With the withdrawal of the troops, the situation in Mexico was temporarily put to rest. As for the occupied southern territories, that would be a matter for future negotiations. Colonial settlers of this era were not easily dealt with. Once they took something, they wouldn’t give it up. Even if the Austrian government ordered them to relinquish the land, they might not comply. Given the current strength of the Mexican government forces, it wasn’t certain they could defeat these plantation owners. This had already been proven during the American Civil War—when fighting for themselves, plantation owners always seemed to muster extraordinary resolve. Regardless of what Maximilian I might have had in mind, Franz immediately ordered him to be “escorted” back to Vienna. The term “escorted” alone suggests that the process wasn’t exactly smooth. But these were minor issues. The fact that they managed to bring him back to Vienna alive was enough for Franz to answer to the aging Archduchess Sophie. The farce that played out along the way was hardly worth mentioning. Now, Franz found himself stunned by an unexpected invitation: Monaco had declared its independence, and Charles III was inviting him to the ceremony. It must be said, the French knew how to play the game. In an attempt to improve their unfavorable image on the international stage, Napoleon III had actually allowed Monaco to become independent. Monaco was just a tiny country with a territory of less than two square kilometers and a population of barely ten thousand. It was said that Charles III could probably name every citizen he passed on the street. On the surface, Monaco’s independence didn’t seem to matter much to France. But politically, the situation was entirely different—it could spark the Italian independence movement. If a tiny country like Monaco could achieve national independence through a movement, could the Italians hold themselves back? Of course, there were significant benefits as well. Monaco’s independence earned France high praise across Europe, and Napoleon III’s image in the press saw a remarkable improvement. If he could go further and support Italy’s independence, he might even be hailed as the saint of the 19th century. He might even become the founding father of Italy, credited with bringing its fragmented states together. Franz couldn’t quite remember when Monaco had gained its independence in his previous life, but he knew it was during the time of Napoleon III. Now, Franz had to admit that the keyboard warriors of his previous life had been right about Napoleon III: “Clever in small matters, foolish in large ones.” This aligns perfectly with Napoleon III’s character. As Kissinger once put it: “Napoleon III didn’t care much for domestic affairs, yet he made outstanding contributions to France’s internal governance. He loved diplomacy, but his foreign policy was a complete mess. He spent his life pursuing colonial conquests without any clear strategy. He wanted to prevent the unification of the German states, yet he ended up helping Prussia achieve it, even at the cost of his own empire.” Not only did he assist Prussia in unifying Germany, but he also helped the Kingdom of Sardinia unify Italy. In the original timeline, Napoleon III’s life was a series of self-destructive blunders. And now, it’s much the same. It seems that Napoleon III’s so-called achievements have already surpassed those of his historical counterpart, yet here he goes, stirring up trouble once again. For the current Greater French Empire to achieve long-term stability, it first needs to eliminate any possibility of independence movements and ruthlessly suppress any separatist organizations. Without taking a hard stance to deter future threats, the Italian independence movement will never cease. While more conciliatory political methods could be used, they are too complicated to implement and carry significant risks. Franz believed this was a task he could never complete, which is why Austria had always enforced a strict policy of ethnic integration. Even if there were some resistance, young children couldn’t resist. Mandatory education was essentially an ambitious ethnic integration campaign. The new generation growing up, even if they still retained traces of their original ethnicity, had already become Germanized in terms of language and culture. France now needs its own ethnic integration movement. Although the Italians are difficult to assimilate, it’s a necessary step. Otherwise, France and Italy will eventually go their separate ways. Franz didn’t know what Napoleon III was thinking, but it was clear that this was yet another political blunder. Even if it was just to create a smokescreen to deceive the international community, allowing Monaco to gain independence at this time was a mistake. If it were up to Franz, he would rather have let the Italian region become independent in exchange for an opportunity to unify the western banks of the Rhine. Aside from its population, Italy offered little more than a relatively developed handicraft industry and an economy that seemed decent on the surface. But these people couldn’t be integrated, and they wouldn’t contribute to France’s national strength. On the other hand, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Rhineland had the coal and iron resources that France needed, which could significantly boost the nation’s overall power. The population in these areas was also smaller than in Italy, making them easier to assimilate. This wasn’t a matter of lacking opportunities. In fact, France had already missed two chances to annex these regions. The first was during Austria’s unification of Southern Germany, and the second was during the Russo-Prussian War—both times when France could have acted. Don’t be fooled by Franz’s tough talk—if the French really wanted to annex the territory west of the Rhine, Austria wouldn’t be able to stop them. The condition for this, however, would be Napoleon’s willingness to abandon the Italian region. Without a contiguous border, Austria would have to undertake a long-distance military campaign, and Franz had no interest in such internationalist endeavors. If they won, they’d get a few words of thanks, but Austria would have to bear the costs of the war. Unless they could march all the way to Paris, the French wouldn’t pay a cent. If they lost, it would be even worse—it might even trigger internal unrest. “What does the Foreign Ministry think about Monaco’s independence? What is Napoleon III up to this time?” Even though Franz couldn’t see the French’s exact intentions, he was convinced there was more to this than met the eye. Even if Napoleon III had a moment of madness, it was unlikely that the entire French government would lose their senses as well. Foreign Minister Wessenberg responded, “Your Majesty, Monaco’s independence is a complex issue, involving both Britain and Spain. Before the Napoleonic era, Monaco was a protectorate of Spain, only becoming a French protectorate in the late 18th century. The French did a lot to try to annex Monaco, but frequent changes in government led to Monaco being gradually overlooked by the French government. Over the years, calls for independence in Monaco have not diminished. The French were merely the nominal suzerain and had no real control over the area. This time, Monaco’s independence was orchestrated by the British. As part of the deal, Monaco’s government renounced its sovereignty over the towns of Menton and Roquebrune, reducing its territory by 90%. The French government agreed to Monaco’s independence mainly to legally annex Menton and Roquebrune, and at the same time, to purge the radical independence elements.” As expected, there was more to the story. Monaco, being such a tiny speck of land, wasn’t something Franz would have paid much attention to—he already had his hands full with the small states in the German region. On the surface, it seems like the French has won—they’ve annexed over 90% of Monaco’s territory, and it’s the economically developed area too, all while getting rid of independence agitators. But this isn’t just about immediate gains. The true impact will only be clear in the long run. It seems like the British are setting a trap for the French, and Franz started to be wary—if they weren’t careful, they might also end up getting tricked by John Bull, and that would be a disaster. “Hmm, since that’s the case, as allies, let’s help boost France’s image a bit. Their international reputation is in shambles and could use some polishing. But don’t make it too obvious. The French should be aware of the potential consequences of Monaco’s independence. If we push too hard, it might make them suspicious.” This pitfall isn’t large enough to bury the French Empire. Even if it provokes the Italian independence movement, it’s unlikely to have any significant impact in the short term. There are people who oppose merging with France, but there are also those who support it. Napoleon III hasn’t been idle. He does have a base of support in the Italian region. Although the opposition is larger in number, most of them would probably only voice their objections. When it comes to actually taking up arms and fighting the French, it’s doubtful that many Italians would have the courage. Water dripping on stone wears it away over time—it’s not done overnight. Since the British had made a move, Franz was naturally happy to play along. A strong France doesn’t align with Austria’s interests—it’s better if they remain somewhat weakened. After a pause, Franz added, “We must also be wary of the British and their subtle maneuvers. Some seemingly insignificant actions could lead to disaster in the future. Any bait the British throw at us, if we can’t be certain of the consequences, we should refuse outright. God has told us that greed is humanity’s original sin, and we must be on guard.” Seeing Franz’s serious warning, everyone exchanged glances. They secretly wondered: are the British really that terrifying? ... In Paris, Napoleon III put down the newspaper with satisfaction. Ever since he announced Monaco’s independence, European public opinion had sung praises, making him feel somewhat elated. A good reputation is not a bad thing. If a monarch doesn’t even care about reputation, that would be disastrous. However, going overboard would be troublesome and might lead to paying a heavy price. Napoleon III had been hesitant about granting Monaco independence. He had been considering it for years, but political considerations related to expansion in Italy had delayed the decision until now. Even the great powers need to put on a show, and establishing a small principality like Monaco is an important part of it. Across Europe, only France lacked small allies to support it, which made Napoleon III feel embarrassed. At international conferences, French proposals had to wait until the major powers had spoken before receiving any response. If the big European countries remained silent, the proposals would fall flat. Most of the small European countries are backed by a major power, and winning them over would come at a high cost. Since there are no little brothers, why not create one? That’s how Monaco’s independence came about, contrary to outside speculation. Without Napoleon III’s needs, the British couldn’t have succeeded no matter how hard they tried. Despite Monaco’s independence, it’s essentially a country within a country. Apart from facing the sea on one side, it is surrounded on three sides by France, and its politics and economy are dependent on French control. Napoleon III affectionately asked, “Eugène, do you understand?” (Author’s Note: Eugène’s full name: Napoléon Eugène Louis Jean Joseph Bonaparte) Napoleon III had several sons, but Eugène was the only legitimate one. Born when Napoleon III was in his middle age, he was naturally cherished. Even though Eugène was not yet 16, Napoleon III was already involving him in state affairs. This young crown prince became a unique figure in French politics. Crown Prince Eugène nodded, then shook his head and said, “I understand some of it, but I’m still a bit confused. If we know the British don’t have good intentions, why did we accept their suggestion? Whether or not Monaco exists, it doesn’t help France much but brings considerable risks. Why did we let them become independent?” Napoleon III smiled slightly, patted his son’s head, and said earnestly, “You can’t just look at the surface of things. Monaco’s independence will stimulate the Italians’ desire for independence. But without Monaco’s independence, would the Italians not want independence? The British inciting Monaco’s independence is indeed ill-intentioned, but if we don’t deliberately show a flaw to them and draw their attention, they’ll cause trouble elsewhere. Remember, enemies in plain sight are never as dangerous as those hidden in the shadows. France is already very strong. The only ones who can defeat us are ourselves! As for the Italian independence organizations, they’re just clowns hiding in the corners. If they don’t jump out, we can’t find them but once they do, we can catch them all at once. France’s real enemies are not these rats that can’t see the light of day. The only countries worthy of being taken seriously are Britain and Austria, while Prussia and Russia can only be considered half a threat to us.” Eugène nodded reluctantly, as if he had learned something, but also seemed...
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