Make France Great Again

Vladimirovich's speech made Jerome Bonaparte certain that, without opposition from the Kingdom of Prussia and the Austrian Empire, Nicholas I already felt isolated.

As a ruler of a country, Nicholas I may not have the great plans and strategies like Empress Catherine, but he would not make blundering moves like Tsar Paul either.

If that were not the case, Nicholas I would not be residing in the Tsarskoye Selo near St. Petersburg, but rather lying in a coffin.

In the land of Russia, filled with coups and bloodshed, any emperor without means faces the risk of death.

The loyal Guard Army would break the "imprisonment" of the Tsar's Tsarskoye Selo, drag the Tsar out and hang him, then bring out the Crown Prince, who would issue an edict of pardon, and support the Crown Prince's pardon.

This model is somewhat similar to the succession laws of the Ottoman Empire's Imperial Guard next door, and more coincidentally, both the Ottoman Empire and Russian Empire call themselves Rome...

A glance across the European Continent shows that Nicholas I can only find allies in Britain and France.

However, Britain's Palmerston does not have a friendly attitude towards Nicholas I, and the conflict over the Dardanelles Strait makes Nicholas I have to seek alignment with the French Republic.

Yet, Nicholas I probably does not know that Jerome Bonaparte has long had the idea of teaching the Russian Empire a lesson.

"I personally also hope to work with you to maintain the prosperity and stability of Europe!" Jerome Bonaparte, following Vladimirovich's words, continued, "However, my term is only one year, and what attitude the next French Government will have towards the Russian Empire after I step down is not something I can interfere with."

"As long as Mr. President lays the foundation for cooperation between the French Republic and the Russian Empire, I believe the next president will surely cherish the hard-won peace! You will have become a greater man than your uncle!" Vladimirovich flattered Jerome Bonaparte diligently.

For Vladimirovich, as long as he can achieve his goals, not to mention flattering Jerome Bonaparte, even if it means currying favor with demons in hell, he would not hesitate to praise the demon as an angel.

Vladimirovich also does not believe in eternal friends; as long as he can divide and stabilize the countries of Europe in the short term and prevent them from forming a stable and unified whole, the Russian Empire can proceed to do what it desires unhindered.

For example, some disputed territories in the Near East.

Of course, mere flattery is far from enough. Vladimirovich tempted Jerome Bonaparte by saying, "And His Majesty the Tsar promises that after you step down, you will receive a gift from the Romanov Royal Family."

Jerome Bonaparte deliberately put on a facade of being very moved and yet refusing, sighed, and said to Vladimirovich, "I do not want to covet any rewards, I just want to seek as much happiness for the French people as possible. When I step down, if France remembers me, I will already be content!"

"You truly are a qualified monarch!" Vladimirovich insincerely praised, "If the monarch could also be elected, I believe the French Republic would certainly choose you to be the monarch!"

Vladimirovich's words made Jerome Bonaparte unable to hold it in for a moment, and he couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Vladimirovich watched Jerome Bonaparte with confusion, as if he were telling a funny story.

"I thought of something happy!" Jerome Bonaparte stopped laughing and replied to Vladimirovich with a sentence.

Subsequently, Jerome Bonaparte swiftly changed the topic, "By the way, I have a suggestion; I don't know if the envoy is willing to listen!"

Afterward, Jerome Bonaparte deliberately emphasized again, "It's just a suggestion!"

"I am very willing to listen to the words of a great man!" Vladimirovich smiled and said to Jerome Bonaparte.

"I know your Majesty Nicholas I is planning how to restore Constantinople!" Jerome Bonaparte immediately threw a heavy bomb at Vladimirovich as he spoke.

"We only want to maintain peace in Europe!" Vladimirovich awkwardly rebutted Jerome Bonaparte with a sentence: "The order in Europe is…"

Before Vladimirovich could finish speaking, Jerome Bonaparte raised his hand to stop Vladimirovich's words, "Mr. Vladimirovich, you don't need to disguise anything! This is the dream of successive Tsars of the Russian Empire, starting from Peter the Great! In 1848, you took advantage of the European revolution to occupy the two duchies of the Danube under the pretext of preventing the spread of revolution! Haven't you been a little tempted by Constantinople?"

Vladimirovich remained silent, disliking Jerome Bonaparte's direct speech, which was like using a stick to jab at one's lungs in diplomatic talks.

"Mr. Vladimirovich, I am the President of the French Republic, not a diplomat! I hope we can be a little more honest with each other; you only need to answer yes or no," Jerome Bonaparte "honestly" asked.

"That's right! His Majesty the Tsar, indeed with intention…" Vladimirovich confirmed Jerome Bonaparte's guess and then defended his monarch: "We only want to safeguard the interests of the Eastern Orthodox Church in Constantinople!"

Jerome Bonaparte smiled noncommittally, thinking that anyone who believed Vladimirovich's words was a fool.

"Mr. Envoy, if the Russian Empire's claim is Constantinople, then France's claim is the Rhine Land!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Vladimirovich.

Vladimirovich's complexion changed dramatically. He spoke to Jerome Bonaparte as solemnly as possible, saying, "Mr. President, the affiliation of the Rhine Region has been determined after the Vienna Congress, and no country can overturn this decision."

"What about the London Treaty? Shouldn't the Russian Empire adhere to it as well? If Tsar Nicholas is willing to adhere to the London Treaty, then for the sake of protecting the Ottoman Empire, I hope that the Russian Empire withdraws from the Danube River immediately!" Jerome Bonaparte retorted.

Jerome Bonaparte's rebuttal left Vladimirovich speechless; Nicholas I was similarly not inclined to honor treaties.

"Mr. Envoy, France has no intention of overturning the Vienna Congress!" To avoid excessively provoking the British Envoy, Jerome Bonaparte emphasized, "Our claims regarding the Rhine Region are just a small part!"

Then, Jerome Bonaparte called for the attendant in the corridor and instructed him to bring the map from the study.

After a while, the attendant handed the map to Jerome Bonaparte.

Spreading the map on the table, Jerome Bonaparte pointed to the Saar Basin on the map and said to Vladimirovich, "France hopes to receive some compensation!"

"This is the territory of the Kingdom of Prussia!" Vladimirovich said flatly to Jerome Bonaparte.

From his expression, it seemed that the division of Prussian territory didn't cause him any mental burden.

"Prime Minister Schwarzenberg has already agreed!" Jerome Bonaparte revealed a cunning smile; he aimed to sow seeds of distrust between the Austrian Empire and the Tsar.

As expected, a flash of surprise appeared in Vladimirovich's eyes, necessitating a report to St. Petersburg about this development.

Seeing Vladimirovich unmoved, Jerome Bonaparte linked the Duchy of Danube, Bulgaria, and Serbia on the map together.

"Apart from the Duchy of Danube, the Bulgarian Region and Serbian Region can merge into one country, and Nicholas I can appoint someone as the king of this newly established country! The Constantinople region needs Nicholas I to strive for, and France will support the Russian Empire's claims regarding the Black Sea Region."

The conditions proposed by Jerome Bonaparte did not offend Vladimirovich's bottom line, yet the offered return made Vladimirovich extremely tempted.

If the French Republic could truly support the Russian Empire, it would undoubtedly make His Majesty Nicholas I one of the greatest Tsars.

Vladimirovich believed that Nicholas I could not remain unmoved.

"Mr. Envoy! Barring any surprises, I have just over a year before I step down, so I need to ensure that the French people remember me completely in the shortest amount of time!" Jerome Bonaparte smiled politely, trying to dispel Vladimirovich's doubts.

"You will undoubtedly become the greatest President of this country!" Vladimirovich sincerely remarked to Jerome Bonaparte, feeling some fondness for him.

Here was a ruler with no greed for power, utterly unlike our His Majesty the Tsar...

Vladimirovich recalled the Decembrists' revolt twenty-five years ago when he was just over twenty years old and almost joined the unrest with fervor.

After the unrest was quelled, he personally witnessed the Decembrists being brought to the execution ground to be beheaded.

"I merely seek to secure every possible benefit for France!" Jerome Bonaparte said without a blush or a heartbeat.

"Mr. President, your suggestions are excellent!" Vladimirovich replied to Jerome Bonaparte, "But this plan is not something a mere envoy like me has the authority to decide. I need to discuss it with His Majesty Nicholas I of the Russian Empire! Only by obtaining His Majesty Nicholas I's agreement can we proceed with further cooperation..."

"Of course! I truly hope that the French Republic and Russian Empire can unite to jointly uphold the European order." Jerome Bonaparte nodded with a smile, speaking to Vladimirovich with an attitude of casual acceptance towards the plan.

"I believe that, with the joint efforts of the Russian Empire and French Republic, Europe's order will definitely be restored to stability!" Vladimirovich responded.

The two parties, having reached an agreement to cooperate, left the room together; they walked shoulder to shoulder smiling into the ballroom, drawing astonished expressions from several envoys who witnessed the scene.

European diplomacy stirs again.