Chapter 422: Chapter 416: The Ottoman Empire Declares War
Richard Metternich’s cautious remarks left Jerome Bonaparte with regret, but also a certain admiration.
Although Richard Metternich was not as smooth as his father, he at least possessed some diplomatic qualities.
Given time, he could certainly become a competent diplomat.
Of course, Richard Metternich’s future achievements would be limited to competence; the traits he exhibited could not support him in becoming an excellent diplomat.
"What do you think, Rothschild Envoy?" Jerome Bonaparte turned his gaze to the Rothschild Envoy.
"Your Majesty, I share the same view as Secretary Richard Metternich!" The Rothschild Envoy emphasized to Jerome Bonaparte, saying, "Whether the Austrian Empire is willing to become the protector of the Danube Duchy does not depend on us. It depends on the Vienna Government. If you need us to convey a message to Vienna on your behalf, we are happy to serve!"
"That’s exactly my intention!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded in response to the Rothschild Envoy.
Afterward, Jerome Bonaparte chatted with the Rothschild Envoy and Secretary Richard Metternich about matters unrelated to diplomacy, and time unknowingly passed by an hour and a half, bringing the exchange event to a gradual conclusion.
The Rothschild Envoy and Richard Metternich left the study, leaving Jerome Bonaparte alone in the room.
"Do you really think you can escape?" Jerome Bonaparte murmured softly, seated in his chair.
Early the next morning.
An exclusive report on "The Atrocities of the Russian Empire in the Danube Duchy" appeared in the Observer.
The report not only pointed out a series of disciplinary violations by the Russian Imperial Army in the Danube but also featured on the front page the photos Jerome Bonaparte had shown the Rothschild Envoy.
The report was like a massive stone thrown into the stagnant waters of Paris’s public opinion, causing a huge splash.
Many uninformed onlookers began to condemn the atrocities of the Russian Empire in the Danube, and some former victims of the Russian Imperial Army also came forward to testify to the empire’s brutality and rudeness. Some exiled Poles and Romanians in Paris saw an opportunity and started using their power to join in the condemnation of the Russian Empire’s heinous acts.
In the following days, Polish and Romanian exiles gradually increased their efforts, and various newspapers within France began competing to report on the "atrocities" of the Russian Empire.
The French Empire’s public opinion and cultural sectors began to gradually shift towards opposing the Russian Empire.
Literary workers within Paris started speaking out for the Danube Duchy, calling on people to resist the Russian Empire’s tyranny in the Duchy.
Some even clamored that the French Empire should help the Ottoman Empire defeat the barbaric Slavic Empire.
As the opposition to the Russian Empire gradually gained support within Paris, the Russian Empire’s envoy to the French Empire could no longer sit still.
Realizing the urgency, the Russian Empire envoy first wrote a letter to report the situation of the French Empire to the Russian Empire, hoping that St. Petersburg could come up with a better strategy.
Later, they went to the headquarters of the Observer, condemning the truthfulness of the story in front of all the reporters there.
The Russian Envoy claimed that the Russian Imperial Army would never commit the acts seen in the photos, insisting that someone deliberately framed the Russian Empire.
The Russian Envoy demanded the Observer clarify the facts, issue a public denial, apologize, and eliminate the negative impact on the Russian Empire.
Otherwise, the Observer would bear all consequences resulting from the deterioration of relations between the Russian Empire and the French Empire.
Despite the demands of the Russian Empire, and even its threats, the Observer, having received instructions, did not submit. It countered that the Russian Empire’s envoy had no evidence to prove that the Russian Army hadn’t committed these acts, thereby rejecting the envoy’s demands.
The day after the Russian Envoy left, the newspaper openly used the topic "France is not afraid of threats from any nation" to launch a comprehensive and relentless attack on the Russian Empire.
From when the Russian Empire was deemed a "dog" for the Mongolians in the early days, to its occupation of the Danube Duchy.
Ultimately arriving at the conclusion that "Russia is either invading or on the road of invasion!"
The furious Russian Envoy sought assistance from the French official level, hoping they could curb the absurdities of certain "third-rate tabloids."
However, the French Minister of Internal Affairs, Percy, also used various reasons to brush off the Russian Empire.
Only then did the Russian Envoy realize that the Observer might have been officially sanctioned by the French Empire.
Thinking of this, the Russian Empire Envoy could only abandon their plans and quietly await the next instructions from St. Petersburg.
Time flew by rapidly, and in the blink of an eye, a month had passed. A shocking piece of news from the Near East reached Paris.
"What? The Ottoman Empire’s Grand Council has declared war on the Russian Empire?" Jerome Bonaparte asked De Luyis, who had just arrived at the Tuileries Palace, upon receiving the news.
"That’s right! According to the telegram from Envoy Valvesky, just moments ago, the Ottoman Empire’s Grand Council passed the proposal to declare war on the Russian Empire! The Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire are now in a state of war!" De Luyis nodded and repeated to Jerome Bonaparte.
"So, this means we must also take action! We have to support the Ottoman Empire?" Jerome Bonaparte once again inquired from De Luyis.
Although Jerome Bonaparte had anticipated that the Ottoman Empire might declare war on the Russian Empire, he did not expect it to happen so soon.
Based on the time of Rifat’s departure, it’s estimated that Rifat had barely returned to the Ottoman Empire for a few days.
The Sultan of the Ottoman Empire couldn’t wait to declare war on the Russian Empire. Jerome Bonaparte truly wondered if the Ottoman Empire was overconfident in the support capabilities of the French Empire or if it believed it could withstand the Russian Empire’s initial assault, waiting for backup from France and the United Kingdom.
In any case, due to the actions of the Ottoman Empire, Jerome Bonaparte had to consider declaring war on the Russian Empire!
"I’m afraid that’s the only option!" De Luyis said heavily to Jerome Bonaparte.
De Luyis was also unprepared for this outcome.
However, since the High Gate of the Ottoman Empire had no objections to the conditions proposed by the French Empire, the French Empire should also do its utmost to ensure the safety of the Ottoman Empire.
Jerome Bonaparte paced back and forth and, after much contemplation, raised his head again to respond to De Luyis: "We cannot wait any longer! We must act immediately! Go and personally summon the Russian Empire’s Envoy; I want to tell him face to face!"
"Understood!" De Luyis nodded and left the study.
As De Luyis left the study, Jerome Bonaparte called Mokar into the office.
"Summon the Minister of War, the Chief of Staff, and the Minister of the Navy, and tell them I have urgent matters to discuss with them!" Jerome Bonaparte instructed Mokar.
Mokar nodded to show his understanding, then turned and left the study.
As Mokar was about to exit the study, Jerome Bonaparte called him back once more and instructed him to have the three ministers wait in the guest room of the Tuileries Palace.
Shortly after Mokar left, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, De Luyis, returned to the study at the Tuileries Palace, with a Russian Diplomatic Envoy, who was completely unaware of what lay ahead, in tow.
When the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, De Luyis, personally found him at the embassy and informed him that the Emperor of the Empire, Jerome Bonaparte, wanted to meet with him.
The first reaction of the Russian Envoy was one of surprise, followed by a sense of absurdity.
Since when did the Minister of Foreign Affairs become the one responsible for delivering messages?
Given the summons by the Emperor of the French Empire, the Russian Envoy could not possibly refuse.
Under the guidance of Minister of Foreign Affairs De Luyis, the Russian Empire’s Envoy appeared before Jerome Bonaparte.
"Mr. Envoy, please have a seat!" Jerome Bonaparte extended an invitation for the French Envoy to sit.
"Thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty!" the Russian Envoy nodded slightly in response to Jerome Bonaparte.
After Jerome Bonaparte, De Luyis, and the Russian Envoy took their seats, Jerome Bonaparte first inquired about when the Russian Empire’s Envoy had succeeded the previous envoy (Vladimirovich) as the envoy.
"I took over from Envoy Vladimirovich half a year ago!" the Russian Envoy immediately responded to Jerome Bonaparte.
"So, what are your views regarding France?" Jerome Bonaparte asked the Russian Envoy about his attitude towards France.
Despite not having the best impression of France, the Russian Envoy saw no reason to express such sentiment before the Emperor of the Empire.
The Russian Empire’s Envoy could only feign sincerity, acknowledging that, like the Russian Empire, the French Empire was a great nation, and the two countries should join hands to resist the persecution of Christians by heretics.
As long as the Russian Empire and the French Empire stand together, no nation in the world can withstand them.
"I personally am very willing to maintain the friendship between the Russian Empire and the French Empire!" Jerome Bonaparte gradually steered the discussion towards the topic of war: "However, your Monarch is determined to destroy the friendship between our two countries! To disrupt the peace of Europe!"
Jerome Bonaparte’s words caused the Russian Envoy’s expression to change dramatically; he detected the scent of war in Jerome Bonaparte’s remarks.