On September 11, 1890, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Greece, and Black closed the trade routes with France at the same time, and the material embargo officially began.

For a time, there was a lot of rumors on the European continent, and everyone knew that this was a precursor to the coming storm, and the European war was probably inevitable.

Persuade the French to make concessions?

The material embargo of the anti-French coalition directly pushed the Paris government into a corner. Taking a step back is not the sea and the sky, but the abyss hell.

Persuade the anti-French coalition to calm down?

This is even worse. The anti-French coalition was the victim, and if it weren't for the French ambition to invade Central Europe, there would have been no such thing.

The worries of the melon-eating masses are only that the European war will affect the pond fish, not how much they love peace, and the real pacifists will not be in power.

At the Palace of Versailles, Napoleon IV held another political meeting with a black eye. There is no way, waiting is the most anxious.

As the situation evolved, what was originally just an attempt to reap the benefits of the two countries has now evolved into a decisive battle that will determine the future fate of France.

Foreign Minister Karel Kadlec: "Austria has begun to form an anti-French alliance, which has now enlisted Belgium, the North German Confederation, Greece and Montenegro.

Switzerland and the Netherlands have begun to waver, anti-French voices in the Spanish government are also rising, and mainstream public opinion in Europe is mostly inclined to an anti-French alliance.

In recent times, Austria has strengthened its ties with the Nordic Confederation and Portugal. If it drags on, the situation will only become more and more unfavorable to us. ”

The Austrian government has frequent contacts with dignitaries from various countries, and has also announced that this is to strengthen business cooperation.

It is good that the Austrian government does not explain, and it is difficult for Karel Kadlec not to doubt this explanation.

In the era of free trade, the government did not interfere with the operation of the economy, and there was no cooperation at all.

In fact, Austria has not signed a single treaty, at least not on the surface, despite its frequent contacts with various countries.

Karel Kadlec did not know the details of the negotiations, but he received the news that the delegates had a good time.

Whether it is deliberately disgusting France, or whether it is genuinely intended to join the anti-French alliance, this is not a good thing for the French government.

Prime Minister Terence Bulkin: "Now we are not only in trouble diplomatically, but also in strategic procurement.

In just a few months, the prices of the strategic goods we plan to purchase have nearly doubled, and the prices of some commodities have even doubled.

In the name of calming domestic prices, many countries have raised tariffs with us, which has greatly increased the procurement costs of enterprises.

Affected by the lack of supply of raw materials, some domestic enterprises have begun to reduce production capacity, which is very unfavorable for the upcoming war.

By all indications, all this is controlled by Austria, who are trying to use these means to defeat us outside the battlefield! ”

Wars between major powers are not only on the battlefield, but also outside the battlefield.

France undoubtedly suffers in this regard, Austria's foreign trade volume is several times that of France, and the domestic market is far greater than that of France.

The political and economic influence of the two sides has long been out of the same grade. Coupled with the effects of historical legacies, it is almost inevitable that the French government will be at a disadvantage.

Napoleon IV frowned: "It's not that serious, if the European countries really supported the anti-French alliance, they would have joined the blockade against us a long time ago."

As long as they all join in, we will not be able to oppose all countries, and abandoning the Central European strategy is an inevitable result.

The current situation is more like Austria is manipulating us with one hand, pulling the big drama prepared for us by other countries, trying to make us mess up. ”

After being an emperor for so many years, Napoleon IV is no longer a newcomer. There are no secrets in politics, and national politics and diplomacy revolve around interests.

From the perspective of interests, we can analyze what is best for a country, and we can roughly guess what each country wants to do.

There is no doubt that it is in everyone's best interest to lose both sides. In this context, except for the two parties who can't avoid Bede, everyone is the master of watching the excitement and not thinking about it.

Except for Greece and Montenegro, which had no choice but had to support Austria, the rest of the countries had no reason to join the anti-French alliance at all.

In the eyes of Napoleon IV, the current approach was to fuel the flames, cheer up the Austrians, and strengthen their resolve to go to war with France.

Minister of Economy Elsa: "Your Majesty, it can't be delayed any longer. When we have completed our preparations for war, the enemy has also completed their preparations for war.

We are not a member of the free trade system, we are at a disadvantage in the purchase of strategic goods, and our domestic economy is slightly inferior to that of Austria, so we are not suitable for a protracted war with Austria. ”

Napoleon IV figured out that it was not the ministers who were in a hurry, but the capitalists in the country.

After deciding that the French government was going to implement the Central European strategy, the capitalists started production at full capacity.

With the passage of time, the goods in everyone's hands are increasing day by day, the liquidity is decreasing day by day, and the war still has not broken out.

In the event of a big change in the middle of the way, and suddenly it is said that the war will not be fought, or it will drag on for three and five years, everyone will be finished.

The goods sold are the money, and the goods that are accumulated in the hands are not assets, but liabilities, because storage also requires costs.

It is simply impossible for the government to procure in advance, for a very simple reason: the French government does not have so many warehouses to store supplies.

Against this background, the capitalists wanted to digest the stocks in their hands, and they could only let the war break out early.

The ministers clamored for a war in advance, not everyone was bought, the main thing was that they knew that they could not stop it.

Either the government takes the initiative to provoke a war and seize the initiative in the war; Either the capitalists start a war, and no one knows how the situation will develop.

Without waiting for Napoleon IV to make a decision, the attendants hurriedly shouted outside the door: "Your Majesty, there is an urgent military situation at the front." ”

The situation on the European continent is already very tense, and at this time, even if the anti-French alliance fights first, everyone will not be surprised.

Hearing the urgent military situation, Napoleon IV naturally did not dare to slack off: "Take it in quickly!" ”

……

After a moment, Napoleon IV said slowly: "There is news from the front that three soldiers were suddenly attacked by the enemy while patrolling the border between us and Belgium, and two were dead and one missing. ”

This is not the first time that border friction has occurred, but the case of dead people has never happened.

Because of the key to the tense situation, the border has long been on the alert, and the soldiers go out to patrol in groups, and the adjacent distance is not too far.

Normally, if there is an accident, the surrounding troops will arrive immediately. The dead are understandable, but the missing are intriguing.

As long as the two countries do not have water in their brains, they will not do such strange things. But at this juncture, no one cares that much.

Whether it is right or not, the French government wants to go to war, and this is a ready-made pretext for war.

Even if he knew that there was a problem here, Napoleon IV would not have been able to delve into it. Otherwise, if something is found, it will be the French government that will lose face in the end.

However, it was inevitable that he would be upset, and the dead were French soldiers. did not die on the battlefield, but because some people wanted to provoke a war in advance, they were unjustifiably killed.

Everyone bowed their heads and remained silent, and when this kind of thing happened, they were also very embarrassed!

Earlier, later, it's fine, but not at this time.

Just now, everyone lobbied the emperor to go to war, and immediately there was a pretext for war, no matter how you look at it, it looks like you are forcing the palace.

This kind of misunderstanding is very fatal politically. If there was a strong emperor, they would be able to go home now.

Under the sharp gaze of Napoleon IV, Prime Minister Terence Bulkin hardened his head and said: "Your Majesty, this kind of thing has happened, and we should immediately hold Belgium accountable."

The Kingdom of Belgium is ordered to hand over the murderers within 48 hours, release the captured soldiers, and compensate us for the damages.

Want... Otherwise, ......"

Seeing Napoleon IV's increasingly ugly face, in the end, Prime Minister Terence Bulkin couldn't speak anymore, and his voice became choppy.

As if he felt that it was almost over, Napoleon IV restrained his murderous gaze and said coldly: "Just do what the prime minister wants, but it's better not to make any more trouble." ”

……