Chapter 949： The czarist government (1/2)

The British government has been battered, not to mention the French government. I have long been at a loss, and I don't know how to end it next.

As a party, Napoleon IV received more bad news. On the bright side, the French army regrouped again after the defeat, but the outside world did not know the painful price the French army paid for it.

Retreating in a defeat is not an easy task. The enemy is not a fool, and will definitely take the opportunity to expand the results. If you want to withdraw smoothly, you must survive by docking.

In addition, those who perform post-interruption tasks must be highly loyal elites. If the newly formed troops with a large number of Italians are left behind, chances are that when the Austrian troops arrive, they will turn to the front.

Then one million French troops were gone. Killed + wounded + defeated + captured, the total force of the French army was reduced by more than one million, including 300,000 elite.

The troops suffered heavy losses, and the lost materials and equipment were countless. In order to retreat as quickly as possible, the French even had to blow up their artillery positions.

You can continue to buy supplies when you are out, and you can rebuild weapons and equipment when you are gone. Loss of troops can also be replenished, but time is not allowed.

As soon as this war was over, the Turin offensive and defensive battle had already begun, and the Luxembourg battle was ensuing. The French army could only passively respond.

Army Secretary Luskinia: ”Your Majesty, the Spaniards launched an offensive on the Roussillon area yesterday morning. After the **** battle of frontline soldiers, they finally defeated the enemy in the evening.”

A rare victory, but Napoleon IV was not happy. Obviously, affected by the French defeat, the Spaniards can no longer sit still.

Regardless of the strength of the Spaniards, France added another front, and the military pressure became even greater.

Seeing the Secretary of the Army hesitating to speak and stop, Napoleon IV felt cold and smiled bitterly: ”Go ahead, where is the defeat, I can bear it. It's all at this point, no matter how bad it is, how bad can it be? go with?”

Despair, this is the truest portrayal of Napoleon IV's heart now. A series of failures on the battlefield and a complete failure in diplomacy all hit Napoleon IV's confidence.

Watching the anti-French alliance grow stronger, the only ally is wavering at this time, this kind of despair is beyond the understanding of others.

Luskinia said slowly: ”Austria and Switzerland formed a coalition and launched an offensive against us, and the eastern Burgundy, Auvergne and other areas were reduced to battlefields.

The enemy is coming fiercely, and our troops in the east are seriously insufficient...”

Before Luschinia could finish speaking, Napoleon IV interrupted: ”I see, you can do it by yourself!”

Napoleon IV has heard too many words such as difficulty and trouble recently, and has long been bored. That's all if it can be solved. What I fear most is the kind of unsolvable problem, but he has to solve it again.

Rather than listening to the headache, it's better not to listen. Anyway, the ministers will find a way to solve the problem that can be solved, and only the solution is reported; the problem that cannot be solved, he is also powerless.

In a sense, Napoleon IV was a good boss. He suffered a double failure in the military and diplomacy, and he did not push the people out of his hands.

Of course, it doesn't make any sense to push it out. Although it can alleviate political pressure in the short term, it will also make everyone sad and cause turmoil within the government.

Prime Minister Terence Burkin whispered: ”Your Majesty, prepare for truce negotiations! At this point, we can no longer fight.”

”Truce negotiations” also need time. When France had the upper hand earlier, it naturally had the capital to negotiate terms.

Now it's different. France is at an overall disadvantage in terms of military and diplomacy. If it proposes ”truce negotiations”, it will be equivalent to ”surrender.”

If possible, Terence Burkin is absolutely unwilling to surrender to the enemy. But there is no way, France really can't fight.

The war has burned to the French mainland, and every day the war continues, it will bring a lot of losses to France.

If you don't take advantage of the bargaining chip in your hands to negotiate with the anti-French alliance, and wait for others to come all the way, and then negotiate the terms, it will not be the current price.

After hesitating for a while, Napoleon IV sighed and slowly said, ”How to talk?”

”Truce”, he has no opinion. If possible, Napoleon IV would not mind an immediate truce. The problem is that it is easy to start a war, but it is difficult to end it.

Other countries may be able to do it with a little benefit, but the three countries of Germany, Belgium, and Austria will certainly not let it go. The blood has flowed from both sides, and it is impossible to negotiate at this time without paying a high price.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Karel Cadletz replied: ”The British agreed to mediate, and the London government made a promise to ensure the territorial integrity of France as much as possible.

Judging from the current international situation, Austria will be completely enlarged after the end of the European War. This is not in the interest of European countries.

At this point, including the Russians are our potential allies. The countries did not respond, mainly because the situation changed too quickly and the lack of a reasonable excuse for intervention. ”

Well, Karel Kadletz felt that he was going to be unable to make up. European countries do not want to see Austria dominates, but it does not mean that everyone has to pull France. These are two different concepts.

In real life, rationality often loses to sensibility. After all, humans are not machines and are affected by emotions.

At least France’s neighbors will be affected by feelings. For Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, and several Italian states, regardless of whether Austria will grow bigger, it is important to kill France first.

The so-called long-term benefits are all nonsense. History has told everyone that if you don't take the opportunity to kill the enemy of France, you will not have a good life in the future.

No matter how great the benefits are, it is not as important as one's own safety. For a small country, survival is the first. Anyway, whoever is the boss is the younger brother.

In this context, as long as Austria does not eat alone, it will not be isolated. With so many enemies here, France doesn't want to get away if she doesn't lose a layer of skin.

Whether it’s self-deception or wishful thinking, the French government now needs hope, a hope that can retreat.

”Tell the British that we agree to negotiate and are willing to pay the price for this war. The colony can be omitted, but the mainland must be intact.

The government has done a good job of comforting the people. As soon as the news of the negotiation spreads, it will definitely cause an uproar, and France can't stand the toss.

If necessary, I will abdicate at the right time and take responsibility for this war. ”