"If that's not what you mean, then what do you mean?"

After being posed by Charles in the same way, Palmerston's face was also a little difficult to look at.

He found that the young man in front of him was indeed very determined, not at all frightened by the newcomer, and even more so not afraid of his threat. And the thinking is also very clear, not at all moved by himself.

It was indeed a material for diplomacy, and Louis Bonaparte was not wrong, he thought to himself.

These Frenchmen are slippery, and they like to hide their intentions in ambiguous words, hoping to make others hold back first, and then gain advantage from them, as has been the case since Talleyrand, and this young man has learned a lot.

It's a pity that as a tried and tested foreign secretary, Palmerston naturally has the same ability, and he never let this young man take advantage of it.

He asked aggressively, as if he really wanted to take advantage of this meeting to poke out the bottom of the French in one breath.

"We have great respect for France's interests, but if your country is secretive about its intentions, it is possible that in the thick fog of ambiguity, no one will be able to judge your country's sincerity in defending peace, and will not be able to understand how to help France to maintain peace." There was already a hint of impatience in his tone, and he wanted to use this to declare the respect that an old-timer deserved, "Monsieur Treville, at least you have a very Taglilan style in the point that you are unpredictable. ”

Although on the surface, he was insinuating that Charles's words were not true and slurping, but unintentionally. He also acknowledged that the young Trever was also a member of the circle.

"Actually. France did not want to seize anything in the Near East, but wanted to maintain something. "Seeing has stimulated Palmerston. Charles also rekindled his usual polite smile: "The President wants to preserve not only the status quo in Western Europe, but also the existing status quo in the East - and if it is disrupted in some way, it is necessary for France to participate in the maintenance of order among the peace-loving powers......"

Such a strong hint was almost like naming names, and at this moment not only Palmerston, but even Prince Albert, who had been silent, was a little shocked.

If Charles had dodged too much just now, now he had gone too far, so much so that the British, who had always wanted to stay in a position of superiority, always had difficulty mastering the rhythm.

"Defend the status quo in the Near East. Do you mean that Monsieur Bonaparte intends to preserve the continued existence of Turkey? ”

"Turkey has always existed and will continue to exist in the future, it is a sovereign and independent country that does not need our maintenance, it is a proud and glorious nation, and it is not easy to be at the mercy of others. Of course, it should not be arbitrarily trampled on its sovereignty. "With a cliché, Charles circumvented the British accusation that France intended to interfere in Turkey." As a long-standing friendly country, the preservation of the basic integrity and sovereign independence of the Ottoman Empire is very important to France's diplomatic interests - and I believe, to other peace-loving powers in Europe. It is also very important. ”

"The country is stinking, corrupt, and the monarch is incompetent." As soon as I heard the Charles praising the Turks. Palmerston chuckled contemptuously, "It's a sick man." I just want to hold on to that little bit of ancestral property. ”

"Maybe you have a point." Charles nodded approvingly, but the conversation changed suddenly. "But even if it is a sick man, it is at least able to hold the ancestral property in its hands and is willing to act as a gatekeeper for Europe......"

"Oh! Concierge! I've only heard that today! Palmerston couldn't help but laugh, "This janitor is not very competent, and seems to be trying to snatch something from the house all day long." ”

"Perhaps it was in the past, since the defeat at the foot of Vienna a century and a half ago, the Turks had no strength or desire to invade Europe - on the contrary, he has been repeatedly invaded by other nations since then." Charles calmly told the Foreign Secretary what he must have known. "In a sense, it has now become a breakwater that can help the peace-loving nations of Europe to hold back the terrible frenzy from further afield......"

"That is, if this breakwater is crumbling in the face of a terrible frenzy, France will not hesitate to go even to the aid of the pagan country so that it can survive it?" After a moment of thought, Minister Palmerston finally asked again, "That is, your country is convinced that the status quo and borders of the Near and Eastern Europe should be respected and guaranteed, and that no one should act arbitrarily in disregard of others?" ”

"Peace is precious, and it should benefit everyone, and it should not distinguish between religious barriers, right?" Charles smiled and replied, "If the country collapses, then I don't think anyone will be able to stay alone." The terrible frenzy will not cease with the collapse of the pagan state, but, with more human and material resources, it will continue to pour into the heart of Europe with even more unstoppable force until it will turn the whole of Europe into a desert of civilization. At least, with our support, it is better for this sick man to come up with objective manpower and material resources to protect his ancestral property than to blindly back down and then have to fight the frenzy alone, isn't it? ”

Then, without further ado, he looked at Palmerston in a challenging manner, waiting for him to open his cards.

If he and the Great Britain he represents had really made some kind of decision, then when Charles had said that, he would have to give a definite answer.

Charles waited in silence, waiting for his final verdict on the pointlessness of his journey.

"I have to admit that you have some point." After a moment of silence, Chancellor Palmerston finally spoke. "The maintenance of peace in Europe requires the cooperation and efforts of every peace-loving nation, and certain artificial boundaries should not affect our desire for peace. But are you really that sure that the frenzy will definitely be there and not somewhere else? ”

After hearing his answer, Charles breathed a sigh of relief.

The verdict has finally come down.

Make sense.

This journey will be destined for him to return to France with a credit.

It's finally here.

The times have helped him, and he is also shaping them

"It's just a precautionary measure." With a sense of contented rejoicing, Charles simply drank a glass of wine, "In any case, this frenzy of destruction and ruin, which brings destruction and ruin, always exists, and if it does not flock to this place, it will flock there, and its endless greed makes it always do it." ”

And it ......, almost unconsciously, and the Chancellor Palmerston also used the tone of the Charles, "and it should be stopped by the peace-loving nations." ”

After he finished speaking, the two of them laughed tacitly almost at the same time.

The little unhappiness caused by the little conflict between them just now had completely disappeared at this time.

However, although it was about to come out, the two of them still tacitly understood that neither of them continued to dig deeper into the topic and point out which country the "terrible frenzy" came from.

However, even if they don't specify it, they actually understand what it means.

Although the Turks have been at enmity with the Austrians for generations, Austria now has no ability or will to wage a large-scale war against it, and it is true that it is in danger, but this danger comes from only one country.

When Treville, on behalf of France, said that France would not sit idly by and watch a country overextend itself in the Near East or elsewhere, the British were quick to respond with affirmative and encouragement.

It's a given.

The British would rather the Turks just rot and profit from it than that the region would be mired in secession and civil war, not to mention the worse consequences of falling into Russian hands.

If Turkey were to disintegrate, the Tsar would in fact soon march into the Balkans, as far as Istanbul, and not stop until he had seized the entire Black Sea - and then, in fact, the British hegemony in the Mediterranean, and the whole world, would be in jeopardy.

It was a threat absolutely intolerable to any Englishman, so much so that it seemed to them that the man with the surname Bonaparte at this time was even much more lovely than the man with the surname Romanov - if this Bonaparte was willing to let France be honest.

Fifty years ago, this would have been unimaginable, but the world is so changing that it is breathtaking.

"I was touched to see President Bonaparte so devoted to peace in Europe. That's right, as he thought, I also think that if we want to defend peace in Europe, we can't help but be united......" After listening to Minister Palmerston's reply, Prime Minister Russell, who was accustomed to being straightforward, directly singled out everything. "The concerns of the French are also the concerns of the British, if the French ...... and some other countries that are willing to contribute to the defense of peace in Europe...... Britain is also happy to help them and maintain their own peace. ”

In a distraught manner, Paul Birot mechanically translated the words to Charles.

Although his status is not high, after all, he has been in the diplomatic arena for several years, and he can hear what is hidden under these high-sounding words.

Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Is this joint interference? Or is it a threat of war?

He never imagined that he would hear such a terrible thing on such a warm morning.

"At least for now we have peace, and we deserve peace." Perhaps because of the satisfaction of what Charles had delivered, Palmerston smiled and nodded at Charles, his pale and wrinkled face showing the charm of youth, "So, young man, let's make a toast to peace, shall we?" ”

"Cheers!" Charles raised his glass in obedience. (To be continued......)