CHAPTER 572: CHAPTER 563: THE AUSTRIAN EMPIRE SURRENDERS

"We..."

Ambassador Richard Metternich, lacking some confidence, after much deliberation implored to Jerome Bonaparte humbly: "Actually, both my father and I wish to stand together with the French Empire! However, we need some time to persuade the internal factions of the Austrian Empire to reach a consensus!"

To be fair, in the past two years, Jerome Bonaparte has been exceedingly generous to the Austrian Empire.

He not only resolved the negative impact brought by the forcible occupation of the Danube Duchy for the Austrian Empire but also gave them ample time to prepare.

One could say he was the "reborn parent" of the entire Austrian Empire. (So Jerome Bonaparte thought)

Even though Jerome Bonaparte treated his relationship with the Austrian Empire with "sincere heart," what he got in return was still the lukewarm attitude of the Austrian Empire.

If it weren’t for concerns about the Crimean War and the balance within Germany, Jerome Bonaparte would have already taken strong measures against the Austrian Empire.

"I don’t want to hear any more of these meaningless words!" Jerome Bonaparte said firmly to Ambassador Richard Metternich: "If the Austrian Empire really wishes to stand with us, then I can guarantee that you will get your rightful seat in the new international system! If the Austrian Empire is unwilling..."

Jerome Bonaparte let out a cold smile at the corner of his mouth, "The Austrian Empire would have to consider the consequences! I believe, this is definitely not an outcome you wish to see!"

Facing Jerome Bonaparte’s threat, the passionate Richard Metternich impulsively said: "Your Majesty! Even if your empire completely defeats the Russian Empire, that does not mean you can do whatever you want throughout Europe! Moreover, the Russian Empire has only lost two battles!"

"Yes! The Russian Empire is indeed very large!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded in acknowledgment of Ambassador Richard Metternich’s words, then coldly responded to him: "But what does that have to do with the Austrian Empire? Does the Austrian Empire hope that the Russian Empire wins this war? Or are you still hoping that the relationship between the Russian Empire and the Austrian Empire can return to the state before the war?"

Jerome Bonaparte’s questioning made Ambassador Richard Metternich’s expression increasingly grim. He understood that the relationship between the Russian Empire and the Austrian Empire could never return to before the war.

Ever since the Austrian Empire, to keep the interests of the Danube Duchy from being harmed, issued a war threat to the Russian Empire, forcing them to withdraw from the Danube Duchy, the relationship between the Russian Empire and the Austrian Empire has been broken.

Once the Russian Empire wins the final victory, the first country it will settle accounts with will be the Austrian Empire.

Ambassador Richard Metternich could hardly imagine how the Russian Empire would treat them after its victory; the greedy nature of the Russian Empire might peel the Austrian Empire of a layer of skin.

For Ambassador Richard Metternich, neither the Russian Empire nor the French Empire are suitable objects of dependence. However, if forced to choose one of the two countries to rely on, he would rather choose the French Empire.

Compared with the Russian Empire, the French Empire, although despicable, shameless, morally degenerate, and acting without concern, at least is not as insatiably greedy as the Russian Empire, and from the current situation, their military strength is much stronger than that of the Russian Empire.

A boss can be despicable, shameless, morally degenerate, and faithless, but it cannot be weak in martial strength.

As long as your martial strength is strong, and you’re willing to stand up for your little brothers, then you are a good boss.

Conversely, if you do not have enough martial strength to rely on and still love to flaunt your prowess every day, then no matter which country it is, it will subconsciously stay away from you.

"Of course, we don’t want to see the Russian Empire win this war!" Ambassador Richard Metternich hurriedly distanced himself from the Russian Empire.

"Then what do you wish to see? France and the Russian Empire suffering from mutual exhaustion in Crimea?" Jerome Bonaparte retorted.

If that is truly the case, that would be great. Ambassador Richard Metternich thought to himself.

"We sincerely hope that the French Empire can win this war!" Ambassador Richard Metternich said insincerely to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Ambassador Richard, don’t try to deceive me with such words!" Jerome Bonaparte displayed an impatient expression, loudly accusing, "I know you must be thinking: if France and Russia truly end up mutually exhausted in this war, that would be ideal! I’m telling you, this thought of yours is impossible!

If the French Empire and the Russian Empire both suffer mutual exhaustion, then what will you use to resist the Kingdom of Prussia?"

"You surely don’t think the Kingdom of Prussia would willingly stop within the German Confederation to act as the henchman of the Austrian Empire, do you?"

Jerome Bonaparte’s words made Richard Metternich realize that the diplomatic crisis facing the Austrian Empire was indeed more severe than he had imagined.

The Kingdom of Prussia in the north was eyeing the Austrian Empire covetously, and the Sardinian Kingdom in the west harbored ambitions as well!

If Russia and France suffer mutual destruction, who would suppress these two restless foes?

Could the Austrian Empire really defeat them on its own?

Thinking of this, Richard Metternich felt an unprecedented pressure and quietly retorted, "The Kingdom of Britain would never allow the Kingdom of Prussia to disrupt the balance of the European Continent!"

"The Kingdom of Britain?" Jerome Bonaparte looked at Ambassador Richard Metternich in shock. Now he wondered whether the ambassador said this intentionally or if his mind was fried: "You expect a country with an army of less than 100,000 (referring to the Kingdom of Britain’s standing forces in Europe) to speak up for you! Yes, I admit their navy is indeed powerful, but their army... never mind, let me show you something!"

Jerome Bonaparte opened a drawer and took out a document, handing it to Richard Metternich: "See for yourself!"

Richard Metternich took the document in a daze and started skimming through it. After a while, he was just as shocked, saying, "This is impossible!"

"This is the Kingdom of Britain that you’ve been longing for!" Jerome Bonaparte shrugged, "If you’re still unwilling to believe it, you can send military observers to investigate. Or you can come along with me!"

"You... you’re going to Crimea!" Richard Metternich exclaimed.

"That’s right!" Jerome Bonaparte answered Richard Metternich with a shrug: "However, that will be after the parade!"

"You’re having a parade?" Richard Metternich asked once again.

"We achieved such splendid results in Sevastopol, it would be unreasonable not to celebrate a bit!" Jerome Bonaparte replied to Richard Joseph, then asked Richard Metternich if his (Jerome Bonaparte’s) brother Franz Joseph was willing to come to Paris for the parade, "If my brother Franz could come over, it would undoubtedly elevate the relations between our two countries."

After reading about the British Army’s black history on the Crimean battlefield, Richard Metternich was no longer hopeful about the Kingdom of Britain, after all, the combat effectiveness of an army determines a nation’s status, and the Kingdom of Britain’s land forces clearly had no capacity to offer the Austrian Empire ultimate protection.

"If the Austrian Empire is willing to bind with France, would France truly advocate for the Austrian Empire? Even if the Kingdom of Prussia and the Russian Empire jointly target the Kingdom of Prussia?" Richard Metternich asked Jerome Bonaparte.

"Though I’ve told you this countless times, today I can assure you again. As long as the French Empire exists in this world, as long as I remain the Emperor of France, I will always stand firmly by the Austrian Empire!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Richard Metternich with conviction, "Moreover, the Kingdom of Prussia and the Russian Empire, one is a defeated nation under the French Empire’s hands, and the other soon will be. Does France still fear them?"

"With your reassurance, I am relieved!" Richard Metternich felt somewhat calmed, then promised Jerome Bonaparte that their monarch Franz Joseph would definitely attend the parade hosted by Jerome Bonaparte.

"I will personally go to the train station to welcome him!" Jerome Bonaparte told Richard Metternich.

"By the way, Your Majesty, may I ask, whom else have you invited for this parade?" Richard Metternich asked Jerome Bonaparte.

"Queen Victoria, King Victor Emmanuel, King William I of Wurttemberg, King Ferdinand II (of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies)..." Jerome Bonaparte listed the names of the invited kings one by one.

Of course, most of these kings had not yet agreed to Jerome Bonaparte, and some had not even informed him.

Nonetheless, Jerome Bonaparte had to boast a bit; he believed those kings would not dare defy the flourishing French Empire.

Upon hearing that so many kings had accepted Jerome Bonaparte’s invitation, Richard Metternich let go of his guard, trusting that Jerome Bonaparte would not pull any stunts in front of so many kings.

However, Richard Metternich could not have imagined that Jerome Bonaparte’s parade was nothing more than a large-scale incitement event, and his emperor would become "the brightest star in the show".