CHAPTER 573: CHAPTER 564 JEROME: I AM GOD!

Not long after Richard Metternich left the office, Ambassador Cowley followed him into the office.

Upon seeing Ambassador Cowley, Jerome Bonaparte’s eyes revealed a trace of surprise.

Could it be that the Kingdom of Britain has made a decision so quickly? It shouldn’t be! Jerome Bonaparte thought to himself.

Based on his understanding of the Kingdom of Britain, it shouldn’t be possible for the Kingdom of Britain to make a decision so quickly.

Unless Palmerston didn’t present this issue as a proposal to the Cabinet and the Houses for discussion, but instead resolved the matter privately with the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

This method is indeed much faster than "collective wisdom," but it also brings certain risks.

After all, the British Prime Minister’s authority has not reached the point of covering the sky with one hand.

Such actions might provoke... However, if it were Palmerston, it’s not impossible! He is inherently a reckless guy!

Just as Jerome Bonaparte was pondering why Ambassador Cowley had come, Ambassador Cowley spoke: "Your Majesty!"

"Ambassador Cowley!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded slightly to Ambassador Cowley and then invited him to sit down.

After Ambassador Cowley sat on the sofa, Jerome Bonaparte asked the purpose of his visit.

Ambassador Cowley told Jerome Bonaparte that he came specifically to inform him about the British Cabinet’s stance on the French Empire and the United States of America’s dispute.

In principle, the Kingdom of Britain does not wish the French Empire and the United States of America to fall out over the Russian Empire issue.

However, given that such a situation has already occurred, the Kingdom of Britain is still willing to stand together with the French Empire.

Between the choices of ally and potential enemy, Palmerston resolutely chose the ally.

"Thank the Kingdom of Britain for its understanding and support of the French Empire!" Jerome Bonaparte also traditionally said some formal words to Ambassador Cowley: "We believe that the Freedom Alliance formed by France and Britain will surely defeat any country in the world!"

"I also believe! The Anglo-French Alliance will surely have smooth sailing in the future!" Ambassador Cowley also said some formal words to Jerome Bonaparte.

After that, Jerome Bonaparte took the opportunity to tell Ambassador Cowley about the military parade being held by the French Empire, and hoped that Queen Victoria and Prince Albert could attend this parade.

"What is the specific date?" Ambassador Cowley inquired of Jerome Bonaparte.

"June 24th!" Jerome Bonaparte replied to Ambassador Cowley.

Ambassador Cowley immediately remembered that this day was the anniversary of the (First) French Empire’s invasion of the Russian Empire, and that Jerome Bonaparte was holding the parade at this time to make the entire French people recall the glory of the past.

An empire that needs to rely on the glory of its ancestors to maintain itself!

The sense of superiority built on blood lineage made Ambassador Cowley secretly despise the empire Jerome Bonaparte had built.

However, despite his disdain, Ambassador Cowley still understood the importance of priorities. As a seasoned politician, he would not let his emotions sway him like Richard Metternich.

"Your Majesty Bonaparte, may I inquire if, besides Her Majesty Victoria, there are any other invitees?" Ambassador Cowley repeated the question Richard Metternich had asked earlier.

"There is Emperor Franz Joseph of the Austrian Empire..." Jerome Bonaparte listed the names of the invited members to Ambassador Cowley as usual.

Hearing the list, Ambassador Cowley couldn’t help but worry about the strong appeal of the French Empire. In reality, he didn’t know that part of the countries on the list (Austrian Empire) were actually invited using the name of the Kingdom of Britain.

"I will convey your invitation word for word to Her Majesty the Queen via telegram, and then pass it on to Her Majesty and the King’s Consort for their decision!" Ambassador Cowley said to Jerome Bonaparte: "However, I believe Her Majesty and the King’s Consort will give you a reply before the parade begins!"

"Then please tell Victoria and Albert that I have prepared rooms for them at the Tuileries Palace! Just waiting for their arrival!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Ambassador Cowley.

...

In the following days, Richard Metternich and Ambassador Cowley came successively to Jerome Bonaparte’s study to report on the situation.

Franz Joseph and Victoria both accepted Jerome Bonaparte’s invitation without exception.

After Richard Metternich reported the arrival date of Franz Joseph to Jerome Bonaparte, Jerome Bonaparte curiously asked Richard Metternich who the lady accompanying Franz Joseph to Paris was!

Richard Metternich informed Jerome Bonaparte that the female companion who arrived with the Emperor was his fiancée: Princess Elizabeth of Bavaria, also known as Princess Sisi.

"Princess Elizabeth? Shouldn’t it be Princess Helen?" Jerome Bonaparte feigned ignorance and asked Richard Metternich, "Minister De Luyis once told me that when he arrived in Vienna, the Emperor’s companion was Princess Helen!"

Richard Metternich awkwardly explained to Jerome Bonaparte that Princess Helen was Princess Elizabeth’s sister, and since the Emperor did not get along well with Princess Helen, he replaced her with Princess Sisi.

Jerome Bonaparte naturally did not believe Richard Metternich’s explanation.

However, he also did not wish to delve too deeply into why Franz Joseph was unwilling to marry Princess Helen.

It was nothing more than Princess Sisi being much more beautiful than her sister Helen.

...

After receiving responses from the ambassadors of England and Austria, Jerome Bonaparte then ordered his subordinates to issue a "refutation" of the news regarding the military parade scheduled for June 24th.

When the people of Paris learned that foreign monarchs were going to attend their military parade, a strong sense of national pride surged in their hearts.

Their monarch had, in just a few short years, transformed France from a despised nation into one that was "admired" by the monarchs of the "world" (referring to Europe), which naturally filled them with pride.

Those who originally opposed Jerome Bonaparte now all became supporters of Jerome Bonaparte.

When the latest sample poll results were published in the newspaper, some die-hard members of the Republican Faction and the Orthodox Faction became more convinced that this was a protracted struggle, and they refused to surrender!

As for those diplomats who had been observing from the sidelines, upon seeing the monarchs of England and Austria come to attend the French military parade in person, they decided to stop watching and instead sent telegrams to their respective countries, urging them to make a quick decision to avoid delaying the military parade.

As the days leading up to June 24th approached, more and more ambassadors entered the palace to report news to Jerome Bonaparte.

An increasing number of kings appeared in the Paris newspapers, and people were surprised to find that France had more and more friends.

The Times on the other side of the Channel even analyzed the increasing number of kings invited to Paris to attend the parade under the title "New Order in Paris," and ultimately concluded.

The reason European monarchs accepted the invitation of the French Empire to attend the parade was: the victory of the French Empire on the Crimea Peninsula, specifically the victory at Sevastopol, which led more and more people to join the camp of the victors.

"We can clearly see that the French Empire across the La Manche Strait is regaining everything it lost after the Napoleonic Wars at an unprecedented speed, a brand-new order is being formed in Paris..."

——Excerpt from The Times, June 18, 1854.

...

While the French Empire was eagerly preparing for the military parade, far away on the outskirts of St. Petersburg in Tsarskoye Selo, a particular blame-shifting operation was underway.

Inside the Amber Hall.

Nicholas I sat on the throne with a face full of anger, using violent language to roar at the generals standing below the steps: "Useless! Fool! Why didn’t you die there! I was blind at the time to let you, this fool, command the army!"

Indeed, the general standing below the steps was none other than Menshikov, who led the remnants of the Battle of Alma all the way north to Perekop.

At this point, he was no longer the dual governor of Crimea and the Caucasus but simply a "commoner" with the title of Prince.

All his official positions were revoked by Nicholas I in a fit of rage upon learning of the fall of Sevastopol, through an "urgent express" (Tsarist Russia did not have telegrams at this time, and all long-distance communication was by horse). The troops formerly under his command were taken over by Mikhail Gorchakov, who arrived at Perekop, and he was also ordered to proceed to St. Petersburg to face Nicholas I’s interrogation.

Today was his second day in St. Petersburg and his first day facing interrogation by Nicholas I.

Facing Nicholas I’s questioning, Menshikov did not utter a word because he knew that Nicholas I at this time would not listen to any explanation from him, and the more explanations he gave, the more it would seem like he was deliberately provoking his authority. Only by waiting until Nicholas I’s anger had slightly abated could he speak in his defense.

"Speak, why not speak! Have you become mute?" Nicholas I yelled at Menshikov.

Menshikov still kept his head bowed and said nothing, which made Nicholas I feel as if he were punching a piece of cotton.

Immediately afterward, a sense of powerlessness surged into Nicholas I’s heart, diluting his anger.

As the furious mind gradually became permeated with melancholy, Nicholas I instead calmed down and asked Menshikov, "Speak, what exactly happened in Sevastopol!"