The third more

Having received the telegram from the ambassador in Berlin, France replied with the utmost speed.

Even Russell had just returned to the hotel to rest, when he received a notice from Bismarck, and he could only put on his clothes and go to the conference room non-stop.

Napoleon always surprises people, and just when everyone thought that France would accede to Bismarck's request and settle the matter as soon as possible, Paris gave a firm reply. Even Ambassador Gabriac, the representative of Paris in Berlin, trembled a little in his hands as he read out the telegram from Paris in front of all the diplomatic envoys present.

"We refuse to amend the contents of the Paris contract, and France will not agree to any despicable attempt to acquire the Alsace region, even if there is only an empty city left in Paris, France will never agree to divide the Alsace region, don't even think about it!"

Gabriac put down the telegram in his hand, glanced at Russell and Gochakov helplessly, and said, "This is the reply given by Paris." If Germany is not willing to accept it, it can try to grab it. ”

Bismarck was helpless against Napoleon's provocations, and who did not know that behind Paris stood the two giants of Great Britain and Russia, and if he did declare war, he could declare war on both empires at the same time. While Russia remains neutral, who knows if some dirty deal will be made behind its back.

Russell's attitude that Paris did not want to revise the treaty and declared war on Germany made Russell very difficult.

"What does Paris want to do now?"

Russell pulled Ambassador Gabriac aside and avoided Bismarck, complaining, "Britain has won the right to negotiate peace for you, why can't the Tuileries Palace cherish it?" Besides, it is just a modification of the Paris contract, and Alsace is still a co-trusteeship area. ”

Gabriac did not answer Russell's words, but silently took out another telegram from his pocket, handed it to the other party, and added, "The contents of this telegram are what President Napoleon wants to say to you." ”

Russell hesitantly opened the folded telegram, but there was only one sentence in it.

"I know what you Britons are thinking, to revise the Paris contract? Unless Paris becomes the land of Germany! Otherwise he would have to step over the corpses of a million troops! ”

Russell was shocked in his heart, although he was still calm on the surface, but his heart was turbulent. Originally, Prime Minister Gladstone planned to coax France to the negotiating table and then make the Alsace dispute public, so that there was really no possibility of reconciliation between France and Germany, even if Prime Minister Bismarck stepped down and replaced himself with a dove government, it would be the same outcome.

And Napoleon considered the same problem as Russell, originally in history, France and Germany formed a mortal enmity because of the territorial issue, but this time it was different, because France did not lose territory in the real sense, and after Bismarck stepped down, he was replaced by Crown Prince Frederick, and there was still a possibility of détente between the two sides. But after the French border is really ceded, the two sides can only fight to the death until one of them is destroyed.

Now Russell really wanted to leave it alone, but because of the interests of Britain, he had to continue to spend it here, and Napoleon only sent a few telegrams to push Britain into a corner, and had to go down according to his plan.

"There is no doubt that Britain should be on the side of the French. No matter what time it is. And France will not negotiate with Germany, so please ask Minister Russell to persuade Prime Minister Bismarck, how about this Alsace affair ending with all parties taking a step back? If you are not willing to back down, then sorry, please trouble Minister Russell to tell Prime Minister Bismarck that France has deployed heavy troops on the border, and they have drawn up a detailed battle plan, in order to wash away the previous shame, this time France will drag Germany into hell even if it does its best. ”

Faced with Paris's soft and hard attitude, Russell could only raise his hands and surrender. He sighed helplessly, looked at Ambassador Gabriac in front of him, and said, "I can only say try my best, because no one can guarantee that Chancellor Bismarck will not listen to me." ”

"Of course he will."

Gabriac relayed Napoleon's words in full, smiling and mocking, "Because Germany was not ready for war at all, while France had been preparing for a whole year." ”

Ambassador Gabriac deliberately said this very loudly so that Bismarck could hear it. Hearing that France had been preparing for war for a year sank everyone's hearts. With all eyes on Bismarck, any decision made by the German chancellor would change the future of the continent.

Is dignity important, or is it important to protect national interests?

Just as he hesitated, a voice rang out from outside the door.

"Bismarck, what are you waiting for? Is it really necessary to drag this nascent empire into war to be satisfied? ”

Everyone turned around, only to see Wilhelm I, who had just recovered from a serious illness, slowly walked into the conference room with the support of others, originally he was going to be a hand-shaking emperor and hand over all the power to Bismarck. After all, he had handled everything well before, and William I believed that he would be able to handle it just as well this time.

But Bismarck miscalculated, and his iron-clad methods did not bring any benefit to Germany, but were drawn into the political maelstrom. The prime minister, who is on the cusp of the storm, has no way out, and he can only accept everyone's accusations and questions.

"I'll leave this political negotiation to me, so go down and rest first. I've worked you during my absence, you're too tired to carry it sooner or later. ”

Wilhelm I walked up to Bismarck, patted his old friend on the shoulder, and whispered with relief, "The emotions of revenge have overwhelmed your reason, and now you are not fit to make any decisions." ”

"But Your Majesty ......"

Bismarck still wanted to fight for one last chance, but Wilhelm I made a silent gesture, signaling him not to speak, "Shh, I can continue to fight, rest assured, I will not fall as long as I have you and me." ”

After speaking, he turned around and faced the foreign envoys present, and announced a shocking news on the spot. And Bismarck, after hearing the bad news, was also stunned.

"Prime Minister Bismarck is unwell and is about to go to Val Ching Manor to rest for half a year from now on, and he cannot hold the post of prime minister for the time being. So I'll take care of the rest of the negotiations, no problems, right? ”

Wilhelm I temporarily relieved Bismarck of power almost without bloodshed, and now he was in charge of the war crisis.

Looking at the quiet conference room, he said calmly, "If not, then it's up to me to start making new requests." ”