Make France Great Again-Chapter 961 - 952: Franco-Austrian Cooperation

Even though the Eastern Empire could gain certain benefits, Jerome Bonaparte did not wish to take action against the motherland of his past life.

Even if at present this country is occupied by a colonial regime dressed in feudalism, he does not wish to excessively harm it.

Seeing Jerome Bonaparte only willing to make money (referring to selling a large number of weapons and equipment to rebels and government troops), Ambassador Kaotz felt a tinge of regret.

Although Britain is entirely capable of forcing the rulers of the Eastern Empire to surrender with its own strength, the Kingdom of Britain still wants the French Empire to help back them up.

After all, France’s army numbers in the Eastern Empire are second only to the Kingdom of Britain.

If they are willing to help, Britain could reduce some of its troop deployments.

"Your Majesty, in that case, I shall not disturb you any further!" Ambassador Kaotz said respectfully to Jerome Bonaparte.

Jerome Bonaparte personally escorted Ambassador Kaotz to the door and then called for Bashirio.

"Which room is Richard Metternich in?" Jerome Bonaparte then asked Bashirio.

"Your Majesty, please follow me!" Bashirio said to Jerome Bonaparte, then led him upstairs, "Ambassador Richard is inside!"

Jerome Bonaparte opened the door to enter the room, and upon hearing the commotion outside, Richard Metternich quickly rose from the sofa and proceeded towards Jerome Bonaparte’s direction.

Jerome Bonaparte and Richard Metternich met halfway along the path. After a handshake, Richard Metternich, courteously addressed Jerome Bonaparte saying, "Your Majesty!"

"Richard, you must be here on orders from Franz Joseph to see me!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Richard Metternich.

Richard Metternich shook his head in response to Jerome Bonaparte, "Your esteemed Majesty! Our Emperor Franz Joseph, Your Majesty, instructed me not only to bring you the most sincere greetings from the Austrian Empire but also to inquire whether you need assistance from the Austrian Empire!"

"Oh?" Richard Metternich’s response somewhat surprised Jerome Bonaparte.

Unexpectedly, the Austrian Empire, known for its diplomatic approach of "making big issues small, and small issues disappear," was willing to offer help.

This somewhat took Jerome Bonaparte by surprise.

"Richard!" Jerome Bonaparte shrugged his shoulders slightly, speaking in a somewhat casual tone, "I am very pleased that your government is expressing friendliness towards the French Empire at this critical juncture!

However, this assassination belongs to the internal affairs of the French Empire and does not require the assistance of the Austrian Empire!"

"Your Majesty! This assassination is not limited to the internal affairs of the French Empire; it is also related to the entire monarchy!" Richard Metternich responded righteously to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Oh?" Jerome Bonaparte smiled with interest now, eager to hear what unique insights you might have, "Why does this assassination concern the entire monarchy?"

Richard Metternich asked Jerome Bonaparte unhurriedly, "Your Majesty, according to information leaked from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, most of the four individuals responsible for your assassination belong to assassins from the Apennine Peninsula, correct? (One of the few pieces of information released by Percy, but does not involve specific countries)."

"Indeed there are assassins from the Apennine Peninsula!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded in response to Richard Metternich, "However, I do not understand what the assassination has to do with the monarchy!"

Richard Metternich informed Jerome Bonaparte that just a few months ago, several Dukes and Princes of the Apennine Peninsula were repeatedly targeted by assassination attempts from the Charcoal Party.

And now, Jerome Bonaparte has also been attacked!

"Your Majesty, Advisor Metternich (Richard Metternich’s father, Prince Old Metternich) believes this is an intentional conspiracy by the Italian Carbonari against monarchs!

They wish to rely on this method to overturn the monarchy, thus achieving the republic they implemented in the year 48!" Richard Metternich expounded vibrantly to Jerome Bonaparte, "Therefore, this assassination is not merely French internal affairs, but also concerns the European monarchy!"

After listening to Richard Metternich’s words, Jerome Bonaparte was silent for a moment, half-jokingly half-seriously saying to Richard Metternich, "Richard, your ideas are indeed quite novel!

How does your Austrian Empire plan to uphold the order of monarchy!

Surely it cannot be simply sending troops to the Apennine Peninsula to help clear out extremists!"

"Your Majesty, our Austrian Empire indeed thinks that way! We hope the French Empire will join forces with the Austrian Empire to maintain stability in the Apennine Peninsula!" Richard Metternich nodded in agreement to Jerome Bonaparte.

Jerome Bonaparte’s lips twitched slightly, surprised to find that the Austrian Empire shared his intention to act on the Apennine Peninsula.

Unexpectedly, the Austrian Empire’s thoughts aligned with his.

He vividly remembers that historically, the Austrian Empire had rarely been involved in the Apennine Peninsula affairs.

Why is it, when it is his turn, that the Austrian Empire shows far more concern for the Apennine Peninsula than it historically did?

"Mr. Richard, it seems like France is helping the Austrian Empire, rather than the Austrian Empire helping the French Empire!" Jerome Bonaparte reminded Richard Metternich.

"Your Majesty, the help is mutual!" Richard Metternich responded to Jerome Bonaparte, "This matter also benefits the French Empire!"

"I don’t see any benefits in it! Instead, it will push our relationship with the Sardinian Kingdom to freezing point!" Jerome Bonaparte further responded to Richard Metternich.

"Your Majesty! The relationship between the Sardinian Kingdom and France should be just like the relationship between our country and the Duchy of Tuscany!

The Sardinian Kingdom should become a vassal of France!" Richard Metternich said bluntly, "But now the Sardinian Kingdom is starting to move closer to the Kingdom of Britain; they are likely to become a pawn for the Kingdom of Britain on the Apennine Peninsula!"

"The relationship between Sardinia and France is an internal affair of the French Empire and has little to do with the Austrian Empire!" Jerome Bonaparte pointedly told Richard Metternich, "

Furthermore, the Kingdom of Britain is also our best ally, so why should we guard against our allies?

I think the help you speak of is just an excuse because you have no pretext to act on the Apennine Peninsula!"

Jerome Bonaparte was right; the help Richard Metternich mentioned was just a pretext.

The actual situation was that the Austrian Empire wanted to take this opportunity to unite with the French Empire to take strong action against all extreme forces within the Apennine Peninsula.

Because recently, the Charcoal Party throughout the Apennine Peninsula has been exceptionally active, frequently inciting the populace to resist the Austrian Empire and assassinating the monarchs of Italian States under Austrian control.

This has caused much distress to the Austrian Empire, compounded by the economic crisis breaking the previously rapid growth momentum.

(In historical reality, the Austrian Empire did not have the substantial financial backing of French capital.)

To divert domestic conflicts, the Austrian Empire had to consider a strong action on the Apennine Peninsula.

This way, they could eliminate those annoying Charcoal Party members and divert the empire’s economic conflicts, killing two birds with one stone.

However, due to the French Empire, the Austrian Empire, although having this intention, could not put it into action.

Coincidentally, Jerome Bonaparte had recently suffered an assassination attempt, and the Austrian side had some thoughts; they sent Richard Metternich to probe Jerome Bonaparte’s attitude.

"Your Majesty, although the Kingdom of Britain and the French Empire have a good relationship, ultimately everything is determined by interests between the two countries!" Seeing that Jerome Bonaparte was not "taking the bait," Richard Metternich earnestly persuaded him.

"I don’t think there is much conflict of interest between France and Britain!" Jerome Bonaparte firmly denied.

"Your Majesty, isn’t the divergence between Britain and France over the Mediterranean issue a conflict of interest?" Richard Metternich asked back, "If the Sardinian Kingdom were to trade Sardinia for the Kingdom of Britain’s protection, then the French Empire would likely have no reason to object!"

"Impossible!" Jerome Bonaparte expressed a trace of panic, "Cavour wouldn’t do something so irrational!"

"Your Majesty, the Prime Minister of the Sardinian Kingdom indeed cannot do something so irrational, but it doesn’t mean others in the Sardinian Kingdom won’t!

Their monarch, Victor Emmanuel II, is not known for being particularly rational." Richard Metternich mistakenly believed that Jerome Bonaparte had already been convinced that Sardinia was willing to lease Sardinia to Britain.

[PS: Historically, Sardinia and Britain only began talks about the Sardinia issue after Napoleon III annexed Nice and Savoy, in order to safeguard Britain’s interests in the Mediterranean.

Britain only began talks with Piedmont about the Sardinia issue then.

In this world, due to the French Empire’s more rapid annexation of the Kingdom of Morocco,

the Kingdom of Britain became concerned about its dominance in the Mediterranean earlier, so they had to choose to leverage Sardinia as a counterbalance against France.

The lease of Sardinia was just a tentative demonstration of Britain’s Mediterranean rights to France, and Jerome Bonaparte was not concerned about it.]

"He may have moments of irrationality, but my troops stationed along the border will make him regain his senses!" Jerome Bonaparte snorted coldly and replied to Richard Metternich.

Just as Richard Metternich was about to give up, Jerome Bonaparte continued, "However, there’s one thing you are indeed right about! 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Sardinia indeed needs a little lesson!"

"Your Majesty, the Austrian Empire is willing to act together with France!" Richard Metternich said to Jerome Bonaparte, with a slightly excited tone.