Flowers, Swords and France

"If you don't mean that, then what do you mean?"

After being treated similarly by Charles, Palmerston's expression became a little ugly.

He found that the young man in front of him was indeed very determined. He was not frightened at all because he was new, and he seemed not to be afraid of his own threats. And his thinking is very clear, and he is not moved by himself at all.

It is indeed a diplomatic material. Louis Bonaparte did not find the wrong person, he thought to himself.

These French people are slippery by nature and always like to hide all their intentions in ambiguous words, hoping to make others unable to restrain themselves first and then gain benefits from it - this has been the case since Talleyrand, but this young man is Learned a lot.

It's a pity that as a proven foreign minister, Palmerston naturally has the same ability and will never let this young man take advantage of him.

He asked aggressively, as if he really wanted to use this meeting to reveal the Frenchman's bottom in one breath.

"We respect France's interests very much, but if your country is secretive about its intentions, then no one may be able to judge your country's sincerity in safeguarding peace in the thick fog of ambiguity, and there will be no way to judge it. Understand how to help France maintain peace." There was a hint of impatience in his tone, and he wanted to use this to show the respect that an old-timer should receive. "Mr. Treville, at least you are making people unpredictable. It already looks like Talleyrand.”

Although on the surface he was insinuating that Ciel was speaking inaccurately and hesitantly, he did so unintentionally. He also admitted that the young Treville was also a member of this circle.

"In fact, France does not want to seize anything in the Near East, but wants to maintain something." Seeing this already stimulated Palmerston. Charles also showed his original polite smile again, "The president not only wants to maintain the status quo in Western Europe, but also intends to defend the existing status quo in the east - if this status quo is damaged in some way, the president believes that France also has It is necessary to join the ranks of peace-loving powers to maintain order..."

Such a strong hint, almost like naming, at this moment not only Palmerston, but even Prince Albert, who had been silent, was a little shocked.

If Charles had gone too far in dodging just now, now he had gone too far in a straightforward manner, so that the British, who always wanted to stay aloof and maintain a dominant position, always found it difficult to grasp the rhythm.

"To defend the status quo in the Near East. Do you mean that M. Bonaparte intends to safeguard the continued existence of Türkiye?"

"Turkey has always existed and will continue to exist in the future. It is a sovereign and independent country and does not need our maintenance. It is a nation with pride and glorious history and is not easily manipulated by others. Of course, it does not "Sovereignty should be trampled on at will." Charles used a cliche to avoid the British accusation that France intended to interfere in Turkey. "As a long-term friendly country, maintaining the basic integrity and sovereign independence of the Ottoman Empire is very important to France's diplomatic interests - and I believe it is also very important to other peace-loving powers in Europe."

"This country is stinky, extremely corrupt, and the monarch is very incompetent." I heard Charles praising the Turks. Palmerston laughed scornfully, "He is just a sick man. He just wants to cling to that bit of ancestral property."

"Maybe you have a point." Charles nodded in agreement, but the conversation suddenly changed. "However, even if it is a sick man, it can at least hold its ancestral property in its hands and is willing to act as a gatekeeper for Europe..."

"Oh! Gatekeeper! I just heard about this today!" Palmerston couldn't help laughing. "This gatekeeper is not very competent. He seems to be thinking about robbing things from the house all day long."

"Perhaps this was the case in the past. Since their defeat at the gates of Vienna a century and a half ago, the Turks have not had the strength and desire to invade Europe - on the contrary, they have been repeatedly invaded by other countries since then. Charles calmly told the Foreign Secretary what he was sure to know. "In a sense, it has now become a breakwater that can help peace-loving countries in Europe block the terrifying tide from further afield..."

"In other words, if this breakwater is crumbling in the face of a terrible tide, France will not even hesitate to help the pagan country to tide it over?" After thinking for a moment, Minister Palmerston finally asked again , "In other words, your country firmly believes that the status quo and borders of the Near East and Eastern Europe should be respected and guaranteed, and no one should act recklessly without ignoring others?"

"Peace is precious. It should benefit everyone and should not distinguish between religious barriers, right?" Charles replied with a smile, "If this country collapses, then I don't think anyone can be immune. A terrible frenzy. It will not stop because of the collapse of the pagan country. On the contrary, after getting more manpower and material resources, This frenzy will continue to surge into the hinterland of Europe with an even more unstoppable force, until it turns the whole of Europe into a civilized desert. At least, with our support, this sick man can still use objective manpower and material resources. It’s better to safeguard our ancestral heritage than to give in and then have to fight the craze alone, isn’t it?”

Then, he said no more, but looked at Palmerston challengingly, waiting for him to reveal his trump card.

If he and the United Kingdom he represented had really made a decision, then when Charles said this, he had to give a clear answer.

Charles waited in silence, waiting for the final verdict on whether his journey was meaningful.

"I have to admit that what you said makes some sense." After a moment of silence, Minister Palmerston finally spoke. "Maintaining peace in Europe requires the joint cooperation and efforts of every peace-loving country. Certain artificial boundaries should not affect our desire for peace. However, are you really so sure that the frenzy will definitely surge there, not somewhere else?"

After hearing his answer, Charles breathed a sigh of relief.

The verdict was finally given.

It was meaningful.

This journey was destined to return to France with a merit.

Finally arrived here.

The times helped him, and he also created the times.

"This is just a preventive measure." With a satisfied feeling of relief, Charles simply drank a glass of wine. "In any case, this frenzy of destruction and destruction always exists. If it doesn't flow here, it will flow there. Endless greed will always make it do so."

"And it..." Almost unconsciously, Minister Palmerston also used Charles' tone, "It should also be stopped by peace-loving countries."

After he finished speaking, the two of them laughed almost at the same time.

The little unpleasantness caused by the small conflict between them just now has completely disappeared at this time.

However, although it is about to come out, the two people still tacitly understand that no one continues to dig deeper into this topic and point out which country the "terrible frenzy" comes from.

However, even if it is not specified, they actually understand what it is referring to.

The original text is in the six # 9 @book/bar!

Although the Turks and the Austrians have been enemies for generations, Austria now has no ability or willingness to launch a large-scale war against them. It is true that it is in danger, but this danger only comes from one country.

When Treville, on behalf of France, expressed that France would never sit idly by and watch a certain country over-expand in the Near East or elsewhere, the British quickly gave an affirmative and encouraging reply.

This is inevitable.

The British would rather the Turks rot so that they can profit from it than let the region fall into the quagmire of division and civil war, not to mention the worse consequences of falling into the hands of Russia.

If Turkey disintegrates, then in fact the Tsar will soon march into the Balkans until Istanbul, and will not stop until the entire Black Sea is seized - then, in fact, the British hegemony in the Mediterranean and even the world will be in jeopardy.

This is a threat that no British person can tolerate, so much so that in their view, at this time, the Bonaparte is even more lovely than the Romanov - if this Bonaparte is willing to let France stay honest.

Fifty years ago, this was unimaginable, but the world is so changing that it makes people sigh.

"I am very moved to see President Bonaparte working so hard for the peace of Europe. Yes, just like him, I also think that if we want to defend the peace of Europe, we must unite. "After listening to Minister Palmerston's reply, Prime Minister Russell, who was used to being straightforward, made everything clear. "The concerns of the French are also the concerns of the British. If France... and some other countries are willing to contribute to the defense of European peace... Britain is also happy to help them and maintain its own peace."

In a distracted manner, Paul Bilott mechanically translated all these words to Charles.

Although his position is not high, he has been in the diplomatic field for several years after all, and he can hear what is hidden under these high-sounding words.

Oh my God! Oh my God! Is this a joint intervention? Or a threat of war?

He never thought that he would hear such a terrible thing on such a warm morning.

"At least we still have peace now, and we should enjoy peace." Perhaps because what Charles handed over was very satisfactory, Palmerston smiled and nodded to Charles. His pale and wrinkled face was full of the charm of his youth. "Then, young man, let's drink to peace?"

"Cheers!" Charles raised his glass obediently. (To be continued...)