Chapter 322: Armistice on the Eastern Front—Louise’s Request

On the morning of May 16, the peace talks continued, but the atmosphere was a little depressed. Perhaps affected by yesterday, Nicholas still stared at Grigoo and Otov fiercely, but the two directly ignored Nicholas's eyes. Without any extra words, Prince Von Metternier said: "Although our country is very sincere to end this war, the price our country has to pay is too great to end the war. His Majesty Francis I simply disagrees with the conditions proposed by your country, so I can only express regret."

"What does Your Excellency Makovsky mean?" Grigoo turned to the Russian side.

"I'm sorry, His Majesty Alexander also believes that 300 million francs is too much, and we are not able to pay the compensation." Makovsky said with some regret.

"Then our peace talks are broken?" Grigoo asked with a smile on his face. He now understands that Austria and Russia have reached a joint agreement to advance and retreat, otherwise Russia would not have taken the risk of making such a decision. Although there are a lot of 300 million francs, it is not as much as Russia cannot bear. The only reasonable explanation is that Austria and Russia have reached a secret agreement to deal with France together. As for what price Austria paid to pull Russia on a ship, we need to investigate it carefully before we know.

"You can think so." Prince von Metternier replied. Makovsky nodded.

"Okay. I officially announced that the peace talks broke down and the war will begin soon." Grigoo said with a calm expression. Then, he stood up and prepared to leave with Otov.

At this time, a hint of panic flashed in Prince Von Metternich's eyes. If the war broke out again, it would be of no benefit to Austria. Besides, Francis I told him to reduce the compensation and recover the lost land as much as possible, but if the peace talks broke down, he would definitely be swallowed up by Francis I's anger.

"Cough, cough. Don't hurry to walk, you two? We can discuss it again." Prince Vonmetternier stood up and said a little embarrassedly.

"Don't you disagree with our country's conditions?" Grigoo and Otov had bright smiles on their faces. Obviously, they won again in this round of competition.

"1 billion is too much. The territory occupied by your country is also very vast. I think we should have room for negotiation." Prince Feng Metternier said with a smile.

"Okay, I won't go around in circles anymore. Yesterday we asked His Majesty Andreci. After our persuasion, His Majesty decided to reduce part of the compensation and return part of your territory." Grigoo decided not to waste his time. Judging from Prince Von Metternier's appearance, he probably couldn't squeeze out more fuel.

"Thank you very much. After the matter is completed, His Majesty the Emperor of our country will thank you very well." Prince Feng Metternier was immediately overjoyed when he heard that things had a turnaround.

"For Russia's war reparations, His Majesty Andresi decided to reduce the war reparations of 100 million, which means that Russia needs to pay our country's 200 million francs. For Austria, His Majesty decided to reduce the war reparations of 200 million, which means that your country must pay 800 million francs to our country. As for the occupied territory, His Majesty decided to return the territory north of the Danube to your country." Grigoo slowly told them the bottom line that Xiao Jie said yesterday.

Upon hearing this news, Prince Von Metternich and Makovsky both showed joy. Prince Von Metternich thought that France had finally begun to make concessions. If it could reduce 200 million, it would be possible to reduce more, and if it could return part of the territory, it would be possible to return everything. So he planned to cry to Grigoo and the others. If he could save some money for Austria again or get back part of the territory, he would become an Austrian hero. However, when he was about to speak, Otov interrupted him.

"This is already the bottom line of our country. Don't be ungrateful! Otherwise, the peace talks may really break down." Otov warned these greedy people with a hint of threatening tone.

Seeing what Otov said so resolutely, Prince Von Metternier had to shut up embarrassedly. "Thank you for your generosity, but I have to go back and ask Your Majesty for your instructions."

"This is OK, but I want to inform you. Since time is tight now, we don't have any extra time to spend here, so His Majesty Andresey decided that the peace talks will end on May 18, which means that if neither of us has received any other satisfactory results before May 18, then even if this talks break down, there will be no such opportunity in the future." Seeing that everyone was planning to leave, Grigoo said quickly.

Everyone stared at him, with some anger in their eyes because they felt the feeling of being threatened again. If the eyes could kill people, Grigoo would have been torn to pieces long ago.

However, the person involved did not take these murderous gazes seriously at all, shrugged indifferently, and left with Otov.

"Your Majesty, today's peace talks have finally achieved some results. France promised to reduce the compensation of 200 million yuan and return the territory north of the Danube to us." Prince von Metternier reported to Francis I with a happy face.

"Okay, very good. France is finally willing to give in. This is a good thing. You have to work harder and try to reduce the compensation a little, and it is best to have all the occupied territories back." Francis I said happily.

"But your Majesty, it is probably impossible to lower it. This is already the bottom line of the French side. Besides, they have set a time. If we do not make a decision before May 18, then they will be regarded as a breakdown in this meeting." Prince Von Metternier said with a bitter face.

Francis I's face suddenly sank. "Is there no other way? There is no big difference between 800 million francs and 10 francs, and it will also collapse our finances. Although the territory north of the Danube can be recovered, a large amount of territory west of the Ens and south of the Sava River is still occupied by the French." Francis I said angrily.

"Your Majesty, maybe we can take some other measures?" After a while, Prince Von Metternier whispered.

"What's the solution?" Francis I looked happy, just like a man who fell into the water grabbed a life-saving straw.

"We can ask His Highness Louise to plead with Andrecy, and maybe he will agree to His Highness's request."

"Why do you want Louise to go?" Francis I said with a frown.

"Because, because, it is said that Andressi is a very lustful person." Prince Von Metternier finally said his reason.

"What? What do you mean?" Francis I snarled.

"No, your Majesty. I mean, no matter what, His Highness Louise is Andresey's aunt. Perhaps if she pleads for us, she may achieve unexpected results." Prince Von Metternier saw that the situation was wrong, and quickly changed his words.

However, Francis I had fully understood what Prince von Metternier meant, and he was very angry because it was a complete insult to him. However, he was very helpless, because it seemed to be the only way. Taking a deep breath and calming down his mood, Francis asked, "Do you think Andrecy will agree to Louise's request?"

"I can't be sure of this. If His Highness Louise agrees, we will at least have a glimmer of hope." Prince Von Metternier said timidly.

Francis sighed helplessly and adopted Prince Von Metternier's opinion. Now he had no other choice but to treat the dead horse as a living horse.

"Your Majesty, His Highness Louise, the Austrian princess, asked for a visit." On the afternoon of May 16, Xiao Jie was bored and flirting with a book. At this time, the guards reported to him. Perhaps it should be more precise to call Louise the queen. After all, she was Napoleon's wife, but since the Bonaparte family made trouble at Xiao Jie's coronation ceremony, he abolished all their titles.

"Please come in." Although she was very puzzled, Xiao Jie still sorted out his appearance and prepared to receive him.

"Andrecy, long time no see." Louise walked into Xiao Jie's room and greeted him enthusiastically. She was wearing a low-cut skirt today, revealing a large piece of white breasts, looking very sexy. In fact, Louise is also very conflicted now. Her father, Francis I, found her and asked her to plead with Xiao Jie for Austria. No matter how much the price she paid, she would make Xiao Jie try to reduce Austria's compensation and return as much as possible.

The occupied Austrian territory. Of course, if successful, she would receive a large reward. Francis I even promised to pass the throne to her, making him one of the few queens in Austrian history, and her son Francois would also be named prince. Therefore, this woman with great power agreed to his father's request and came to ask Xiao Jie to forgive Austria. Even if Xiao Jie wanted her to go to bed, she would do anything.
Chapter completed!