Chapter 490 The Emperor's Sugar-Coated Bullet (Second Update, Please Subscribe)
"Victory! The South China Army defeated 100,000 Prussian troops in Rouen!"
"Bismarck went to see the Emperor of Nanhua and ask for peace!"
Even in the streets of Paris, newspaper vendors shouted to him loudly, waving newspapers in their hands, telling the citizens of the city the news of victory. For ordinary citizens, the news of victory was certainly important, but what was more important?
Of course it was the news in the newspaper.
"For the sake of peace and the lives of the two million besieged people in Paris, after negotiations, Prime Minister Bismarck agreed to allow a train loaded with food to enter Paris! It will be escorted by the Emperor of Nanhua himself!"
On September 15, the German vanguard entered the suburbs of Paris. On the 18th, the last train left Paris, and the railway was cut off the next day. The Prussian army completely surrounded the French capital, Paris. This was the first siege in history of this large city with a population of 1.5 million. Due to the influx of refugees, the city's population increased to 2 million.
However, the Prussian army did not dare to storm Paris, and they had good reasons: first, the city had nearly 350,000 soldiers stationed there, while the German siege force numbered no more than 120,000; second, the Prussian army had only 622 artillery pieces under the city of Paris, while the defenders were equipped with 2,627 artillery pieces. In the history of world wars, it is difficult to find such a huge numerical advantage over the attacker by the besieged side.
Although most of the troops defending Paris were newly recruited National Guards, the solid bastion walls and moat still provided good defense for this heart-shaped city.
However, for ordinary Parisians and the hundreds of thousands of refugees pouring into the city, they are more concerned about food - food!
Although the siege lasted less than a month, the price of food in Paris had nearly doubled, and many ordinary people were already half-starved.
Parisians need bread!
If there is no more bread, a revolution may be waiting.
In fact, many revolutions in Paris were caused by bread. After all, for the vast majority of ordinary Parisians, what they care about is not the republic or the emperor, but only bread.
All they need is bread!
"Let's give peace a chance! Mr. Bismarck, for the sake of the 2 million hungry citizens in Paris, I ask you to allow us to deliver the food donated by Nanhua into the city!"
During the meeting with Bismarck, Zhu Xianhai made this request and Bismarck agreed!
In fact, there is not much food, only 2,000 tons, which means that on average each citizen only gets... 1 kilogram!
But this was enough to excite and cheer every Parisian, whether rich or poor, whether Republican, Royalist or Bonapartist, they were all there praising the kindness of Emperor Nanhua.
Overnight, no, it should be said that with Nanhua's victory again and again, the heroic name of Emperor Nanhua has been sung by Parisians and French people.
France's glorious history belongs to Napoleon, but their Emperor Napoleon III was a disappointment!
Fortunately, they also have a son-in-law from Napoleon's family.
Well, I’m half French, right?
France can only be victorious if it is led by a foreigner and a woman!
Regardless of whether this was a joke or not, it was not good news for Emperor Napoleon III who was on the front line. Even when faced with the Queen's suggestion that he go to the Paris train station to welcome the Emperor of Nanhua, he refused directly.
"You must understand that the Prussian army is outside the fortress. As the emperor, I must defend my country and Paris. The emperor cannot abandon his duties!"
After such a righteous answer, Napoleon III, who had transformed himself into the protector of Paris, directly handed over the task of receiving the Emperor of Nanhua, his nephew-in-law, to the Queen.
"Damn it, are they trying to use me as compensation?"
To put it bluntly, the reason why Napoleon III was unwilling to meet Zhu Xianhai was because of his face. How could an emperor who had been defeated repeatedly stand in front of an emperor who had been victorious in every battle?
When they stand together, he, Napoleon, is simply a lousy guy! At that time, it will only increase the dissatisfaction of the Parisians towards him!
"Your Majesty, what you need now is a victory! On the battlefield and in diplomacy!"
Count Alexander Vanevsky was not only the empire's foreign minister, he was actually the emperor's cousin and the illegitimate son of Napoleon I and Countess Valevskaya of Poland.
As a family member, Alexander certainly understood the crisis the emperor was facing. Now the emperor's reputation had been seriously shaken by failure, and he needed a series of victories.
Only a series of victories could allow the emperor to keep his throne and, of course, his personal wealth and glory.
"Victory on the battlefield? Alexander, don't you know our situation? Although we have 350,000 troops in Paris, the vast majority are National Guards, Gendarmerie, Police, Customs, Foresters, Security Guards and other paramilitary personnel. They are very short of training and experience, and don't know what to do or how to do it. Using them to defend Paris may be possible, but to defeat the Prussians, this..."
It’s just like a dream. Even Napoleon III didn’t dare to dream this dream!
After all, the dream is too beautiful to be believed!
"Unless, together with them, Alexander, even if McMahon and he defeat the Prussians together, from the outside world's perspective, the victory still belongs to him and has nothing to do with me!"
Count Alexander Vanevsky said as the Emperor finished speaking.
"If the battlefield doesn't work, then let's do it diplomatically! Everyone in the world is watching him, but this is France! Bismarck and his men must be very clear about this, Your Majesty. If you agree, I would like to visit Mr. Bismarck. I think he knows better than anyone else that the war will end with Prussia's defeat!"
"To see Bismarck!"
Napoleon III looked at Count Alexander Vanevsky and said,
"Peace talks, eh? We must make the Prussians pay for their atrocities. God can testify that at the latest in half a year, we will launch a new counterattack. By then, we will fight all the way to Berlin! Alexander, my brother, go tell Bismarck that now is their only chance to end the war!"
A few hours later, when Count Alexander Vanevsky was leaving Paris in a carriage along the front line of the battle between the two armies, in another direction, a train was slowly passing the front line of the battle between the two armies and entering Paris. This train was not only full of food aid from South China, but Zhu Xianhai was also on the train. He was full of expectations for visiting Paris.
Looking at the Paris city wall getting closer and closer, Zhu Xianhai talked to himself in his heart.
"There's no Eiffel Tower in Paris, no..."
But despite the absence of the Eiffel Tower, Paris at this time was still the most famous city in Europe, and now the city opened its doors to him...
(End of this chapter)
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