The second more

The butterfly effect has brought about a change in which everything is slowly starting to deviate from the right track of history.

Just when both Bismarck and Napoleon thought that the Franco-Prussian crisis was nothing more than a diplomatic crisis plus a military threat, Prince Frederick assumed the role of the pawn that dragged the situation into the abyss. Under the pretext of the secret French garrison in Alsace, Crown Prince Frederick's legions provoked a conflict on the border, firing artillery at the Alsace region, and soldiers also fired at the Alsatian garrison on the other side of the border. The French troops immediately blocked all the crossings and responded resolutely.

The first shots were fired by the German troops, and the act of inciting a border war reached Paris. It took the entire Tuileries higher-ups by surprise. The most surprising was Napoleon, who did not expect such a reckless move on the part of the Germans.

Seeing that the opportunity for revenge had come, the marshals who had previously been captured by the Prussian army petitioned and volunteered to lead their armies against the German invasion.

Conrobert even personally gave Napoleon a pledge, "Our defeat was due to the lack of preparation of the French army, but now it is different, after almost a year of rest and armament reform, the French army now has strong firepower and sufficient resources to fight another war with the Second German Reich, and I promise the President that this time we will not lose." ”

Even when the whole General Staff was clamoring for a firm and all-out response, as long as Napoleon suppressed the urgency of the marshals to fight.

At the conference table, almost everyone looked at Napoleon with eager eyes, hoping that they would satisfy their desire for revenge in the war. Almost didn't say, "Your Majesty, we love war!" ”

"Stirring up war again, I see that you are simply crazy for revenge. It's only been more than a year since the Prussian War, and now you want to provoke a second Franco-Prussian war in a hurry? ”

Napoleon pretended to be angry and accused, "As long as the German army does not cross the border, we will not mobilize for all-out war." Bismarck is ready to find an excuse to provoke a second war, then we will stifle his ideas in reality. Before, France was not prepared and did not know the power of Germany, but now it is different. ”

"As long as France does not make radical statements, we are the victims of the war. Britain and Russia were not stupid, they knew that the previous Franco-Prussian War had changed the situation on the entire European continent, and if another war broke out, it would force France to death. Without Paris, who will check and balance Berlin? This is a situation that no country wants, especially the British. And privately, although Prime Minister Gladstone's diplomatic level is a mess, he is not enough to personally go against Britain's foreign policy for hundreds of years. ”

"Continental Balance."

After listening to the narration, Levlow, who had reacted most violently, understood what Napoleon meant, and suddenly showed a knowing smile, "If Bismarck really provoked a war, he would be facing an anti-Prussian alliance, right?" ”

"Yes."

Napoleon breathed a sigh of relief, finally found a breakthrough, and continued, "If Bismarck is really old and confused, and continues to provoke and even cross our borders, France will naturally have a reason to form an anti-Prussian alliance with England." ”

Gladstone would, but the French side was true, but he couldn't handle a counterattack against Germany. If it is to eventually turn into a full-scale war, Britain must be brought in and an anti-Prussian coalition must be formed.

As for the Russians?

Napoleon didn't care what they thought at all, he was soft and short-handed, not to mention the fact that there were billions of francs in loans beckoning for Russian infrastructure. Prime Minister Gochakov and Tsar Alexander II appeared at best as coordinators between the two countries, rather than siding with Bismarck and forming an alliance of the Three Emperors.

In the end, there was only one Austro-Hungarian Empire with soy sauce, although to others, the huge Ottoman Empire seemed to be too strong to provoke. But Napoleon, who knew the remorse of Wilhelm II after the war, said that this imperialism was really a paper tiger.

"Well, everyone, you all be at ease, and then France and England will negotiate this matter, if Bismarck really makes the most crucial move."

Napoleon raised his fist and said viciously, "Then we will form an anti-Prussian alliance and fight back!" ”

In the midst of that cheer, Napoleon suppressed the emotions of a group of revanchists. In fact, he also very much wanted to start another war, but France could not fight alone, and had to draw Britain in.

At this time, Britain had just completed reforms, and the weakness of the British army had been exposed in the previous Crimean War, and later the defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War gave Britain an even greater shock. War Secretary Cardwell strongly advocated for Army reform. Shorten the service period. Each military region was reorganized, and there was a regiment consisting of two battalions, one battalion stationed at home and the other overseas. The various military forces were combined, under the command of the Minister of War and the Commander-in-Chief, but the Commander-in-Chief must be subordinate to the Minister of War.

Cardwell reorganized the army and established a system of promotion according to military merit, and the combat effectiveness of the army was improved.

It is precisely because of this that he dared to say that he would form an anti-Prussian alliance with Britain, and if the level of the British army was still the level of the Crimean War, which could only bully second-rate countries, then Napoleon would rather settle the dispute at the negotiating table than get involved in the war.

It's too paper tiger, and it's as unreliable as the Beiyang Naval Division, which claims to be the first in Asia.

Through Foreign Secretary De Kaz, contact was made between France and Great Britain. Napoleon told Gladstone in detail about Germany's actions in Alsace, and deliberately exaggerated the fact that once Germany crossed the border, their army could easily reach Paris, and France would be at risk of annihilation.

If Britain is not on the side of France, then Germany will be allowed to annex large swathes of northern France, and eventually directly France with Austria-Hungary, a terrible Germanic alliance is rising, and France is the last line of defense to stop and save Europe!

After receiving the French feedback, Prime Minister Gladstone locked himself in his room for the whole day, and he could not believe that the Second Empire, which until 1870 had been in shock, had declined to the point of interceding with other countries after a war.

Prime Minister Gladstone, who was not good at diplomacy, finally listened to Foreign Secretary Russell, and the reply was the same.

"France has declined, and they are in inevitable decline. If we choose to sit idly by, then Bismarck could become the next 'Napoleon', remember how the First French Empire formed a European Union? Their first step was the conquest of the Holy Roman Empire, and so did Bismarck, except that the first step was the conquest of France. Germany was not willing to let their success fail, and they tried to make a comeback. ”

Looking at the prime minister with a solemn expression, Russell said word by word, "We must keep France, even if we tear our faces with Germany in advance, because of overseas expansion, they will become the enemy of Great Britain sooner or later." ”