Eagle’s Glory

The Rhine River in summer has always been its most beautiful time.

This world-renowned river is flowing quietly at this time. The clear and wide river surface cuts through the horizon in the vast wilderness, passing through forests and villages. The sparkling river surface is matched with both sides of the river. The endless green fields and the scenery are so pleasant and beautiful.

On this sunny morning, Aigron, his guards and the officers of the local garrison came to the outskirts of Strasbourg, riding their horses and enjoying the beautiful scenery on both sides of the Rhine River.

A group of people galloped on their horses until they came to a deserted river beach. Aigron finally reined in the horse's head and stopped, and the others also stopped one after another.

Then, Aigron looked due east. At this time, the warm sunshine was shining on the river. The slowly flowing water surface was sparkling with golden light, like a ribbon separating the fertile plains.

The scene on the shore looks no different from here.

However, as long as you cross this wide river, you will enter Germany, and it will no longer be a land that Aigron can control.

At this time, some soldiers patrolling and sentrying on the other side noticed Aigron and his party. They seemed not to know Aigron's identity, but they did not show much hostility to the people on the other side who were also wearing military uniforms. Instead, they were friendly. He waved his hand as a greeting.

Yes, at this time, the two nations of France and Germany were not mortal enemies for generations. Although nationalism was converging and transforming the two ancient countries, for most people, their consciousness and their living customs , Their emotions, anger, likes and dislikes are not much different from those of the past era. There is no dispute between France and Germany in Alsace-Lorraine. Everything is still chaotic and unknown, but there is a shadow lurking in everything.

Aiglon knew that the other side was the territory belonging to the Grand Duchy of Baden.

Speaking of which, the Grand Duchy of Baden and Aiglon are somewhat connected. During the period of Emperor Napoleon, a large number of German princes defected to the emperor for their own benefit. This was especially true after Emperor Napoleon completely defeated the Third Anti-French Alliance in 1805. In 1806, Carl Ludwig von Baden, the prince of the Electorate of Baden, married Stephanie de Beauharnais, the niece of Empress Josephine's ex-husband and the cousin of Prince Eugène. The method completely surrendered to the Bonaparte family.

The emperor did not treat them badly. With the emperor's acquiescence, Baden was promoted to a grand duchy, its territory was expanded, and it also joined the Rhine League. Since then, the Principality of Baden has served as a loyal vassal of Emperor Napoleon, contributing troops to the French Empire and participating in many of the empire's foreign wars.

Until 1813,

Under the pressure of the Anti-French Alliance and seeing the reality that Emperor Napoleon was at the end of his rope, Karl Ludwig, who had become the Archduke of Baden, had no choice but to jump ship and join the Anti-French Alliance.

However, although he joined the anti-French alliance, the Grand Duke himself did not have much hostility towards Napoleon or France. He just went with the flow and dealt with the situation. His entire interest was to retain the territory he expanded during the war, and instead The French Alliance also fulfilled his wishes. At the Vienna Peace Conference in 1815, the existing territory of the Grand Duchy of Baden was guaranteed.

Aigron will naturally not be brooding about what happened back then. He knows that a king has to make decisions based on interests when faced with real challenges. If there is a chance, Aigron wouldn't even mind meeting him and reminiscing about old times - just Unfortunately, this "relative" died young in 1818.

Since there was no surviving son between Archduke Karl-Ludwig and Stephanie, according to Baden's inheritance law, a branch of the Grand Duke's family inherited the title of Grand Duke, and the current ruler has nothing to do with Aigron.

It doesn't matter, but there isn't much hostility. For the Baden people now, they just want to live their own lives.

Aigron looked far away at the vast plains on the other side. The hinterland of Germany was opening its arms to him. Although he could not set foot on this land now, who knew what would happen in the future?

After stopping for a long time, Aigron raised his hand, pointed to the other side with his riding crop, and then looked at the people beside him, "Gentlemen, what did you see there?"

This nonsensical question made people look at each other in confusion, wondering what kind of excitement His Majesty was having.

His captain of the guard, Andre Davout, who had followed him all year round and was the most trusted and therefore the most courageous, answered him out loud. "I saw fields, villages and soldiers, Your Majesty... Although it is a foreign country, it is no different from us here."

"Yes, even though it is a foreign country, it is no different from us here." Aigron nodded, then turned his head to look to the east, "So, our security and interests are also there, isn't it? ?”

Although he said it calmly, everyone became a little pale when he said this.

Because Aigron's words seemed to contain some kind of threat.

"You don't have to make such a fuss." Seeing everyone suddenly become serious, Aigron couldn't help but laugh. "I just said that our safety needs to be guaranteed in Germany."

Because everyone was still confused, Aigron began to explain carefully.

"The world says that the late emperor did not understand diplomacy but only military affairs. This is a completely ignorant fallacy. It is true that the emperor did make many mistakes, but in general, he was not a layman in diplomacy, but had his own skills. He was the most outstanding His only stroke was to win over and divide a large group of German princes and nobles to his side and turn them into loyal vassals of the empire. In particular, the King of Saxony was still fighting alongside the emperor in 1813... He was even still in Germany. The Kingdom of Westphalia was established and the Bonaparte family took the crown of the German state. Is there any French diplomat who did it better before?"

Having said this, Aigron asked the people around him.

No one answered his question. Of course, this was not because they agreed 100% with Aigron's opinion, but who dared to deny the pros and cons of Emperor Napoleon's policies like Aigron did? In this case, the less you say, the better.

Seeing that no one said anything, Aigron didn't mind, but changed the topic, "Of course, there is also a shadow hidden in his success. On the one hand, he tamed these German princes, and on the other hand, in order to win them over, he also fed them He accelerated the integration of Germany. With his help, Bavaria and Württemberg expanded their territory and became kingdoms. This was not a problem at the time, but it is a bit worrying now..."

In order to remind everyone, Eggron deliberately increased his voice after speaking, "On the surface, Germany still has hundreds of political entities, but in fact? We only need to look at the map to find that the vast majority of Germany's territory has been occupied by Austria. , Prussia, Hanover, Bavaria, Saxony, Württemberg, Hesse and Baden, while Austria and Prussia together have occupied nearly two-thirds of the territory... This is by no means a good thing omen.

Since the Thirty Years' War, our country has been able to gallop across the European continent thanks to the fragmentation of Germany. Only with its fragmentation can we win over the various states and defeat them one by one, making them unable to resist us. But now it has From the original fragments to several entities, this is an ominous sign, and even heralds some kind of disaster!

It is difficult for dozens of entities to reach a consensus, but it is possible for a few entities to produce some kind of consensus. What would happen if one day they are really integrated and unanimously communicated to the outside world? France's road to the east will be blocked forever, and the Rhine River will become an insurmountable chasm. Gentlemen, will you accept this situation? ! "

As he spoke, Aigron raised his riding whip and pointed at the surging Rhine River in front of him, "Gentlemen, can you accept that your vision only stops here?!"

"cannot!"

Under Aigron's question, the soldiers present responded unanimously.

However, some people still feel a little dissatisfied with Aigron's "alarmism". After all, after the Thirty Years' War, Germany has been poor and weak for two hundred years, and has become a backyard for external countries to roam freely. For such a long time This has already created a deep-seated contempt for the Germans in people's hearts, and it is difficult for them to believe that Germany will become a great threat.

Eggron was well aware of this, but he was quite satisfied when he saw everyone's neat answers. After all, "German unification" was not an imminent crisis yet, and he did not need to exaggerate the German threat theory immediately. All he needs to do now is plant a seed in front of his trusted subordinates and systematically explain his strategy, so this effect is enough for now.

"Enough, this has reached its limit. Although it is not a disaster yet, it is only a thin line away from the disaster." Aigron stood on the shore, and then decisively stated his conclusion, "We can never allow any more confrontation. The status quo of Germany is destroyed! The Rhine River is the border of France, but France’s interests are definitely not just within the border! For its own security, it must help Germany maintain the status quo. If a German state continues to expand its territory within Germany power, then it means that it is trying to bring disaster to us, and we will never sit idly by and ignore it! Upholding the spirit of the Vienna Peace Conference, we are also willing to recognize the territorial integrity of the German states, and we will also use up our own Work hard to ensure the sanctity and integrity of these borders! I am extremely peace-loving, and I do not want to see the scourge of swords reappear on the European continent, but if all other means cannot defend these sacred principles, then we We have no choice but to use weapons to protect it!"

While talking, Aigron waved his riding crop towards the Rhine River. Although his movements were calm and relaxed, he had a bit more of a murderous spirit.

The Vienna Peace Conference was indeed aimed at France, but during the Peace Conference, in order to ensure their own interests, various countries continued to reiterate the "sacred principles of orthodoxy." The so-called orthodox principles are not so much religious and ideological. It wants to “ensure the status quo,” which means respecting each country’s territorial integrity and borders.

This is of course not good for a big country like France, but on the other hand, maintaining the "spirit of the Peace of Vienna" has become a weapon that Aigron can use, because in terms of orthodox principles, the current territorial changes in the German states also violate the spirit of Vienna. , in this case, why can’t France, as a member of the Holy Alliance, help the victims uphold the principles of orthodoxy?

As the saying goes, learn now, sell now and apply it flexibly. As a child who grew up under Metternich's nose, Aigron certainly learned this flexibility.

The soldiers on the other side had no idea what Aigron was doing, so when they saw him waving his whip, they thought he was saying hello to them, so they also waved to Aigron.

Everything looks so "friendly", but everything has hidden murderous intent.

This is what happens between countries. Even the most beautiful words cannot conceal each other's intrigues and calculations.

Of course, the small Principality of Baden is not in Aigron's eyes. It is a small country and it is absolutely impossible to be France's opponent. If the two sides fight one-on-one, Aiglon only needs to gather the army and "throw the whip to cut off the flow", Rhine The river couldn't stop him at all.

But behind Baden is the whole of Germany, those powerful states. When they are scattered, they cannot be underestimated. If they are united, they will definitely be a force that cannot be ignored.

Therefore, for France, its fundamental interest is to use religion, history, and various cultural conflicts to continue to maintain the status quo of German division. The Rhine League of Emperor Napoleon was once an extremely subtle move, but unfortunately with the expansion of the empire All the efforts were made in vain.

However, it is not too late now. At this moment, German nationalism has not become an unstoppable trend. Among Germans, the feeling of hating Prussia is definitely no less than the feeling of hating the French, because hundreds of Prussia has been expanding its territory in Germany for many years. Both Saxony and Austria have suffered greatly, and naturally they hate them very much.

And from a religious point of view, the southern German states are Catholic countries, and naturally they don't have much favorable impressions of Prussia, which pursues Protestantism.

These feelings of disgust have been deep-rooted for hundreds of years and cannot be washed away in a short time. Eggron grew up in the Austrian court since he was a child. He can feel Austria's disgust for Prussia - because of the rise of Prussia. It is constantly damaging Austria's prestige and territory, and of course they are extremely disgusted.

This is the capital that Aigron can rely on.

No matter what the cost, he had to get it done, even if he had to cross the Rhine himself one day.