Make France Great Again-Chapter 138: The Rational Guest of France

Morality and diplomatic aid? Very well, that behavior is quite British Kingdom.

Jerome Bonaparte secretly admired Britain’s opportunistic behavior.

For an island nation detached from the European Continent, the Kingdom of Britain is naturally a troublemaker. Their core policy lies in the European balance strategy, so expecting them to risk themselves for the Sardinian Dynasty is simply a fantasy.

Perhaps Palmerston himself is also waiting for the French Republic to make a move, otherwise the Austrian Empire’s sphere of influence would encroach upon France’s southern route.

Given that the differences within the Holy Alliance have not yet reached a breaking point, Jerome Bonaparte estimated that Britain would also be unwilling to act on its own without allies.

Not to mention that at this time, Tsar Nicholas I of the Russian Empire and the "young" Emperor Joseph Franz of the Austrian Empire happen to be very close, with 140,000 Russian troops yet to withdraw from the Kingdom of Hungary.

[PS: On August 15, 1849, the Hungarian revolutionaries led by Kossuth were suppressed.]

Britain can only be a spectator and provide moral support to Sardinia, much like how a year ago the Kingdom of Britain watched as the Sardinian Kingdom besieged the Lombardy Corner Fortress.

"Minister Tocqueville!" Jerome Bonaparte spread his hands and sighed, "Since Lord Palmerston has already made his choice, then I believe the French Republic should make the same choice as the Kingdom of Britain. You can draft an announcement, the content is as follows."

Jerome Bonaparte cleared his throat and, in a slightly rustic tone, said, "The French Republic is a nation that loves peace. We deeply regret the unfortunate circumstances of the Sardinian Kingdom! We hope that the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Sardinian Kingdom can exercise restraint, understanding, and forbearance towards maintaining a stable peace environment in Europe."

Jerome Bonaparte imitated a major country’s vague diplomatic rhetoric from a past life, which basically meant advising the Sardinian Dynasty to lay low.

"Mr. President, the Kingdom of Britain is far from the European Continent, they can afford to do nothing!" Tocqueville attempted to persuade Jerome Bonaparte, "But France is different, we are situated on the European Continent. Any change on the European Continent will have some impact on the Republic."

"Minister Tocqueville, you seem to have forgotten what the initial mission of the Sardinian Kingdom was?" Jerome Bonaparte, unwilling to argue with this minister with both romantic and pessimistic tendencies, thought to himself that he would never have agreed to Tocqueville entering the Cabinet if it hadn’t been for balancing political power.

Jerome Bonaparte aggressively explained, "My uncle led the French Army to defeat them six times in a row. Even though they eventually won and their soldiers stood at the gates of Paris, it was a pyrrhic victory. They dared not recklessly dismember France solely because of my uncle and the power of the French people; no one wants to see the Republic of 1792 reestablished in Paris.

If they choose to dismember France, it will certainly lead to Parisians spontaneously picking up their spears and waging war against the invaders. If France were once again to produce a genius military leader like my uncle and replicate the miracle from the past, would they risk exhausting their national strength and even losing their armies to oppose France six more times?

They established the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the north and the Sardinian Kingdom in the south, both as outposts serving as the first line of defense against a French attack so that the Prussian Army in the Rhine Land and the Austrian Imperial Army in Lombardy could have time to react.

Yet, despite all their calculations, they did not anticipate the Kingdom of the Netherlands splitting into a Kingdom of Belgium or the Sardinian Kingdom being swept by the Italian Nationalist sentiment into war against Austria. These areas, intended as bulwarks against French invasion, instead became weapons opposing them."

Jerome Bonaparte looked at Tocqueville with a teasing expression.

In just a little over thirty years, the premises set by the Vienna Congress had been completely destroyed.

This is history’s decimating blow against grand strategists like Metternich; the barren Rhine Land has, over thirty years, become the wealthiest region in all of Germany, while Lombardy and Venice, famous for wealth in the Middle Ages, have become the Austrian Empire’s burdens.

Any so-called grand strategist will eventually become a laughingstock before the face of history.

Tocqueville remained silent for a long while, unsure of how he should persuade Jerome Bonaparte, and gradually inclined towards Jerome Bonaparte’s argument.

"Minister Tocqueville, we have no reason to persuade French citizens to risk their lives for a kingdom!" Jerome Bonaparte sternly told Tocqueville, "Therefore, I absolutely will not allow you to meddle in the affairs of the Sardinian Kingdom on your own initiative."

Jerome Bonaparte’s firm refusal to support thoroughly extinguished his desire to aid the Sardinian Dynasty, for without the president’s endorsement, Tocqueville as the Minister of Foreign Affairs could accomplish nothing.

"Very well, Mr. President, I understand!" the disappointed Tocqueville responded in a low tone.

"Minister, I presume you have no more urgent matters to report?" Jerome Bonaparte glanced at a brand-new grandfather clock in the corner of the study before issuing a dismissal to Tocqueville.

"Mr. President, enjoy your holiday!" Tocqueville slightly bowed to Jerome Bonaparte and then, accompanied by Percy, left in a carriage.

Watching Tocqueville leave, Jerome Bonaparte summoned Mokar, "Arrange for Baron Hubner of Austria to come over!"

Mokar glanced at Jerome Bonaparte in surprise, but faithfully replied, "Yes!"

[Baron Alexander von Hubner (1811—1892): In 1849, he was responsible for the diplomatic affairs of the Austrian Empire in Paris and was promoted to the Austrian Empire’s envoy to France in September.]

On the other hand, Tocqueville, who was sitting in the carriage, did not choose to go home first but ordered the carriage to head to the Sardinian Embassy in France.

Tocqueville believed he needed to inform the Sardinian Ambassador in France of France’s stance.

The carriage carrying Tocqueville stopped in front of a three-story building.

"Minister, we’ve arrived at the Sardinian Embassy!" the coachman said to Tocqueville.

Lost in thought about France’s diplomatic affairs, Tocqueville opened his eyes, opened the carriage door, got out, and walked directly up the steps of the embassy, knocking on the door.

The door of the Sardinian Embassy slowly opened, and a soldier in a black military uniform answered.

Not recognizing Tocqueville, he looked at him in surprise and asked, "Who are you looking for?"

"I am the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tocqueville. I have urgent matters to discuss with your diplomatic envoy!" Tocqueville hastily replied to the Sardinian military officer.

The soldier, upon hearing Tocqueville introduce himself, quickly opened the door to welcome him and led Tocqueville to the reception hall.

"Please wait a moment! I’ll go fetch the Ambassador!" The soldier settled Tocqueville in and then slightly bowed and left.

After a while, the Sardinian Ambassador, wearing spectacles, was led by the Sardinian military officer to Tocqueville.

"Minister Tocqueville, welcome to the embassy!" the Sardinian Ambassador quickly approached Tocqueville and extended his hand.

"Mr. Ambassador!" Tocqueville shook hands with the Sardinian Ambassador and nodded.

Sitting on the sofa, the two began their official talks.

The Sardinian Ambassador, whose country was currently being bullied by the Austrian Empire, eagerly asked, "Minister Tocqueville, has the French Republic decided to provide us with some assistance?"

Tocqueville paused for a moment, then apologized in a low voice, "I’m sorry! Personally, I sympathize with the plight of the Sardinian Kingdom. In terms of France’s own interests, the safety of the Sardinian Kingdom is linked to the safety of the French Republic."

Before the Sardinian Ambassador could rejoice at the idea that France would support the Sardinian Kingdom, Tocqueville changed his tone, "However, the French Republic cannot support the Sardinian Kingdom for certain reasons, so..."

Tocqueville did not finish his sentence. However, the Sardinian Ambassador clearly understood what Tocqueville meant and, with a slightly dejected expression, said, "So the French Republic is not prepared to support the Sardinian Kingdom?"

"No..." Tocqueville firmly denied, "We will provide certain diplomatic support to the Sardinian Dynasty. Europe needs peace, and the French Republic also yearns for peace."

The Sardinian Ambassador nodded and smiled bitterly at Tocqueville, "I understand! Thank you for all that the French Republic has done for the Sardinian Kingdom; we will not forget the friendship with the French Republic!"

"Alas!" An emotional Tocqueville could only sigh.

Meanwhile, as Tocqueville and the Sardinian Ambassador were sighing, Jerome Bonaparte and Baron Hubner were having an exceptionally pleasant conversation.

"Mr. President, is it true that France will not intervene in Austria’s punishment of the Sardinian Kingdom?" Baron Hubner, summoned by Jerome Bonaparte, asked excitedly.

"France must adhere to the principles of peace in Europe! Matters between your country and the Sardinian Kingdom are not something France wishes to get involved in," Jerome Bonaparte told Baron Hubner. "However, we still hope that your country, under Prime Minister Schwarzenberg, will not excessively blame the Sardinian Kingdom, as they were also coerced at the time."

"The Austrian Empire has no intention to destroy the Sardinian Kingdom; we are only giving them the due punishment for their past invasion of us," Baron Hubner responded modestly. "As you said, the Austrian Empire also hopes for lasting peace on the European Continent."

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