Chapter 949: The Tsar's Government With Open Minds
The British government was all overwhelmed, let alone the French government. Already at a loss, I don't know what to do next.
As a party, Napoleon IV received more bad news. On the bright side, the French army regrouped again after the defeat, but the outside world did not know the painful price the French army paid for this.
Retreat in a rout is not an easy task. The enemy is not a fool, and will definitely take the opportunity to expand the results. If you want to withdraw smoothly, it is necessary to survive by docking your tail.
Moreover, those who carry out the post-broken mission must also be elites with high loyalty. If the newly formed army with many Italians is left behind, there is a chance that when the Austrian army arrives, they will defect.
Then a million French troops were gone. Killed + wounded + routed + captured, the total force of the French army was reduced by more than 1 million, including 300,000 elites.
The loss of troops was heavy, and the loss of materials and equipment was even more numerous. In order to retreat as soon as possible, the French even had to blow up their own artillery positions.
If the supplies are gone, you can continue to buy them. If the weapons and equipment are gone, you can recreate them. The loss of troops can also be replenished, but time does not allow it.
This will not be the end of the battle, the Turin offensive and defensive battle has already started, and the Luxembourg battle will follow, and the French army can only respond passively.
Army Minister Luskinia: "Your Majesty, the Spaniards launched an attack on the Roussillon area yesterday morning. After the bloody battle of the front-line soldiers, they finally defeated the enemy in the evening."
Rare news, Napoleon IV was not happy. Obviously, the Spaniards couldn't sit still because of the French defeat.
Regardless of the strength of the Spaniards, France added another front, and then the military pressure became even greater.
Seeing that the Minister of War was hesitating to speak, Napoleon IV felt a chill in his heart and smiled bitterly: "Go ahead, where is the defeat, I can bear it. It's all at this stage, no matter how bad it is, how bad can it be? go?"
Despair, this is the most true portrayal of Napoleon IV's heart now. A series of defeats on the battlefield and a catastrophic defeat in diplomacy all hit Napoleon IV's confidence.
Watching the anti-French alliance grow stronger day by day, the only ally is swaying at this time. This kind of desperation is incomprehensible to others.
Luskinia said slowly: "Austria and Switzerland formed a coalition and launched an attack on us, and the eastern parts of Burgundy and Auvergne became battlefields.
The enemy is threatening, and we are severely under-strength in the east..."
Before Luskinia could finish speaking, Napoleon IV interrupted: "Understood, you can decide what to do with the War Department!"
Difficulty, trouble and other words, Napoleon IV has heard too much recently, and has long been tired of it. It's fine if it can be solved, the most fearful thing is the kind of unsolvable problem, but he has to solve it.
It's better not to listen to it than to have a headache. Anyway, the ministers will find ways to solve the problems that can be solved by themselves, and report only the solutions; he is also powerless to solve the problems that cannot be solved.
In a sense, Napoleon IV was a good boss. He suffered double failures in military and diplomatic affairs, and he did not push his subordinates to take the blame.
Of course, there is no real sense in pushing it out. Although it can relieve political pressure in the short term, it will also make everyone sad and cause turmoil within the government.
Prime Minister Terence Bulkin whispered: "Your Majesty, prepare to negotiate a truce! At this stage, we can no longer fight."
The "armistice negotiation" also needs to be divided into time. When France had the upper hand earlier, it naturally had the capital to negotiate conditions.
It is different now. France is at an overall disadvantage in military and diplomacy. If it proposes "truce negotiation", it will be equivalent to "surrender".
Terrence Bulkin was absolutely reluctant to surrender to the enemy, if possible. But there is no way, France really can't go on.
The fire of war has burned to the mainland of France, and every day the war continues, it will bring a lot of losses to France.
If you don't take advantage of the fact that you still have a few chips in your hand to negotiate with the anti-French alliance, and wait for people to fight all the way, and then negotiate the conditions, it will not be the current price.
After hesitating for a while, Napoleon IV sighed and said slowly, "How to talk?"
"A truce," he had no opinion. Napoleon IV did not mind an immediate armistice if possible. The problem is that it is easy to start a war, but difficult to end it.
Other countries may be able to do it with a little benefit, but Germany, Belgium and Austria will definitely not give up. Both sides have bloodshed, and it is impossible to negotiate at this time without paying a large price.
Foreign Secretary Karel Cadlecs replied: "The British agreed to mediate, and the London government made a commitment to ensure as far as possible the territorial integrity of France.
According to the current international situation, after the end of the European Continental War, Austria will be completely bigger, which is not in the interests of European countries.
At this point, including the Russians are our potential allies. Countries have not responded, mainly because the situation has changed too quickly and there is no reasonable excuse for intervention. "
Well, Karel Cadlec thinks she's running out of it. European countries don't want to see Austria as a dominant force, but it doesn't mean that everyone wants to pull France. These are two different concepts.
In real life, rationality often loses to sensibility. After all, people are not machines and are affected by emotions.
At least the neighbors of France are affected by emotions, and the influence of Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, and several
As far as the Italian state is concerned, it doesn't matter whether Austria will become bigger or not, it is more important to kill France first.
The so-called long-term interests are all bullshit. History has told everyone that if you don’t take the opportunity to kill the great enemy of France, you will not have a good life in the future.
No matter how great the interests are, they are not as important as their own safety. For a small country, survival is the first priority, and whoever is the boss is the younger brother anyway.
In this context, Austria will not be isolated as long as it does not eat alone. With so many enemies around, France should not try to get away without losing a layer of skin.
Whether it's self-deception or wishful thinking, the French government needs hope now, a hope that can get out of the way.
"Tell the British that we agree to negotiate and that we are willing to pay the price for this war. The colonies can be rejected, but the homeland must be kept intact.
The government has done a good job of appeasing the people, and as soon as the news of the negotiation spreads, it will definitely cause an uproar, and France can't stand the toss.
If necessary, I will abdicate at the right time and take responsibility for this war. "
After speaking, Napoleon IV seemed to have exhausted all his strength and lay down directly on the seat, ignoring everyone.
According to the rules of the political game on the European continent, it is very normal to pay indemnity for defeat in war. Unfortunately, nationalism has risen. Especially in France, which is a stronghold of nationalism, the people's tolerance for failure is lower.
In the general perception of society, colonies are also property, and if they are lost, they will be lost, but the native land must not be ceded.
The nationalist double-edged sword created by Napoleon himself finally turned back on himself, and the Bonaparte Dynasty ushered in the biggest challenge.
Only when the integrity of the country is preserved, Napoleon IV voluntarily abdicates to take responsibility, and relieves the anger of the people, can the Bonaparte dynasty have a chance of survival.
...
In St. Petersburg, the position of the tsarist government was also affected by the changing situation on the European continent.
There is no doubt that the tsarist government will not pull the French at this time. Even if someone saw the strategic significance of keeping France, they would not take action at this time.
Nothing else, only interest. If there is a strategic need, it is necessary to take grain from the fire for the French, then what is the need for diplomacy?
Marshal Ivanov said enthusiastically: "Your Majesty, the situation of this war has become clear. The French have suffered defeats in Central Europe and Southern Europe successively, and now they are powerless.
Affected by this, the Spaniards also launched a tentative attack on the border. Coupled with the Swiss battlefield that the Allies had just opened up, the French were actually fighting on four fronts.
If nothing else, within the next six months, the French will be defeated, and now it is our time to take action. "
The plan did not change quickly. Originally, the tsarist government was going to declare no war and sit back and watch France and Austria go shopping. It is a pity that the French are not very useful, and they have only just begun to show their defeat.
Since the plan to consume Austria's strength could not be completed, the tsarist government naturally had to consider how to maximize its benefits.
Picking peaches is a must, even if you can't get the largest one, you have to get the second largest one.
If there is no military presence at all, when the interests are distributed after the war, the Russian Empire's right to speak will also be lost.
Don't look at Austria's promise that the Russian Empire can share 20% of the war reparations, but it is not so simple to fulfill the promise.
Just a piece of paper, you want the French to pay obediently? Don't dream, the tsarist government has experience in defaulting on debts, and as long as the fist is big enough, it will not be given.
Without the support of the anti-French alliance, the Russian Empire alone has no ability to collect debts from the French.
This is still an ideal state. In case Austria disregards the situation and pulls a few younger brothers to divide France directly, without the last penny of indemnity, the tsarist government will be tragic.
In a sense, sending troops to join the war at this time is not only to attack France, but also to protect France.
Strength is the right to speak. Only when the Russian army appeared in the French mainland and disposed of France after the war, the tsarist government had enough right to speak.
Whether because of strategic needs or in order to get enough war reparations, the tsarist government needed to keep France alive. After all, only big countries can get money.
Alexander III hesitated, and the situation was changing so quickly that it was a little unacceptable. I only decided to watch the show last month, but I didn't expect to send troops again now.
Uncertainly asked: "Can the French really hold on?"
"Yes, Your Majesty! The actual situation may be worse than we expected, after all, two more fronts have been added. In addition, the Italian region is now unstable, and the French government has not enough troops to deal with the next war."
Ivanov answered affirmatively. This has been carefully studied by the Russian military, and even the most optimistic people do not think the French can come back.
Foreign Secretary Oscar Jimenez proposed: "Your Majesty, if we are worried that the loss of the war will be too great, we can actually take a roundabout strategy.
The British also want to keep France, and we are on the same page on this issue. It is completely possible to use their matchmaking to make direct contact with the French, and then land in France from the sea.
For Austria, the next most important thing is to unify the German region and digest the newly occupied French Africa. They will not make any extra efforts at this time.
As long as we preemptively occupy France, the empire's voice will naturally increase during post-war negotiations. "
It's a fact, Vie
The Nazi government's strategic plan has already been put on the surface. As long as the German region is unified and French Africa is digested, Austria will be the world's No. 1 power.
Compared with this, other things are side effects, including the weakening of France is no exception. After all, France in its heyday was able to get down, let alone a half-crippled France.
After a long silence, Alexander III slowly asked: "How can you guarantee that the French can trust us?
Moreover, even if the British were able to persuade the French government to agree, how could they be sure that this was not a trap? "
Trust is a flaw. Now France and Russia are enemies. With just a promise, they can send their own lifeline to the enemy. Normal people can't do it.
In case, after the Russian army entered France, the tsarist government suddenly turned its face, and the French government would have no chance to cry.
The same problem existed in the tsarist government. No matter how good the conversation is, it is useless. If the British turned their faces halfway, the Royal Navy directly sent the Russian army into the sea to feed the fish, and the tsarist government became the laughing stock of the century.
Given the contradiction between Britain and Russia, the London government has every motivation to do so.
No matter what others think, Alexander III couldn't trust the British anyway. Before he could ensure the safety of the Russian army, he would not dare to risk hundreds of thousands of Russian troops.
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