"Cousin, even if they agree to your terms! I’m afraid the Kingdom of Britain won’t consent to your actions!"
Jero Bonaparte explained patiently to Queen Catherine.
"The Kingdom of Britain, why would they stop us!" Queen Catherine looked at Jero Bonaparte in confusion, "Weren’t they the ones who forced the Kingdom of Belgium into our hands in the first place!"
"Cousin! Think about the reason why they handed the Kingdom of Belgium to the Kingdom of the Netherlands back then?" Jero Bonaparte continued to ask Queen Catherine.
Queen Catherine then rembered, the Kingdom of Britain’s purpose in handing over the Kingdom of Belgium was to guard against France’s aggression, "To guard against France?"
Jero Bonaparte smiled with satisfaction, realizing that his cousin wasn’t entirely naive, "You’re right! Their original objective was indeed to have you serve as the vanguard to block France’s advance.
The tis have changed now, and the relationship between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the French Empire is no longer as hostile as before.
If I were Palrston, I certainly wouldn’t agree to the Kingdom of the Netherlands’ request to annex the Kingdom of Belgium!
I would use every ans to stop it, even if it ant intervening personally!"
After listening to Jero Bonaparte, a look of horror appeared on Queen Catherine’s face.
The strength of the British and French had already been vividly displayed in this Crian War.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands might be able to defeat the Kingdom of Belgium, but defeating the Kingdom of Britain would be nothing short of a fantasy!
"Cousin, surely France can help block the Kingdom of Britain!" Queen Catherine began to hope for France’s support.
"Cousin, didn’t you just say yesterday that you didn’t need our France to intervene?" Jero Bonaparte showed a helpless expression.
He found that won had a common trait, quickly forgetting their own words.
"I didn’t an for you to intervene... just..." Queen Catherine hesitated for a mont, then stamped her foot and said, "Fine, if you don’t want to help!"
Jero Bonaparte showed a mixed expression of laughter and tears. He had no doubt that if Queen Catherine, dominated by emotions in this way, were to take charge of diplomacy, the entire Kingdom of the Netherlands’ foreign affairs might beco a ss.
"Cousin, it’s not that I’m unwilling to help!" Jero Bonaparte shrugged and continued, "It’s just that if France helps you in this matter, all of Europe will once again be plunged into war!"
"Surely it won’t be that serious!" Queen Catherine responded hesitantly.
"Alas!" Jero Bonaparte sighed, "Britain has never backed down when it cos to protecting its own interests!
All of Europe cannot withstand a second devastation!"
"Well then... alright!"
Since Jero Bonaparte wasn’t willing to support them, Queen Catherine had no choice but to give up. She sighed and nodded to Jero Bonaparte.
Subsequently, Jero Bonaparte shared his plan for a currency union with Queen Catherine, hoping she could persuade the Kingdom of the Netherlands to join the currency union he was forming.
"Will the Kingdom of Belgium join too?" Queen Catherine glanced sideways, slowly asking.
"The reason I invited Leopold is to persuade them to join this currency union!" Jero Bonaparte responded to Queen Catherine, "The Kingdom of Belgium has already initially agreed to join the currency union!"
"I understand!" Queen Catherine nodded and responded blandly, "I will pass on your ssage to William, whether to join or not depends on him!"
After saying this, Queen Catherine turned away from Jero Bonaparte and returned to the Tuileries Palace.
Jero Bonaparte stood silently in place, muttering awkwardly, "Alas! She’s still angry!"
...
In the following two days, Jero Bonaparte arranged Notre-Da Cathedral ticulously and also discussed the currency union with the Wurttemberg Envoy.
The Wurttemberg Envoy inford Jero Bonaparte that their Wurttemberg Kingdom had adopted the Austrian Empire’s currency system in 1853.
"No problem, I will also invite the Austrian Empire to join in!" Jero Bonaparte said to the Wurttemberg Envoy, "Once the Austrian Empire joins, the entire Southern Germany can implent the sche we’ve designed!"
"Thank you for your understanding!" The Wurttemberg Envoy nodded and replied to Jero Bonaparte.
For the Kingdom of Wurttemberg, joining Jero Bonaparte’s proposed currency union plan was not as eager as it was for the Kingdom of Belgium.
However, the Kingdom of Wurttemberg still needed a stable currency system to maintain dostic stability.
Historically, around 1857, the Kingdom of Wurttemberg abandoned the Austrian Empire’s currency standard system and joined the more prospering Kingdom of Prussia’s standard system.
Now, the French Empire’s currency union system is more secure than the Kingdom of Prussia’s currency, so joining France naturally falls within the consideration of the Kingdom of Wurttemberg.
This era’s Germany was unlike the Germany fifty years later; Southern Germany’s centripetal force was much stronger than fifty years later.
After conversations with the Wurttemberg Envoy ended, Valerovsky appeared in Jero Bonaparte’s office.
"Your Majesty, according to the Marseille City Hall telegram, Pope Pius IX arrived in Marseille an hour ago!" Valerovsky reported to Jero Bonaparte.
"That old Pope Pius IX, he’s finally here!" Jero Bonaparte muttered under his breath.
"Yes! Your Majesty!" Valerovsky nodded to Jero Bonaparte.
"What arrangents has your Ministry of Foreign Affairs made for Pope Pius IX?" Jero Bonaparte asked once more.
Valerovsky inford Jero Bonaparte that, according to their arrangents, Pope Pius IX would take the train from Marseille this afternoon and was expected to arrive at the Paris Railway Station the following morning.
At that ti, Jero Bonaparte would need to personally go to the Paris Railway Station by carriage to welco Pope Pius IX.
"Alright!" Jero Bonaparte responded indifferently, then continued to say to Valerovsky, "However, I think one more item should be added!"
"What item?" Valerovsky inquired of Jero Bonaparte.
"Co over, I’ll tell you!"
...
Jero Bonaparte imdiately issued an order to the Guard Army stationed in the suburbs of Paris to blockade the Paris Railway Station.
That evening, under the leadership of General Vayan, a battalion of soldiers set up a cordon at the Paris Railway Station.
Early the next morning, Royal Chief Steward Mokar sent a maid to knock on Augusta’s bedroom door.
"Who is it!" Jero Bonaparte, in a sleepy haze, shouted towards the door.
"Your Majesty, it’s ti for you to get up!" the maid softly said to Jero Bonaparte inside the room.
"Alright! I know!" Jero Bonaparte replied, imdiately closing his eyes once more.
After a while, the sound of knocking reached Jero Bonaparte’s ears again.
"I know! I know!" Jero Bonaparte shouted again.
This ti, before he could close his eyes and take a nap once more, Augusta gently shook Jero Bonaparte, preventing him from falling back to sleep.
"I know!" Jero Bonaparte reopened his eyes amid the gentle shaking.
Subsequently, he took the pocket watch from under his pillow and glanced at the ti.
9:10 am, less than 50 minutes remained until Pope Pius IX’s arrival.
"Oh no! I’m going to be late!" Jero Bonaparte hurriedly dressed, picking up his scattered clothes from the floor.
Afterward, he glanced at Augusta, who lay naked on the bed, and said, "You should get up too! Pope Pius IX is coming!"
"Mm!" Empress Augusta stretched lazily, nodded in agreent.
After explaining the situation, Jero Bonaparte left Empress Augusta’s room and encountered Mokar walking towards him in the corridor.
"Mokar, how are the carriages I asked you to prepare last night?" Jero Bonaparte imdiately inquired of Mokar.
"Everything is ready!" Mokar replied to Jero Bonaparte.
"Good, let’s depart at once!" Jero Bonaparte said.
"Your Majesty, perhaps you should eat sothing before we leave!" Mokar suggested.
"There’s no ti to eat now!" Jero Bonaparte shook his head and refused: "Let’s depart right away!"
"Yes!"
Mokar and Jero Bonaparte quickly proceeded to the Tuileries Palace hall.
"Your Majesty, please wait here for a mont! I will call for the accompanying carriage!"
"Hurry up! Ti is running out!"
After waiting quietly in the hall for around five minutes, Mokar reappeared and inford Jero Bonaparte that the carriage and accompanying escort were waiting at the foot of the steps.
Jero Bonaparte jogged out of the Tuileries Palace hall, descended the steps, and quickly got into a gilded open carriage.
"Depart!" At Mokar’s command, the carriage slowly started moving.
The dragoon cavalry quickly ford two lines, surrounding the carriage to protect Jero Bonaparte’s safety.
Under the gaze of the subjects on both sides of the street, Jero Bonaparte arrived at the Paris Railway Station around 9:50 am.
Upon alighting from the carriage, he quickly learned from General Vayan of the situation at the railway station, and upon hearing the train had not yet arrived, Jero Bonaparte breathed a sigh of relief.
Then, accompanied by General Vayan, Jero Bonaparte entered the Paris Railway Station to await the train’s arrival.
At 10:05 am, a loud whistle sounded in the distance.
Reviews
All reviews (0)