The sun never sets in America

Chapter 401 European War: Prussia and France
France in February has just survived the harshest winter of the year and is slowly entering the "warm spring" that all French people are looking forward to.

When the maple leaves are blowing on the Champs Elysées, the Palace of Versailles, in the center of France, is in tangle.

"Your Majesty, I cannot simply think that contact between Spain and Britain is detrimental to France. In fact, in Europe at present, who does not have relations with the British??"

"The most important thing for us is to control the direction and not let the train go off the track..."

The new Foreign Secretary Diesel has a distinctly white face, a high nose bridge, blue eyes, and, of course, his slightly curly hair. It seems that he should have Mediterranean characteristics in his bloodline.

"But once the train really goes off the track, it will be a disaster, right??"

"Both the passengers in the car and those outside!!"

Napoleon III's tone was low, and the beard at the corner of his mouth became thicker, which shows how he was living during this period.

"But at least at this moment, the train has not derailed..."

"And we can still maintain a semblance of peace!!"

"But Your Majesty, we cannot attack Spain and Britain just because of their close relationship. Once word spreads, France will completely become the public enemy of Europe!!"

But as long as you cannot control the whole of Europe, your troubles will continue forever. Even if you want to escape or compromise, others will not be in a hurry to give you this opportunity.

Napoleon III's meaning is actually very obvious, that is, he will never tolerate the so-called "betrayal."

Napoleon III said a lot and talked about a lot of truths, but in the end he couldn't do without two words: "security."

As the Times put it:
"The ongoing war in America has made everything in Europe a joke. Compared with them, we are like children playing together!!"

“I really can’t imagine the kind of life where I would be threatened with a knife by other countries at any time!!”

Although it was an exaggeration, Napoleon III believed it. After all, he had said "Don't underestimate America" ​​very early on.

Although there was no such thing as betrayal or betrayal between Spain and France at this time, in the eyes of Napoleon III at this time, European affairs were French domestic affairs, and France had the right to intervene.

You must know that there has not yet been a war in Europe with more than one million people involved, but in America, it seems that wars that Europeans did not expect are being fought anytime and anywhere.

"We can definitely wait and wait for the Spaniards to make mistakes so that France can win people's hearts!!"

"No one, no country, can be trusted until complete security is achieved."

In fact, this mentality did not exist. It really existed during the period after he was crowned King of Italy.

From the beginning to the end, Diesel did not think that what Napoleon III was doing was right. Because of his family background, he had always believed that France's real enemy was Prussia, which might unify Germany, rather than the so-called British overseas.

With so many things happening, Napoleon III could not guarantee that Madrid would still be the Madrid he was familiar with, and Spain would still be the Spain he was familiar with.

Diesel answered quickly. He is a typical "pacifist". What he opposes most is expansion that is ineffective and wastes national power.

If the situation in Europe is quite expected, then the situation in the Americas is "shattering".

This is also the reason why Diesel is unwilling to get involved in Spanish affairs. He has always believed that after winning Italy, increasing control over the Mediterranean and balancing the situation in Europe is the biggest thing.

Napoleon III's eyes were a little "hazy". Four months had passed since the last time he corresponded with Queen Isabella of Spain. In these four months, both Europe and the world had changed a lot.

After all, Europe is so big that it is impossible to really allow a "superpower" to emerge.

But it did affect the thinking of many people internally.

At the beginning of the war, no one thought that Han and the United States would fight like this, and even "devils" like machine guns would appear.

Not to mention, the Russo-Austrian War that is currently still being fought. It is said that the total casualties in that war have exceeded 700,000.

He even said privately:
"After reconciling with the Austrians, we can unite with Austria to divide Prussia and even the remaining German regions!!"

After listening to Diesel's words, Napoleon III, who was opposite him, looked a little nervous and asked directly:
"How far are the Spaniards from joining the British camp at this moment??"

Not to mention France's capture of Italy and his personal coronation as the King of Italy, let's talk about the recently signed Franco-Austrian Armistice Agreement. Once it was announced, the whole of Europe was excited.

It can be said that the skin of the entire Europe was burned by the melee of millions of people in the American War.

Some European military commentators even used the term "dual power" when commenting on the American war.

"We cannot place our hopes on the Spaniards, France must take control of its own security!!"

If you add the Spanish crown owned during the Napoleonic Empire, then it is normal for Napoleon III to want Spain.

The threat from Prussia is even greater. A unified Germany will be France's biggest land competitor, even surpassing the "big guy" Tsarist Russia.

Diesel's words reached Napoleon III's ears as if he had said nothing. Even after hearing these words, he directly said:

It can be said that the American War is like taking people back to the second half of 1844, the year that made Europe face up to America.

This number is comparable to Napoleon's consumption after his failed campaign in Moscow.

Napoleon III was among the group of people who were not affected.

It should be noted that threats to the UK come more from overseas and blockades, and even from alliances on the European continent.

In such a situation of distrust, Napoleon III became more and more suspicious, and even aggravated his already suspicious character.

In his opinion, this is a stupid behavior. After all, if you expand again, you will not be able to annex the entire Europe.

After hearing what Diesel just said, Napoleon III replied impatiently:
"We must control all of Europe, and the Iberian Peninsula is France's most important rear. If the British land in the Netherlands and Iberia at the same time, they will directly let their troops appear in our flanks..."

Although such remarks were called by some "Pro-Putists" as a "poor guy" without any brains.

"We must remain vigilant..."

Diesel, who was opposite him, seemed not to understand, and just continued to talk about his "safety theories":
"Your Majesty, we don't have to worry about Spain. They are very close to us. The Pyrenees are not that difficult to climb. If something happens, the powerful French Army will soon reach Madrid..."

After all, since his coronation as the King of Italy, Napoleon III's status in France has even become equal to that of Napoleon. Although it is a temporary impulse, it can indeed reflect Napoleon III's status in the hearts of the French.

In such an atmosphere, Napoleon III naturally believed that he was qualified to revive the "Napoleonic Empire".

As a former part of Napoleon's empire, it didn't matter whether Spain had a deal with the British or not. What was important was that at this time, Napoleon III was so confident that Spain was already a "bullfight" in the mouth of a tiger and could no longer escape.

"Your Majesty, we cannot be too impatient. You must know that the situation in Europe at this time is not clear. The Prussians may launch a war at any time..."

"We must retain our strength and intervene in the war between Prussia and Austria at any time..."

"Pa", before Diesel finished speaking, he was interrupted by a clap from Napoleon III. When he looked up, he could only see a dissatisfied face and the pair of hands that were still playing with the "ghost ball". "Big hands.

(This year’s birthday gift from Han to Napoleon III. Napoleon III himself liked this kind of art from the East very much)
"The Prussians are our allies. France has signed a secret treaty with them. All actions they take in the German region are solicited from us..."

“The French Empire cannot break its promises!!”

Diesel was completely "disillusioned" by Napoleon III's words, and even he asked with some confusion: "Why, Your Majesty, Prussia threatens the French Empire, can't you see it? They are simply a group of careerists..."

"You cannot believe what careerists say!!"

Listening to Diesel's "advice", a trace of impatience flashed across Napoleon III's face. If he could still listen to other people's opinions before, he no longer believed it after he became the king of Italy and controlled the Mediterranean. The so-called "other people's suggestions".

After all, he, Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, is the greatest monarch in Europe! !

Every progress and every success of the French Empire was the beginning of Napoleon III's confident progress.

"Diesel, do you really think that the so-called German Empire is a threat to us??"

"You know, they only unified a part of Germany, but they did not unify the core Austria!!" "The Prussians, whether now or in the future, will not have the strength of France..."

Napoleon III's arrogance was simply crazy in Diesel's eyes. He actually believed that Prussia after the unification of Germany was not a threat. The German region had always been the bane of Europe! !
"Your Majesty, we cannot..."

"That's enough, Diesel, you should be preparing for Spain, not Prussia. This is not your job!!"

Napoleon III coldly interrupted Foreign Minister Diesel's "call" and even directly asked someone to ask Diesel to go out.

Diesel looked at the much-changed Emperor in front of him and kept sighing in his heart, but in the end, for the future of France, he added:
"Your Majesty, the Prussians will not be willing to just unify small Germany. We must prepare in advance..."

When Diesel dropped these words and left, Napoleon III fell into doubt.

If there is a picture, you will find that there are two selves in Napoleon III's brain, one is the once rational Napoleon III, and the other is the current arrogant "His Majesty the Emperor."

No one on either side could convince the other. When Napoleon finally regained consciousness, he just gave a faint instruction:
"Tomorrow I will summon the Prussian minister."

"By the way, the Han minister is also coming, giving them a morning and an afternoon!!"

After Napoleon III finished his instructions, he walked into the studio alone, where portraits of the Bonaparte family of all generations hung.

One of them, a man with a prancing horse and a whip, wearing a three-cornered hat, is like a "jewel" in the dark, attracting the attention of those who come in all the time.

"Uncle, I have become the King of Italy. I have done what you once did."

"Now, it's time to take Iberia and take back everything that belongs to us Bonaparte!!"

Napoleon III looked at the somewhat "false" Napoleon in the painting, as if he saw his own future, the same heroism, the same greatness.

The difference is that he will succeed, he will not fail, yes, Napoleon III firmly believed it.

As for the Prussian and German threat that Diesel just mentioned, although Napoleon III was vigilant, he was still wary of Prussia.

But he believed that when he controlled the whole of Europe, no matter what small Germany, even the real Greater Germany would not be a match for the French Empire.

Of course, the premise of all this is that France must win. Once it fails, it is really unclear whether the former younger brother will "molest his sister-in-law"! !

"Ugh……"

In the studio, the figure of Napoleon III began to overlap with the "hero" on the painting as the sunlight came through the cracks in the curtains, and finally disappeared, as if nothing had happened.

.............................................

Berlin Palace...

"Prime Minister, the king has been waiting inside for a long time."

Bismarck nodded slightly, and then walked into the newly opened door.

"His Majesty……"

Bismarck curtsied to William, who was already King of Prussia, to show his allegiance to him.

"So, are the Austrians still so difficult to deal with??"

After the two sat down, William poured tea and casually asked about the Prussian-Austrian negotiations.

"Your Majesty, the Austrians only agree to us taking half of the principality. The rest will belong to Austria."

"They even put forward requirements on the number of troops we can garrison on the border, requiring that we should not exceed 50,000 people."

"Even after unifying the half-German countries, we can't call it the German Empire. We still have to use the name Prussia."

After Bismai finished speaking, it was obvious that anger appeared on the face of William opposite him.

If half of the German countries are separated, there is still room for bargaining. After all, even William has no idea about directly turning against Austria and starting a war. Now he can get half of the German area without a war. In William's opinion, it was already a good deal.

But what really made him angry was not the so-called "equal division", but "Germany".

Others couldn't understand that the country's name could not be changed, especially if it became Germany. He understood the so-called monarch at once.

To put it bluntly, the guys in Austria didn't want him to have the title of emperor and still maintain his noble status in the future.

Although European emperors, fundamentally speaking, only the Roman emperor was legal, and the others were "illegal" or even "pirated products."

But this does not mean that the emperor is not important. If the emperor is not important, why is the tsar not called the Grand Duke of Moscow, or the King of Russia?

Why do British people put the crown of India on their heads?

As the most populous ethnic group in Europe, even more than France and Russia, the Germans need an emperor, and German-speaking people need an emperor.

The reason why Austria does not agree with the name change, and even Germany, is because it is afraid that Prussia will compete with them for legitimacy in the German region, and even in the minds of German-speaking people.

Don't underestimate this so-called "legality". At critical moments, this thing is still very appealing, especially in the vast German region.

And this is also the fundamental reason why William is angry, because Austria's doing this is equivalent to cutting off the foundation of Prussia's future rule in Germany and Europe.

"Your Majesty, I think I might as well agree first."

"What, you actually asked me to agree to such a shameless and traitorous treaty!!"

William was directly shocked by Bismarck's words just now, and his whole attitude became a little bad.

"Your Majesty, I think there is nothing wrong with us in Prussia by agreeing to the Austrians' request first."

"After all, we not only have to show it to the Austrians, but also to our neighbors..."

Bismarck did not say who the neighbor was, but William immediately thought of a country, France! !

An empire that can be said to be at the "hegemonic level" in Europe today and can make the whole of Europe tremble! !

"But if we can't win the title of Germany, then..."

“We will have to bear higher costs in the future!!”

William is still very sober. Although he also wants to reach a compromise, he still will not agree if it is at the expense of Germany's future.

"Your Majesty, we can definitely take action later!!"

Pismai replied to William with a smile, with a smile on his lips, like a sophisticated "fox", full of calculations all the time.

"Repent later??"

“But, will doing so make it more troublesome or even annoy the French??”

In fact, William is not too afraid of Austria. After all, a country that even gives up a sacred place like Italy has nothing to fear.

What he is really afraid of is the current "King of Europe", France, which has the largest army in Europe and the largest industrial scale besides the United Kingdom, and Napoleon III, who is known as the "New Napoleon".

"Your Majesty, the French will not stand a chance!!"

"Because when the time comes, they will just watch us finish all this!!"

Spiesmei's smile became even more evil in William's eyes.

(End of this chapter)