Chapter 944 It's Time to Stand in Line
In Paris, after repeatedly confirming that the news of the Russian declaration of war was correct, Napoleon IV fainted directly, and the French government followed suit.
The innocence really fell. Austria alone made them exhausted, and now the Russians have come to the ground again, and the next battle will not be fought at all.
Seeing the doctor coming out, Prime Minister Terence Bulkin hurriedly asked, "Mr. Turcon, how is your Majesty's health?"
In a monarchy, the emperor fainting is also a big deal. If it were normal times, and Napoleon IV's health had a problem, Terence Bourgin, the prime minister, might have secretly celebrated.
The struggle between monarchy and prime minister never stopped. When the monarch's body is in trouble, it is a good time to expand the prime minister's power.
Clearly, Terrence Bulkin is not in the mood for power right now. France is now in trouble at home and abroad. If there is another power struggle, it will really be over.
Under the nest, An has finished her eggs.
As the Prime Minister of France, Terence Bourgin's fate has long been tied to the Bonaparte dynasty, and he has no chance to change jobs.
"Prime Minister, please rest assured, His Majesty is in good health. It was just that he was severely stimulated and fainted suddenly.
Now that you are awake, you can go in. It's just that His Majesty's mental state is still a bit wrong. You have to pay attention to it, you can't let him get too tired, and especially you can't be severely stimulated. "
After listening to the doctor's explanation, while heaving a sigh of relief, Terence Bulkin showed a helpless wry smile again.
Not stimulated?
Given the current situation in France, unless the emperor completely decentralizes power and does not mix politics at all, it is inevitable to be stimulated.
However, this is not possible. The foundation of the Bonaparte dynasty was too shallow, and the French people were too lively.
With the lessons of Louis XVI, who dares to talk to the emperor about delegating power, then prepare to enjoy special care!
...
Seeing that the cabinet members came, Napoleon IV on the hospital bed waved his hand and said weakly: "You are all here, find a seat and sit down by yourself, and then let's start!"
"Your Majesty, your body?"
Prime Minister Terence Burkin said hesitantly. It can be seen that Napoleon IV is in a very bad state, and Terence Bourgin is very worried that the emperor will not be able to stand the stimulation.
Napoleon IV shook his head with a wry smile: "It doesn't matter, I can stand it. It's all at this point, how bad can it be?"
For the first time since his birth, Napoleon IV felt hopeless. Even when the rebels swept Paris back then, he had never been so desperate.
"Preliminary judgment, the Russians suddenly declared war on us this time is an Austrian conspiracy. No news was leaked in advance, it was obvious that the enemy wanted to catch us by surprise.
In this regard, the government bears the responsibility. Knowing that the Russian-Austrian alliance exists, it still trusts the judgment of the British, thinking that the Russians do not want to see Austria become bigger.
With the addition of the Russians, we will face even greater military pressure in the ensuing war. In order to deal with this unfavorable situation, the cabinet has just sent a telegram for help to the British.
The lips are dead and the teeth are cold, and the British do not want to see a single family on the European continent. If they don't want to face the Russian-Austrian alliance alone, the British should be on our side. "
As a politician, when analyzing the problem, Terence Bulkin did not forget to downplay his responsibility.
It seems that we are taking the initiative to take responsibility, but it is telling Napoleon IV: This is not the incompetence of the cabinet, the international situation is complicated, we just made a mistake that normal people will make.
Theoretically speaking, the Russians are already very good friends without holding back Austria. Taking the initiative to enter the field and help Austria seize the hegemony of the European continent is obviously unscientific.
Sadly, politics has never been scientific. The old enemies of Britain and France can stand together, and the operation of the Russians is nothing.
After listening to the Prime Minister's report, Napoleon IV asked flatly, "Is there any good news?"
The Russians were in the war, he knew it before he passed out. How serious the consequences will be, Napoleon IV has long been clear.
In this context, it is natural to need good news to soothe the mood. The news of the unknown success or failure of winning over the British is certainly not good news.
Prime Minister Terence Burkin responded: "The Anglo-Russian war has just ended, the Tsarist government is fighting a famine, and the war expenses can only be paid in advance by Austria.
According to the information from the embassy, the tsarist government has not yet prepared for war, and the Russians will not be able to send troops in a short time.
This has created an opportunity for us. As long as we win the battle between China and Europe before the Russians go to war, there is room for manoeuvre. "
Is this all good news?
For Napoleon IV, this was clearly a gamble. If the bet is won, the war will continue; if the bet is lost, there is no need to say anything, and you can prepare to run away!
However, it was this huge gamble that became France's only hope. As for British support, no one can expect the Royal Navy to bring warships ashore.
In a pure land war, even if the pocket army of the British is enlarged five times, it cannot reverse the balance of strength between the two sides.
Although not very satisfied, but something is better than no way. How can you know if you don't try it yourself?
...
Madrid, from the defeat of the Armada
Since the beginning, Spain has started a century of decline.
Decaying religion, feudal system, domestic chaotic political situation, and deliberate suppression by Britain and France in the international arena are the keys to the decline of Spain.
Especially in the last anti-French war, Spain, as a victorious country, not only lost large tracts of overseas colonies, but also ruthlessly rejected its request to recover the disputed territories with France.
Years are like knives. After decades of wear and tear, these humiliation and hatred have long since faded.
If nothing else, it will become a cold history in a few decades, lying quietly in a corner of the library, as long as historians will occasionally read it.
An accident happened. After the outbreak of the European Continental War, Austria set off a wave of anti-French in Europe. These forgotten old things have once again entered people's sight.
Today, unlike in the past, nationalism in Spain has risen. Although politically dominated by conservatives, nationalists also have the ability to make their voices heard.
With the efforts of the nationalists, the voice of revenge continued to appear in the society, especially after the French army was frustrated on the battlefield, it also contributed to the arrogance of the main war faction.
However, this is not enough. The conservatives who control the regime are still immersed in the invisibility of Napoleon's sweep of the European continent, and they dare not cross the line at all.
In this context, Austria's plan to win over Spain naturally did not go well. Apart from persuading the Spanish government to restrict exports to France and giving the French some eye drops, there was little to gain.
All this changed with the news that the Russians had entered the war.
The tsarist government is ready to declare no war, but the outside world does not know! The Russians also want to save face. It is enough to do this kind of thing a little bit. It would be embarrassing to say it.
Influenced by the participation of the Russians in the war, the European world is generally optimistic about the anti-French alliance, and Spain is no exception.
The neutral faction, who was originally in a wait-and-see state, has now also turned to the main war faction, and the voice of the main war has gradually overwhelmed the main war faction.
There is no way, the anti-French alliance has become a general trend, and Spain can become a victorious country by joining in with soy sauce.
Plus, Austria gave way too much. Throwing the French map directly over and choosing where to choose is really hard to refuse.
In the Royal Palace of Madrid, the main war faction and the main peace faction once again fell into a fierce quarrel.
The regent Queen Mother Maria Christina, who was born in Austria, has remained neutral on this issue in order to avoid suspicion.
Seeing the quarrel escalated into a scolding war, the Queen Mother Maria Cristina finally couldn't help it: "Shut up for me, pay attention to your identities, don't be like the racetrack!
The Russians have already participated in the war. I brought you here today to discuss our options, not to listen to your quarrel here. "
Neutrality does not mean no position, although it is not directly stated, oh but everyone still knows that the Queen Mother Maria Christina is inclined to Austria.
Perhaps before the situation is unknown, Maria Cristina will not take the grain for Austria, but the situation is different now. It is only a matter of time before the anti-French alliance wins, and Spain must stand in line.
Continuing to remain neutral seems to be not guilty of both, but in fact it is also disgusting with each other. There is nothing for now, and when the European War is over, it will be their turn to be unlucky.
Neutrality also requires a premise. Either one’s own strength is strong, and it is not necessary to stand in line; or it is insignificant, and it is the same whether to stand in line or not.
Sadly, declining Spain is neither. If you don't stand in line now, after the end of the European Continental War, you will inevitably be suppressed by the hegemony.
Foreign Secretary Bernard Roberts: "The situation of the European Continental War has become clear, and the chances of the French winning with the Russians entering the war are almost zero.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs believes that Austria's purpose to win over us now is not simply to fight against France, but more to rebuild the international order after the war.
Not only us, all neutral countries in Europe, except the British, are within Austria's reach.
It's just that because of geopolitics, we need to pay a little more to go to war with the French. However, pay and benefits are proportional, and the Vienna government is sincere in the distribution of benefits. "
Standing in the team is always the most troublesome problem, but Spain has not yet had the confidence to refuse. Rejecting Austria's wooing now would mean cutting yourself off from the future continental political system.
"It's not that serious, even if Austria wins the war, they can't cover the sky with one hand. The British, the Russians, the French will not let them do whatever they want.
On the contrary, it is more dangerous to participate in this war. It is not that everyone does not know how powerful France is. We cannot forget the lessons of the last anti-French war. Regardless of the strength of the anti-French alliance, it is uncertain who will win in the end.
Spain can no longer afford to toss, even if they want to stand in the team, it will have to wait for them to decide the winner. "
The speaker was the conservative leader, Marquis Wangari Maathai, who suffered from severe "law-phobia" because he had personally participated in the last anti-French war and witnessed the tragic defeat of Spain.
Not only him, everyone who has experienced the last anti-French war is a "law-phobia" patient and belongs to the most staunch anti-war faction of the Spanish government.
"His Excellency the Marquis, you are still in the last anti-French war, and France without Napoleon is different.
Just look at the battlefield to know: in Africa, they were beaten all the way by Austria; in the south, the French army was also suppressed by Austria; the only battlefield in Central Europe that seemed to have the upper hand, was not in fact
There is a bargain.
If the French hadn't expelled the people of the Rhineland and Belgium, increasing the logistical pressure on the anti-French alliance and delaying the decisive battle, they might have been defeated long ago.
Now that the Russians have joined the anti-French alliance again, in the face of absolute strength, what can the French rely on to make a comeback? Even if Napoleon was so powerful, he was not defeated in the end.
It's really safe to wait until the last line, but we won't have our share when we redistribute benefits in the future.
Don't expect someone to check and balance Austria after the war. The international situation is different now. It is unknown whether there will be France after the war.
Don't forget that Austria has promised us that the territory of France can be chosen. Obviously they are going to divide or dismember France.
If you don't participate, you will miss this opportunity..."