Chapter 337: Make France Great Again
Napoleon III, who successfully became emperor, was both happy and angry.
He was happy that after years of wandering, he finally ascended the throne of the French emperor that he had dreamed of, a throne that once belonged to his uncle and the Napoleon family.
He was angry that his commencing as emperor this time was relatively smooth, which meant that other countries on the European continent no longer regarded the weakened France as a threat, and believed that even if someone from the Bonaparte family became the French emperor, it would not pose a threat to Europe.
This was contempt for France and the Bonaparte family!
France needed to go through a war and stand on the corpses of powerful enemies to show other countries on the European continent that French men had stood up again!
Napoleon III crumpled up Nicholas I's letter and threw it on the ground.
At this time, Russia, the "European Gendarmerie" that was in the limelight and had unlimited glory, was the best corpse and target.
The Russian Empire looked strong enough, and defeating Russia would prove France's strength.
His uncle was defeated in Russia. Defeating the Russian Empire can also avenge the failure of the 1812 expedition to Russia, and then disintegrate the old anti-French alliance.
Only by disintegrating the old anti-French alliance can France have a chance to revive and rise.
More importantly, the British are now also very afraid of this polar bear who is too enthusiastic about European affairs.
Taking Russia as an enemy can arouse the sympathy of the British, and work together to curb the momentum of the polar bear's westward advance, and cut off the bear's paw that the polar bear extends to the west.
Napoleon III was exiled to Britain, and his years of exile in Britain also deepened his understanding of Britain.
Although Britain was once a major member of the anti-French alliance, Britain has no permanent allies on the European continent.
When France is strong, Britain can ally with Russia, and when Russia is strong, Britain can naturally ally with France.
There are no permanent allies between countries, only permanent interests.
Of course, launching a war also requires an excuse, a legitimate excuse to send troops.
Now, this excuse has been provided, and it was given by Nicholas I himself.
Nicholas I's ambition made Abdul Mejid, the 31st Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, deeply uneasy.
Mejid's original idea was to walk between Orthodox Russia and Catholic England and France to ensure the safety of the Ottoman Empire.
But Nicholas I's undisguised expansionist ambitions quickly changed the Sultan's attitude and made him closer to the two Catholic countries of Britain and France.
The rulers of the Ottoman Empire also knew that whether it was pro-Russian or pro-British and French, it was a very bad choice for the Ottoman Empire.
But obviously the result of being pro-Russian was worse, because the greedy Russia had more urgent territorial demands for them. The Ottoman rulers finally decided to move closer to Britain and France, choosing the lesser of two evils.
One-third of the population in the Ottoman Empire was Christian, and among these Christians, there were both Orthodox Christians and Catholics.
The Ottoman Empire was a dictatorship, but due to the numerous religious factions in the country, many Christian holy sites were located in the Ottoman Empire, so there were also many Christian people in the Ottoman Empire.
The religious issues of the empire have always been a headache for the sultans of all generations. Of course, religion is also a bargaining chip they can use.
This time, the bargaining chip that the Ottoman Empire gave to the two Catholic countries of Britain and France was that as long as Britain and France were willing to help the Ottoman Empire resist the invasion of Tsarist Russia, the Ottoman Empire would offer the right to use the holy places of Jerusalem Church and Bethlehem Church.
Napoleon III was not a loyal Catholic believer. During the reign of his uncle Napoleon I, he even expelled many clergymen in France.
However, this time, as long as Nicholas I dared to send troops to the Ottoman Empire, he chose to fight for the Holy Land and Catholicism.
Since Nicholas I sent a reply letter with arrogant words, it was impolite not to return the favor. Napoleon III also had to respond to Nicholas I's arrogance.
Napoleon III took off his gloves and threw them on the table, saying to his confidant beside him.
"Give this pair of gloves to the Tsar."
Taking off the gloves is a courtesy before a knight's duel, which also shows Napoleon III's determination to compete with Nicholas I.
After his confidant took the gloves, Napoleon III called his general Pierre Joseph François Bosquet.
"Your Majesty!" Bosquet greeted Napoleon III who was standing by the window.
Napoleon III, like his uncle, was of medium build, and he also exuded a temperament of majesty without anger.
Now the whole country has high hopes for the emperor of the Bonaparte family, hoping that he can lead France out of the trough.
"This year's plan to expand the army by 50,000 must be completed on time, and the war is getting closer and closer to France." Napoleon III said to Bosquet.
"Your Majesty, as long as the military expenditure is sufficient, the expansion is not a problem." Bosquet replied.
What Bosquet meant was that the military expenditure was not sufficient at the moment.
"I will solve the problem of military expenditure." Napoleon said earnestly.
"Once a war breaks out with Russia, the success or failure of this war will determine whether France can gain a firm foothold in the European continent in the future. This war can only be won, not lost. It is time for France, the rooster that has been sleeping for many years, to crow."
If you win, your prestige will increase, but if you lose, you will be in danger.
Napoleon III knew that he could be supported by the French people and successfully ascend the throne of the French emperor because of the great legacy left by his uncle.
Rather than saying that the French people still yearn for the Bonaparte dynasty, it is better to say that the French people miss the strong France under the rule of his uncle Napoleon I.
He had just ascended the throne and his rule in France was not very stable. He needed a military victory to strengthen his authority, consolidate his rule in France, awaken the fighting spirit of the French people, and inspire the national pride of the French people.
If he lost this battle, his ending would be more miserable than his uncle. He had no way back. This was a war that could only succeed, not fail.
He couldn't afford to lose.
"Your Majesty, I would like to ask, have the British expressed their position? Being an enemy of Russia, the attitude of the Russians is crucial." Bosquet said.
The Russians want to win over the British, and the French also want to win over the British.
The British's position on the Eastern issue is too important, so important that he can win or lose.
Napoleon III didn't take Nicholas I's so-called Austro-Hungarian allies seriously.
This was not because the Austro-Hungarian Empire was relatively weak, but Russia's involvement in the Danube would inevitably affect the core interests of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Although the Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Joseph was young, he must have understood the principle of not allowing others to sleep soundly beside his bed. Unless he wanted the Austro-Hungarian Empire to become the second Poland.
After all, the greedy Russians' expansion pace is endless.
"Do you think that with the British politicians' shrewdness, they will express their position so early?" Napoleon III said calmly.
"I am only 80% sure that Britain will stand on our side, but I am 100% sure that Britain will remain neutral and not stand on the side of Russia."
Napoleon III's words gave Bosquet a reassurance. As long as the British did not stand on the side of the old Russians, he had the confidence to lead the French men to teach those gray beasts of the Tsar a lesson and let them know who is the world's number one army.