The Qing Dynasty is about to end

Chapter 829 The weapon of criticism can never defeat the criticism of weapons!

December 1867, 12, 3 Downing Street, London.

The Earl of Derby threw the invitation letter from William I on the conference table, and raised the corner of his mouth slightly: "Gentlemen, the Germans want to pull us into a 'Five-Power Alliance'."

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Benjamin Disraeli, narrowed his eyes and tapped his fingers on the table. "Five nations? Britain, Russia, Germany, and who else? Spain and Italy, right?"

"No," said Lord Derby, shaking his head, "it is the Northern Confederacy of the United States and France."

"And France?" Jonathan Peel, the Minister of War, was stunned. "Isn't it the France ruled by the Workers' Association?"

"How is that possible?" Earl Derby laughed, "King William and Alexander II want to support another French monarch to fight a civil war with the government of the Workers' Association!"

Pierre snorted coldly: "Bismarck wants France to be trapped in civil war for a long time, right?"

"Most likely." Foreign Secretary Lord Stanley took over the conversation. "The Prussian Iron Chancellor is actually very smart - he is very good at creating common enemies for the potential allies he wants to win over! France ruled by the Workers' Association is our common enemy with the Tsar and Germany! And the Yellow Peril in the East is our common enemy with the Northern Confederation of the United States. Now we have two common enemies with Germany, and we can also interfere in the American Civil War through this alliance and gain benefits from it."

The Secretary of the Navy, Sir John Packington, sneered: "It seems that we can't refuse the Germans' kindness?"

"Yes, we'd better not refuse." Earl Derby tapped his pipe, and the gray smoke swirled in the conference room. "If we don't join, they will win over Russia and monarchical France and exclude us from European affairs."

There was silence in the conference room.

"So," said Chancellor Disraeli slowly, "we must join?"

"Not only do we need to join," said Lord Stanley, with a sly flash in his eyes, "we also need to 'mix things up' - make Germany and Russia suspicious of each other, make France always in civil strife, and make the United States have to rely on us!"

The count nodded with satisfaction. "That's right! Germany and Russia are suspicious of each other, so we can prevent the Russians from dismantling the Ottoman Empire while allying with Russia to contain Germany. And after uniting Germany, Russia and France to support the Northern Confederation of the United States to unify the South and end the protracted civil war, we can also force the Americans to lower tariffs and open up the market. With the support of Germany, Russia, France and the United States, we can contain the aggressive Taiping Heavenly Kingdom in the Pacific. Of course, to maintain the situation of mutual restraint between Russia and Germany for a long time, we must also ensure that France is not controlled by Germany."

He stood up, walked to the map of Europe on the wall, and poked his finger heavily at the location of Paris: "The key to this question is - who will rule France in the future?"

"The Bonaparte dynasty has fallen," Disraeli frowned, "and the Orleanists are too weak. The Republicans..."

"Both Germany and Russia have made it clear that they do not accept republicans," Earl Derby said calmly, "Luckily, Napoleon III's son is still in England. He is only 11 years old, and is a perfect puppet."

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Disraeli, frowned slightly: "Prime Minister, you want to restore little Napoleon? But he is only 11 years old!"

"What can we do?" Earl Derby smiled bitterly. "Alexander II is a vengeful Tsar. He does not agree to the restoration of Napoleon III, who once sent the French army to defeat his country. And Prince Napoleon has now joined the French Supreme Revolutionary Committee and has become the commander-in-chief of the National Army."

"But will the Tsar agree?" Jonathan Peel questioned, "After all, the French Crown Prince is the son of Napoleon III. If he becomes emperor, wouldn't that be the same as Napoleon III becoming emperor?"

"So," Earl Derby looked at his son, "Stanley, when you go to Vienna to attend the coronation ceremony, first feel out the Tsar. If he disagrees, then ask him who he wants to support?"

That afternoon, the Earl of Derby and his son went to Buckingham Palace to meet Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

"Your Majesty," Earl Derby bowed, "Germany has proposed a 'Five-Power Alliance' plan, and I think Britain must participate."

Queen Victoria frowned. "Participate? Make an alliance with those barbarians who burned down Versailles?"

"Your Majesty," Lord Stanley explained, "if we do not join, Europe will form a 'German-Russian-French' axis, and Britain will be isolated again - just like when Napoleon declared the Continental Blockade."

Prince Albert pondered for a moment: "Is it possible to disintegrate this Greater German Empire?"

"Not possible in the short term." Earl Derby shook his head. "The Prussian army has just announced victory in the war against France, and Moltke is withdrawing his troops. It seems that the Germans only want Alsace and Lorraine. It seems impossible to use the army of the Paris Revolutionary Committee to wear down the Prussian army, and Alexander II clearly supports William I. So we lack sufficient military and political bargaining chips."

"But after joining the alliance," Lord Stanley added, "we can do three things in the European direction: first, unite with Russia to contain Germany; second, use Germany to prevent Russia from moving south to Constantinople; third, support a pro-British French government to contain Germany."

Queen Victoria looked at Prince Albert and said, "Dear Albert, what do you think?"

The prince stood up by the armrest of his chair, walked slowly to the world map, and ran his finger across the Pacific Ocean: "The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's fleet has threatened Australia, and the longer the American Civil War drags on, the more favorable it will be for the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom to push the Yellow Peril into the western United States. If this alliance can help us solve these two problems..."

The Queen took a deep breath and said, "Then join. But remember—" Her eyes suddenly became sharp and cold, "Britain's interests are always higher than those of the alliance."

She paused, and suddenly asked: "Regarding France, who do you plan to support?" Earl Derby bowed slightly and said: "Your Majesty, Napoleon III's son is currently taking refuge in England. If he is restored to power."

"No!" Prince Albert interrupted, "The Tsar will never agree to this."

"So," Lord Stanley said, "I plan to test the Tsar's attitude in Vienna first."

The queen thought for a moment and said: "If the Tsar objects, then consider Empress Mathilde."

After leaving Buckingham Palace, Earl Derby whispered to his son Lord Stanley in his carriage: "Go and meet with French Ambassador Frederick. An informal, secret meeting. We need to reach some tacit understanding with Paris."

"Understanding?" Lord Stanley was stunned.

"Yes!" Earl Derby said, "We still need that radical regime to exist. At least until we are sure that the future French monarchy can really accomplish the task of containing Germany under our support."

That evening, Lord Stanley secretly met with French Ambassador Friedrich in a secluded cafe in London.

"Your Excellency," Friedrich pushed up his glasses, "has Britain decided to formally recognize the revolutionary regime in Paris?"

"No," Stanley smiled, "What we want is... non-interference and non-aggression."

"Oh?" Friedrich was a little surprised.

"The International Workingmen's Association is not doing anything in Britain," Stanley said in a low voice, "and Britain will not take any real hostile measures against the Supreme Revolutionary Committee in Paris."

Friedrich narrowed his eyes: "Lord, what happened?"

Stanley pretended to hesitate, and then "accidentally" let a document slip to the ground - on it was written "Plan for the Establishment of a Five-Power Alliance of Britain, Germany, Russia, the United States and France".

Friedrich picked up the document, glanced at it, and frowned: "I see."

On the balcony of the Tuileries Palace, Blanqui looked at the red flags and cheering crowds surging like a tide in the square, with a slight smile on his face. The National Army was marching in neat steps past the reviewing stand, with their bayonets flashing coldly in the winter sun.

"Comrades," Blanqui turned and said to Varlin and Baudin behind him, "the victory of the defense of Paris proves that the power of the people is invincible!"

At this moment, Foreign Affairs Commissioner Moore walked quickly onto the balcony, holding a telegram in his hand with a serious expression.

"Comrades," he said in a deep voice, "we have just received intelligence that William I, Alexander II and the British government are conspiring to form a 'Five-Power Alliance'. Their goal is not only to encircle and suppress us, but also to restore the Bonaparte dynasty in France!"

Blanchi's smile froze instantly: "What?"

Varlan grabbed the telegram and quickly scanned it: "They want to support the son of Napoleon III? Or..."

He was about to say "Prince Napoleon", but stopped himself in the end.

"No matter who they are," Moore said coldly, "they have only one goal - to destroy the Supreme Revolutionary Committee and strangle the revolution!"

Baudet slammed the railing: "We must act immediately!"

Ten minutes later, members of the Supreme Revolutionary Committee gathered in the conference room. Blanki stood at the end of the long table and slammed his fist on the table: "Comrades, the imperialists have bared their fangs! They want to strangle us with the restored monarch!"

"We must not sit still and wait for death!" Varlan stood up. "I propose to immediately convene a French Republican Congress to form a French national unity government and use our prestige in the defense of Paris to legally seize national power!"

"Legal?" Dombrowski frowned. "Will those royalists from other provinces recognize us?"

"You have to admit it even if you don't want to!" The new commander-in-chief, Gustave Cruzel, sneered, "The National Army has already controlled the railway line from Paris to Lyon. We can use force to ensure the election results."

Moore pushed up his glasses and said in a low and firm voice: "But the most important thing is that the Workers' Association must firmly grasp the National Army and the Red Guards!" He looked around at everyone, "The weapon of criticism can never defeat the criticism of weapons!"

(End of this chapter)