When the news of the establishment of the Empire of Greater France spread, the whole of France was boiling. At this moment, Napoleon III's prestige reached its peak, and it was intended to catch up with his uncle Napoleon.

From now on, Napoleon III is no longer the second generation who ascended to the throne by his uncle's legacy, but a generation of heroes of France.

However, the mood of this "hero" is not very good, and the reaction of European countries is even more fierce than Napoleon III imagined. Italy that has just been eaten may not be able to digest it.

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has exhausted a lot of people, and although they have worked very hard, the news that has come back is still not optimistic.

Up to now, no country in Europe has recognized the legitimacy of the "Grand French Empire".

Napoleon III really couldn't find this thing in jurisprudence. When the Bonaparte family was in Italy, they were ordinary aristocrats, and it was because of their uncle Napoleon that they quickly made their fortunes.

If you can't find the legitimacy of the throne, you can still use the election to make up the number, and you can make do with it. The legitimacy of the empire is also absent, yes not because of the lack of jurisprudence, but not at all.

Open the history books, Italy and France were once one country in Roman times, and no matter how shameless he was, Napoleon III was embarrassed to say that he was the heir of the Roman Empire.

Later, the powerful Kingdom of the Franks united most of the two countries, including parts of Germany.

However, this empire was founded by the Germanic people, and France also had a name: the Kingdom of West Francia, but now the French don't buy it much.

In 843 AD, the Treaty of Verdun legally divided France, Italy, and Germany. The only connection between France and Italy is probably that they both belong to the Latin language family linguistically.

This did not work, Napoleon III did not dare to raise the banner of the Carolingian Empire, which meant that Austria would immediately turn against them.

Besides, this banner is useless, and it is estimated that most people do not remember this empire anymore. Those who know history will question the legitimacy of the emperor, and Napoleon III has no right of inheritance.

Originally, Europe recognized legal principles, and now it also involves interests, so naturally it will not easily recognize the "Great French Empire".

Belgium and Switzerland, which had been co-opted by the French, now involuntarily approached Austria, apparently frightened by Napoleon III's appearance.

No way, place and place are not the same. The Italian region is too well-known, and the influence of occupying it will not be small.

If you look at Austria's expansion into the Balkans, the reaction is much smaller, mainly because the Balkans are seen as small rural areas, while Italy is a bustling metropolis.

This impression is not wrong, more than a dozen years ago the Balkan Peninsula was indeed a small country in the countryside, and the level of local production was stuck in the Middle Ages.

Wealthy regions, all concentrated in Constantinople generation. Since the economy is backward and it was seized from the infidels, it cannot be considered an invasion.

In this regard, the European people still have a good view of the overall situation, and it is also politically correct to strike at the hateful Ottoman Empire.

When expanding into Germany, the results were reversed. If it weren't for the fact that the war in the Near East was hot, Franz decisively stopped after taking the South German region, and Austria would not have passed so easily.

If given a choice, Napoleon III also wanted to take his time in a cyclical process to reduce the pressure on the outside world.

However, unlike Franz, who was young and could afford to wait, Napoleon III, who was born in 1808, is now 62 years old.

In later generations, this age may be the golden age of politicians, but in this era when the average life expectancy in France hovers around 40 years old, it is already considered a high life.

Watching his health deteriorate day by day, Napoleon III had to think about paving the way for the next generation. He had many illegitimate sons, but only one legitimate son, born in 1856, is now 14 years old.

At this age, it is obviously impossible to control such a large empire, and the chariot of France has already run far, and it is not possible to pull it if you want to.

Napoleon III thought he could handle it, but his young son had no choice.

Napoleon III was naturally clear about the hidden dangers of forcibly annexing the Italian region, but he did it anyway.

The desire of the French people for great power was pushing the chariot forward, and it was only a matter of time before it continued to expand into the Italian region, and from the moment of the annexation of the Kingdom of Sardinia, the chariot could not stop.

In particular, there are two successful examples of Austria and Prussia, which stimulated the ambitions of the French, and Napoleon III was only barely able to pull the chariot.

His body is not sure how long it will be able to sustain it, and once something happens, it is obvious that his young son will not be able to control the empire.

Instead of passively expanding at that time, it is better to make a move now, at least with him personally in charge, and the success rate is higher.

If you really learn from Franz and strive for stability, you may not be able to annex Italy in 20 years, and Napoleon III does not have so much time.

The Italian region is not so easy to digest, and now it is even more difficult to forcibly annex and digest it, and in the future the main energy of France will be on digesting the Italian region.

During this period, there will definitely be a lot of trouble, but with the strength of France, it can still be suppressed. After experiencing setbacks, even radicals will slowly calm down and think, and will no longer blindly provoke wars.

As long as France did not take the initiative to provoke a war on the European continent, then there would be no danger, and Napoleon III was quite sure of this.

The only powerful threat to France on the European continent was Austria, but the geographical environment determined that whoever initiated the war between France and Austria would suffer.

Now that Austria has abandoned the Italian region, their strategic center of gravity on the European continent will not be here.

As for Central Europe, Napoleon III had already abandoned his original plans. After eating the Italian region, I will go to Belgium, Rhineland and other regions to pay attention, I am afraid that I will be besieged again.

In any case, the Italians did not have a strong state, and it was easier to rule than the Germanic peoples of Central Europe.

Moreover, the occupation of Italy can also strengthen its voice in the Mediterranean and consolidate France's domination of North Africa.

There are advantages and disadvantages, and the price is to fill the hatred value of European countries. France will be the least popular presence in the European world for a long time to come.

If it is not done well, there is also the possibility of an anti-French coalition. In order to avoid the worst, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was naturally busy.

As soon as the Foreign Secretary Montero came over, Napoleon III asked with concern: "How is it, will the Austrians help to hold back the British?" ”

Wooing Austria is now the most important part of French diplomacy, and without this main thug, the rest of the European countries have nothing to worry about.

The headache of the roller, now busy farming. After one defeat, the tsarist government seemed to become a transparent person, hardly involved in European affairs.

Of course, too many creditors are too much to face, which is also a factor. The tsarist government was still not thick enough, and at this time it was trying to reduce its presence, so as not to be collected for debts.

Originally, Spain's position was also very critical, but they pinched it themselves, and their brains were all pigs' brains, and they didn't care about the Italian region at all.

The only remaining European powers are Prussia, Poland, and the Nordic Confederation. These three countries have a certain strength, but there is no one to take the lead, and they do not dare to do things yet.

Now Napoleon III is trying to win over Austria to contain the British, that is, to leave the European countries leaderless, so as not to have an anti-French alliance.

"The Viennese government has agreed to contain the British to a limited extent, but wants us to support their operations in the Middle East, and they intend to reclaim the Holy Land," replied the Foreign Minister with a please.

Considering the importance of this event, we, the Minister in Vienna, have agreed to the terms of the Austrians. ”

The French also spread their influence to the Middle East, and Napoleon III was interested in sending troops to reclaim the Holy Land to gain political prestige. It's just that I'm too busy to do it.

Napoleon III immediately decided: "Well done, the Foreign Office is trying to encourage the Viennese government to go to war against the Ottoman Empire."

If necessary, you can promise them that everyone will join forces with the interests of the Mediterranean, the Eastern Mediterranean, including the Ottoman Empire, will belong to them, and the Western Mediterranean region will belong to us, let the British go and eat!

They also sent donations to the Organization of German Unity, instigated these nationalists to come out and make trouble, put pressure on the Vienna government, and lured them to attack the German Confederation. ”

Anyone can write a bad check, and Napoleon III was no exception. Wooing Austria to contain the British was just a temptation, and he did not expect Austria to really help contain the British.

Even if they had agreed to help now, perhaps in two days the Vienna government would change its mind and join forces with Britain to do something. In the face of interests, all promises are unreliable.

The partition of the interests of the Mediterranean, in fact, from the beginning of the occupation of the Italian region by the French, has already created an established fact, which is nothing more than one more Ottoman Empire.

However, the Ottoman Empire also needed Austria to fight on its own, and only if it won the war would it be eligible to share the spoils.

No matter how much Austria could gain, Napoleon III was relieved of a war against the Ottoman Empire or the annexation of the German Confederation.

He didn't know that Franz had already made up his mind to watch the play, otherwise he wouldn't be worried. Since they don't know, the best thing to do is to find something to do for Austria, so as not to hit them with attention.

Montero nodded, it wasn't the best option, but it was the safest option. As long as the Austrians moved, the crisis in France ceased to exist.

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