In fact, the French Emperor has already regretted it since he declared war. He has also considered asking countries such as Britain or Austria to mediate and finally resolve the crisis at the negotiation table!
But later, when he saw the latest information from Prussia, the French Emperor finally understood that all negotiations were impossible. In fact, Prussia had long been holding back its energy and wanted to go to war with France!
Especially when Prussia's powerful military mobilization power became apparent, the speed of gathering 30,000 troops every day completely frightened Napoleon III. It was only then that he began to re-examine Prussia's military system!
After careful consideration, the French Emperor came up with the strategic idea of quickly deciding and bringing the war to the enemy's territory. It must be said that this is really the only good way to break through the predicament at the moment.
It has to be said that under the influence of Napoleon I's military thinking, France had the highest system of soldiers and officers in Europe at that time!
They have a very powerful light infantry with an average service time of seven years. Almost everyone has been on the battlefield and seen blood.
Moreover, the French Emperor also had a group of outstanding military officers, and the officers were very well educated from top to bottom!
It is no exaggeration to say that when the numbers are equal and there is not much difference in weapons and equipment, the Prussian army is really no match for the French army!
What's more, the French emperor's soldiers were also equipped with many Saspor-style needle guns. The performance of this weapon was equal to that of the Mauser, but the number was far greater than the Mauser rifles in the Prussian army.
Moreover, the French Emperor now has a secret weapon in his hand, which is the Montigny machine gun that even his own soldiers do not know about. 37 rifled barrels are fixed together and fired from a hand-operated turntable. The fastest rate of fire can reach 444 rounds per minute. Fire bullets!
This rate of fire was already considered a miracle at the time. The rate of fire of the American Gatling in Xiao Letian's hand was only more than 200 rounds per minute. This guy was actually more than twice as fast!
The quality of individual soldiers is high, and the weapons of individual soldiers are even more advanced. This is the confidence of Napoleon III to make a quick victory!
Prince Eugene listened to his father's explanation. He was speechless by the refutation, but he was still very unconvinced. He bulged his mouth and muttered!
"You can't bet like this in a war! What if our attack is frustrated? How many days can the limited ammunition on the front line last? What if the Prussians are more tenacious than we thought? When the troops and supplies are in short supply, I'm afraid it will Give the Prussians a chance!”
"Shut up!" Napoleon III roared angrily. "If you are not my son, then your words that disturb our military morale are enough to send you to a military court!"
"France must win! France must win!"
"Okay, dear Louis, don't be angry. You should be happy that your child can think independently! After all, he is still in the learning stage!"
The French Emperor held his hands on the table and breathed heavily, while Crown Prince Eugene across from him didn't say a word but just lowered his head quietly in thought.
No matter how angry he was, he was still his son and the future master of the empire. Napoleon III sighed, "Who am I for? Not for you! How can you ascend to the throne without war! The destiny of the Bonaparte family is war and victory!"
"This is the only legal basis for our accession to the throne! If we can bring a steady stream of victories to France, we can continue to secure the throne. Once there is no victory, we will really have nothing..."
"Child, I know what you are worried about. Come with me..."
After speaking, the Emperor walked around the desk, grabbed the hands of his son and the empress, and walked out. The palace attendants outside the door did not know what the emperor and his family were going to do, and they did not dare to ask and followed closely behind them.
The group walked directly to the roof of the Tuileries Palace!
The front of the Tuileries Palace faces the west, with the Seine River on the south side. Behind the palace, in the east, is the famous Louvre Museum. There is a corridor-like palace connecting the two palaces.
The Tuileries Palace is not high, with an average height of only four floors, but it has a six-story spire. As long as you go up here, you can see the beautiful scenery of Paris and even the farmland outside the city in the distance. .
The French Emperor pointed to the riverside avenue on the other side of the Seine: "Let's see, what can I do? Do I still have a way out?"
Prince Eugene and the Queen were completely dumbfounded. They never expected that a grand demonstration was about to begin right under their noses.
The crowd gathered was as dense as a long queue, with various small flags waving in people's hands, and the forbidden song Marseillaise was being sung loudly by the wind.
"Oh God, this needs at least 20,000 to 30,000 people!" the crown prince said with lingering fear.
"Where are the 20,000 and 30,000 people? There are 25,000 people on this street alone. According to the report from the Paris Police Department this morning... the number of people demonstrating today has exceeded 100,000!"
"What do they want to do? Isn't it over?" the queen said angrily.
At this moment, as if the time had come, violent shouts suddenly broke out from the other side of the river, and a team of more than 20,000 people began to move forward slowly, with countless people joining them along the way.
The slogan floated over with the wind: "Long live the war! Fight to Berlin!"
"Destroy the Germans! Long live France! Long live Napoleon!"
"War! Victory! The Empire will never be defeated!"
"Seize those spies raised by the Prussians! Seize all the traitors hiding in the court! All the surrenderers must die!"
The shouts of death came one after another, and the people all over Paris went crazy!
In their eyes, it has been three days since the declaration of war, but the front lines have not opened fire yet, and there is no news of victory. There are even rumors that the government wants to negotiate with Prussia!
Is it unbearable that there are surrender factions in the empire? They must be spies raised by Prussia. Those nobles are not good people. They just love their noble status. They are not patriotic at all!
For a time, the crowd was so excited that anyone who opposed the war was labeled as a capitulator and was regarded as a Prussian spy!
People spontaneously took to the streets and expressed their anger with shouts. They wanted to use actions to force the government to never compromise!
At this moment, war has become a panacea in the hearts of all French people!
The French Emperor said with a trembling voice, "Can I have a way out? Can we have a way out? If I dare to retreat even half a step, these mobs will rush into the palace, drag us out alive and behead us!"
"Anyway, these mobs don't care who the emperor is. The butcher's knife has already seen blood. What does it matter if there are more members of our family?"
"Child, don't think so much. Leave Paris with me the day after tomorrow and go to the front line. I must personally inspire the morale of the troops... This battle can only be won, not lost!"
Listening to the roar of more than 100,000 people in Paris declaring war, Prince Eugène's face turned pale. He looked to the north worriedly and muttered to himself.
"How could it be like this? How could the situation suddenly be out of our control? The empire is crazy! Completely crazy!"
