Make France Great Again-Chapter 962 - 953: The Double Act

"A joint action? No, no, no! Ambassador Richard!" Jerome Bonaparte spread his hands and said to Richard Metternich, "If the French Empire acts together with the Austrian Empire, how would the Kingdom of Britain perceive it!

Would they think that our two countries have conducted some covert deal and joined hands to completely annex the Apennine Peninsula!"

"Your Majesty, you mean to say!" Richard Metternich inquired of Jerome Bonaparte.

"It would be best for our two countries to act separately! If necessary, we might even create some antagonism!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Richard Metternich.

"Act separately? Create antagonism?" Although Richard Metternich understood every French word, when put together, he couldn’t quite grasp what Jerome Bonaparte meant.

"I mean the Austrian Empire can act alone against the Sardinian Kingdom, as long as the Austrian Empire does not aim to annex the Sardinian Kingdom!" Jerome Bonaparte said straightforwardly to Richard Metternich.

"Your Majesty, our country has no inappropriate intentions towards the Sardinian Kingdom!" Richard Metternich emphasized deliberately.

Neither he personally nor the entire Austrian Empire’s court had a direct annexation option for the Sardinian Kingdom.

The Austrian Empire already had enough territory on the Apennine Peninsula, and if Sardinia were annexed, the Austrian Empire might have to face the threat from France directly.

"That’s good!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded to Richard Metternich, "I will issue an order to Cavour after the Orsini incident ends!

Commanding him to shut down the liberal newspapers, which I think Cavour will surely oppose!

At that time, I will withdraw the ambassador stationed in Turin!

Then, your Austrian Empire can order the Sardinian Kingdom to disarm and accept investigation under the pretext of punishing extreme nationalist analysis!!"

"What if the Sardinian Kingdom is unwilling to disarm!" Richard Metternich countered.

Jerome Bonaparte looked at him with a hint of appreciation, knowing that Richard Metternich’s "superfluous" inquiry was aimed at seeking assurance from Jerome Bonaparte.

Even if the assurance was merely verbal.

"At that time, the Austrian Empire can proceed against the Sardinian Kingdom!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Richard Metternich, then added: "The French Empire will definitely not obstruct!

Until the Sardinian Kingdom agrees to let the French Empire mediate with arms, while also restricting domestic revolutionaries!

By then, our troops will enter the borders of Sardinia!

At that time, the Austrian Empire can smoothly exit the Sardinian Kingdom!

By the way, you’d better bring the Kingdom of Prussia along!

Even if the Kingdom of Prussia just makes some noise on the surface!"

After listening to Jerome Bonaparte’s strategy, Richard Metternich couldn’t help but feel a trace of fear towards him.

Using the Austrian Empire to weaken the Sardinian Kingdom, and then turning around to rescue them as a savior.

This not only prevents the French Empire from facing Sardinian resentment but also deepens its control over the Sardinian Kingdom.

Prussia’s role is merely to provide an excuse for France to remain neutral, as long as the Austrian Empire continues to put pressure on Sardinia, Cavour will inevitably succumb to Jerome Bonaparte’s will.

Moreover, this war also benefits the Austrian Empire significantly.

The Austrian Empire can not only achieve its goal of diverting economic contradictions through war but also obtain compensation from Sardinia.

Last time, the compensation from Sardinia to the Austrian Empire was not implemented due to Austria’s own reasons.

(At that time, the Austrian Empire was worried that England and France might act against them because of the Sardinian Kingdom, so many compensations were waived.

Now, the Austrian Empire is allied with the French Empire!

They no longer need to worry about such issues!)

This time, they definitely will not show any leniency to Sardinia as they did last time.

"Your Majesty, I will convey your suggestions to His Majesty Franz! I believe His Majesty will certainly agree with your proposal!" Richard Metternich said to Jerome Bonaparte.

"As long as the French Empire and the Austrian Empire join hands, there is no opponent in Europe we cannot defeat!" Jerome Bonaparte boasted.

Richard Metternich smiled slightly, not refuting him.

Then, Jerome Bonaparte asked Richard Metternich if he was interested in playing the "Son of God" and taking action against the "Papal States" of the Pope’s territory.

[The Pope’s territory is the overall term for the entire Papal States, which are divided into the Pope’s territories and Church states.

The Pope’s territories refer to lands directly led by the Pope, while Church states are principalities under the Papal States system.]

After all, solely relying on the French Empire to station over 2,000 people in the Papal States to defend its vast territory is somewhat insufficient.

If the Austrian Empire could annex the Church states as the German princes annexed German bishoprics, Jerome Bonaparte would certainly issue a large medal to Austria.

However, the "great" His Holiness the Pope would definitely oppose this suggestion.

As long as the Austrian Empire agrees and the French Empire acquiesces, who would care if the Pope opposes.

Unfortunately, Richard Metternich did not take the bait.

For the current Austrian Empire, expansion is not the primary goal. Maintaining the stability of the Austrian Empire’s existing territories is of utmost importance.

Moreover, annexing the Church States might further provoke the Pope’s wrath.

The Austrian Empire only abolished the tithe a few years ago (officially abolished in 1848) and certainly does not want to incur the Pope’s wrath once more.

Therefore, Richard Metternich rejected Jerome Bonaparte’s "suggestion" and reiterated that the current territories of the Austrian Empire completely fulfill its needs.

Jerome Bonaparte was forced to settle for a secondary request, demanding that after the intervention, the Austrian Empire send troops to station in the Church States.

This condition was agreed to by Richard Metternich without hesitation.

After everything was settled, Richard Metternich left the Tuileries Palace.

Jerome Bonaparte returned to his study and glanced at the grandfather clock in the corner.

It was already 11:20, leaving only 40 minutes until lunchtime.

Jerome Bonaparte decided to postpone all work until the afternoon and use this time to read today’s newspapers.

Thus, Jerome Bonaparte called Bashirio and ordered him to go to the secretary’s office to bring all the domestic and foreign newspapers of the day!

Bashirio left with the order and soon appeared in Jerome Bonaparte’s office with a stack of newspapers as thick as a book.

"Your Majesty, these are today’s newspapers!" Bashirio said to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Thank you for your hard work!" Jerome Bonaparte replied to Bashirio.

"It’s nothing!"

Bashirio left the study, closing the door behind him for Jerome Bonaparte.

Jerome Bonaparte sat alone in the study, quietly flipping through the newspapers.

The first were the newspapers within Paris, almost all of which had front page reports on the assassination attempt on Jerome Bonaparte.

Every newspaper expressed indignation over the unknown assassin’s brazen attempt on the Emperor’s life.

Even the left-wing newspapers expressed mild objection to the assassination attempt on Jerome Bonaparte.

This result gave Jerome Bonaparte a slight feeling of comfort.

Next, Jerome Bonaparte flipped through the British newspapers.

However, while browsing through the British newspapers, Jerome Bonaparte felt something was amiss.

Previously, British newspapers had more or less criticized Jerome Bonaparte.

Yet this time, all the newspapers expressed "sympathy" for Jerome Bonaparte.

This made Jerome Bonaparte furrow his brows. After carefully going through all the British newspapers, he realized that the newspapers sent by the secretary’s office this time were different from the ones previously given to him.

The "London Daily Forum", "Reuters News" ... all these well-known newspapers were missing!

Jerome Bonaparte furrowed his brows, immediately calling Bashirio to order that Lucien Murat, the Secretary General, be brought before him.

Bashirio politely suggested to Jerome Bonaparte that it would be better to summon Lucien Murat after lunch.

"Have Lucien Murat come to me now!" Jerome Bonaparte said with a stern expression to Bashirio.

Seeing this, Bashirio had no choice but to follow Jerome Bonaparte’s command, going to the secretary’s office to bring Lucien Murat before him.

"Your Majesty, what can I do for you?" Lucien Murat inquired respectfully.

"What is it?" Jerome Bonaparte snapped, then threw a few newspapers at Lucien Murat, saying, "Look at the newspapers your secretary’s office has selected!"

Looking at the newspapers in his hands, Lucien Murat thought to himself: This is bad!

"Where is the Daily Forum?" Jerome Bonaparte asked rhetorically.

"It might be due to oversight..." Lucien Murat replied tremblingly.

"Oversight?" Jerome Bonaparte sneered, then asked, "Who is responsible for the newspaper review in the secretary’s office?"

Lucien Murat revealed a name, and Jerome Bonaparte immediately ordered Lucien Murat, "Have him pack up and get out now!

There is no place for fraudsters in the secretary’s office!"

"Yes!" Lucien Murat had no choice but to respond to Jerome Bonaparte.

After Lucien Murat left, Jerome Bonaparte began to contemplate a new candidate for the Secretary General position.

After all, the position of Secretary General is too important.

It’s equivalent to the eyes and ears of Jerome Bonaparte, so it must be filled by someone Jerome Bonaparte fully trusts.

And currently, Lucien Murat can no longer earn Jerome Bonaparte’s trust.