Rebirth of the Spanish Empire.

Chapter 25 The thoughts of the French government

The next morning,

While preparations for the military parade are in full swing.

In the villa on the outskirts of Madrid, Isabella is also recruiting female caregivers with other noble ladies.

But Alfonso at the Royal Palace in Madrid began to relax, and now many things no longer required him to do it himself.

Because after nearly a year of official evaluation, the bureaucracy of the Spanish Kingdom, which had been damaged by years of war, had been improved.

Now Alfonso only needs to work two or three hours a day at the Royal Palace of Madrid, because simple and tedious tasks have been handed over to the bureaucrats below, and only important national affairs will be handed over to Alfonso. deal with.

Alfonso's two sisters, Maria and Eulalia, are also working hard to learn international etiquette. After all, as members of the Spanish King's family, they will also appear in the military parade.

…………

On October 1875, 11,
  A heavyweight from France arrived at the Royal Palace of Madrid in the Kingdom of Spain.

This heavyweight from France is the French Foreign Minister Decazes, a ruthless man who even embarrassed the German Prime Minister Bismarck.

Decaz used his superb diplomatic skills to form a military alliance against Germany. Faced with the diplomatic siege from French Foreign Minister Decazes, Bismarck could not even deal with it. Decac even made Bismarck abandon the diplomatic methods of Metternich's era.

"Hello, Your Majesty Alfonso, on behalf of President McMahon of the French Republic, I am here to discuss something with you."

Decaz bowed slightly to Alfonso. This elegant middle-aged man remained humble and calm when facing him, which made Alfonso very interested in him.

After all, this was a ruthless man that even Germany's iron-blooded Prime Minister Bismarck had to avoid, and the memories from his previous life gave Alfonso a very good impression of the French Foreign Minister.

"Your Excellency Decazes, your country has achieved a great diplomatic victory not long ago. Now your reputation should be spread throughout France."

Although it is a bit exaggerated, it is true that in the previous German-French war, Bismarck was caught by Decaz, which directly paved the way for Bismarck's resignation to German Emperor Wilhelm II.

"Your Majesty praised me, you are really powerful, and I am insignificant compared to what you have done.

After all, in just a short period of time you transformed the entire Kingdom of Spain, much to the amazement of world leaders. "

Decaz also said from the bottom of his heart that after Alfonso became King of Spain, the spiritual outlook of the Kingdom of Spain has indeed changed a lot, and the entire country has been developing vigorously, changing the decline of the previous half century. meteorological.

But for Alfonso, he didn't do anything, and it was all thanks to his memories from later generations.

After all, if there were no memories of later generations, the current Kingdom of Spain would not develop so fast.

"Your Majesty, can we go into the drawing room to discuss things now?"

Decaz said solemnly, and Alfonso nodded in agreement.

There is a pillared hall inside the Royal Palace of Madrid. In previous history, many state affairs of the Kingdom of Spain were discussed here.

For example, it was here that negotiations were held for the subsequent signing of the Kingdom of Spain's accession to the European Union.

…………

The two quickly arrived at the pillar hall and began to sit down. When the servants on the side saw that the king and foreign dignitaries were discussing important matters, they withdrew with a look.

"Sir, Mr. Decaz, I am very interested in your country's culture and history. I admire your country's Napoleon the Great and Sun King Louis XIV very much.

Their great achievements still make me admire them.

And I am very grateful to your country for sheltering my mother Isabella II. "

Alfonso picked up the tea cup and talked cordially with Decaz.

"I am deeply honored by your Majesty's words, but the last time your country sold a large number of advanced military weapons to the Germans and taught the German Army tactics, it greatly damaged the friendship between our two countries."

Decaz asked in a deep voice. The advanced weapons sold to the Germans by the King of Spain are tolerable. After all, this is a normal arms transaction, and France has no reason to block it.

But what really annoyed the French government was that the Kingdom of Spain taught the German Army advanced combat techniques.

"Your Excellency Decaz, after all, the Kingdom of Spain is an independent and sovereign country, not the younger brother of France.

The deal with the Germans is a win-win option for the Kingdom of Spain, and we cannot ignore the interests of our citizens. Alfonso said calmly.

After all, on the international stage, there are never true friends or permanent enemies between countries. European politicians of this period understood this truth far better than Alfonso.

“Our Kingdom of Spain only has an ordinary cooperative relationship with Germany, and your country can also enter into a cooperative relationship with our Kingdom of Spain.

However, it depends on what level of cooperation your country is willing to achieve with our Kingdom of Spain. "

Alfonso glanced at Decaz, his expression was very serious at this time.

Now Alfonso's meaning is obvious. The Kingdom of Spain will cooperate with which country depends on which country provides the greatest benefits. Until then, the Kingdom of Spain will not bet on the international stage.

Although the Kingdom of Spain and the British Empire broke up in the past because of the Kingdom of Portugal, this could be said to be a common thing in European countries during this period.

"Throughout history, our two countries have been the closest partners. Now the French Republic can help the Kingdom of Spain jointly resist pressure from the British at sea."

Decaz's first sentence is complete bullshit.

After all, in the previous history, the contradiction between the Kingdom of Spain and the Kingdom of France was not generally great.

In a sense, the people of the Kingdom of Spain hated the French more than they hated the Britons.

And the second sentence he said was the bargaining chip he used on behalf of the French government.

This bargaining chip is not a big deal for the current Kingdom of Spain.

After all, in 1875, the total tonnage of the British Navy had reached 50 tons, while the total tonnage of the French Navy at this time was only 34 tons.

After the construction of shipyards in various places this year, a large number of naval warships were launched into the sea, which greatly enhanced the naval power of the Kingdom of Spain.

But even the Kingdom of Spain, which has now been restored, has a total naval tonnage of about 13 tons.

On the sea, we still have to face threats from the British, but the combined naval tonnage of Spain and France reaches 47 tons.

Just looking at the total tonnage of the two countries' navies, they can barely compete with the British.

Therefore, it is also very necessary for the current Kingdom of Spain to use the power of the French to withstand the pressure from the United Kingdom.

For the current French, support from the Kingdom of Spain is what they dream of. Because France is now isolated in Europe.

The German Empire, the Kingdom of Italy, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire were three powerful countries close to the French Republic, but none of them had a favorable impression of it.

At this time, if the Kingdom of Spain in the rear can reach itself, it will give the French a stable rear area and logistics base, and they can avoid falling into the dilemma of fighting on two fronts.

Therefore, the support from the Kingdom of Spain is what the French dream of now. Only in this way can he avoid his current embarrassing situation in Europe.

“I think the Kingdom of Spain could become the French Republic against the German Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Kingdom of Italy on the home front.

I believe that Mr. Decaz and President McMahon of your country are also happy to see the cooperation between the two countries reached. "

Alfonso stood up and stretched out his hand to Decaz, and they shook it.

The handshake between the two of them at this time marked the formal conclusion of a cooperative relationship between the two European powers, the Kingdom of Spain and the French Republic.

This will have a great impact on the current situation in Europe.

If the Kingdom of Spain and the French Republic could form an alliance, this would be something the Germans would not want to see, because it would deprive them of their operational plan to attack the French Republic on three fronts.

But the British are definitely happy to see this phenomenon happen, because it can more effectively maintain their continental balancing policy. After all, the title of European shit-trouble is not for nothing.

After all, the pressure from the Three Emperors Alliance now makes it difficult for the French Republic to stand alone on the European continent.

Now the European continent can only be balanced. This is what the British Empire, the European turmoil, wants to see.

"After your country holds the military parade, I think our two countries can cooperate in more in-depth details, including jointly developing colonies, conducting large-scale trade, etc."

Decaz said with a smile, for him, joining from the Kingdom of Spain.

It greatly helped the French Republic get out of an embarrassing diplomatic dilemma, and he was the biggest contributor to the French Republic in achieving this.

Alfonso also smiled. After all, this is also a very urgent matter for the Kingdom of Spain now.

If the French were not brought together to face the huge international pressure from the British, the Kingdom of Spain would be breathless.

As for whether the Germans will scold the Kingdom of Spain and Alfonso for being dishonest.

In this regard, Alfonso could only do nothing to help. After all, there are no permanent enemies on the international stage, only permanent interests. Alfonso agreed with this statement.

Because there is never true friendship between countries, sacrificing the interests of other countries for the interests of one's own country is always the best way to achieve the destination.

So today's French are friends, but tomorrow's French are likely to be enemies.

After all, this was the main theme of diplomacy between imperialist countries in the 19th century! That's why Alfonso never placed hope on friendship between other countries.

…………

(End of this chapter)