The 1st Fleet of the Imperial Navy bombed the coastal cities of the Kingdom of Sardinia into ruins, much to the horror of the rest of Europe. In particular, the countries of the other North Atlantic military alliances with coastlines in the Mediterranean are even more alarmed by this. France and Austria-Hungary, the two countries within the North Atlantic military alliance, and the people living on the Mediterranean coast, began to evacuate.

However, the governments of the two countries did not intervene. They seem to think that the Chinese Empire will not use the same tricks used against the Kingdom of Sardinia as they do! After all, France and Austria-Hungary were not weak countries like the Kingdom of Sardinia. They are world-class powers.

The actions of the Chinese Empire are often so unexpected. After destroying the coastal cities of the Kingdom of Sardinia, the 1st Fleet of the Imperial Navy continued to sail westward into French territorial waters. Originally, the French Navy was also considered a powerful country in Europe. However, in recent years, the development of the French navy has gradually slowed down as France has invested most of its financial resources in the army. Before the outbreak of the war, the French Navy's Mediterranean Fleet had already been evacuated from the Mediterranean and took refuge in the English Channel.

After all, the French navy is weak, and if it is attacked by the Chinese navy, they will never be able to hold out. Therefore, the French Navy chose to flee. This is undoubtedly equivalent to losing the entire Mediterranean coast to the Chinese Navy!

Of course, France had also pinned its hopes on the British Navy before. As long as the British navy can defeat the Chinese navy, then the Mediterranean coast of France will not be attacked. But. Who would have thought that the Mediterranean Fleet of the British Navy would be annihilated so quickly?

Nice. An important city in the south of France. For ordinary Chinese people, they may not know about this city. But. For Cannes, which is not far from Nice, many people probably know. The famous Cannes Film Festival is here.

On the morning of August 15, 1854, the 1st Fleet of the Imperial Navy appeared off the coast of Nice. The 1st Fleet of the Imperial Navy did not relent, just because it was a French city and the French people lived here. Dozens of battleships of the 1st Fleet of the Imperial Navy launched a heavy artillery attack on Nice. The cannonballs that fell from the sky directly blew Nice into ruins. Countless French people have been killed in the heavy shelling, and many more have been displaced and left homeless. These French. He never imagined that the same tragic fate as the Sardinians would befall them.

Perhaps, they also think that they are citizens of France, and as citizens of a world-class power, no matter where they go in the world, they can hold their heads high and proudly tell others that they are French. However, in the eyes of the Imperial Admirals. There is no difference at all between the French and the Sardinians. They are all equally traitors.

Originally, France was also an important ally of the empire in Europe. However, because of the North American war, the French betrayed the empire. Instead, it turned to the British. Had it not been for the Empire's preparations and strengthened ties with the Kingdom of Prussia, perhaps the Empire's strategy in Europe would have collapsed completely. Therefore. The soldiers of the empire did not have the slightest affection for the French.

After the destruction of Nice. The Imperial Navy continued to sail westward. France has a large number of important cities on the southern coast. In the afternoon of the same day. The Imperial Navy shelled Toulon. The French Navy built shore fortifications in Toulon. It's just that in the face of the large-caliber naval guns of the Imperial Navy, these old shore fortifications are so vulnerable. In less than an hour, these shore fortifications were destroyed. Subsequently, Toulon was also destroyed.

To the west of Toulon is Marseille, the second largest city in France. At the moment, people living in Marseille are fleeing the city at a rapid pace. Both the rich and the common people have packed up and fled here. Both Nice and Toulon had been destroyed before, and even a fool could guess that Marseille would definitely be the next target for the Chinese.

That night, despite the fact that night had fallen, the 1st Fleet of the Imperial Navy shelled Marseille. Balls of fire rose in the city of Marseille like fireworks. Many French people who had not yet been able to escape Marseille in time were killed, and France's second largest city groaned and wept under heavy fire from the Imperial Army.

Paris, the capital of France, inside the Élysée Palace, the office of Napoleon III, Emperor of the Second French Empire. His Majesty the Emperor was summoning the Minister of War, A.J. Saint-Arnault, to learn about the mobilization of the French Army. According to the previous agreement, in a few days, France will cooperate with the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Britain to launch an attack on the Kingdom of Belgium, and destroy the iron-clad ally of the Chinese Empire in Europe in one fell swoop. As agreed, France could gain domination of the French-speaking region of southern Belgium.

In the eyes of Napoleon III, Britain, France and the Netherlands joined forces, and even if the Kingdom of Belgium mobilized 500,000 troops, it would be absolutely impossible to resist. Even if the Kingdom of Prussia sent troops to the rescue, it would not be able to stop the armies of Britain, France and the Netherlands. This time, the fall of the Kingdom of Belgium was inevitable. France will prove to the world that the French Empire is still strong with a great victory.

At this time, the French Minister of the Interior, C.A.L. Morny, urgently asked for an audience.

"Dear Home Secretary, what has happened? Could it be that France has been attacked? Napoleon III joked.

"Your Majesty, France has indeed been attacked!" Home Secretary C.A.L. Morney said with a dark face.

"What's going on? Who would dare to attack the great French Empire? "Napoleon III stood up at once, as if he could not believe that anyone really dared to attack France.

"Your Majesty, just now, the Chinese Navy shelled Nice. Caught off guard, Nice suffered heavy losses. The entire city was reduced to rubble, and the casualties were unpredictable. Home Secretary C.A.L. Morni replied.

"Damn it, those damn yellow-skinned monkeys, they actually dare to shell Nice, they are provoking the French Empire!" Napoleon III was furious, completely unable to believe that the Chinese Navy would be so bold. Prior to this, the previous Minister of the Interior, C.A.L. Morni, had proposed to evacuate the people of the southern coast of France inland, but Napoleon III did not adopt this idea. He believes that the Chinese Navy may not dare to make a move against the French coast. After all, France is not a small country like the Kingdom of Sardinia. If France's coast were to be attacked, an angry France would inevitably make China pay a heavy price.

However, Napoleon III seems to have forgotten that now the Chinese Empire and the Second French Empire are no longer allies, and both sides are enemies. In order to win, in order to weaken the enemy's war potential, the Chinese Empire will certainly use all means. Besides, the Chinese Empire and the French Empire did not share a border, and the French navy was weak, so it would be impossible for France to retaliate against the Chinese Empire.

"Your Majesty, we should give the order at once and let the people of the southern coast retreat. Since the Chinese shelled Nice, they will definitely not let go of other southern coastal cities! Home Secretary C.A.L. Morni said in the city.

"Hmmm! Give orders to the southern coastal cities to evacuate as much as possible! The hateful Chinese actually dare to attack the civilians, I remember, when we win the war, I will definitely kill all the Chinese! Napoleon III gritted his teeth. His anger against the Chinese Empire had risen to an unparalleled level.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The Minister of the Interior, C.A.L. Morni, nodded, and he did not know whether he would take revenge on the Chinese Empire. Now he only wants to evacuate the people in the south as much as possible, otherwise France will pay a greater price.

Subsequently, Napoleon III summoned his cabinet ministers, Prime Minister Emile. Olivier, Count Valewski, Minister of Foreign Affairs, A.M. Forder, Minister of the Exchequer, and Count Reye, Minister of the Admiralty, all arrived. On the way here, everyone had already learned that Nice had been attacked by the Chinese fleet.

"Damn, our cities are under attack by the Chinese Navy, our people are crying under the shells of the Chinese, where is our Navy?" Government Prime Minister Emile. Olivier was dissatisfied.

The Lord of the Navy, Count Reyer, was flushed with a flush, as if he were scolding him.

"Prime Minister, it's none of the Navy's business. It was I who evacuated the Mediterranean Fleet. Our navy is too weak to compete with the Chinese. If you stay in the Mediterranean, you will only be exterminated by the Chinese! Napoleon III said.

The Comte de Reyer was very grateful to Napoleon III for intervening in the relief of the siege.

"Your Excellency, by order of the government, order that the people of the southern coastal cities should be evacuated from the coast. At least 10 kilometers away from the coast. Napoleon III continued.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Emiller. Prime Minister Olivier didn't hold on any longer.

"Count Valewski, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wants to inform the world of the cruel acts of the Chinese, so that the whole world knows that they actually attacked unarmed civilians, and this kind of behavior should be condemned by the whole world!" Napoleon III said excitedly.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Foreign Minister Count Valevsky nodded. However, he didn't think it would be of much use. It's the time of war, and no one cares about that. Of course, the only effect is probably to inspire the hatred of the French for the Chinese Empire!

That night, news of the shelling of Toulon and Marseille also came, and Napoleon III roared angrily for a night in the Élysée Palace! (To be continued......)

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