1850 American Gold Tycoon

Napoleon III, who successfully proclaimed himself emperor, was both happy and angry.

Fortunately, after years of wandering around, he finally ascended the coveted throne of French Emperor, a throne that once belonged to his uncle and the Napoleon family.

What makes him angry is that it was relatively smooth for him to become emperor this time. This means that other countries on the European continent no longer regard the weak France as a threat, and believe that even a member of the Bonaparte family as the emperor of France will not pose a threat to Europe.

This is contempt for France and contempt for the Bonaparte family!

France needs to go through a war and stand on the corpses of powerful enemies to show other countries on the continent that French men have stood up again!

Napoleon III crumpled Nicholas I's letter into a ball and threw it on the ground.

At this time, Russia, the "European Gendarmerie" that is in the limelight, is the best corpse and target.

The Russian Empire looked powerful enough, and defeating Russia would prove France's strength.

His uncle had suffered a defeat in Russia. Defeating the Russian Empire would also avenge the failure of the 1812 expedition to Russia, thereby disintegrating the old anti-French alliance.

Only by disintegrating the old anti-French alliance can France have a chance to revive and rise.

More importantly, the British are now also very afraid of this polar bear who is too enthusiastic about European affairs.

Treating Russia as an enemy can arouse the sympathy of the United Kingdom, and join forces to curb the polar bear's westward march, and together cut off the polar bear's westward paws.

Napoleon III lived in exile in England, and his years of exile in England also deepened his understanding of Britain.

Although Britain was once a major member of the anti-French alliance, it has no permanent allies in Europe.

When France is strong, Britain can form an alliance with Russia. When Russia is strong, Britain can naturally form an alliance with France.

There are no permanent allies between countries, only permanent interests.

Of course, launching a war also requires an excuse, a legitimate excuse to send troops.

Now, this excuse also exists, and it was an excuse given by Nicholas I personally.

Nicholas I's ambitions deeply disturbed Abdul Mecid, the 31st Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.

Mecid's original idea was to move between Orthodox Russia and Catholic England and France to ensure the security of the Ottoman Empire.

However, Nicholas I's unabashed expansion ambition caused the Sultan's attitude to quickly change, and he became closer to the two Catholic countries of England and France.

The rulers of the Ottoman Empire also knew that whether they were pro-Russian or pro-British and French, it was a very bad choice for the Ottomans.

However, the pro-Russian results are obviously worse, because greedy Russia has more urgent territorial demands on them. The two powers were at odds with each other, and the Ottoman rulers finally decided to move closer to Britain and France.

One-third of the population in the Ottoman Empire was Christian, and these Christians included both Orthodox and Catholics.

The Ottoman Empire was a Christian country, but due to the many religious sects within the territory, many Christian holy places were located in the Ottoman Empire. Therefore, there were also many people who believed in Christianity in the Ottoman Empire.

The empire's religious issues have always been a headache for the sultans of all generations. Of course, religion is also a bargaining chip they can use.

This time the Ottomans gave the two Catholic countries Britain and France the bargaining chip that as long as Britain and France were willing to help the Ottomans resist the invasion of Tsarist Russia, the Ottoman Empire would offer the use of the Holy Lands Jerusalem Church and Bethlehem Church.

Napoleon III was not a loyal Catholic believer, and his uncle Napoleon I even expelled many clergy in France during his reign.

But this time, as long as Nicholas I dared to send troops to the Ottomans, he chose to fight for the Holy Land and fight for the Catholic Church.

Since Nicholas I sent an arrogant reply, it was not polite to return the letter, so it was necessary for Napoleon III to respond to Nicholas I's arrogance.

Napoleon III took off his gloves and threw them on the table, and said to his cronies on the side.

"Give me these gloves to the Tsar."

Taking off the gloves was the etiquette before a knight's duel, which also showed Napoleon III's determination to compete with Nicholas I.

After the henchmen took away the gloves, Napoleon III summoned his general Pierre-Joseph François Bosquet.

"Your Majesty!" Bosquet greeted Napoleon III who was standing by the window.

Napoleon III was of medium build like his uncle, and he also had the same calm and self-confident temperament.

Now the whole country has high hopes for the emperor of the Bonaparte family, hoping that he can lead France out of the trough.

"This year's plan to expand the army by 50,000 must be completed on time. The war is getting closer to France." Napoleon III said to Bosquet.

"Your Majesty, as long as military spending is sufficient, expansion is not a problem." Bosquet replied.

Bosquet's implication is that military spending is not sufficient at the moment.

"I will solve the problem of military expenditure." Napoleon said earnestly.

"Once a war breaks out with Russia, the success or failure of this war will be related to whether France can gain a foothold in the European continent in the future. This battle can only be won, not failed. France, a rooster that has been dormant for many years, is about to crow. .”

If you win, you will gain more power; if you lose, you will lose everything.

Napoleon III knew that he could gain the support of the French people, and his successful ascension to the throne of France's emperor was a huge legacy left to him by his uncle.

Rather than saying that the French people still remember the Bonaparte dynasty, it is better to say that the French people miss the powerful France under their uncle Napoleon I.

He had just ascended the throne and proclaimed himself emperor, and his rule in France was not yet very stable. He needed a military victory to strengthen his authority, consolidate his rule in France, awaken the fighting spirit of the French, and stimulate the French's national pride.

If he loses this battle, his ending will be even more miserable than that of his uncle. He has no way of turning back. This is a war that only allows for success, not failure.

He cannot afford to lose.

"Your Majesty, I would like to ask, has the British taken a stand? As an enemy of Russia, the attitude of the Russians is crucial." Bosquet said.

The Russians wanted to win over the British, and the French wanted to win over the British.

The British's stance on the Eastern Question is too important, so important that he can win or lose.

Nicholas I's so-called Austro-Hungarian allies were not taken seriously by Napoleon III.

This is not because the Austro-Hungarian Empire is relatively weak, but because Russia's involvement in the Danube River is bound to touch the core interests of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Although Franz Joseph, the Emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was young, he must have understood the principle of not allowing others to sleep soundly on the side of his bed. Unless he wants Austria-Hungary to become a second Poland.

After all, there is no end to the expansion of the greedy Russians.

"Do you think that with the sophistication of British politicians, they will express their position so early?" Napoleon III said calmly.

"I am only 80% sure that the UK will be on our side, but I am 100% sure that the UK will remain neutral and not side with Russia."

These words of Napoleon III gave Bosquet reassurance. As long as the British did not side with the Russians, he would have the confidence to lead the men of France to teach those gray animals of the Czar a lesson and let them know who they were. It is the world's number one army.