"In this world, often it is only the mediocre who complain about unfairness, while great individuals are always able to create the rules that favor them!

In my view, your country’s Emperor is such a great individual!

The French Empire has achieved remarkable success under his leadership!"

As a utilitarian, Bismarck lavished his praise on Valerovsky and the French Empire behind him, simply to leave a good impression on them.

In response to Bismarck’s praise, Valerovsky only smiled modestly and replied to Bismarck, "Ambassador Bismarck, you overestimate us!

The Empire merely did the right thing at the right time!

It is all just the momentum of the times!"

Upon hearing Valerovsky’s answer, Bismarck’s eyes lit up. He clenched his fists and shook them passionately, saying, "The momentum of the times! Mr. Valerovsky, you are correct.

You, I, and the countries behind us are all caught in the wave called time, and therefore we must grasp the direction of the waves in order to harness them!

Only in this way can we rise with the tide!

Any person or country that attempts to defy the wave will eventually be swallowed by the overwhelming tide!"

"Mr. Bismarck, you are right!" Valerovsky first agreed with Bismarck’s point, then added a cautionary note, "However, I must add a word!

The wave of time is like the winds and waves at sea; each appearance is often sudden and difficult to master!

Even if one is fortunate enough to encounter such a wave, accompanying it are fierce winds and heavy rain, enough to turn some ships (hinting at the Kingdom of Prussia) wishing to rise from the wave into dust!

The wave of time, while it can allow a country to obtain everything it desires with the fastest speed, also poses a risk of capsizing if care is not taken!"

Although Valerovsky’s ’warning’ was filled with goodwill, at heart he believed that Bismarck and the Kingdom of Prussia had no way of mastering the gigantic wave.

Indeed, over the past several centuries, the German Region often played the role of the victim, with every large-scale war inevitably trampling on German land and the subjects living there.

Beating Germans has become a mockery akin to beating the weak, and for someone like Von Bismarck, whose ancestors lived in East Prussia, this is an utterly humiliating notion.

(Although Von Bismarck himself looks down on German nationalists, it doesn’t prevent him from siding with them when German nationalism is insulted from the outside.)

"Mr. Valerovsky, you are correct!" Von Bismarck agreed with Valerovsky, saying, "In the wave of time, only a few countries can rise with it, while more are swallowed.

However, I believe this is not merely a matter of national strength."

"What different perspective do you have?" Valerovsky watched Bismarck with interest, somewhat understanding why the Emperor looked differently upon this man, as his character bears a striking resemblance to the Emperor.

He, like the Emperor, is domineering, especially when determined to do something; no difficulty will make them back down.

Considering this, Valerovsky couldn’t help but silently lament for the Regent King of the Kingdom of Prussia for a few seconds.

After all, if Von Bismarck indeed becomes the Prime Minister of Prussia at some future time as the Emperor implies, then he will surely become the most assertive Prime Minister the Kingdom of Prussia has seen to date.

An assertive Prime Minister requires a relatively weak monarch; otherwise, a situation of dual governance will occur.

Thus, if Von Bismarck wants to serve as Prime Minister for an extended period, then the Regent King must back down.

"Mr. Valerovsky, while national strength can determine whether a country can harness this wave to a certain extent!

But that’s only one aspect; I believe a nation’s ability to progress steadily through the wave lies in whether it has a perceptive leader!" Von Bismarck spoke eloquently to Valerovsky, "Please forgive my arrogance!

To date, I assert that on the European Continent, only a few politicians or monarchs can clearly think and lead their country calmly down the right path.

Most other monarchs and politicians merely drift towards the tide, waiting for others to thrust destiny upon them..."

"Then which countries’ politicians do you think possess such advanced thinking?" Valerovsky, intrigued by Von Bismarck, questioned further.

Von, Bismarck did not directly answer Valerovsky’s question but got up to open the bottle of wine on the table.

"Wine from the Bordeaux Region, Mr. Valerovsky, would you like to taste it?" Von Bismarck raised the bottle, asking Valerovsky.

"Certainly!" Valerovsky licked his slightly dry lips, nodding in response to Von Bismarck.

Since attending the funeral, Valerovsky hadn’t had a sip of water until now.

Von Bismarck ordered a servant to fetch two goblets and a decanter from the walnut cabinet where wine was stored. Wine was poured into the decanter, which was then handed to the servant, who left with it.

After a while, the servant returned with another decanter containing wine that had been decanted and placed it in front of Bismarck, pouring the wine into the goblets of Valerovsky and Von Bismarck in turn.

Von Bismarck and Valerovsky raised their wine glasses.

"Long live His Majesty Napoleon, long live His Majesty William!" Von Bismarck proclaimed loudly.

"Long live both Majesties, long live Franco-Prussian friendship!" Valerovsky echoed.

The two goblets clinked crisply in midair, and then Valerovsky and Von Bismarck drank their wine in one go.

The servant standing by quickly refilled the glasses of Valerovsky and Von Bismarck with sweet wine. Valerovsky continued to speak to Von Bismarck, "Mr. Bismarck, let us continue our earlier discussion!"

"Alright!"

Just as Von Bismarck was about to resume his conversation with Valerovsky, the servant suddenly approached Von Bismarck and whispered something into his ear.

Von Bismarck was momentarily surprised, but soon regained his composure.

"What’s the matter? Is there something urgent that needs your attention?" Valerovsky inquired without changing his expression. "If it’s urgent, I can leave first!"

"It’s not that serious!" Von Bismarck shook his head and explained to Valerovsky, "My servant told me that Mr. Metternich is at the embassy entrance!"

"Mr. Metternich? Which Metternich?" Valerovsky showed a hesitant expression.

"Who else but Prince Metternich, of course!

I didn’t expect his senses to be so sharp. Just as the two of us met, he immediately got the news and rushed over!" Von Bismarck’s words carried a hint of mockery toward Prince Metternich.

"Since Prince Metternich is so eager to know our discussion, why not invite him in for a chat!" Valerovsky suggested to Von Bismarck, "After all, Prince Metternich is our senior and has much experience from which we can learn!"

"That’s exactly what I was thinking!" Von Bismarck fully agreed and immediately ordered his servant to invite Prince Metternich inside.

After a while, Prince Metternich was led by the servant to where Von Bismarck and Valerovsky were.

Upon entering, he immediately saw the wine displayed on the table by Von Bismarck and Valerovsky and, with a slightly apologetic and teasing tone, said, "It seems like this old fool has come at the wrong time!

I’ve interrupted you!"

Von Bismarck immediately extended a warm invitation with a smile, "Your Excellency Metternich, it is an unparalleled honor for me and everyone at the Prussian Embassy that you could take the time to visit!"

"Indeed!" Valerovsky also offered praise to Prince Metternich, "Since our last meeting in Paris, I have been anticipating our next encounter!

I was originally going to visit you personally in a while!"

"You two really know how to flatter this old man who’s about to enter a coffin!" Prince Metternich, too, smiled warmly at Von Bismarck and Valerovsky.

Then, Von Bismarck ordered the staff of the embassy to bring down the walnut rocking chair from his study, "I heard that Your Excellency Metternich enjoys discussing state affairs on a rocking chair, and it so happens there is one in my study!"

"Mr. Bismarck, you’ve been very considerate!" Prince Metternich responded to Von Bismarck with a look of appreciation for the younger generation and a hint of envy in his eyes.

Standing by, Valerovsky showed a slight expression of surprise on his face.

The act of Von Bismarck preparing a walnut chair for Prince Metternich in itself did not signify much, yet it demonstrated Bismarck’s proficiency in intelligence gathering.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have known Prince Metternich’s preferences.

An excellent diplomat not only needs to be proficient in diplomacy but also must have his own intelligence network.

This intelligence network enables a diplomat to quickly establish diplomatic relations with the desired country and also transmit messages that cannot be officially conveyed to the intended recipient through the said network.

[For example: Talleyrand, during his tenure as Minister of Foreign Affairs, used bribery to relay to the Anti-French Alliance some information about the Napoleonic Empire.

The reason he did so was also to slightly curb Napoleon’s ambitious endeavors.]

Both Talleyrand and Metternich are masters in this regard.

Nowadays, through his actions, Bismarck proves that he is not lagging behind the two aforementioned figures.