Make France Great Again

Seeing that the strategy of using Savoy and Nice to completely bind the French Empire was not completely successful, Cavour could only choose to retreat and give priority to ensuring the rule of the Savoy family in the Kingdom of Sardinia.

No one knows whether the Austrian Empire will continue to tolerate them this time as it did last time.

"Your Majesty, as long as the French Empire is willing to ensure that the Savoy family continues to rule in the Kingdom of Sardinia, then the Kingdom of Sardinia is willing to give Savoy and Nice to the French Empire!" Cavour told Jerome Poe. Nabal replied.

"Count Cavour, I believe that the conflicts between you and the Austrian Empire will gradually be eliminated through frank communication!" Jérôme Bonaparte responded to Cavour righteously.

Under the temptation of Savoy and Nice, Jérôme Bonaparte decided to modify the ongoing plan to a certain extent.

However, before revising the plan, he still needed to inform the Austrian Empire behind Richard Metternich in advance.

Otherwise, there might really be a direct war between the Austrian Empire and the French Empire over the Kingdom of Sardinia.

Such an ending would not be good for either the Austrian Empire or the French Empire.

Therefore, Jerome Bonaparte and Count Cavour took the train back to Paris the same day after finishing their conversation.

Then, the next day, he quickly summoned Richard Metternich, who was still in Paris.

At this moment, it was less than 24 hours before the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Sardinia officially started war.

"Your Majesty!" Richard Metternich first bowed to Jerome Bonaparte, and then asked Jerome Bonaparte what his orders were when he came to him.

"Richard!" Jérôme Bonaparte hesitated for a moment and said to Richard Metternich, "I know this matter may be difficult for you, but I still hope you can stop it temporarily. action!"

"Your Majesty, what exactly do you want to say?" Richard Metternich looked at Jerome Bonaparte doubtfully.

"I mean, can the Austrian Empire temporarily stop its attack on the Kingdom of Sardinia!" Jerome Bonaparte asked Richard Metternich solemnly.

Richard Metternich looked at Jerome Bonaparte in disbelief, then shook his head and replied to Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, I'm sorry!

It has been less than 12 hours since the Austrian Empire attacked the Kingdom of Sardinia. Stopping the war hastily will cause a certain degree of damage to the morale of the Austrian Empire! "

"300 million francs!" Jerome Bonaparte raised three fingers and said to Richard Metternich.

"What?" Richard Metternich looked at Jerome Bonaparte in confusion.

"As long as the Austrian Empire is willing to temporarily stop this operation, the French Empire is willing to lend the Austrian Empire a loan of 300 million francs!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Richard Metternich expressionlessly.

Richard Metternich shook his head and responded to Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, this matter is not a matter that I can decide!"

"500 million francs!" Jerome Bonaparte stretched out five fingers and said to Richard Metternich, "500 million francs interest-free loan!"

This time, Richard Metternich swallowed subconsciously.

An interest-free loan of 500 million francs, this amount of money is a huge amount of money for the Austrian Empire in ordinary times.

Not to mention, the current Austrian Empire has not yet emerged from the economic crisis.

Why the Austrian Empire is so impatient for the Kingdom of Sardinia is not because they want to divert conflicts.

If the French Empire is willing to lend them 500 million francs to tide over the crisis, then the Austrian Empire will still attack the Kingdom of Sardinia.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty!" Richard Metternich responded to Jerome Bonaparte with difficulty, "This... I'm afraid it's a little difficult!"

"600 million francs!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Richard Metternich with a half-smile. "The French Empire is willing to lend the Austrian Empire an interest-free loan of 500 million francs and a 4% loan of 100 million francs. , Mr. Richard Metternich, I hope you can think about it carefully!"

Between the interest-free loan and the morale of the army, the scale in Richard Metternich's heart began to shake violently. He didn't know what impact a 12-hour change in decision-making would have on the Austrian Imperial Army.

But Jérôme Bonaparte's interest-free loan of 600 million francs (a 4% loan is equivalent to an interest-free loan in this era, and the French Empire's national debt standard is 4%) is really torturing the sanity.

"Your Majesty, if I refuse, what measures may the French Empire take!" Richard Metternich suppressed his impulse and asked Jerome Bonaparte.

Jérôme Bonaparte spread his hands and responded to Richard Metternich, "The Austrian Empire has lost nothing except the interest-free loan of 600 million francs!

However, I see that the industrialization of your Austrian Empire is now in full swing. It would not be a wise choice to refuse now! "

After Richard Metternich thought for a moment, he raised his head and asked Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, has the Kingdom of Sardinia made any promise to you?"

"That's right!" Jérôme Bonaparte admitted frankly, "The Prime Minister who stayed in the Kingdom of Sardinia yesterday... It shouldn't be said that it was the former Prime Minister Cavour who told me that as long as I can keep the Savoy family, If we rule under the Kingdom of Sardinia, then both Savoy and Nice will become our territory.

Richard, you should know that I have to prove to Paris that only I can lead them to victory!

Only then can I sit comfortably in Paris. Parisians are always so fond of the new and dislike the old! "

"Your Majesty, can you tell me honestly! Do you still want to restore the territory of the First Empire?" Richard Metternich asked Jerome Bonaparte seriously.

"Richard, are you crazy?" Jerome Bonaparte looked at Richard Metternich in surprise, "Restore the territory of the First Empire, you can't think of it!

You should know how huge France was during the First Empire.

If I really wanted to restore the First Empire, I should destroy the Kingdom of Sardinia as soon as possible, and then capture Lombardy and Venice all the way west!

I have always told you that this era is no longer an era where one country is the only one. Only sincere cooperation between major countries can we achieve mutual benefit and win-win results!

Say it yourself, am I not good enough for your Austrian Empire?

Poland, the Danube Principality... which one was not won by me for you!

Now I just want to capture Savoy and Nice, and you actually suspect that I want to do you harm!

If I really want to be bad for you, then why should I help you.

Tell me, what is the purpose of me doing this!

I have nothing to do when I'm full. Is this an advantage to the enemy? "

"Your Majesty, that's not what I meant!" Richard Metternich responded to Jerome Bonaparte with an embarrassed look,

Indeed, Jerome Bonaparte was closer to the Austrian Empire than to his "father-in-law" (Kingdom of Württemberg), and Richard Metternich's suspicions were indeed somewhat unfounded.

"Mr. Richard, I know what you are afraid of!" Jerome Bonaparte patted Richard Metternich on the shoulder, "I can assure you again that as long as the Bonaparte family sits in France one day, On the throne of the empire!

I will never lay a hand on my brother! I hope the Austrian Empire can repay us with the same attitude! "

"Your Majesty, please rest assured! The Austrian Empire will also not take action against the French Empire!" Richard Metternich said hurriedly.

"Richard, you should know that what I want is not this guarantee!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Richard Metternich with a particularly solemn expression.

"Your Majesty, I..." Richard Metternich's nose twitched slightly. Of course he knew what Jerome Bonaparte wanted, but he didn't dare to promise Jerome Bonaparte now.

"Now, report my conditions to Vienna immediately!" Jerome Bonaparte chuckled, and then patted Richard Metternich on the shoulder.

"Yes!" Richard Metternich replied to Jerome Bonaparte.

Immediately afterwards, Richard Metternich left the Tuileries Palace and returned to the Austrian Empire's Embassy in France.

Richard Metternich, who had just entered the embassy, ​​immediately met the attaché in the embassy. At this moment, the attaché was holding a telegram in his hand, "Your Excellency, Ambassador!"

"What's wrong?" Richard Metternich glanced at the telegram, and then asked the attaché.

"Just now, Vienna sent us a telegram!" the Attaché replied to Richard Metternich.

"What is the content of the telegram?" Richard Metternich asked.

"Your Excellency Ambassador, you'd better take a look for yourself!" The Attaché handed the telegram to Richard Metternich.

Richard Metternich picked up the telegram and read its contents carefully.

Although this telegram was sent from Vienna, the content of the telegram is indeed about Sardinia.

It turned out that the Kingdom of Sardinia's request to the Austrian Empire to establish a multinational joint investigation team was reported to Prince Metternich in the Milan area by the Austrian Empire's ambassador, and then Prince Metternich sent a telegram to Vienna via telegram.

After Vienna received the telegram, they also did not know whether the French Empire intended to establish a joint investigation team.

So, they reported the news to Richard Metternich via telegram.

Richard Metternich looked at the telegram in his hand and was a little confused for a moment.

On one side, Jérôme Bonaparte asked the Austrian Empire not to continue taking action for the time being, and on the other hand, the Austrian Empire asked the French Empire if it was willing to establish a joint investigation team.

These two seemingly related pieces of news made Richard Metternich wonder whether the French Empire and the Austrian Empire had let the Kingdom of Sardinia fool them.