Albert's answer made Palmerston realize that something might have happened in the German Confederation, and he tactfully asked Prince Albert if he had heard any news.

Prince Albert did not answer Palmerston's question directly, but smiled and changed the subject to ask Palmerston what he thought of the current French Empire.

Palmerston, though disgusted with Jérôme in his heart. Bonaparte, the monarch who made big news around the world, but he also had to pinch his nose and admit that in its current form, Britain could not do without France.

The battle report in Crimea is enough to explain the problem, from the beginning of the Crimean War to the present, except for the highlight moment of the Battle of Arma, the rest of the time of the Kingdom of Britain is either to increase its troops, or on the way to increase its troops.

Take yesterday's war report from Britain (the front-line correspondent of the Kingdom of Britain also sent a telegram to Britain at the first time), the French army annihilated 100,000 Russian troops in World War I (the Times propagated, Palmerston will be suspicious), and their Kingdom of Britain was almost beaten by 40,000 Russian troops and could not get out of the house (the Times self-deprecated, Palmerston did not believe it), if it were not for the desperate rescue of the French Empire, the British garrison of Sevastopol may become Russian territory.

Under the self-criticism of the newspapers day and night, the whole kingdom of Britain, from the cabinet to the people, fell into a state of lack of self-confidence.

[PS: It should be noted here that during this period, although the Times was already under the control of Jérôme. Bonaparte was slightly restricted, but his telegrams back to Britain in Sevastopol were still faster and more authentic than the official newspapers.

Even cabinet ministers had to look at the war report after comparing it with the Times' statement.

In "Yes, Prime Minister", the prime minister learns about politics through television, and the political joke of Britain is indeed not a joke in this period. 】

The less confident Britain became, the more dependent Britain became on the French Empire.

Palmerston's assessment of the French Empire was: "Our suspicious ally."

Later, Albert asked Palmerston again if he thought the French Empire would last forever!

"Your Highness, since that turmoil (the Revolution) in France, the people of Paris have lost patience, and in just fifty years, they have fallen three dynasties!" Palmerston euphemistically indicated that he did not think that the French Empire could avoid this.

"Actually, Augusta thinks the same way!" Prince Albert replied to Palmerston.

"You're talking about the Empress of France?" Palmerston froze for a few seconds, then said to Albert.

"That's right!" Albert nodded and replied to Palmerston, "Some time ago, she talked about it in her letter to Victoria!" She hopes to leave a piece of land for her unborn child to stay! You know what I mean! ”

"Your Highness, you mean that Luxembourg is the back road of Empress Augusta!" Palmerston immediately understood what Prince Albert meant.

"You can say the same thing!" Prince Albert spread his hands and said: "Paris is like a powder keg that can explode at any time, and anyone sitting on it will be blown to pieces if he is not careful!" ”

"If Luxembourg is annexed by France, then Empress Augusta will not get nothing." Palmerston asked, frowning.

"Why merge?" Albert asked rhetorically, "Wouldn't it be okay to turn Luxembourg into a private domain?" ”

"You mean the unification?" Palmerston hurriedly asked.

"It's up to you to understand!" Albert replied to Palmerston, "Augusta told Victoria that she was willing to pay any price to get the land!" ”

"I see!" Palmerston replied with a wry smile, he understood that De. Ruiz was the price of the Suez Canal as Britain's tacit acquiescence.

Although Palmerston was unhappy with Empress Augusta's calculations, the conversion of Luxembourg into a private fiefdom did not touch the fundamental interests of the Kingdom of Britain.

As long as there is no opposition from the bird, then Palmerston is too lazy to pursue anything.

After all, now Britain's most important goal was the Russian Empire.

However, what makes Palmerston curious is what the image of Prince Albert in this incident is.

Learn about De. After Ruiz's true purpose, Palmerston resigned to Albert.

Prince Albert ordered his servants to send Palmerston out of Buckingham Palace.

Over the next two weeks, the Anglo-French forces and the Russian Empire were in a state of sit-down warfare as the Anglo-French forces in the Crimea foiled the Russian Empire's attempt to seize Yevpatoria by striking east and west.

During this period, Palmerston and De. Lewis conducted two more tentative negotiations, both of which were progress compared to the first.

In late September, after testing each other's bottom line, Palmerston and De. Ruiz begins final negotiations.

This time Palmerston and De. Ruiz talks at the Prime Minister's office at 10 Downing Street.

As soon as the talks began, Palmerston got straight to the point: "The Kingdom of Britain is willing to support all the actions of the French Empire in the near future!" ”

Morality. Ruiyce showed a look of surprise on his face, he really didn't expect Palmerston to agree so quickly, he hurriedly thanked Palmerston: "Thank you to the Kingdom of Britain for your understanding and support!" ”

Subsequently, Palmerston expressed the hope that the French Empire would also continue to support the actions of the Kingdom of Britain in some respects.

Although Palmerston does not refer to any of them, de Palmerston. Luyce understood that Palmerston wanted the French Empire to support his plan to dismember the Russian Empire.

Morality. Ruiz also said that the French Empire and the Kingdom of Britain were a pair of staunch allies, and France would unswervingly support the plans of the Kingdom of Britain.

And then De. Luyce also told Palmerston that the French Empire, in the spirit of having a good choice of mutual assistance, was willing to transfer part of the shares of the Suez Canal (the registered capital of the Suez Canal Company was 200 million francs, and its stock composition was 70% of the shares of French shares (100 million francs), and the remaining 30% was temporarily held by Said (60 million francs), and France transferred 30% of the shares to the Kingdom of Britain. ) to the Kingdom of Britain, and at the same time willing to exchange and learn from the Kingdom of Britain in terms of ironclads.

Palmerston, who had long been salivating over the ironclad technology held by the French Empire, naturally would not let go of this opportunity, and he immediately agreed to the German Empire. Luis's suggestion.

After the negotiations, De. Luyce and Palmerston shook hands with each other. Louis said with a smile: "I hope that France and Britain can continue to cooperate and help each other on the road ahead!" I sincerely wish Your Excellency the Prime Minister that you will lead Britain to strength! ”

"I also sincerely wish that you France will go further and further on the road of maintaining peace!" Palmerston also had a smile on his face.

Stay until Germany. After Louis left, Palmerston's face became gloomy again.

He hastened to call his secretary and ordered him to call the Earl of Clarendon, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, to 10 Downing Street.

As soon as the Earl of Clarendon arrived at 10 Downing Street, Palmerston said to him: "You will send a message to the Kingdom of Prussia around mid-October (Palmerston expects France to do so in mid-October) that the French Empire wants to annex Luxembourg!" ”

The Count of Clarendon carefully reminded Palmerston that the French Empire was still an ally of theirs, and that a rash backstab could lead to a turn against each other.

"As long as we don't come forward directly, it's fine!" Palmerston replied with a wordy answer.

He was ready to repeat the routine of the original Pit Thiers, and Palmerston had agreed on the surface, but later regretted putting France in the crosshairs.

Even if the Austrian Empire acquiesced in the annexation of the Duchy of Luxembourg by the French Empire because of its resistance to the Russian Empire, the opposition of the Kingdom of Prussia kept the French Empire busy for a while.

Of course, Palmerston didn't expect them to stop the actions of the French Empire when he revealed the news to Germany, he just wanted to find something to do for France.

In the end, at Palmerston's strong request, the Earl of Clarendon had no choice but to agree to Palmerston's request.

On the other hand, after leaving Britain, De. Instead of returning directly to France, Luys followed the telegram from the Crimea and sailed to Prussia.

Dangde. Upon his arrival in the territory of the Kingdom of Prussia, Luis was immediately warmly welcomed by the Kingdom of Prussia.

Friedrich, son of the regent. William. Nikolauskar appeared at the port docks, with Germany. Ruiz shook hands with each other.

The two sides arrived in Berlin in a horse-drawn carriage, and the regent's nephew told de l. Ruiz, his father William I needed some time to prepare for the same time. The meeting of Ruiz, hoping for de l'Anderson. Ruiz was able to wait patiently.

Morality. Ruiz nodded and returned to live at the French Embassy in Germany.

After a day at the Embassy, de Anderson. Ruiz received an invitation from Wilhelm I to the Palais de Charlotten.

Dressed in formal attire. Lyces and Wilhelm I had an official meeting in the halls of the Palais Charlotten.

William I first spoke to Germany. Ruiz shushed and then condemned the Russian Empire.

Morality. Ruice pretended to ask whether the Kingdom of Prussia was preparing to fight the Russian Empire.

Kaiser Wilhelm I had no choice but to hesitate that the Kingdom of Prussia was not ready to fight the Russian Empire.

However, Wilhelm I expressed his willingness to stand with Britain and France in resisting the Russian Empire, and their conditions were very "simple", as long as France did not take any action against the Rhineland, and at the same time did not take any measures against the Polish question.

"Your Royal Highness the Regent, please forgive me for being stupid! I don't understand which side you and your kingdom are on! ”

Please know that the website of this book: 123 Reading Pen Mobile Version Reading:

『Click here to report error』『Add to bookmark』