Under Jero Bonaparte’s firm attitude, Alexander II had no choice but to change his previously laissez-faire stance and began to personally engage in negotiations with Jero Bonaparte.
After hours of back-and-forth for their respective positions and interests, it gradually reached noon.
The hungry Jero Bonaparte hurriedly raised his hand to suggest to Alexander II: "It’s not sothing that can be agreed upon quickly, why don’t we have lunch first and discuss later!"
Also feeling a bit hungry, Alexander II nodded slightly, "Alright!"
Thus, Jero Bonaparte quickly ordered his subordinates to collect the docunts placed on the table, and Alexander II also instructed Gorchakov and Nesselrode to put their files back into their briefcases.
The table, which was originally full of docunts, was cleared in no ti, and Jero Bonaparte turned to the officer behind him to give the order to "begin the al."
Seeing this, the officer quickly went to the kitchen and ordered the chefs to serve the lunch that had been prepared.
With the help of a small homade serving cart from the chefs, garlic sausages, bread, foie gras, and a large pot of at soup... were served one after the other.
Looking at the table filled with delicious food, the delegation from the Russian Empire subconsciously swallowed, as their initial resentnt towards the French delegation (disputes over certain clauses during negotiations were inevitable, and intense confrontations could easily create animosity) vanished under the influence of the feast.
Just as Jero Bonaparte invited Alexander II and others to start dining, he suddenly wanted to see the al conditions of the troops stationed outside Yalta.
So, Jero Bonaparte excused himself for a brief restroom break and temporarily left the dining room.
Once out of the dining hall, Jero Bonaparte quickly headed to the headquarters stationed near Yalta, where smoke was also rising from above.
Jero Bonaparte rushed into the camp as soon as he saw this.
In the camp, he saw several steaming cooking pots set up on the ground, with burning wood underneath them.
When Jero Bonaparte reached the cooking pots, he saw mutton soup boiling inside and quickly said to a soldier doubling as a cook, "Give a bowl!"
"Why the rush! It’s not ready yet!" The cook, looking slightly impatient, seed not to recognize Jero Bonaparte.
"Okay!" Jero Bonaparte had to give up the idea of tasting and turned to leave.
Before Jero Bonaparte could take two steps towards the exit of the camp, a shout ca from behind, "Your Majesty!"
Jero Bonaparte turned to see the shocked gazes behind him, the stunned expression of the soldier who refused him, and the officer rushing towards him.
The officer approached Jero Bonaparte, saluted, and reported his na and affiliated unit, to which Jero Bonaparte also returned the salute!
Then Jero Bonaparte praised the officer, "You did well! It’s important to eat mutton in winter to nourish oneself!"
"It’s my duty!" the officer modestly responded.
Subsequently, the officer inquired why Jero Bonaparte had co over and if anything happened in Yalta City?
"Not at all!" Jero Bonaparte shook his head and then told the officer: he rely wanted to check on the als of the stationed troops!
"Rest assured!" the officer hurriedly assured Jero Bonaparte, "We follow your instructions, and every soldier fighting for France won’t be neglected!"
"That’s good!" Jero Bonaparte nodded in satisfaction.
Then, he casually asked if the sheep were paid for.
"Well..." The officer hesitated for a mont.
Jero Bonaparte imdiately understood that the sheep were likely confiscated from "locals" in Cria, and he sighed and replied to the officer, "Only this ti!"
"Yes!" The officer promptly promised Jero Bonaparte that it would not happen again.
Looking at the confident officer before him, Jero Bonaparte was certain there would definitely be a next ti.
After all, from the very essence, the French Army was fundantally a band of rcenaries with the nature of robbers, and even during tis of national warfare, this nature hadn’t changed at all.
Jero Bonaparte could not, nor was he willing to change the inherent nature of France.
The reason the French Army was willing to support him was for his ability to lead them to wealth and prosperity.
If he were to transform this apparatus into a group of warriors made of special materials, then the first ones to overthrow him would be the soldiers themselves.
As the Emperor of France, all he needed to do was to ensure the interests of the French Army and the French people.
Things like great proletarian unity and world revolution could be left to those who co after him.
After all, one must trust in the wisdom of posterity (laughs).
Jero Bonaparte, having taken a stroll around the military camp, returned to the dining hall in Yalta City. Upon re-entering the hall, he noticed that during his absence, Alexander II and others had also not touched their utensils.
"Eat! Why aren’t you eating?" Jero Bonaparte said after a few seconds’ pause, sitting back in his original position and pointing at the foie gras in front of him, he said to Alexander II: "Dining is such a delightful affair!"
"Your Majesty, we did not dare to eat since you weren’t here!" Alexander II responded to Jero Bonaparte in a teasing tone.
"What does that matter!" Jero Bonaparte unceremoniously sliced a piece of foie gras and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing heartily: "Eat up!"
Jero Bonaparte’s unabashed eating encouraged the others to put aside their inhibitions, and they too began to dig in, formally beginning lunch.
Due to the absence of fine wine, the entire lunch lasted only half an hour and then ended hastily.
After a mont’s rest following a satisfying al, everyone embarked on the second round of negotiations.
The afternoon’s second round of negotiations was less combustible compared to the first, however, Valerovsky and Nesselrode remained steadfast on their positions and interests.
Throughout the afternoon, both sides gradually agreed on the third clause concerning the Russian Empire’s navigational rights, naly: Russian Empire’s rchant ships could navigate the Danube River under the supervision of England, France, and Austria.
Just as the parties were about to begin discussions on the fourth clause, Jero Patterson appeared in Yalta.
Jero Bonaparte hurriedly halted the negotiations and then left alongside Jero Patterson.
"What’s happening over in Sevastopol?" Jero Bonaparte imdiately inquired of Jero Patterson.
"Paris received a letter from St. Petersburg, Duke Golitsyn says they plan to launch a coup against Nicholas I by the end of the month! He hopes we can cripple the Russian Empire on the Cria Peninsula, making them unable to withdraw and return!" Jero Patterson replied to Jero Bonaparte.
"Alright! I understand!" Jero Bonaparte nodded in response to Jero Patterson.
Upon Jero Bonaparte’s return to the dining hall, he suddenly said to Alexander II: "I believe there’s no need for us to continue negotiations!"
"Your Majesty, you agree!" Misunderstanding Jero Bonaparte’s intent, Alexander II thought he was ready to make concessions on the fourth clause.
If Jero Bonaparte was willing to concede on the fourth clause, he would be absolutely confident of securing peace!
"Agree to what?" Jero Bonaparte responded to Alexander II with a calm tone, "What I an is the negotiations between the French Empire and the Russian Empire end now, and from here on it will be up to our two nations to prove themselves on the battlefield!"
Jero Bonaparte’s abrupt cessation left Alexander II finding it a bit difficult to accept.
He had already made many concessions for this peace talk, and now Jero Bonaparte was suddenly telling him there would be no more talks, was this not mocking the Russian Empire!
Thinking of this, Alexander II felt like a complete fool, played by Jero Bonaparte.
"Your Majesty, you were the one who proposed the peace talks, and now you tear them apart!" Alexander II, face flushed, roared, "What is your purpose for doing this!"
"For what purpose?" Jero Bonaparte pondered for a mont, then with a victorious smile on his face, said, "If I say it was just for fun, would you believe ?"
Hearing Jero Bonaparte’s reply, Alexander II was thunderstruck, his face suddenly pale, his lips trembling constantly, "Liar, scoundrel, you and your cronies are all a bunch of absolute liars!"
"Alexander!" Jero Bonaparte directed a look of sympathy toward Alexander II, "We’re engaged in war, not a child’s playhouse ga, so a little deception is necessary!"
"I swear, I will send you and your army to Hell!" Alexander II, in a fit of rage, shouted at Jero Bonaparte.
"Alexander, there will always be so gap between ideals and reality!" Jero Bonaparte replied unhurriedly, "Sotis reality is more terrifying than ideals! Oh, by the way, our war will officially comnce at dawn tomorrow, I hope you and your soldiers are prepared to welco France’s attack then!"
That night, Jero Bonaparte returned to the Sevastopol Fortress to actively deploy strategic plans for attacking Bakhchisaray and Simferopol.
anwhile, Alexander II handed over all his authority to Gorchakov and sat alone in his room in a daze.
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