Holy Roman Empire

Rather than talking about negotiations, it is better to say that the Russians are putting forward conditions, allowing the Ottoman government to choose a choice: acceptance, or war.

The Russians seemed to be ready for war. On July 1851, 7, the St. Petersburg negotiations between Britain and Russia ended in failure because the bottom line of the two sides was far apart. A new round of the Russian-Turkish war entered the countdown.

Chapter 59 Napoleon III

In 1851, the focus of the world was on Constantinople and Paris. In the first half of the year, the five-party talks attracted everyone's attention. In the second half of the year, everyone watched the performance of Louis Napoleon Bonaparte.

After the coup in Paris, Louis Napoleon Bonaparte did not stop, but accelerated the pace of restoration.

On August 1851, 8, France held a referendum, and Louis Napoleon Bonaparte got the right to amend the constitution, and the coup was legalized.

On September 1851, 9, he ordered to change the national flag emblem to an eagle emblem to symbolize the Napoleonic Empire, sounding the horn of restoration.

On October 10, Louis Napoleon Bonaparte ordered the mottoes of the French Revolution: liberty, equality, fraternity, etc., to be removed from all buildings.

On October 10, Louis Napoleon Bonaparte amended the constitution, changing the term of office of the president to a lifelong tenure, and expanding the power of the president without limit.

In history, Yuan Datou learned from him, but his ability is not good, and his means are a little bit worse...

In November, Louis Napoleon Bonaparte went on a national tour, went deep into the people and gave speeches to win the hearts of the people. At the same time, he did not forget to play the tragic card of his uncle to publicly promote the idea of ​​​​the monarchy.

Facts have proved to be very effective. Even though more than 30 years have passed, Napoleon's status in the hearts of the French people has not wavered.

The mainstream of the world in this era is still the monarchy. As a republic, the French people also feel lonely and lonely, and they shout "Long live the emperor" when their heads get hot.

Soon there was a hot topic in France—the monarchy, and the newspapers controlled by the Louis Napoleon Bonapartists also began to wave their flags.

While public opinion was building momentum, Louis Napoleon Bonaparte did not forget to throw money around to buy the morale of the army.

He is very skillful in buying the hearts of the soldiers, such as inviting some military officers to give speeches at rallies, and let them hear the people shouting "Long live the emperor", creating a momentum that everyone expects.

After experiencing it personally, the officers' buttocks moved closer to him unconsciously.

From this aspect, the French army is still worthy of praise. They chose to respect public opinion and avoided the outbreak of civil war.

While building momentum for himself, Louis Napoleon Bonaparte naturally couldn’t forget to attack his opponents, for example: smearing his competitors, using his power... ([-] words omitted)

After everything was ready, on December 1851, 12, Louis Napoleon Bonaparte announced on behalf of the French Parliament: a referendum on the form of government.

I have to say that this wave of operations is very slippery.Anyone who knows France knows that, not to mention now, even after World War I, there are more people in France who support the monarchy than the republic.

The reason for the emergence of a republican government in France is that the three major royalist factions restrained each other, and no one would accept the other. In the end, there was no way but to break up.

In this context, the monarchy won with 789.9 million votes, while only less than 25 votes supported the republic.

Since it is an imperial system, it is natural to choose an emperor.The Orleans family, the Bourbon family, and the Napoleon family, the three major families stand out.

The Orleans family was the first to go out, they were kicked out, and their reputation was the lowest; the Bourbon family had an orthodox advantage and was the biggest competitor of Louis Napoleon Bonaparte.

But it doesn't matter, after coercing public opinion, Louis Napoleon Bonaparte directly occupied the throne, and he didn't intend to discuss it at all.

At this time, the Bourbon family was not ready and hadn't waited for them to react. On January 1852, 1, Louis Napoleon Bonaparte proclaimed himself emperor in Paris, and the era of Napoleon III came.

After a quarrel, the French people are tired of infighting, and now they are calm.As an established fact, the Bourbon family can only admit it with their noses pinched.

Because in the process of seizing the throne, some shady means were used to force the throne, and the Napoleon III empire had hidden dangers from the very beginning.

Vienna

Seeing Napoleon III's showy operations during the process of seizing power, Franz expressed his admiration. Even if he changed himself, he didn't think he could do better.

You must know that there are three major royal families in France in name, but the Napoleon family is actually the weakest. Unlike the other two with deep backgrounds, they can only be regarded as nouveau riche.

The Orleans dynasty was supported by financial groups, the Bourbon dynasty was supported by nobles and capitalists, and the supporters of the Napoleon family were farmers.

In theory, they have the largest number of supporters and have an advantage.In fact, on the contrary, most of their supporters are at the bottom of society, with almost zero political voice.

This can be seen from the fact that during the restoration of Napoleon III, the British still needed money to support it.If the other two are replaced, some people will pay for it.

There is no way, who made them late?If it weren't for Napoleon's awesomeness, the French people still think about him. At this time, it is a joke to say that they are the French royal family.

Even with an awesome uncle like Napoleon, Napoleon III is still not competitive, and it would be about the same if it was Napoleon II.

It is a pity that Napoleon II died young. Europe depends on blood. Napoleon III is obviously not qualified, and he is not even a Frenchman.

(Napoleon III became a Swiss citizen in 1832)

If his political opponents were smarter and let him out during the presidential election, and let a foreigner become president, it is estimated that the proud French people are not so open.

Napoleon III's ability to win the final victory was certainly related to the opponent's absence during this period, but his personal ability cannot be ignored.

Along the way, he's practically dancing on a tightrope.One mistake in operation, you will fall to pieces.

In particular, taking advantage of the contradictions among various groups to let everyone acquiesce in his proclaiming the emperor is simply the pinnacle of power manipulation.

According to the information in hand, Franz came to a conclusion: Napoleon III was not the ideal choice for all parties, but it was a choice that everyone could accept.

After being taught a lesson by Napoleon III, Franz couldn't help but reflect on himself, and he found that his weakness was that he paid too much attention to morality.

Of course, Franz was not prepared to change.As the emperor of the Habsburg dynasty, his throne couldn't be more orthodox, and there is no need to engage in those crooked ways.

As for domestic political opponents?Not that Franz boasted that he could rub them against the ground with one hand.

Compared with the French opposition, the Austrian opposition is simply weaker.How can the firefly compete with the bright moon?

Metternich said with a smile: "Your Majesty, Napoleon III has been restored and now needs international recognition. This is an opportunity."

If Napoleon III ascended to the throne by normal means, naturally there is no need to worry about this issue.It's a pity that his throne is not congenitally deficient, and he has been criticized too much. At this time, the recognition of the international community is very important.

Among other things, the enthronement ceremony of Napoleon III was basically absent from the great European nobles.It looks huge, but its actual specifications are much lower.

Even if the British supported him, the British royal family did not send heavyweight members to attend. The indifference of the aristocratic circle explained the problem.

Franz said indifferently: "Let's try it out. The secret treaty between the two countries is over. Now it's not bad to sign a friendship agreement between the two countries."

If the benefits are not great, Napoleon III may make certain concessions in order to obtain Austria's diplomatic recognition.

It is a pity that there is no such proper exchange of interests between Austria and France.Austria also has its own plans, so Franz doesn't mind selling a small favor.

Felix gloated and said, "Your Majesty, Napoleon III has just been restored. Even for the sake of the emperor's face, he can't back down on the issue of the Holy Land this time. It seems that the Russians are going to be in trouble."

Russia and Austria are allies, but it does not mean that Austria wants to watch the Russians continue to grow stronger.

Only when there is not much difference in strength, can everyone become allies.Once the gap is widened, it becomes the relationship between the younger brother and the boss.

Austria is naturally not prepared to be the younger brother of the Russians. While developing itself, everyone also hopes that the Russian strategy will be frustrated.

If the Russians are allowed to annex the Ottoman Empire, then the honeymoon period between the two countries will be over.Between countries, it is more reliable to speak with strength and interests.

One of the important factors in the outbreak of the Crimean War in history was that Napoleon III had just succeeded to the throne, in order to divert domestic conflicts and establish prestige.

Now the time for the restoration of Napoleon III has been advanced, but this demand has not changed, and the final result will naturally not change.

Franz thought for a while and said: "Then add a fire to them, but be careful not to burn us, this scene will continue.

If Britain and France know our true purpose, I am afraid the situation will be out of control.At the critical moment, the Russians will definitely leak the secret treaty between Russia and Austria.

We must make diplomatic preparations. At the critical moment, we must let Britain and France know that even if Russia and Austria form an alliance, Austria will only be neutral in the Russo-Turkish war, and at most support them diplomatically! "

This is not a joke. If Austria is determined to advance and retreat with the Russians, Britain and France may be scared away.In the Near East, the Russia-Austria alliance is an invincible existence and is not afraid of any challenges.

Without giving Britain and France a reassurance, how could they work on an expedition to attack the Russians?Without the Russians to restrain their energies, how could Austria have the opportunity to sneak in?

Austria is using the Russians, so why aren't the Russians using Austria?As long as Austria moves, the energy of Britain and France will also be dispersed, reducing their pressure on the battlefield.

Moreover, if the Russians wanted to annex the Ottoman Empire, they would need the material support of Austria. With their own industrial capabilities, they could not support a modern war.

From the very beginning, this has been a cooperation in which everyone takes what they need and has their own ghosts.

Chapter 60 Cost

St petersburg

Russian Foreign Minister Karl Vosser frowned and said: "Your Majesty, the Minister in Paris has received news that Louis Napoleon Bonaparte was restored on January 1852, 1, calling himself Napoleon III."

After hearing the news of the restoration of Napoleon III, Nicholas I was furious.In his opinion, the upstart Napoleon family is not qualified to be the emperor of France.

This is not only his personal opinion, but also tangible interests.Napoleon rose to power by popular election, broke the tradition of "divine authority" and shook the foundation of all monarchies in Europe. This is also the origin of the anti-French war.

After finally suppressing this kind of heresy, and now Napoleon III is being restored, isn’t this an insult to all the participants in the Vienna Conference?Most importantly insulted Alexander I.

What made him even more angry was that Napoleon III still dared to challenge the majesty of the Russian Empire. After the Holy Land crisis broke out, the French government intervened, shaking the Russians' control over the Orthodox Church.

With the combination of new and old hatred, it is naturally impossible for Nicholas I to recognize the legitimacy of Napoleon III.If it weren't for the fact that the distance between the two sides is too far, he has used practical actions to let the French know how powerful the Russian Empire is.

Nicholas I said disdainfully: "Sure enough, he is a little bastard, but he just knows how to play some low-level tricks.

Order the Minister in France to send a diplomatic note to the French government, condemning Louis Napoleon Bonaparte's shameless act of usurping the throne and ordering him to abdicate immediately. "

The restoration of Napoleon III is naturally a quick cut. In order to avoid interference by international forces, the specific time is kept secret.

In the eyes of Nicholas I, this is petty, without a trace of the majesty of a monarch, and he is not worthy of being a member of the monarchy group.

Carl Wursell advised: "Your Majesty, it's not good for us to answer so forcefully. This will make the relationship between the two countries continue to deteriorate."

If you don't admit it, you won't admit it, and even sent a special diplomatic note to disgust Napoleon III. This will undoubtedly make the relationship between France and Russia worse.

Due to the distance, Russia does not have much influence on France. This kind of diplomatic accusation made Napoleon III look ugly at first.

Anyway, no matter how fierce the tsarist government yelled, it was impossible for Napoleon III to abdicate. At this point, no matter what was ahead, he would continue to walk.

Nicholas I said disdainfully: "What are you afraid of? If you are offended, you will be offended. Anyway, the relationship between Russia and France is like this. How can it be so bad?"

This is Nicholas I's attitude.It wasn't that he was impulsive, but that on the issue of Ottoman, the conflict between France and Russia had intensified, and both sides were unwilling to make concessions, and the possibility of reconciliation was almost zero.

Facing Nicholas I, who had already made up his mind, Foreign Minister Karl Vossell would naturally not respond. What did the life and death of the French have to do with him?

"Yes, Your Majesty," Karl Wursell replied

Then he changed the subject and said: "Your Majesty, the negotiations in Constantinople have been determined to be impossible to achieve results. With the support of Britain and France, the Ottoman Empire will not make concessions this time. Our next plan can be launched."

In other words, war is coming, and now a plausible excuse is needed.Influenced by European culture, the tsarist government is no longer as reckless as it used to be, knowing the importance of being a whore and setting up a torii.

Nicholas I nodded, and then said: "Order Duke Menshikov to issue an ultimatum to the Ottoman Empire. If they still reject our goodwill, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will choose an excuse!"

Goodwill, who felt the "goodwill" of the tsarist government?Their appetite is so big, no matter how weak the Sudanese government is, they still have to fight hard?

Compromise is slow suicide, and there is still a glimmer of life in hard resistance. With the support of Britain and France, the Ottoman Empire is not completely without chance of winning.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Karl Wurser replied

There are thousands of excuses, and they will always be found. The Ottoman Empire itself is rotten, and there are too many messy things. It is too easy to find fault with them.

Constantinople was the dream of several generations of the tsarist government, not only for its pure military and economic value, but also for its huge political and religious value.

In short, as long as the tsarist government can successfully capture Constantinople, no matter how heavy the loss is, it is acceptable.

From this point of view, Nicholas II was too stupid in history, and ran to fight the Germans and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

If he bullied the Ottoman Empire first and captured the Constantinople area, relying on political and religious bonuses, he could completely overwhelm all domestic contradictions.

From this point of view, Nicholas I's strategy is completely correct. After taking back Constantinople, with its strong prestige, it will be much easier to go home and carry out reforms.

Russia's internal conflicts had actually attracted the attention of the tsarist government long ago, but the opposition groups were too powerful, and Nicholas I did not dare to act rashly.

Including Nicholas I himself, many high-level Russians opposed serfdom, but unfortunately they were all persuaded by the entire aristocratic group.

Now the tsarist government pinned its hopes on this Russo-Turkish war. As long as Constantinople is captured, everything will be fine. If it fails, there is no other way but to risk internal reforms.

……

Paris

After the successful restoration of Napoleon III, the country did not stabilize immediately, and the strength of the opposition forces was still strong. On January 1, an anti-imperialist uprising broke out in Paris.

Half a month later, the uprising spread to more than 20 provinces including Toulouse, Marseille, Limoges, Perpignan, Ballena, Toulon, and Bordeaux.

At this time, the role of buying officers was reflected. Napoleon III reacted much stronger than the July Dynasty, and immediately ordered the suppression of the rebellion.

Thirty-two provinces across the country have entered a state of martial law. In just one month, more than 32 people were arrested, and more than 2.6 people were exiled. White terror filled France.

Due to the lack of effective organization, the insurgents were scattered all over the country to fight, and were quickly suppressed.

After securing the throne, Napoleon III's troubles also came.The first is the financial crisis. In order to buy people's hearts during the restoration, Napoleon III greatly increased everyone's salary.

For example: the annual salary of a congressional senator is 3 francs, the annual salary of a state counselor is 2.5 francs, the annual salary of ministers starts at 4 francs, and those who have part-time jobs have multiple salaries.

Napoleon himself also had an annual salary of 2600 million francs. Compared with France's annual fiscal revenue of 2.1 billion francs, the emperor's annuity only accounted for [-]%, which did not seem too high.

However, it is obvious that the accounts cannot be calculated in this way. If the salary of the upper class has been improved, can the salaries of the lower class civil servants not be increased?

There is no doubt that Napoleon III is a good leader who cares about everyone's living standards, so the French civil servants are happy, and the era of "high salary" has come.

The salaries of government officials were raised, and Napoleon III did not forget that the army on the same front as him had promotions and salary increases.