Chapter 306: Chapter 302 French Expeditionary Army
The British Envoy and the Supreme Governor of the French Republic reached a certain level of consensus amidst laughter (and hidden conflicts).
"Your Excellency, the coffee at the Tuileries Palace is truly delightful!" Ambassador Cowley, in high spirits, sipped his coffee with an inexplicable smile at the corners of his mouth, as if his words held another meaning.
"If you don’t mind, Mr. Ambassador, you are welcome to visit the Tuileries Palace often!" Jerome Bonaparte replied to Ambassador Cowley.
"Our next meeting place might just be Brussels!" Ambassador Cowley responded, seemingly offhand.
Ambassador Cowley’s response brought a subtle expression to Jerome Bonaparte’s face; Cowley clearly implied that France might pose a threat to Belgium.
The separation of the French-speaking region in southern Belgium has always been a pain for France. France once had the opportunity to reclaim these lands in 1830, but the timidity of the July Monarchy’s diplomacy and the Great Powers’ fear of revolution caused France to lose that chance completely.
After Jerome Bonaparte launched a coup and became the Supreme Governor of France, voices related to the 1815 treaty with Belgium resurfaced in Paris.
As time went on, these voices grew louder. Radicals believed France should reclaim the French-speaking regions, while conservatives thought Belgium should heed France’s directives. Many "visionaries" believed Belgium should join a customs union led by France.
In any case, both conservatives and radicals had already laid bare their ambitions regarding Belgium.
Among them were shadows of the Bonaparte Faction lurking behind the scenes, mainly advocating for the Franco-Belgian Tariff Union.
Jerome Bonaparte naturally understood the concerns of Ambassador Cowley and the Kingdom of Britain over France’s interest in Belgium, so he hastily responded, "France aims to maintain the current order in Western Europe; we will not engage in any hegemonic activities! Harmony among nations and peoples is essential..."
Jerome Bonaparte also expressed, in a fluent diplomatic tone, to Ambassador Cowley that France respects Belgium’s current sovereignty and absolutely will not stir trouble in the Belgian region.
"Please convey to Lord Palmerston that France respects all the efforts he made in 1831 to maintain peace in Europe! It has been proven that Palmerston’s efforts indeed benefit Western European peace!" Jerome Bonaparte continued to respond to Ambassador Cowley.
The so-called 1831 treaty refers to the treaty signed by Britain, France, Russia, Austria, and Prussia after Belgium’s independence in 1831, recognizing Belgium’s perpetual neutrality. This treaty can be said to be the pinnacle of Palmerston’s work, using subtle support for Louis Philippe’s second son to become the King of Belgium, thereby distancing France and Russia and isolating the two nations, then drawing Austria and Prussia closer to ensure Britain’s influence due to numbers.
The bottom line of tolerance determined by all parties’ interests established Belgium’s "perpetual neutrality" privilege.
Although the Kingdom of the Netherlands was unwilling to recognize Belgium’s independence, without the help of the Great Powers, the Netherlands was no match for Belgium.
Finally, nine years later, in 1839, the Netherlands reluctantly recognized the Kingdom of Belgium’s status as a sovereign nation.
"Oh! So, Your Excellency agrees with Lord Palmerston’s original treaty!" Ambassador Cowley showed great interest in Jerome Bonaparte’s response.
"Of course, France firmly upholds the Kingdom of Belgium’s right to perpetual neutrality! Should any country dare to infringe upon Belgium’s sovereignty, France would be the first to oppose!" Jerome Bonaparte firmly responded to Ambassador Cowley.
"Hearing this from Your Excellency, I believe Lord Palmerston would be very comforted!" Ambassador Cowley once again showed a smile, speaking ambiguously: "I hope Your Excellency can further strive for peace for France and all of Europe!"
Jerome Bonaparte naturally understood Ambassador Cowley’s implication, and he responded with feigned modesty, "That depends on all the people of France! The 8 million people of France have entrusted their power to me; I must not disappoint their expectations!"
Ambassador Cowley and Jerome Bonaparte reached a tacit consensus. Whether this consensus was Ambassador Cowley’s intentional guidance or a sincere British response would only become clear after Jerome Bonaparte truly ascended the throne.
Cowley and Jerome Bonaparte again idly chatted about European issues for quite some time, until the sun set and the twilight slipped through the window lattice into the study, when Ambassador Cowley unconsciously glanced at the clock standing in the corner.
The time was now around 4:30 PM. Ambassador Cowley hurriedly bid farewell to Jerome Bonaparte, who warmly invited him to stay for dinner.
Ambassador Cowley did not refuse Jerome Bonaparte’s invitation and had a simple meal together at the Tuileries Palace... [Although described as simple, it included caviar, snails, and perfectly seared steaks.]
Ambassador Cowley, who drank until he was intoxicated, was "thoughtfully" escorted back by Valerovsky’s team, though on the way back he was inadvertently spotted by a certain spying young Russian.
This enthusiastic young man quickly slipped away and stealthily returned to the Russian Embassy, unaware that a secret team was also tailing him, watching as he slid into the Russian Embassy.
Afterwards, they reported this information to Marcel Yale, the Director of the National Intelligence Bureau, who once again went to the Tuileries Palace to inform Jerome Bonaparte of the situation.
"Did your men see it with their own eyes?" Jerome Bonaparte once again confirmed whether what Marcel Yale said was true.
"Indeed, they saw it with their own eyes!" Marcel Yale responded to Jerome Bonaparte in a confident tone.
"I didn’t expect it! I didn’t expect it! Even after a purge, there are still so many rats lurking in Paris!" Jerome Bonaparte couldn’t help but exclaim.
It seems now that the attention European countries pay to intelligence services is no less than that of Jerome Bonaparte, though they do not possess the vision of Jerome Bonaparte that surpasses the times by over 200 years.
Many national intelligence agencies have not undergone systematic training and are unable to form professionalized institutions. The distinction between police departments and intelligence agencies has not been strictly defined, and those they recruit largely belong to temporary assignments, with a significant gap compared to specialized teams.
"Your Majesty, shall I?" Marcel Yale made a gesture of raising his hand to strike.
After several months of "sting operations," Marcel Yale had long since deciphered the techniques of those outdated intelligence organizations, and to capture them all would be a piece of cake.
"No rush! Play with them!" Jerome Bonaparte stopped Marcel Yale from taking the next step.
Instead of purging their existing intelligence network, it would be better to use these networks to do things beneficial for them.
Spies and fifty thousand are inevitable products of any era.
"I understand! Just continue to monitor them!" Jerome Bonaparte gave his orders to Marcel Yale.
"Yes!" Marcel Yale nodded to show he understood.
Just as Marcel Yale was about to leave, Jerome Bonaparte suddenly thought of something and quickly called Marcel Yale back to ask, "By the way! How are the preparations for the personnel heading to Cyan Fruit?"
If the Eastern historical timeline hasn’t been altered, historically Hong Xiuquan had already successfully revolted last month, on January 11th.
Currently, this revolutionary army should be in its growth phase, and the rulers of Cyan Fruit have hardly any understanding of the uprising.
After all, the distance from Jintian to Beijing is too far, and local officials, to avoid accountability, would inevitably cover it up just like during the Opium War, striving to eliminate them.
If one were to set sail now, it would take roughly half a year to reach the destination.
Plus, the local survey and preparation would also take more than a year.
By that time, the revolutionary army would have established their capital, and France can then seamlessly connect with them.
"It’s all prepared!" Marcel Yale responded to Jerome Bonaparte.
"Here’s the plan! In two months, a fleet will set off from Calais, passing through the Far East. Have your men accompany the fleet!" Jerome Bonaparte instructed Marcel Yale.
The reason Jerome Bonaparte is sending a fleet to the Far East is to deal with the island nation of Hawaii in the Pacific Region.
It’s well-known that France has never ceased its steps of expansion in the Far East and Pacific Region, especially in the 1830s and 1840s when the Orléans Dynasty and Kingdom of Britain battled for influence in the Pacific.
The fleet’s goal in going to the Far East is to punish the Hawaii Kingdom. Just over a year ago, in June 1849, Brigadier General Louis de Tremele of the Second French Republic took action against the Hawaii Kingdom for not responding to the demands imposed.
Although the fleet damaged Hawaii’s coastal artillery and defenses, the landing party was defeated by Hawaii’s army, outnumbered five to one.
After drifting at sea for more than a year, the news finally reached France in November 1850. Feeling humiliated, the Minister of the Navy, Deco, requested Jerome Bonaparte to send more warships to teach Hawaii Kingdom a lesson.
At the time, Jerome Bonaparte was planning a coup, so the situation with Hawaii Kingdom had to be postponed.
Now that everything has settled, Jerome Bonaparte, of course, is preparing to discipline the arrogant Hawaii Kingdom.