Chapter 611 The Emperor Meets the Emperor (Third update, please subscribe)
Some things must be kept strictly confidential and must never be known to any other country.
This was a secret meeting. And this meeting did take place on the soil of another country.
How to keep it confidential?
This in itself is a very difficult thing to do.
Fortunately, the whole of France is now immersed in the impact of the emperor's death, and they don't care about the actions of foreign emperors at all.
Under careful arrangements, the two emperors of the Ming Dynasty and the Russian Empire met. In order to keep it secret, their meeting was definitely not held in the manor arranged by the French side, but in a forest cabin between the two manors.
This seemingly ordinary forest cabin was bought specially before this.
In order to keep it secret, neither of them brought anyone with them, so there wasn't even a single guard outside the forest hut.
The light of the oil lamp in the hut swayed in the wind. Sitting in front of a small wooden table, Emperor Zhu the Great and Tsar Alexander II faced each other.
This was the first time they met, and even this meeting was unknown to the outside world. In fact, after Buffett visited St. Petersburg, Alexander II had always hoped to meet the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty.
The death of Napoleon III created this opportunity, giving them the chance to discuss some topics face to face.
"I am grateful to your Majesty for your support for Russia in Constantinople."
Because there was no translation, they all spoke in French. After all, in this era, French was the court language of Europe, and even Queen Victoria could speak fluent French.
"Verbal support has no practical meaning."
Emperor Zhu said, shaking his head.
"I can repeat my position ten thousand times, but your Majesty, this is not an invitation for you to return to Constantinople,"
I have to say that as a diplomat, Emperor Zhu was competent. He could always tickle the other party's itch. Just like now, he used the word "return" instead of "occupy", which was equivalent to indirectly recognizing Russia's identity as the "successor of the Roman Empire."
But such recognition is meaningless, after all, the city is now in the hands of the Turks.
"Your Majesty, it is true. If we want to return to Constantinople, we must defeat the Turks, but they are not alone! If it were only them, we might have won the war as early as the Crimean War!"
When mentioning the Crimean War, Alexander II was once again upset. After all, he sacrificed his father in that war - Russia cannot have a defeated tsar, either he had a stroke or...
Revenge was his promise at his father's funeral. But if there was no chance of winning, he would never give himself the chance to have a stroke.
So before the riot, he would do everything he could to find a chance to avoid a stroke. That's why he appeared here.
It’s just to prevent myself from having a stroke.
After all, the Russian tsars were prone to strokes.
"Your country failed in the Crimean War because of the intervention of Britain and France, but their reasons for intervening in the war were different. The Second French Empire participated in the Crimean War in order to consolidate the rule of the interest group headed by Napoleon III and ease domestic conflicts. The ones who will really try their best to stop you are the British!"
Looking at Alexander II, Zhu Xianhai once again added fuel to the fire.
"Your Majesty, as we all know, India is one of the most important colonies of Britain. Britain's demand for labor and raw materials is obvious. However, as a European country, Britain is far away from India. The traditional Cape of Good Hope route is quite expensive. In addition, Britain has many military bases and commercial interests in the Mediterranean, so the route through the Suez Canal to the East is particularly important. In the eyes of the British at that time, if the resource-rich monarchy of Tsarist Russia with a large population broke through the Boro Strait and entered the Eastern Mediterranean one day, then the maritime lifeline of the British Empire would be seriously threatened."
In fact, there is no need for Emperor Zhu to explain these words. As the direct victims, the Russians understand the British thoughts better than anyone else.
"What's worse is that this may provide an opportunity for the Russians to continue to advance into British India or the Scandinavian Peninsula. In short, the expansion of the Russian Empire in the Balkans will have a very negative impact on the British overseas business. Therefore, the British Empire must stop you in the Borosi Strait. This is why Britain joined forces with France to stop you in the last war. The balance of the continent and Britain's practical interests forced them to make such a choice. Your Majesty, Turkey has no ability to stop you. The only problem is Britain."
As an "expert in fanning the flames", every word of Emperor Zhu spoke touched the heart of Alexander II. It was not because it touched his heart, but because it was the fact. Otherwise, Russia would not have tried every means to seek a breakthrough from France in the past decade. Even the reason why Alexander II came to France in person to attend the funeral of Napoleon III was to ease the relationship between the two countries.
"Your Majesty, Russia does not have the power to challenge Britain!"
Alexander stated this reality directly.
"But Russia must capture Constantinople, so Russia needs your help!"
Emperor Zhu certainly knew what the "you" he was referring to were, namely the Ming Dynasty and France, especially the attitude of France.
"Of course we can provide help. I think that we and Russia have common interests on many issues. After all, to a large extent, we are all constrained by Britain. Britain's "offshore balancing technique" is essentially centered on suppressing the rise of Ming, Russia and France. If we want to break this, we will inevitably have a fundamental conflict with Britain, and this conflict is likely to evolve into a war. But no matter which side of us faces Britain alone, or faces Britain's alliance with other countries, our chances of winning are slim! If we establish a broad alliance and cooperation, then I think the result will be very different."
“Russia thinks so too!”
Alexander II suppressed his inner excitement. Isn't this the chance to avoid a stroke he had always dreamed of?
Then he said.
"We are very willing to sign some kind of alliance treaty with the Ming Empire and the French Empire. We believe that the signing of such a treaty will be beneficial to the three of us. But, Your Majesty, what is France's attitude?"
Once again, Alexander II mentioned France. Compared with the Ming Dynasty, France is stronger, and their attitude is of course more important. If France did not join the treaty, it would not make much sense if it was just the Ming Dynasty. After all, the Ming Dynasty is too far away from Europe, and he believes that the Ming Dynasty’s interests focus on the Americas. Their purpose is nothing more than to take the opportunity to expand in the Americas when Britain’s power is restrained by Europe. Everyone knows this clearly.
So, in the final analysis, Russia still needs France!
This alliance will only become meaningful if France joins it, after all, France and Britain are separated only by a strait.
Moreover, France is the biggest threat to Britain. Without France's participation, this meeting would be meaningless.
"France……"
Emperor Zhu pursed his lips and then said.
"During the Crimean War, France joined the war in order to gain military glory to divert internal conflicts. After Eugene ascended to the throne, he would face the same situation as his father. He needed military glory to consolidate his throne."
Staring at Alexander's Second World War, Emperor Zhu directly raised the issue of France, then changed the subject and said.
"What if we give Eugene a brilliant military victory that he has never had before? This victory can even allow him to obtain military merits that are no less than his grandfather's. Will he refuse it?"
After saying this, Emperor Zhu stopped talking. He just looked at Alexander II with a smile. Why was it that when the whole of Europe knew that the British were a "troublemaker", the British conspiracy could still succeed again and again?
To put it bluntly, the British always follow one reason - interest!
They will directly offer a price that the other party cannot refuse during negotiations. Interests are the core of everything. If countries do not talk about interests, how can they talk about friendship?
Now, Emperor Zhu the Great threw out his bait, and he believed that his bait was not only irresistible to Alexander II, but also to Eugene.
The reason is nothing but profit. As long as you know what the other party wants, you can naturally cater to their needs.
"What kind of victory, Your Majesty!"
Alexander II asked.
"What price will this cost Russia?"
There is no free lunch in this world. When it comes to interests, there must be certain sacrifices.
Zhu Xianhai handed a piece of paper to Alexander II and said.
“Here’s one of my plans!”
I have set up a book club: 335260551. Everyone is welcome to join and discuss and deduce the plot together.
(End of this chapter)
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