Chapter 963: Time to Take a Stand
Chapter 944: Time to take sides
Paris, again and again to determine the Russians declared war after the news is correct, Napoleon IV directly fainted, the French government followed the chaos.
The sky was really falling. Austria alone had exhausted them, and now the Russians were coming in to throw stones at them, making it impossible to fight the war.
Seeing the doctor walk out, Prime Minister Terence Burgin hurriedly asked, “Mr. Tercan, how is His Majesty’s health?”
In a monarchy, the emperor fainting was likewise a major event. If it was a normal time when Napoleon IV’s body was out of order, as Prime Minister, Terrence Burgin would probably still be secretly celebrating.
The struggle between monarchical and phallic power never stops. When the monarch’s health was in trouble, it was a good time to expand the power of the phalanx.
Obviously, Terence Bourgogne is not in the mood to fight for power now. France is already in internal and external trouble, if another power struggle breaks out, it will really be over.
Under the nest, there is no egg.
As the prime minister of France, the fate of Terence Bourgogne has long been tied to the Bonaparte dynasty, and there is not even a chance to jump ship.
“Prime Minister, please rest assured that His Majesty is in good health. Just now, he was merely violently stimulated before he suddenly fainted.
Now that he has woken up, you guys can go in. It’s just that His Majesty’s mental state is still a bit off, so you guys have to pay attention to it, not letting him get too tired, and especially not being subjected to any more violent stimuli.”
After hearing the doctor’s explanation, while breathing a sigh of relief, Terrence Burgin revealed a helpless bitter smile again.
Not to be stimulated?
With the current situation in France, unless the emperor completely decentralized, completely out of politics, otherwise stimulation is inevitable.
However, this is impossible. Bonaparte dynasty’s foundation is too shallow, the French people are too lively, really if completely decentralized, may one day have to go to the guillotine.
Whoever dares to talk to the Emperor about decentralization will be prepared to enjoy special care after the experience of Louis XVI!
……
Seeing the cabinet people come, Napoleon IV on the sick bed waved his hand and said breathlessly, “You’re all here, find yourself a seat and get started!”
“Your Majesty, your body?”
Prime Minister Terrence Burgin said with some hesitation. It could be seen that Napoleon IV was in a very bad state, and Terrence Burgin was very worried that the Emperor would not be able to stand the excitement.
Napoleon IV bitterly smiled and shook his head, “It doesn’t matter, I can stand it. It’s all come to this point now, how much worse can it get?”
From the time he was born until now, it was the first time Napoleon IV felt despair. Even when the rebels swept through Paris, he had never been so desperate.
“Initially, the Russians suddenly declared war on us this time as an Austrian plot. No news has trickled out beforehand, and it’s obvious that the enemy wants to take us by surprise.
The government bears responsibility in this regard, knowing that the Russian-Austrian alliance exists, and trusting the judgment of the British, wishfully believing that the Russians don’t want to see Austria grow bigger.
With the entry of the Russians into the war, we will have to face even greater military pressure in the coming war. In order to cope with this unfavorable situation, the Cabinet has just now sent a telegram to the British for help.
The British don’t want to see the European continent alone, even if their lips are dead and their teeth are cold. If they don’t want to face the Russian-Austrian alliance alone, the British should be on our side.”
Politicians being what they are, Terence Burgin did not forget to downplay his own responsibility when analyzing the problem.
Seemingly taking responsibility on his own initiative, he was really telling Napoleon IV: it wasn’t Cabinet incompetence, the international situation was intricate and jumbled, and we just made the same mistake that a normal person would make.
Theoretically, the Russians were already friends enough by not pulling Austria’s leg. The operation of taking the initiative to enter and help Austria to take over the hegemony of the European continent is clearly unscientific.
Unfortunately, politics is never scientific. Britain and France, the arch-enemies, were able to stand together, and the Russian operation was nothing.
After listening to the prime minister’s report, Napoleon IV asked flatly, “Is there any good news?”
The Russians entering the war, he knew about it before he fell unconscious. How serious the consequences would be, Napoleon IV had long been well aware of it.
Against this background, it was natural to need good news to soothe the mood. News of unknown success or failure like pulling in the British was certainly not considered good news.
Prime Minister Terence Burgin replied in response, “Having just finished the Anglo-Russian War, the Tsarist government was fighting a famine and the war funds could only be advanced by Austria.
According to the intelligence from the embassy, the Tsarist government has not yet made war preparations, and the Russians will not be able to send out troops in a short time.
This creates an opportunity for us, as long as we grab the opportunity to win the Battle of Central Europe before the Russians enter the war with their troops, there is room for everything to maneuver.”
This is all good news?
To Napoleon IV, this was a gamble. If the gamble was won, then the war would continue; if it was lost, then there was no need to say anything, you could prepare to run away!
However, it was this gamble that became the only hope for France. As for British support, no one can expect the Royal Navy to bring warships to shore.
Pure land war, with the British that pocket version of the army, even if it is expanded five times, but also can not reverse the contrast between the strength of the two sides.
Although not very satisfactory, but a way is better than no way. How can you know it won’t work if you don’t try it yourself?
……
Madrid, from the defeat of the Invincible Armada, Spain has started the road to a hundred years of decline.
The corrupt religious and feudal system, the chaotic political situation at home, and the deliberate suppression by Britain and France at the international level were all the keys to Spain’s decline.
Especially in the last war against France, Spain, as the victorious country, not only lost a large part of its overseas colonies, but also had its request to recover the disputed territories with France ruthlessly rejected.
After decades of wear and tear, these humiliations and hatreds have long since faded.
If nothing else, in a few more decades it will become a piece of cold history, lying quietly in a corner of the library, where only historians will occasionally look through it.
Accidents happen, and after the outbreak of the Continental War, Austria started a wave against France in Europe. These old, forgotten stories came into the limelight once again.
Times are different now, nationalism has risen in Spain, and although politics is still dominated by conservatives, nationalists have the ability to make their voices heard.
With the efforts of the nationalists, voices of revenge continued to appear in society, especially after the French army was defeated on the battlefield, which fueled the warring factions.
But this was not enough. The conservatives, who held the power, were still immersed in the shadow of Napoleon’s sweep across the continent and did not dare to cross the line in the least.
Against this background, Austria’s plan to draw Spain together naturally did not go well. In addition to persuade the Spanish government to limit exports to France, a little to the French eyes, but almost no results.
All this changed with the news that the Russians entered the war.
The Tsarist government was prepared to declare war, but the outside world did not know! The Russians also wanted to save face, this kind of thing can be done slightly, if you say it would be embarrassing.
Influenced by the Russians’ entry into the war, the European world was generally favorable to the Anti-French Alliance, and Spain was naturally no exception.
Originally in a wait-and-see state of neutrality, at this moment also fell to the main war faction, the voice of the main war gradually overwhelmed the main peace faction.
There is no way, the anti-French alliance has become a big trend, Spain to join in only need to follow the soy sauce, will be able to become a victorious country.
Plus, Austria gave too much. Directly to the French map thrown over, where to choose where you like, it is really difficult to refuse.
Madrid palace, the main war faction and the main peace faction once again fell into a fierce quarrel.
Regent Queen Dowager Maria Cristina, due to her Austrian origin, in order to avoid suspicion, has remained neutral on this issue.
Seeing the quarrel escalate into a scolding war, the Dowager Empress Maria Cristina finally couldn’t hold back: “Shut up all of you, pay attention to your status, don’t make it like a horse race!
The Russians have already entered the war, I asked you all to come here today to deliberate on what our options should be, not to listen to you bickering here.”
Remaining neutral was not the same as not having a position, and even though it wasn’t stated outright, oh but everyone still knew that Dowager Empress Maria Cristina was leaning towards Austria.
Perhaps before the situation was clear, Maria Cristina would not have taken the fire for Austria, but the situation was different now, and it was only a matter of time before the Antifa alliance won, and Spain had to make a stand.
Continuing to be neutral may seem like a case of two no-holds-barred, but in reality it is also a case of two no-holds-barred. Now there is nothing, when the continental war is over, it will be their turn to be unlucky.
Neutrality also needs the premise, either their own strength is strong, can not stand in line; or is insignificant, stand or not stand in line are the same.
Unfortunately, the decline of Spain is neither. Now do not stand in line, after the end of the continental war, will inevitably be suppressed by the dominant country.
Foreign Secretary Bernard Roberts: “The situation in the Continental War is clear, and after the Russians enter the war, the probability of the French winning is almost nil.
The Foreign Office is of the opinion that Austria’s purpose in drawing us in now is no longer purely for the sake of the war against France, but should be more for the reconstruction of the international order after the war.
Not only us, but all the neutral countries in Europe, except the British, are within the scope of Austria’s solicitation.
Only because of geopolitics, we need to give a little more to go to war with the French. But the give and take is proportional, and the government of Vienna is sincere in the distribution of benefits.”
Taking sides is always the biggest headache of all, and on the contrary, Spain has not yet had the strength to refuse. To refuse Austria’s pull now would mean cutting herself off from the future continental political system.
“It’s not that serious, even if Austria wins the war, they don’t have a single hand in it. The British, the Russians, and the French will not let them run wild.
On the contrary, it’s even more dangerous to participate in this war, it’s not like everyone doesn’t know how powerful France is. We must not forget the lessons of the last war against France. Don’t look at the anti-French alliance as powerful, in the end it’s not certain who will win and who will lose.
Spain can’t afford to fold anymore, even if we want to take sides, it will be after they split the victory.”
Speaking is the conservative leader Wanggari-Matai Marquis, because personally participated in the last war against France, witnessed the tragic defeat of Spain, suffering from serious “Francophobia”.
Not only he, all experienced the last war against France, are “Francophobia” patients, belong to the Spanish government’s most determined anti-war faction.
“Your Excellency the Marquis, you are still stuck in the last war against France, France is not the same without Napoleon.
Just look at the battlefield: in Africa, they were hung by Austria all the way; on the southern front, the French army was also suppressed by Austria; the only battlefield in Central Europe that seemed to have the upper hand, but in essence did not take advantage of it.
If the French hadn’t expelled the populations of the Rhineland and Belgium, increasing the logistical pressure on the Antifa alliance and delaying the decisive battle, perhaps they would have been defeated long ago.
Now that the Russians had joined the Anti-French Alliance, in the face of absolute strength, what did the French rely on to turn the tide? Even if Napoleon was so powerful, in the end, he still lost the war.
It is indeed prudent to delay until the end to take sides, only in the future when the interests are redistributed, there is no more share for us.
Don’t expect someone to check and balance Austria after the war, the international situation is different now, whether there is still France after the war is an unknown.
Don’t forget, Austria promised us that the territory of France is optional, obviously they are ready to divide, or dismember France.
Don’t get involved and miss this opportunity ……”
(End of chapter)