"You can offer asylum with me, I'd be happy to keep you in England for a few more years."

As it is not a fully formal official occasion, the Minister is not shy about making a joke, even when the conversation has turned to the most important aspects.

But, of course, this is just a joke.

Not to mention that with Charles's current status, it is impossible to choose to abandon Yiqiē and surrender to the British, even if he really does this with his brain, a useless Treville will not be accepted by the British with a smile.

It's just that this kind of joke is a good way to lighten the atmosphere, and give Charles a chance to breathe a sigh of relief for a while.

When he said in a solemn tone that he wanted to have a showdown with the British, the smile on Palmerston's face faded away, and he looked at Charles with a solemn look.

"Well, please, please." He spread his hands and made a gesture that Charles could speak freely.

Under the gaze of three of Britain's most influential people at this time, Charles took a slight breath and struggled to maintain his composure.

"First of all, let me be clear that the President is peace-loving, and he wants the wounds of his nation to heal in peace and prosperity more than anyone else...... Therefore, he believed that French interests were best expanded by peaceful means. ”

"Preferably" - that is, does it not rule out the use of the means of war? Chancellor Palmerston thought to himself.

"Oh, I can understand the thoughts of the president of your country." He took a unhurried sip of wine, "Peace—the most precious thing of our time, the one we have sought so hard. It is to let Europe enjoy the peace and tranquility. Britain is not afraid of threats, and no one can threaten it. ”

"You're right. No one was able to threaten Britain. Charles smiled and nodded in agreement, as if he didn't hear the threat implied. I'm sure no one would want to do that. At least, for the president, he has absolutely no intention of competing with any country......"

"Where, then, does Monsieur Bonaparte want to get our understanding?" Palmerston decided not to go around in circles with him, "In what way can he be satisfied 'peacefully'?" ”

"As you know, the president is not keen on territorial expansion, and he is more than happy to recognize the borders that the Vienna Conference has drawn for the nations of Europe......," Charles said, staring at Palmerston, word by word. But, whether out of the dignity of a national leader or out of the old honour of France, he wanted to restore a ...... in some areas Well...... A state of great respect in France, which was the norm in the past. At all times, it was necessary for France, as a large Catholic country, to maintain the prestige of the Church. ”

Because Charles spoke very slowly, Palmerston could hear it very clearly, and even had time to chew.

After quietly listening to his last words. Palmerston re-translated his words to the Prime Minister.

Then he looked at Charles again.

"Is the president trying to exclude Austrian influence in Italy?"

"We don't want to exclude anyone." Charles replied implicitly, "I just want to regain respect for France." The Kingdom of Sardinia wanted to draw closer to France and sought refuge from France as a generous and welcoming nation. France cannot refuse this trust......"

Palmerston and Prime Minister Russell brushed aside Charles and whispered a few words.

It wasn't until a moment later that Prime Minister Russell spoke.

"Britain has no intention of interfering with the freedom of movement of any country. If the Kingdom of Sardinia intends to carry out a foreign policy, then it naturally has the right to do so. Of course, the consequences of this should also be borne by the country itself. ”

After listening to Paul Bilot's translation. Charles nodded in relief. "This is the bearing of a great power, which is admirable."

In this way, the British implicitly recognized the Kingdom of Sardinia as a vassal state of France, as well as France's freedom of movement in Italy.

"Speaking of which, I'm a little strange......" Palmerston laughed suddenly, "Mr. Treville, in your recent statement, I thought you were originally pro-Austrian!" ”

In the final analysis, if France were to form an alliance with the Kingdom of Sardinia, the already ambitious country would inevitably behave even more indiscriminately, and would inevitably anger Austria and destroy Franco-Austrian relations, which already lacked much trust.

It can also be seen from here that Britain has been paying close attention to France's diplomatic developments, and even Charles's own private statements have been inquired about by them early on.

"Sometimes, guns attract friends more than flowers......," Charles replied in a whisper, neither acknowledging nor denying the temptation.

In his view, Louis Bonaparte's anti-Austrian attitude did not affect the overall situation, at least for the time being, and allowed Austria to suffer some kind of setback, but rather served as an opportunity to pull them over - as Napoleon and Bismarck did, history has shown that Austria almost never holds grudges, or at least is very capable of yielding to reality.

In the final analysis, in foreign affairs, in addition to long-term strategy, there is inevitably a certain degree of opportunism. Even Charles was not averse to letting France gather one more vassal first.

"But there is one condition." The Prime Minister suddenly spoke, "France cannot restore its prestige in Italy at the expense of freedom of navigation and peace at sea in the Mediterranean, otherwise Britain, as the backbone of peace, cannot stay out of it." ”

"We didn't think so." After listening to the translation, Charles reassured, "The peace of shipping in the Mediterranean is also of paramount importance to us. ”

At this moment, Britain, which controls Gibraltar, Malta and Egypt, is the rightful hegemon of the Mediterranean, and they clearly do not like it to be challenged – and France does not have the strength to do so now.

"Italy doesn't seem to be able to satisfy Monsieur Bonaparte......" Palmerston frowned again at the sight of Charles still looking so unhurried. Could you please tell us what else he thinks? For private gatherings like ours, you can certainly speak your mind. ”

"In order to protect the wealth of France, the president wants to expand the French colonies." Charles said another condition.

"France has its own freedom of action, except for those which have been assigned to England or which have been claimed by England, and it is free to expand as long as it can." Palmerston's answer this time was crisp.

It's cunning!

That's a good thing to say, but now that Britain has scraped away so much territory, how much more can be left for others? Moreover, "the places that Britain claimed possession" were tantamount to asking France to communicate and understand Britain before expanding its colonies.

These Englishmen are indeed as hard as stones. Charles thought indignantly.

Forget it, this is also one of the expected outcomes, at least better than the worst.

"Also...... France's interests in the Near East also need to be effectively protected. He suppressed his dissatisfaction and continued.

Palmerston's face suddenly turned ugly.

"Do you mean Egypt?" As if thinking of something unpleasant, Palmerston suddenly frowned. "IMHO, excessive demand is probably good for anyone. Sir, you should have an impression of something that happened ten years ago. It was because of certain demands that were unnecessary and did not bring any benefit to France that poor Monsieur Thiers lost the position which he had so hard ...... gained"

Then he laughed rather coldly, "Oh, I forgot, that he lost his life not long ago in the coup d'état between Monsieur Bonaparte and you. In view of this not-so-pleasant end of his, I suppose that Monsieur Bonaparte, as a new and representative of France, is much more sensible. ”

Such an arrogant attitude made Charles feel extremely unhappy, so Charles also decided to be tough.

"France has the right to decide what is necessary for itself, and what is good for itself, sir." He replied coldly.

This unyielding posture and challenging eyes made Palmerston, who had entered old age, shake his body a little uncomfortably.

In March 1840, Thiers, who had just come to power, was in high spirits and claimed to have France carry out a radical line of "making a difference", which soon aroused the resentment and alarm of the Great Powers led by Great Britain who had not yet completely forgotten that the French had cast a terrible shadow over Europe forty years earlier.

At that time, the Ottoman governor of Egypt, Muhammad Ali, rebelled against his dying empire and sought to make himself the monarch of Egypt.

Under the leadership of the British, the four great powers of Britain, Austria, Russia and Prussia held a meeting and decided to force France to withdraw its support for Egypt.

The recognition of the permanent independence of Belgium in 1839 and the forced withdrawal from Egypt in 1840 were two great diplomatic failures, and in a sense an important reason for the loss of popularity of Louis-Philippe's July dynasty.

"Sir, this will not work, absolutely not." Palmerston replied in a stern tone that could not be questioned, "No British government would sit idly by and watch the French get their hands on Egypt." ”

Although the Suez Canal has not yet been excavated, Egypt has occupied a very important position among the British rulers, and even if it is to win over France, the British will not be willing to give Egypt to France.

Paul Birot shrank uneasily, and the sudden severity of the tense atmosphere made him nervous again.

"No, I think you misunderstood." After successfully off Palmerston, Charles suddenly laughed again. "When we say the Near East, we don't mean that."

Louis Bonaparte and Charles certainly did not have such dreams. (To be continued......)