St. Petersburg, Russia.

Neserlov was the ultimate licking dog for Britain, and although he was Russian Foreign Minister, he was actually a pro-British faction.

It is precisely because of his misjudgment in history that he not only directly buried the advantages accumulated by Russia over the past few decades, but even indirectly led to Russia's defeat in the Crimean War.

In fact, the tsar himself was not very interested in Britain, especially after Queen Victoria ascended the throne, he thought that the British army raised under women's skirts was not qualified to compare with his army tempered from the ice and snow.

However, it was this contempt that made the Tsar think that the British resistance to France would restore the glory of the empire, and even retake Constantinople.

Palmerston was invited to Nesellov's private banquet, and after a few glasses of wine, Nesherlov exposed Russia's bottom line.

This was very satisfying to Palmerston, because the information reinforced his so-called theory of the Russian threat.

Of course, the present situation is that Britain really needs Russia, at least not to turn Russia over to the side of France.

At the same time, he also hinted to Neserlov that Britain intended to form an alliance with Russia and jointly divide the Ottoman Empire, but the Treaty of Vinkar-Iskelesi was an obstacle to cooperation between the two countries, and as long as Russia abandoned the Russo-Turkish alliance, everything was negotiable.

Eventually, Palmerston went to the Russian palace and asked Tsar Nicholas I about the Carpathian garrison.

Nicholas I said that it was to prepare for an Austrian attack on the Danube Duchy, because of the sudden increase in the Austrian Empire's forces in Transylvania.

This was an unusual situation, and there was information that large quantities of weapons, ammunition, and food had been sent to Transylvania, and that the Austrian Empire was experiencing a famine, and perhaps wanted to start a foreign war to redirect its internal conflicts.

Palmerston was not very impressed with Austria as a country, and even more so with Metternich personally, and he felt that the traditional politicians should have been buried long ago, and that modern politics was all about effectiveness and efficiency.

There is no need for a diplomat to spend months trying to understand the background, hobbies, and resumes of the other side, as long as he knows what he wants, what the other side wants.

Of course, Austria, he had to go. After all, Austria at this time was still nominally the defender of the European order.

Vienna, Austria.

"Prime Minister, I think you should be aware of what a bad effect the sudden appearance of the Austrian Empire's troops in Transylvania will be, it is a kind of destruction of regional peace, this is"

Prince Metternich opened the wine cabinet and didn't pay attention to Palmerston's words, in fact, Metternich had made Palmerston wait for four days before that.

First of all, he didn't like Palmerston's attitude.

Second, it was merely a private act of a British diplomat, who even had the right to refuse contact with Palmerston.

Again, he needed plenty of time to figure out what was going on, and he wanted to know what Palmerston was going to do.

"Excuse me, I have vodka and white wine here, which one do you prefer?"

Palmerston was very unhappy with the indifferent attitude of Prince Metternich, but he could not dictate to the Austrian Prime Minister as he did to the Ottoman Grand Vizier, and he could only speak patiently.

"Your Excellency, you haven't answered my question yet."

"Dear Monsieur Palmerston, don't call me Prince, just call me Metternich. I didn't answer your question, but you didn't answer my question either, so let's settle it. ”

"But Mr. Metternich, I insisted that I asked the question first."

"Does it matter?"

"This is very important, I am here to wonder, why did the Austrian Empire want to put troops on the border?"

"But this is my home, and you are my guest."

Palmerston felt speechless for a while, he didn't expect the other party to be like this, it seemed that he could only meet the other party's request first, but he was not interested in white wine or vodka.

"Just give me a glass of rum."

"There's no wine you want."

Although Prince Metternich said it lightly, the meaning of the expulsion was already obvious.

Palmerston angrily got up and left, and Prince Metternich said as he looked at his departing back.

"Berg, send me Viscount Palmerston."

Palmerston did not stop in his footsteps, and quickly left Metternich's house, Metternich picked up a glass of white wine on the table and snorted coldly.

"Children play house."

Prince Metternich knew what was going on, and he knew that Palmerston represented him personally, not the official attitude of the British government.

No matter what kind of answer to Palmerston's question, combined with the actions that followed, it would be interpreted as an attitude of the Austrian Empire, and what the Austrian Empire needed most at the moment was to maintain the status quo, so it was better not to answer.

Of course, even on an official visit, the behavior of the Austrian Reich on its own soil would not be intervened by other countries, and this necessary toughness was a necessary means to maintain the image of Austria as a great power.

It's just that the garrison of Transylvania is obviously not in line with his policy of uniting with Russia to resist France, so he suggested that the military could garrison Nordsavi.

As for the terms of Austria's annexation of Serbia, it could be exchanged for Austria's support for Russia's annexation of the Danube principalities, the opposition of the Ottomans was worthless to Russia and Austria, and Metternich always considered France to be the greatest enemy of the Austrian Empire.

The main thing is that it is not yet time for the Austrian Empire to place a bet.

Palmerston was furious, he had never been so insulted as British Foreign Secretary, but he couldn't start a war just because the other party didn't give him a drink.

And Austria is a country that is different from other countries, that is, the coastline is too short, the blockade of the coastal zone does not have much impact on the country, and its economy does not depend on the sea.

If he fought on land, he would be an enemy of the Holy Alliance, but fortunately, he had heard that Prince Metternich had a sworn enemy.

Viscount Palmerston and Earl Korolav hit it off at first sight, and there was little difference in their cognition, to borrow a quote from Palmerston: "There are no permanent friends, no permanent enemies, only eternal interests." ”

It was in the common interest of Britain and Austria to confront France, but the withdrawal of troops from Transylvania would affect the interests of the Austrian Empire.

People were loath-hating, and Count Korollav said he had a way to get the Austrian army out of Transylvania, but he needed a little sincerity from Palmerston.

However, Palmerston thought badly, and he felt it was a good opportunity for a five-kill.

Palmerston immediately expressed his willingness to support the Austrian Empire in seizing the two Danube principalities after the war, so that first the Holy Alliance could be used to kill France and Egypt, and then the Ottoman lands would be used to bring Austria and Russia into conflict.

The Count of Korolav was obviously not satisfied, not so much because he saw the scheming in it, but because he was insensitive to Palmerston's generosity, and it was not the sincerity he wanted.

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(End of chapter)