December 19, 1852.

Valette, the French Empire's ambassador to the Ottomans, received Jérôme. Bonaparte offered a quid pro quo that he would leave office on the same day and return to Paris on the French Mediterranean Fleet to debrief and then travel by rail to Calais, where he would serve as ambassador to Britain by ship.

During the period when Valette left and Valewski did not take office, all matters at the embassy were handed over to the chargé d'affaires of the embassy.

After receiving the news of Valette's return to Paris to report on his duties, Jérôme. Bonaparte once again summoned Valewski over, along with the Admiral Dick and the War Secretary Kuzan. Montauban, Chief of the General Staff St. Arno called over.

Valewski, Dicko, Kuzan. Montauban, St. Marshal Arnault entered one of the rooms of the Tuileries Palace in turn, and waited quietly for Jérôme. The arrival of Bonaparte.

After a while, Jérôme. Bonaparte pushed the door in, and behind him was a grim-faced Edgar. Ney, Valewski and others immediately stood up to greet them.

Jérôme. Bonaparte invited the two to sit down at a table covered with red woolen cloth. Bonaparte sat on a chair on the central arched windowsill, flanked by Admiralty Dico and Chief of the General Staff on his left and right, respectively. Arno, Dico and St. Arnault's right-hand flanks are Walewski and Kuzan. Montauban.

And as Jérôme. Bonaparte's adjutant and commander of the Aircraft Command. Ney was ready to stand in Jérôme. Behind Bonaparte.

When everyone was fully seated, Jérôme. Bonaparte got straight to the point: "I have called you here today to ask how you are preparing for the war of the Russian Empire!" ”

Subsequently, Jérôme. Bonaparte pointed to Admiral Dick and said, "Let's talk about your navy first!" ”

Jérôme. Bonaparte named the Admiralty Dieko and immediately sent a letter to Jérôme. Bonaparte reported on the state of combat readiness of the Admiralty: "Our department has completed the construction of four ironclad steam gunboats, and one ironclad ship is also working overtime!" It is expected to be completed by the middle of 1853! At that time, the Imperial Navy will completely crush the Russian naval power in the Sevastopol region! Ensure that the sea line of communication is well transported! ”

"Has the issue of requisitioned ships been properly resolved, and is there a problem of factory workers?" Jérôme. Bonaparte continued to inquire about Dico.

"I've already said hello to the bosses of the major transport fleets in France! In the event of a war in France, they will help France deliver supplies as soon as possible! The French fleet just needs to provide them with escorts! As he spoke, Dick raised two fingers and said, "We can guarantee the supplies needed for the expedition of about 200,000 people!" The problem of the workers of the naval factory has also been solved! ”

"Good! I know! To Dicko's answer, Jérôme. Bonaparte was very satisfied.

Subsequently, Jérôme. Bonaparte turned his gaze to Kuzan. Montauban said: "What about the Ministry of War! How's your costume change going? ”

Kuzan. Montauban also replied competently: "Your Majesty, the French army has basically completed the reloading of the Mineer rifles. In order to prevent the wear and tear of firearms due to war problems, nearly 200,000 rifles are stored in the warehouses of the quartermaster department in case they are needed! ”

"Good!" Jérôme. Bonaparte was also very pleased with the actions of the War Department, and the rate of eliminating civilian bureaucrats under the influence of the bureaucracy of the military (the most important of which was the group of soldiers at the General Staff Academy) was more than a little higher than before: "What is the situation at the military station? ”

"Under the supervision of Major General Niel, the military stations in the Eastern Theater and the Central Theater have basically resumed their conscription functions! The reorganization of the military stations in the southern and northern theaters is now underway, and the reorganization is expected to be completed by the middle of 1853! "Kuzan. Montauban vs. Jérôme. Bonaparte said word for word.

For the Ministry of War was basically satisfied with the Jerrome. Bonaparte also bowed slightly.

Then, Jérôme. Bonaparte inquired about the situation in the General Staff.

The result is just as Jérôme. As Bonaparte expected, the staff of the troops was in the run-in phase and needed to wait for some time.

If war is really approaching, the General Staff can still fight.

"Hmmm! I know! "Jérôme. Bonaparte replied calmly.

Finally, he turned his gaze to Valewski and said earnestly: "You should know how heavy your burden is! ”

Hearing the appearance of the Minister of the Navy and the Army, Valevsky had a basic understanding of the military readiness of the French War: "You only need to drag on the war between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire until after the middle of 1853, right?" ”

"That's right!" Jérôme. Bonaparte tapped the red woolen cloth lightly and emphasized: "Delay as long as possible, but do not let the Ottoman Empire fall to the Russian Empire." As soon as the Ottoman Empire completely falls to the Russian Empire, then all our interests in the territory of the Ottoman Empire will be zero! Do you understand? ”

"Understood!" Everyone present responded in unison.

Subsequently, Jérôme. Bonaparte ordered Diko to send the four ironclad gunboats that had been completed to the Dardanian Strait to intimidate the Ottoman Empire, so that the Ottomans would not dare to easily surrender to the Russian Empire.

Then, he ordered Valevsky to co-opt forces in the Ottoman Empire against the Russian Empire.

"The Russian Empire will not ignore our seizure of decision-making power over the Holy Land, and they may send troops or emissaries to the Ottomans to force the Ottomans to agree to their terms. You can let the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire go down to the throne, and when the European powers become disgusted by the greedy actions of the Russian Empire, the French Empire will naturally do justice! "Jérôme. Bonaparte stressed to Valewski: "Remember, you must give confidence to the Ottoman Empire!" Otherwise, those soft bones will not surrender immediately! ”

"Yes!" Valewski replied.

After the Valley/Span meeting, the Ministers of the Army and Navy and Valewski left the Tuileries Palace.

On 20 December, the new French ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Walewski, sailed on a warship to Constantinople.

In addition to the battleships of the first rank, Valevsky was accompanied by four gunboats wearing "armor".

No one knew that these ironclad gunboats were the most important factor in determining victory or defeat at sea.

At the time of the "change of commander" in France, the cabinet government of the Kingdom of Britain also discussed the ruling issued by the Ottoman Empire, in order to know the details of the ruling.

Lord Aberdeen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Britain, sent a telegram to the Ottoman Empire on 15 December, requesting the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Britain to the Ottoman Empire, Strastfuld. Canning returned to Britain to report on his duties, and after Canning left, the embassy of the Kingdom of Britain in the Ottoman Empire was left with Hugh Hugh as the chargé d'affaires. Colonel Ross.

December 18th and 19th, closed. The chargé d'affaires of Ross sent several telegrams to London, which gave a general account of the causes and circumstances of the Ottoman ruling, as well as the departure of Valette from Constantinople as the initiator.

This made the British government, which wanted to find an opportunity to protest against Valette's influence on peace in Europe, somewhat frustrated.

On December 20th, after five days of drifting at sea, Strasterfuld. Ambassador Canning finally arrived in London.

Ambassador Canning, who had returned to London on a warship, had just dressed up and had not had time to enjoy London's smog specialties when he was brought to Carlton Gardens by Lord Russell, the foreign secretary.

[PS: Due to the Earl of Malmesbury's unruly behavior in diplomacy, Lord Aberdeen had to abandon him. Russell of the opposition was also appointed as foreign secretary. Originally, Lord Aberdeen wanted to use Palmerston, but Prince Albert did not agree. Aberdeen, who had no choice but to let Palmerston be the Home Secretary, and the post of Foreign Secretary was given to Russell. 】

Now Canning, in front of the 1 mansion in Carlton Gardens, took a deep breath and gently pushed open the door of the mansion.

The mansion was full of civil servants, busily navigating the corridors of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and no one seemed to notice Canning.

This is Britain, a nation of civil servants.

Although Britain has just perfected the civil service examination, its innate "talent" has made the whole of Britain quickly adapt to the whole system.

Millions of civil servants would prop up a vast colonial empire, and their energy would rival that of a country's prime minister.

Of course, all this is premised on a large enough civil service.

After a while, a middle-aged man in a suit appeared in front of Canning, he was the chief permanent secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that is, the person with the largest official position in the entire civil service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and he said to Canning in an authentic London accent: "Ambassador Canning, please follow me!" ”

Canning followed the Permanent Secretary to the Foreign Secretary's door, and the Permanent Secretary gently shook the doorbell hanging at the door.

"Please come in!" Chancellor Russell's voice came from inside the office.

The Permanent Secretary continued to smile with the standard courtesy smile to Canning, "Please wait! ”

After a few more moments, the door opened, and a young secretary with a slight appearance appeared in front of Canning. He was Prime Minister Russell's full-time secretary.

"Please come in!" The full-time secretary made an inviting gesture.

When Canning entered the room, the full-time secretary left the office and closed the door.

"Sit down!" Chancellor Russell, who was flipping through the papers, did not raise his head and invited Canning to sit down.

Canning walked briskly over to Chancellor Russell, removed his chair and sat down.

"Good work!" Chancellor Russell looked up, put the document down, and removed his reading glasses from the bridge of his nose.

"Nothing!" Canning hurriedly replied.

"When I was in the Ottoman Empire, I already knew something by telegram! I'd like to hear what you think! ”

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