with you!"
"Your Majesty, my father has already sent a special envoy for peace talks! Please be patient for a while longer for the sake of France and the Russian Empire!" Alexander II pleaded with Jero Bonaparte.
"Alexander, I can wait!" Jero Bonaparte smiled and said to Alexander II, "However, my army seems eager to engage in the next battle!"
"Are you planning to abandon the peace talks?" Alexander II responded grimly to Jero Bonaparte.
"Abandon the peace talks?" Jero Bonaparte shook his head and replied to Alexander II, "No, no, no! I am very willing to have in-depth communication with you, but I do not want you to use my olive branch as a bargaining tool in negotiations.
We are open to talks! If it cos to fighting, we will accompany you to the end!"
Jero Bonaparte’s attitude made Alexander II, who had high hopes for peace talks, begin to doubt Jero Bonaparte’s sincerity towards them.
However, at present, Gorchakov and Nesselrode are about to arrive at the Cria Peninsula.
Starting a war rashly would only cause all previous efforts to go to waste.
"Your Majesty, please believe in our sincerity! We truly want to end this war!" Alexander II responded to Jero Bonaparte.
"Alexander, I believe in your sincerity! But it’s a pity you are not the Tsar!" Jero Bonaparte remarked, "If you were the Tsar, then such things might not happen between our two countries!"
Alexander II showed a stiff smile on his face, not daring to directly respond to Jero Bonaparte’s words.
"Alright, let’s not talk about this anymore! The reason we called you over wasn’t to discuss such matters!" Jero Bonaparte quickly changed the subject, then invited Alexander II and Richard tternich to the train station platform.
In the presence of Alexander II and Richard tternich, Jero Bonaparte completed the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the completion event.
After the ribbon-cutting ceremony ended, Alexander II took his leave from Jero Bonaparte.
Watching Alexander II’s departing figure, Jero Bonaparte showed a gloating expression to Richard tternich beside him, "Believe , tonight Alexander will definitely not be able to sleep soundly!"
...
As it turned out, just as Jero Bonaparte said, that night Alexander II, his mind full of heavy artillery, couldn’t fall asleep.
Unable to sleep, he climbed out of bed and walked alone in the corridors of the old Royal Palace.
When Alexander II reached the corner at the end of the corridor, Commander Gorchakov’s figure appeared in front of him.
"Gorchakov, you couldn’t sleep either!" Looking at the equally distracted Gorchakov before him, Alexander II displayed a bitter smile.
"Your Highness, I presu you couldn’t sleep because of the problem with France, right?" Gorchakov responded likewise.
"Indeed!" Alexander II nodded, then suggested to Gorchakov, "Since we’re already unable to sleep, why don’t we take a walk?"
"Alright!" Commander Gorchakov answered.
Alexander II and Commander Gorchakov left the old Royal Palace and walked in the garden outside.
The winter nights in Bakhchisaray were particularly cold, the bleak wind seeping through his collar into Alexander II’s body, causing him to feel a chilling cold.
However, this cold was nothing compared to the "chill" brought by France.
As Alexander II walked in the garden, he slowly asked, "Commander Gorchakov, tell honestly, if the peace talks fail, can our army hold off France’s attack at Bakhchisaray?"
Commander Gorchakov told Alexander II tactfully that the Russian Army did not have enough cannons to withstand France’s artillery, and their rifles were far inferior to theirs!
In short, the Russian Empire should not hope to resist France’s next wave of attack.
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