Arthur and Schneider heard these words and their eyes turned playful.
There’s no need to say more, this young French noble from 1805 is likely an Orleans, and now, 28 years later, he’s already beco a king.
Schneider savored the wine in his glass: "No wonder when the July Revolution happened, tternich was so restrained, repeatedly assuring the Russians: he believed this French revolution posed no threat to other European countries. I rember the Tsar of Russia even suspected tternich of losing his mind at the ti, because in the past, tternich was far more eager to suppress revolutions than he was."
Being the King of France, yet once having intended to join the Anti-France Alliance, this news is even more shocking than Louis Bonaparte becoming a policeman in Britain. If the Austrians chose to publish this docunt, Louis Philippe would be utterly ruined.
This also explains why during the July Revolution in 1830, tternich, a renowned conservative in Europe, not only didn’t criticize the Parisians who revolted but instead blad Charles X for his downfall due to foolish ruling asures.
Louis Philippe of France had just ascended the throne in July and by the end of August, he anxiously sent General Belliard to Vienna.
According to intelligence from the British Foreign Office, during three etings in Vienna with tternich, and while eting the Austrian Emperor, General Belliard went to great lengths to convince the Austrians that Louis Philippe, the new ruler elevated to the throne by revolution, would fully stand by the "Treaty of Vienna" and would not allow revolutionary movents to spread beyond France.
Moreover, Louis Philippe sent a personal letter to the Austrian court, boasting that compared to the deposed Charles X, he was a protector of order, dedicated to maintaining stability and peace in Europe.
The Austrian Emperor and Pri Minister tternich were evidently pleased with this letter, so they soon recognized Louis Philippe’s governnt as the legitimate regi of France and actively engaged in diplomatic relations with the new governnt.
In establishing diplomatic ties with France, they moved even faster than Britain.
This approach caused Tsar Nicholas I to be constantly suspicious during that period, doubting whether the Austrian Empire had already compromised with the Liberals, and if the ’Holy Alliance’ was disintegrating just like that?
Those Austrians...
Could they be...
Conspiring with France and Britain to overthrow monarchies like mine!
Thinking of this, Arthur could only sigh, in terms of choosing rulers, indeed France has a tradition.
Apart from those who are most loyal to France, anyone, be it traitors, short n, foreigners, or separatists, can beco the master of France.
However, Feng Kroier’s words reminded Arthur, when he left Scotland Yard, he had Ledley destroy Louis’ archived files, or, rather, they were burned by the rioters in the London riots.
Yet, because Arthur was too sentintal, he still kept a copy of Louis’ employnt records, including his oath of office.
Of course, this was mainly for commorative purposes, Arthur could swear to God, just like Schneider, pressing his heart, that he had no intention of using this for any other purpose.
Hmm...
But thinking about it...
Arthur turned his head, suddenly feeling that Heine taking subsidies from France didn’t seem so severe anymore.
After all, the current French King Louis Philippe was, strictly speaking, a collaborator.
And his little brother Louis lived on the enemy’s royal compensation, so if it were to be pursued seriously, he couldn’t escape the label of a puppet.
As for Heine, his situation was probably akin to hiding in the concession, living off foreign relief while writing rebellious articles.
With that comparison, even Eld’s image suddenly seed much purer.
In any case, Eld’s feelings for the University of London were genuine, although he was greedy, lustful, and foul-mouthed, cursing the Royal Navy, he still went to sea with the Beagle, spending many years abroad!
All in all, according to traditional moral views, Eld was at most minorly flawed.
However, the three ntioned earlier were lacking in significant virtue.
Nonetheless, this also verified Feng Kroier’s statent, Arthur’s social circle was indeed quite mixed.
While Arthur was lost in his thoughts, Schneider and Feng Kroier started chatting again: "If for this reason, you believe that Louis Philippe couldn’t possibly support Young Italy’s expedition against the Northern Italian States under Austrian control, there’s indeed reason."
"Reason? What reason?"
Feng Kroier, as if suddenly afflicted with amnesia: "I just told you a little story, as for who that young noble of France is? Perhaps no one will ever know. Of course, if Young Italy indeed launches an expedition, perhaps we will soon see the truth of that letter."
At this point, Feng Kroier suddenly frowned, paused, then put down his knife and fork and said: "No, are you sure Young Italy’s expedition is targeting Tuscany, Lombardy, Parma, or Modena?"
The places Feng Kroier ntioned were all Italian states under Austrian control.
Among them, the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia not only had Austrian garrisons but was also directly administered by Austria.
The Duchy of Modena, Duchy of Parma, and Grand Duchy of Tuscany were nominally independent, but their rulers were mbers of the Austrian royal Habsburg family, hence they were also considered traditional Austrian spheres of influence.
However, as Feng Kroier speculated, Mazzini’s Young Italy did not choose to start from states under Austrian control this ti, but instead chose to act in the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont, controlled by the Savoyard Family.
The new king of the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont, Carlo Alberto, had just ascended to the throne not long ago. This new king was relatively progressive in thought and actively promoted so liberal reforms dostically, and due to differing views, his relationship with Austria was also quite subtle.
When Carlo Alberto just ca to power, Young Italy and the Charcoal Party once held high hopes for him, believing that this Italian king should take on the responsibility of unifying Italy.
However, no matter how they pressured him in public discourse, this new king remained deaf and dumb, even arresting so revolutionaries causing trouble in the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont.
And such actions instantly enraged Young Italy.
As is well known, feelings born from love turning to hate are usually deeper than ordinary hatred.
Mazzini and others targeted the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont in part because its military strength was not as formidable as the Austrians, and partly because Carlo Alberto greatly disappointed them, so they had to give him a lesson.
Arthur originally wanted to create so diplomatic friction between France and Austria through Young Italy’s expedition, giving tternich and Louis Philippe sothing to deal with before this year’s Munich conference.
Because this year’s priority for the Foreign Office was to address the Portuguese Civil War issue, according to Viscount Palrston’s plan, when Britain couldn’t free up resources to manage other affairs, it was best if other countries were also occupied. Especially when Britain had just suffered silently over the Ottoman and Egyptian issues, it was necessary to find other topics for discussion in the international news section of London’s major newspapers.
But what Arthur didn’t expect was that Louis Philippe had skeletons in his closet, and the evidence of his misdeeds was in the hands of the Austrians.
So, to convince Feng Kroier of his story, he had to offer another explanation.
He glanced tentatively at Schneider and casually asked: "How’s the bank’s business?"
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