After hearing the report of the Mediterranean branch squadron, the envoy immediately sent a report to Edmond. Major General Leon conveyed James. Lieutenant General Dundas's order to return to Malta.

Edmond. Rear Admiral Leon did not hesitate for a moment after receiving the order, and immediately gave the order to all the crew present to return to the base in the Mediterranean.

The bannerman waved his flag in the cold wind, the lookout climbed the mast to observe the situation, and the tax untied the rope that bound the sail...... Everyone on board has their job to do.

With the joint efforts of all the crews, the British Mediterranean Fleet detachment set sail once again.

"Let's go!" In Edmond. Under the orders of Rear Admiral Leon, the squadron marched in a long line to the Malta Mediterranean Fleet.

King Otto I of Greece, who heard the news of the departure of the British and French fleets on the same night, breathed a sigh of relief along with his prime minister, rejoicing that he had been able to save a life under the hands of the two "big brothers".

After all, not everyone can enjoy the double "protection" of Britain and France.

……

Just as the fleets of the Kingdom of Britain and the French Empire were heading to Constantinople, Britain, thousands of miles away from Constantinople, was also worried about what was happening in Constantinople.

When Lord Clarendon, the Foreign Secretary (who had been the Minister of Foreign Affairs, had been kicked into the House of Commons by Aberdeen as President of the House of Commons) presented Canning's telegram to Lord Aberdeen, who was Prime Minister at the time, Lord Aberdeen could not help but let out a groan: "Oh God! It's nothing short of a disaster! ”

"Your Excellency, this is indeed bad news!" Lord Clarendon nodded to Aberdeen and replied, "But we have to face this bad news and find a solution!" ”

"What do you think?" Lord Aberdeen looked at the bath and Lord Clarendon asked

"Prime Minister, I think Britain should be tough!" Clarendon said categorically: "If it was before, when we did not receive this telegram! We can also say to the people of Britain that the Russian Empire acted as a last resort with a will for peace, but after we have learned of the series of tragedies that have taken place in Sinop, we must act from a humanitarian point of view! Only in this way will it be possible to organize something like this to happen! If our government does nothing, then we will lose the trust of our constituents! ”

"May I understand this: you think that the Kingdom of Britain should take a tough stance against the Russian Empire!" Lord Aberdeen frowned at the Foreign Secretary in front of him.

Clarendon, who was specially selected by Aberdeen to succeed Russell as foreign secretary, is rightfully a dovish politician, but his speech today seems to have violated the "principles" of a dovish politician.

"Yes! I think so! Clarendon straightened his back and said without fear.

"Mr. Clarendon, Britain's foreign policy is based on Britain's core interests, not for the sake of the electorate! As politicians, we can't just focus on the votes and forget about Britain itself! Aberdeen replied coldly to Clarendon.

"Your Excellency, a tough attitude towards the Russian Empire is not contrary to the core interests of Britain! On the contrary, it is fully in line with the core interests of Britain! Clarendon replied eloquently: "Britain's core interest is to maintain peace and stability in Europe, and the tragedy caused by the Russian Empire at the port of Sinop has seriously violated Britain's original intention of peace and stability!" We have to do something! ”

"Mr. Clarendon, we really should do something, but that doesn't mean we have to be tough on Russia!" The Russophile Aberdeen still opposes the Russian Empire, and he understands that the reason why he is still able to sit in the prime minister is because he can represent the interests of a part of the Russophiles, and as long as he is unswervingly pro-Russian, then they will not break away from him.

On the contrary, once he leaves the pro-Russian camp and runs to the anti-Russian camp, then he will not be able to compete at all, the idle Palmerston and the President of the House of Commons, Russell.

Not to mention the prestigious anti-Russians like them, even the once pro-Russian and now anti-Russian Clarendon in front of him may not have competed.

I can only keep the pro-Russian faction to the death...... It is precisely the anti-French signboard that can continue to maintain this shaky cabinet.

"If not, then how should the voters perceive us!" Clarendon reluctantly addressed Aberdeen on the issue of voters.

"Mr. Clarendon, I have already said it! The voter issue has nothing to do with the policies that our government needs to make right now! You're going to have me say it a few more times! Aberdeen pointed at Clarendon in a slightly angry tone and rebuked, "Besides, is this a matter that you and I alone can decide?" ”

Lord Clarendon wanted to say something, but in the end he didn't say anything, just bowed slightly to Lord Aberdeen, and then said goodbye to Aberdeen.

After Lord Clarendon left, Lord Aberdeen glanced at Canning's message again and couldn't help but curse: "Damn the Tsar, why do you always have to trouble me!" ”

On the other hand, after Lord Clarendon left the Prime Minister's residence, he did not choose to return home directly, but took a horse-drawn carriage to a mansion located near Buckingham Palace.

Clarendon couldn't help but admire Palmerston as he watched the policemen out of the window, walking along the gaslighted road, with two patrol officers in police uniforms appearing on both sides of the road, the most loyal defenders of London's wealthy districts.

These are the rich legacies that Palmerston left for London before he left the company.

Lord Clarendon, who had come to the gate of the mansion with admiration, let out a long breath and knocked softly on the door.

After a while, there was a rush of footsteps on the other side of the door.

Immediately after, a strong and calm response came from inside the door: "Who? ”

"Mr. Palmerston!" Lord Clarendon respectfully saluted, "I am Clarendon!" I'm really sorry to visit late at night! ”

"Minister Clarendon!" The door slowly opened, and Palmerston appeared behind it, carrying a kerosene lamp, and behind him it was pitch black.

"You can call me Clarendon! I'm sorry to take the liberty of interrupting! Clarendon responded to Palmerston with deference.

"Please come in!" Palmerston leaned sideways to invite Clarendon into the room.

"Thank you very much!" Clarendon thanked Palmerston once again.

"If you don't dislike it, please come with me to the study! I think you must have something to ask for to come here at this time! Palmerston said to Clarendon.

"That's right! I have something important to discuss with people like you! Lord Clarendon replied to Palmerston, and entered the mansion with a gentle stride.

Entering the mansion, Clarendon followed Palmerston into the study, where he and Palmerston spoke face to face in this somewhat rudimentary study.

"Tell me, if there's anything you need my help with!" As soon as he sat down, Palmerston said to Clarendon.

"Here's the situation......" Clarendon told Palmerston of the news of Canning's telegram and Aberdeen's attitude, and asked, "Mr. Palmerston, what should I do?" ”

After a moment, Palmerston raised two fingers and said, "Two ways!" ”

"Which two?" Lord Clarendon asked Palmerston.

"The first is that you don't have to worry about anything, just act as if nothing happened, so that you can delay the collapse of the cabinet!" Palmerston said to Clarendon in a calm tone, "However, this is only a temporary expediency!" As you said to the Prime Minister of Aberdeen, once the British people know the truth, then they will not tolerate what the British Cabinet does! The collapse of the cabinet will be much more rapid, and the time that this method can extend will probably not exceed the end of the year! ”

"And what about the other one?" Clarendon hurriedly asked Palmerston about his next approach.

"I think you should know!" Palmerston smiled at Clarendon.

"But, I ......," Clarendon hesitated.

"What happened to Sinop was something I didn't expect! At present, under these circumstances, it is obvious that it is impossible to seek peace with Russia! There is only one way left, and that is to take a tough stance on the Russian Empire! Only in this way will you be able to gain the approval of the electorate! Palmerston said to Clarendon: "However, it is impossible for Aberdeen to exert influence on the Russian Empire, and there are already two people in the anti-Russian camp, me and Speaker Russell. This means that even if he confronts the British electorate with an anti-Russian attitude towards the Russian Empire, he will not be recognized by the British electorate! On the contrary, Speaker Russell and I were able to take advantage of the anti-Russian opportunity to form a cabinet again! This is where Aberdeen's reluctance to think about Russia comes from! ”

"Is there really nothing you can do?" Clarendon asked Palmerston.

"If there was a solution, I don't think you would be here!" Palmerston looked at Clarendon with a smirk.

Clarendon's presence here means that he is ready to leave the pro-Russian camp once and for all, and turn his head on Palmerston.

All the previous questions were just excuses that Clarendon had made up to convince himself!

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