Chapter 489 Negotiations between the Emperor and the Prime Minister (First update, please subscribe)
The Fourth Legion retreated!
After learning that the Prussian Fourth Army was retreating to the north of Paris, Zhu Xianhai did not order his troops to pursue them. Not because he could not, but because he did not need to!
"We don't have to help the French!"
In fact, there is another reason, he is waiting!
Waiting for Bismarck's visit, in the simulator, it was through his meeting with Bismarck that Napoleon III's idea of picking peaches came to nothing.
It didn't even take long to wait. Just one day later, Zhu Xianhai received a request for a meeting from Bismarck. Of course, this meeting could not take place in Rouen or in the area controlled by the Prussians. In the end, both sides chose Gisors, which was located between the areas controlled by the two armies.
Gisors is just a small town in France.
That morning, in twenty armored vehicles, hundreds of South China soldiers arrived in the town. At the same time, hundreds of Prussian soldiers also came to the town. They looked at each other, and no one said anything. They just set up a table and put up a sunshade on the bridge at the entrance of the town.
At ten o'clock in the morning, Zhu Xianhai walked towards the bridge with only one attendant. He was full of anticipation for the meeting with Bismarck. After all, Bismarck's reputation was too loud.
Is he the Bismarck of the East or the Li Zhongtang of the West?
Thinking of the joke from another world, Zhu Xianhai smiled, and at this moment, Bismarck came.
"Hail, Your Majesty!"
A low voice sounded, and the indescribable dull feeling made Zhu Xianhai unconsciously turn his head and look directly at the person who came.
The person who came was none other than the German Empire... Oh, there was no such empire yet, only the North German Confederation. Since he was from the North German Confederation, he was also the Chancellor of Prussia.
Otto Bismarck stood there solemnly and bowed slightly to Zhu Xianhai.
He is Bismarck!
Zhu Xianhai couldn't help but sigh in his heart. It was this that made Germany unified, but now the rise of Germany has been changed because of his intervention. Too many things are bound to happen at the same time in the future.
From now on, European affairs will surely undergo earth-shaking changes!
It will become quite difficult to predict the future.
No, none of that matters now. What matters is to reach some kind of agreement with Bismarck.
"Hello, Mr. Prime Minister. When I came to France, Zuo Zongtang specially asked me to convey his gratitude to you for your hospitality. He invited you to visit Nanhua at an appropriate time!"
The last time Zuo Zongtang visited Europe, Bismarck was one of the few European politicians who received him. In fact, Zuo Zongtang highly respected the Prussian system, perhaps because the East could find some common ground with Prussia in many aspects.
"Your Majesty, if I have time, I will definitely visit Nanhua. After all, not only me, but the whole of Europe is very curious about Nanhua. It's not just your airships and armored vehicles. Many countries are eager to find powerful prescriptions from you. After all, you have accomplished something that many countries have failed to achieve in decades in just ten years."
This is not a compliment, but comes from the bottom of the heart. Bismarck is really curious!
"It's just parroting what others have said."
Zhu Xianhai smiled and said, in fact, the development of Nanhua, to put it bluntly, is just overtaking on a curve. It just entered the second industrial revolution earlier than others. If the direction is right, it will naturally get twice the result with half the effort. What's more, there is a cheating device!
After a few simple polite words, Bismarck went straight to the point.
"Your Majesty, as we all know, there has never been true friendship between countries. For the sake of friendship with France, you have sent your most elite troops, and even led the troops here in person. Is it all worth it? France may remember your friendship, but when it is time to repay, will they return your friendship?"
Knowing that Bismarck was the most outstanding diplomat in modern times, Zhu Xianhai did not intend to play any diplomatic tricks with him. In diplomacy, tactics are secondary, and the core is still strength and interests, and Bismarck is undoubtedly good at using the latter.
"Mr. Prime Minister, why didn't the British and Austrians stop, or even support, your war against France?"
After taking the initiative in a few words, Zhu Xianhai smiled.
"Sending troops to France is not because France will do something for us in the future, but because a weakened France is not in the interests of South China, just like a weakened France is in the interests of Britain."
It was for this reason that Bismarck originally wanted to say that this was Europe, but he instantly understood the other party's thoughts.
"A Britain without the constraints of France will certainly invest more of their strength in other continents, South America..."
Staring at Zhu Xianhai, Bismarck said.
"Nanhua's interests focus on South America. Your Majesty needs a South America without the intervention of European countries. Therefore, you are unwilling to see France weakened."
After thinking for a while, Bismarck said again.
"Of course you don't want him to be too strong. A strong France is also a threat to South China! Your Majesty needs a France that is no different from the current one, no stronger than Britain. Only in this way, when facing threats from Britain, Prussia or other countries, he needs a strong ally. It is for this reason that he will be a supporter of the expansion of the South China Empire in South America, and correspondingly, you will certainly support their expansion in other regions!"
Zhu Xianhai was not surprised that Bismarck could guess his thoughts. If he couldn't guess, he wouldn't be Bismarck! This guy was a diplomat who could stir up the whole of Europe by himself!
"There are only eternal interests between countries! To a large extent, our interests are common with France. Mr. Prime Minister, I don't object, but I believe that a unified Germany is extremely important for Europe. However, the existence of the Second French Empire is also in line with the interests of South China!"
The wind from the river blew on them. Zhu Xianhai lit a cigar and then just smoked it quietly. He had already told the other party his thoughts, and now it was Bismarck's turn.
"A weakened Prussia is also not in the interests of Nanhua. Your Majesty, in this case, let us end this war together!"
After understanding the other party's thoughts, Bismarck spoke directly.
"Let us give peace a chance, or rather give the future a chance! Give our future a chance!"
(End of this chapter)
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