Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

On August 24, 1869, the war between Prussia and France lasted for more than half a month. At first, many people thought it was just a small war. Even Alexander II of the Tsarist Russian Empire had no choice but to fight in the war. Napoleon III declared war on Prussia due to the leakage of the "Emes Codex", and when Prussia also responded to the declaration of war, it did not care much.

Most social elites in St. Petersburg around him, including Tsarist Russian Prime Minister Gorchakov and Tsarist Russian Army Minister Milyutin, did not think that the Franco-Prussian War was a general mobilization.

Therefore, they were completely unprepared, so that when Prussia invaded the Lorraine region of the French Empire, Alexander II and others looked very ugly.

Alexander II stared at his brother Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich, the Governor of Poland and the leader of the State Council of the Tsarist Russian Empire, with a livid face, and shouted sharply:

"Poland is close to Prussia, but it hasn't received any news from Prussia. Is it serious?"

He looked around at the people around him and said sarcastically: "I now wonder if there is something wrong with our Tsarist Empire's intelligence department."

Under his gaze, several people could not help but lower their heads.

The Tsar's irritability made his anger felt. Obviously, Prussia supported the declaration of war against France and its rapid effect on the battlefield shocked several people present. Alexander II was the most upset among them.

Because the Tsarist Empire has always been the "big brother" of Prussia, it can be said that Prussia was used to check and balance the Austrian Empire, which was also dominant in the German Confederation. However, since Austria was defeated by Prussia a few years ago, the Tsarist Russian Empire has become extremely hostile to Prussia. He was so afraid that Prussia replaced Austria as the chief enemy of the Russian Empire in the west.

Although the subsequent merger of Austria and Hungary to form the Austro-Hungarian Empire made the Russian Empire once again set its sights on Franz Joseph I,

But Prussia had never left Alexander II's sight, so he wanted his younger brother, Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich, who had been operating in Poland for a long time, to continue to serve as the governor of Poland.

I thought I could have a peaceful sleep, but I never expected that Prussia would be shocked if he didn't move.

Obviously, from the perspective of being able to quickly form a battlefield advantage over France, Prussia has been pretending to be a cat, and now it is known that they have actually become a tiger.

The more he thought about it, the more angry he became. Alexander II said angrily: "If Prussia's opponent this time is the French Empire, if it is replaced by the Russian Empire, what will happen to Poland?"

Hearing this, several people's expressions suddenly changed.

They understood that Alexander II's worries were correct, because judging from the current preparations of Prussia and France, even if the Tsarist Empire could perform better than France with the numerical advantage of its soldiers, it would only be better.

If Prussia prepares for Tsarist Russia, then at least the principality of Poland in the easternmost part of the Tsarist Russian Empire may lose more than half.

Thinking of this result, they were no longer calm. Even Prime Minister Gorchakov, who had always been known as the wise fox of the Russian Empire, could not help but quickly calculate the contingency strategies of the Russian Empire. In the end, it was discovered that under the current lack of preparation, it seems that Prussia has no solution to winning a lot of territory in Poland.

Involuntarily, he became more fearful of his rival Bismarck of Prussia, but at the same time, he had a desire to compete with him.

After quickly calculating the gains and losses in his mind, Gorchakov said: "Your Majesty, Prussia has obviously been preparing for the current war with France for a long time. Perhaps, it has been planned since the end of the seven-week war between Prussia and the Austrian Empire. Therefore, Prussia was well prepared and that’s why the war progressed so smoothly."

"In this case, it is understandable that their intelligence to avoid us is so powerful. Therefore, we will strengthen the collection of intelligence in this area in the future."

Gorchakov greeted Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich with thanks, and he responded with a kind smile.

Alexander II seemed not to have seen it, and said: "Prussia is now unstoppable, and the entire eastern north and south of the French Empire have begun to be invaded by the three major Prussian legions. This is shocking.

Is it true that the Tsarist Empire can only watch in stunned silence as Prussia takes over large areas of the French Empire, then annexes them and continues to grow them?"

He swallowed and said jealously: "Before, the German Confederation except Austria was annexed. If we take over a large area of ​​land from the French Empire, it will definitely be a greater threat to the Tsarist Empire. Now we should think about how to stop each other?"

Alexander II's words were recognized by several people.

Several people turned their attention to Prime Minister Gorchakov. After thinking for a moment, he raised his head and said with bright eyes: "I think it is not just our Tsarist Russian Empire that is worried now. Queen Victoria and Thomas of the British Empire are also worried." The Liberal Party and the Whig Party must also have trouble sleeping and eating.”

As Gorchakov finished speaking, several people immediately understood what he meant.

Alexander II said: "Yes, the French Empire, as the land hegemon in Western Europe, is now being beaten by the Kingdom of Prussia in Central Europe, and Austria, the original hegemonic country in Central Europe, was defeated by Prussia two or three years ago. If the French Empire this time If defeated by Prussia"

He exclaimed: "The hegemony of Central and Western Europe is about to change hands, and Prussia has become a new hegemonic land power in Central and Western Europe that has stepped on the French Empire and the Austrian Empire. At that time, the British Empire, which was based in Europe but established hegemony on the global sea, was again How can we not be worried? And our Tsarist Empire dominates Eastern Europe and also faces threats such as Prussia. So, it is natural for Britain to unite with us? "

By the time he finished speaking, he had already found a way to deal with it.

Gorchakov nodded and flattered: "Your Majesty is wise, so we should make the British Empire passive now, and finally ask for help from us."

War Minister Milyutin asked: "What if Britain did not come to us for help?"

Alexander II smiled slightly, but did not answer.

Gorchakov shook his head: "Then it is not the British Empire we know that likes to join forces and carry out offshore balancing."

Prussia actually defeated the French Army of Metz and the famous Army of Chalon at the beginning of the war, which shocked the British Empire.

It is said that Queen Victoria even convened a meeting of the House of Lords for this purpose. Various aristocratic members of the British Parliament "showed their talents" and "made suggestions" for this purpose.

On August 25, 1869, Russell, the Foreign Secretary of the British Empire, summoned the heads of the embassies of Prussia and France in the UK and called for an immediate armistice between the two countries. Russell also stated that he had formally invited the Russian Empire, Austria-Hungary, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, The foreign ministers of Sweden, Denmark, and Belgium visited London to hold a foreign minister-level meeting on the Franco-Prussian War.

Russell also said that the meeting was scheduled for September 1 and that he had also extended the same invitation to France and Prussia.