Make France Great Again-Chapter 924 - 915: Joint Offensive

"How could such a matter be put down in black and white? It’s merely a mutual understanding between our two countries!"

Jerome Bonaparte shrugged his shoulders and responded calmly to De Luyis.

"So, does this mean the agreement between Your Majesty and Britain was reached without anyone seeing or hearing it? It exists only in verbal exchanges between the parties?" Minister of State Guizot also questioned Jerome Bonaparte.

"Mr. Guizot, as a former Prime Minister, I think you should have some understanding of these political negotiations (referring to secret politics)!" Jerome Bonaparte took a breath and shook his head, saying, "No, I should say you are already very familiar with the operations of such political activities!"

"Your Majesty, I indeed have some insight into these political activities!" Guizot replied tactfully to Jerome Bonaparte.

In the past, when he served as Minister of Foreign Affairs/Prime Minister of the Orleans Kingdom, Guizot frequently maneuvered secretly with the British Envoy.

Especially during 1841–1848, Guizot restored the damaged Anglo-French relationship through secret politics.

If not for the Great Revolution of 1848, the relationship between the Orleans Kingdom and the Kingdom of Britain might have taken another step forward.

Therefore, Guizot had some understanding of the operations of secret politics.

"I think you should know that the essence of such politics lies in ’secrecy,’ where political deals conducted privately between the meeting parties leave no trace in the open, existing only in the minds of the parties involved!" Jerome Bonaparte continued to say to Guizot, "In such a case, we can only rely on mutual trust between the parties!"

"Your Majesty, I believe that in such cases, where there is only verbal acknowledgment without a defined agreement, we must proceed with extreme caution!" De Luyis responded to Jerome Bonaparte.

"You mean, the Kingdom of Britain might stab us in the back on this issue?" Jerome Bonaparte bluntly asked De Luyis.

"Although the Kingdom of Britain currently needs us, it cannot be ruled out as a possibility!" De Luyis answered cautiously, then glanced at the Minister of State Guizot on the other side and said, "Lord Guizot, I recall that during the Orleans Kingdom period, Britain used such tactics to force the Orleans Kingdom into isolation."

"Indeed!" Guizot sighed softly, then nodded.

Jerome Bonaparte also "remembered" the situation back then, when the Orleans Kingdom was newly established, coinciding with the rise of Palmerston’s fame.

At that time, King Louis Philippe of the Orleans Kingdom wanted to take advantage of the vacant Belgian throne to push for his son, the Duke of Nemur, to succeed.

The Russian Empire, according to its orthodox principles and interests, wanted to intervene personally in the independence of Belgium to keep it within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Meanwhile, the Kingdom of Britain neither wanted the Duke of Nemur to become King of Belgium nor wished for Russian intervention in Belgium.

Thus, Palmerston initially feigned to Louis Philippe that Britain supported the Duke of Nemur as King of Belgium, provided the Orleans Kingdom could ally closely with Britain.

With the perceived support of Britain, Louis Philippe considered the Duke of Nemur’s kingship a certainty, and he began to distance himself from the Russian Empire following Britain’s arrangements.

It was not until the Russian Empire announced an expedition to Belgium that Louis Philippe realized he had fallen into Palmerston’s trap.

If the Russian Empire were to reach the Rhine Land border, they wouldn’t just suppress Belgium Kingdom.

France would inevitably become a prey for the Russian Empire as well; deceived, Louis Philippe had no choice but to instruct Prince Talleyrand, the then Minister of Foreign Affairs, to negotiate with Britain.

While negotiating with Talleyrand, Palmerston asserted from afar that the Kingdom of Britain did not agree to the Duke of Nemur becoming the King of Belgium.

Between the French and Belgian thrones, Louis Philippe chose the French throne without hesitation.

The Belgian throne was painfully "ceded" to the son of the Duke of Saxe-Coburg, the current Leopold.

Subsequently, Louis Philippe inevitably faced criticism from French nationalists for his kingdom teetering on the brink of collapse in its very first year.

"We indeed need to be wary of the Kingdom of Britain!" Jerome Bonaparte responded solemnly to De Luyis.

Jerome Bonaparte then began to contemplate a method to break the predicament.

Just then, the previously silent Minister of War, Vayan, spoke to Jerome Bonaparte: "Your Majesty, I have an immature idea!

I’m not sure if it’s appropriate to convey!"

"Go ahead!" Jerome Bonaparte encouraged Minister Vayan, raising his head, "There’s nothing that can’t be said! This meeting is meant for open exchange among you all!"

"Your Majesty, since we are concerned that unilaterally annexing the Kingdom of Morocco might provoke Britain to act against us as it did in the past, why don’t we enlist more partners to jointly divide it!" Minister Vayan proposed to Jerome Bonaparte.

"If too many countries join, the territory we gain will shrink significantly!" Jerome Bonaparte responded to Minister Vayan.

"We don’t need too many countries, just the Kingdom of Spain will suffice!" Minister Vayan explained to Jerome Bonaparte: "The Kingdom of Spain, like us and the Kingdom of Britain, has invested a large sum of money in the Kingdom of Morocco!

Therefore, they are the most likely, apart from the Kingdom of Britain, to oppose us monopolizing the country!

We only need to involve them in the plan to annex the Kingdom of Morocco, and then Britain will find it difficult to find other allies on the issue of the Kingdom of Morocco."

Although the Kingdom of Spain was gradually declining during this period, a dying camel is still larger than a horse.

The Kingdom of Spain still held a first-tier position under the five countries of England, France, Russia, Prussia, and Austria in the whole of Europe, and even the Kingdom of Britain couldn’t ignore the interests of the Kingdom of Spain.

Therefore, bringing in the Kingdom of Spain can effectively prevent them from siding with Britain, thus causing trouble for the French Empire.

"I agree with Minister Vayan’s view!" De Luyis also spoke up to express his support for Minister Vayan, "If the Kingdom of Spain stands on our side, it will be difficult for the Kingdom of Britain to find other allies!"

Jerome Bonaparte turned to look at Minister of State Guizot and smiled as he asked Mr. Guizot, "Mr. Guizot, what is your opinion?"

Seeing this, Guizot likewise spoke to Jerome Bonaparte: "Your Majesty, I also agree with Minister Vayan’s idea!

Guizot swallowed, and then said: "However, I have some immature ideas! I wonder if you’re willing to listen!"

"Of course, I am willing!" Jerome Bonaparte replied to Guizot.

Subsequently, Guizot suggested that this military operation should include the Kingdom of Spain, as only this way can the Kingdom of Spain be more closely tied with France to jointly resist Britain.

Then, Guizot proposed to Jerome Bonaparte that it would be best to have the Kingdom of Spain attack from the north of the Kingdom of Morocco.

After occupying the Kingdom of Morocco, Jerome Bonaparte could smoothly hand over the northern territory of the Kingdom of Morocco to the Kingdom of Spain.

This way, the colonies of the Kingdom of Spain would border Gibraltar, making it difficult for the two sides to oppose each other.

"But, will the Kingdom of Spain really agree to attack from the north of the Kingdom of Morocco? They should know the situation they will face when occupying the north of the Kingdom of Morocco!" Jerome Bonaparte said, looking suspiciously at Minister Guizot.

"Your Majesty, the Kingdom of Spain is currently on the brink of internal turmoil!

The best way to solve this problem now is to shift their attention from domestic to foreign matters so that they can continue to maintain stability!" Guizot explained, "Just like the Bourbon Dynasty once conquered Algeria!

Although the Bourbon Kingdom was overthrown before they could fully conquer it, the way they diverted conflicts is indeed worth learning!

Your Majesty, you just need to propose to the Kingdom of Spain the invitation to divide the Kingdom of Morocco!

The Kingdom of Spain will understand the rest!"

"Alright!" Jerome Bonaparte turned his gaze to De Luyis, "I’ll leave this matter to you, no problem, Minister Luyis!"

"I promise I will complete the task!" De Luyis hurriedly said to Jerome Bonaparte.

Having solved the Moroccan issue, Jerome Bonaparte turned his attention to Minister of War Vayan and Chief of Staff Nie’er.

"What is the current situation with the army?" Jerome Bonaparte asked Vayan and Nie’er.

"Your Majesty, the troops in Algeria have all been equipped with new rifles, but if we want to fully re-equip our troops at home, it may take two to three more years." Minister Vayan replied to Jerome Bonaparte.

"What is the current status of the Chasebo Machine Gun?" Jerome Bonaparte continued to ask Vayan.

Sitting next to Jerome Bonaparte, both Guizot and De Luyis gave Jerome Bonaparte bewildered looks. Jerome Bonaparte casually explained: "A new weapon developed by Alfonso Chasebo, its appearance can significantly enhance our army’s firepower."

De Luyis and Guizot both showed expressions of realization.

"Alright, you must quickly complete the deployment of the equipment!" Jerome Bonaparte admonished Minister Vayan and Nie’er again and again, "I must see the Chasebo Machine Gun in the army by the end of this year!!"

"Your Majesty, please rest assured, we will not disappoint you!"