"Your Majesty... Your Majesty!"
Standing at the doorway, Belgian Crown Prince Leopold called apprehensively into the room to Jero Bonaparte. At this mont, he did not know why Jero Bonaparte had dispatched Minister Valvesky to invite him over alone.
Jero Bonaparte, who was standing with his hands behind his back, quickly turned around and carefully examined the Belgian Crown Prince in front of him, who looked much younger compared to his photos in later years.
Being scrutinized by Jero Bonaparte made Leopold II even more uneasy. Before coming, he had heard a "rumor."
The rumor said that Emperor Jero Bonaparte of the French Empire loved to call ambassadors from various countries individually for secret discussions to discuss political matters.
Now that Emperor Jero Bonaparte had brought him here, was he also going to discuss political issues with him...
While Crown Prince Leopold was lost in thought, Jero Bonaparte slowly spoke to him: "Leopold, please have a seat!"
"Yes!" Leopold thanked Jero Bonaparte before sitting down on a chair in the parlor.
Jero Bonaparte also took the opportunity to sit next to Crown Prince Leopold.
Subsequently, Jero Bonaparte began chatting with Crown Prince Leopold, first inquiring about the health of the Belgian King, and then about the state of dostic affairs in the Kingdom of Belgium.
Leopold answered all of Jero Bonaparte’s questions earnestly. As their conversation beca more engaging, Jero Bonaparte suddenly changed the topic and sternly asked Leopold: "Leopold, I’ve heard that Belgium has been secretly supporting the Orleans Clan residing in Britain and provides them with a certain amount of funding every year! Do you know anything about this?"
Just as Leopold’s unease began to subside, this revelation from Jero Bonaparte caused his mind to go blank with fear. He had no idea how Jero Bonaparte had discovered their funding of the Orleans Clan.
However, if he could not explain clearly, the relationship between the French Empire and the Kingdom of Belgium might plumt.
The Kingdom of Belgium’s stable existence owes much to the help of the Kingdom of Britain and France.
If either of these two countries harbored animosity towards them, significant turmoil could arise within the Kingdom of Belgium.
From its inception, the Belgian Governnt scarcely lacked parties close to France (mainly due to a larger French-speaking population, naturally inclined towards France).
Not to ntion, the prestige of the French Empire now far surpassed that of the Orleans Kingdom’s period.
This also led so originally neutral politicians to gradually move towards pro-French alignnt.
"Your Majesty, from whom did you hear this!" Leopold restrained his inner fear and attempted to respond to Jero Bonaparte as calmly as possible.
"Leopold, you don’t need to concern yourself with whom I heard it from!" Jero Bonaparte replied bluntly to Leopold: "I just want to ask, is this matter true or false!"
What should I do?
Leopold roared inwardly. He did not know how much insider information Jero Bonaparte possessed or whether he should be honest with him.
"Mr. Leopold!" Jero Bonaparte decided to exert maximum pressure on him, questioning word by word: "I’m asking you, is this matter true or false?"
"Your Majesty, this matter..." Leopold took a deep breath, cald his chaotic thoughts, and then said: "This matter indeed exists!"
Before Jero Bonaparte had the chance to speak again, Leopold quickly explained: "However, we have not given them excessive money!"
"What exactly does ’not too much’ an?" Jero Bonaparte asked again, determined to get to the bottom of this.
"We provide the Orleans Clan with 100,000 francs annually!" Leopold replied to Jero Bonaparte, "Initially, this money was provided by my mother!"
"I recall Queen Louise has already..." Jero Bonaparte trailed off.
A look of sadness appeared on Leopold II’s face. "Although my mother has passed away, this funding has not ceased."
"I see!" Jero Bonaparte’s tone softened slightly, then he smiled at Crown Prince Leopold and said: "Leopold, thank you for your honesty!"
"Your Majesty, I will inform my father to stop the funding of the Orleans Clan as soon as I return to Belgium!" Leopold II hurriedly expressed his stance to Jero Bonaparte.
Even though the Belgian Governnt was indeed established with the help of the Orleans Clan, and the Belgian Queen was from the Orleans Clan, the bonds between royal families must yield to national interests.
The debt of gratitude owed to them by the Orleans Clan paled in comparison to the favor or disfavor from the French Empire.
Moreover, their mother, who maintained their relationship with the Orleans Clan, passed away in 1850.
"Stop funding? No, there’s no need!" Jero Bonaparte shook his head and said to Leopold II, "You can continue to fund them!!"
Hearing Jero Bonaparte’s words, Leopold was montarily at a loss. He was completely confused about what Jero Bonaparte actually wanted to achieve.
Could it be that he simply wanted to use this matter to pressure us? Leopold thought to himself.
"Right, you can also deliver a ssage to the Orleans Clan for !" Jero Bonaparte continued, speaking to the absent-minded Leopold.
"Your Majesty, please go ahead!" Reacting quickly, Leopold addressed Jero Bonaparte.
"Relay this to them for !" Jero Bonaparte said unhurriedly to Leopold II, "If they are willing to publicly renounce their claim to France, then I can on behalf of the governnt provide them with an annual compensation of 500,000 francs!"
Jero Bonaparte personally did not believe the Orleans Clan would publicly renounce their claim to the French throne for an annual 500,000 francs.
After all, the Orleans Clan once agreed to vote for the execution of a king (Louis XVI) for this throne, and later drove out another king (Charles X).
It can be said that each mber of the Orleans Clan carries an inherent enmity towards the legitimate Bourbons.
If they were to renounce it now, it would an that the efforts of two, even three generations of the Orleans Clan would instantly beco a bubble.
The entire Orléans Faction would also suffer a devastating blow due to Orléans renouncing their claim to the throne.
However, Jero Bonaparte simply wanted to irritate the Orleans Clan.
Back when the Orleans Clan was in power, they never missed a chance to irritate the Bonaparte Clan.
As soon as Jero Bonaparte finished speaking, Leopold II imdiately responded to Jero Bonaparte: "Your Majesty, I will relay your ssage to the Orleans Clan!"
"That’s good!" Jero Bonaparte displayed a satisfied smile on his face, reveling in the sense of achievent from compelling the prince of another country to work for him.
Subsequently, Jero Bonaparte continued to enthusiastically discuss his dream of a United States of Europa with Leopold.
Leopold II transford into a dedicated listener, lavishing praise on Jero Bonaparte’s concept of the United States of Europa.
"Your Majesty, I believe that sooner or later the European Monarchies will unite to form a large alliance..." Leopold II stated to Jero Bonaparte.
"I am truly gratified that you think this way!" Jero Bonaparte said to Leopold II in a condescending tone, "Therefore, I believe we should do sothing for this envisioned alliance!"
Upon hearing this, Leopold’s expression grew sowhat uneasy. He originally thought Jero Bonaparte was just boasting, but who would have thought Jero Bonaparte was preparing to act.
"Your Majesty, where do you plan to start?" Leopold inquired of Jero Bonaparte.
"Leopold, don’t you believe the multitude of currencies throughout Europe complicate circulation and trade?" Jero Bonaparte asked Leopold II in a compassionate tone.
"Indeed it is so!" Leopold II nodded in agreent with Jero Bonaparte.
"Therefore, I wish to unite all countries in establishing a new currency, one that will circulate among nations to stabilize their currencies and trade!" Jero Bonaparte revealed his ambition to Leopold II, intending to establish a prototype of the euro in 19th-century Europe.
Sitting beside Jero Bonaparte, Leopold II was also intrigued after hearing Jero Bonaparte’s remarks.
Although the Kingdom of Belgium was the first country to industrialize, its market and population severely limited its potential.
To overco this limit, the Kingdom of Belgium tried every possible way.
During the Orleans Kingdom era, they were the closest. At that ti, Foreign Minister Guizot (Grand Marshal Surt did not interfere in affairs, leaving foreign and dostic affairs mostly to Guizot) proposed to emulate the German Customs Union by establishing a customs union between France and Belgium.
This proposal imdiately received strong support from Belgian industry and comrce, because if the Franco-Belgian Tariff Union were implented, they could achieve mutual complentarity with France through this union, thereby raising their potential.
However, Palrston, the then Pri Minister of the Kingdom of Britain, firmly opposed the Franco-Belgian Tariff Union, and the Foreign Minister appointed by Louis Philippe, Guizot, was unlike the tough-minded Thiers; he was a minister who advocated compromise with England, which led to the Franco-Belgian Tariff Union dying in its infancy.
Now, the Currency Union proposed by Jero Bonaparte, although far less than a customs union, could still bring benefits to the Kingdom of Belgium.
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