After Emperor Nicholas of Lucia left, Zhu Jingyuan continued to receive the Emperor of Austria and his Prime Minister Metternich.
After the ceremonial small talk, Metternich quickly brought the topic to the point:
“Dear Majesty the Ming Emperor, fifteen years have passed since the establishment of the League of Nations.
"In the past fifteen years, the League of Nations has played a very active role in coordinating international relations and maintaining world peace.
“There has never been an armed conflict, let alone a war, between the member states of the League of Nations.
“He also coordinated with the Ming Dynasty to help Britain and France deal with the rebellion in the Yinzhou colony.
“We believe that it is now time to build on this foundation to further optimize and enhance the role of the League of Nations.
"Conflicts will be resolved through consultation among alliance member states, cooperation will be provided to deal with emergencies, and conflicts between member states will be further prohibited..."
Zhu Jingyuan was a little surprised when he heard what Metternich said at the beginning.
What positive role did the League of Nations play? How come I, the founder and current leader of the alliance, don’t know?
The League of Nations has actually played a very limited role in the past fifteen years.
Although what Metternich said is true, there has indeed been no armed conflict in the alliance countries in the past ten years.
The Ming Dynasty did help Britain and France deal with the Yinzhou rebellion.
But these things, whether there is the League of Nations or not, are all the same things that need to be done.
Zhu Jingyuan's definition of the League of Nations is a group of powers that carve up the world to coordinate relations and a platform for carving up the world.
But when the League of Nations was established, the world had already been divided.
After the end of the World War, due to the Ming Dynasty's comprehensive superiority and the fact that the Thai and Western countries were eager to restore their status, no war broke out between them.
Even without the League of Nations, these countries would have been able to survive for more than ten years.
In recent years, the situation in the countries of Thailand and Spain has deteriorated rapidly, and a large-scale war may break out again at any time.
This had little to do with the existence and role of the League of Nations.
The actual work of the League of Nations is to serve as a fixed communication platform to communicate various diplomatic messages to each other.
So Metternich is turning effects into causes.
Metternich just wanted to use the League of Nations to do other things.
Those were his last words...
"Conflicts between member states are prohibited..."
In other words, Ming Dynasty should come forward to prevent the now ambitious Prussia and Lucia from attacking Austria within the framework of the League of Nations.
According to the current situation in Europe and the West, once a large-scale war breaks out, Austria will probably be the second, if not the first to be attacked.
Those two ambitious countries may use a small country to practice their skills, and then they will regard Austria as a key target.
Metternich was proficient in diplomacy and international situations, and would certainly have a basic judgment on this current situation.
Therefore, Metternich's current suggestion is essentially asking the Ming Dynasty to provide a security guarantee to Austria and other countries in poor condition.
But he did not say it directly, but brought up the League of Nations as the last fig leaf.
Zhu Jingyuan didn't like the feeling of being taken advantage of, especially he didn't like others to be mysterious when they told him things.
So Zhu Jingyuan responded with some displeasure:
“The current status of the League of Nations is quite good, and the restrictions on international relations-related systems are relatively appropriate, so there is no need to adjust.
"If you have any other ideas, it's best to say it directly, otherwise you can go back to rest and wait for the ceremony."
Metternich couldn't help but sigh in his heart when he heard this response.
Metternich was also considered a good person, and he had already specially understood and analyzed Zhu Jingyuan's character.
I know that he likes to tell the truth and doesn't like to make lies. Of course, he hates deception and exploitation even more.
Under the banner of adjusting the League of Nations, his intention to win over Ming Dynasty to ensure the current situation of various countries was basically impossible to realize.
But for the benefit of Austria, we have to give it a try.
Now Zhu Jingyuan's response is that he completely refuses to stand in the framework of the League of Nations to control the situation.
Metternich was thinking in his mind, and at the same time he bowed his head to Zhu Jingyuan:
"Your Majesty, the situation in Europe is now highly tense, and it can even be said that it has reached the edge of the precipice of war.
“Austria has no intention and no ability to wage war, but it is likely to become a victim of war.
"I sincerely request your Majesty to come forward to control the tense situation in Europe and avoid a war that may break out at any time.
"I am willing to pay the due price..."
Metternich followed the Austrian Emperor to discuss with Zhu Jingyuan. Of course, he had made arrangements for various situations in advance.
This includes, of course, direct entreaties.
Austrian Emperor Franz II just didn't expect that Metternich simply tested it out and came up with the final plan.
But Francis II trusted Metternich.
Now Metternich gave the signal, and Francis II also followed suit:
"I implore His Majesty the Ming Emperor to come forward and save the people of Austria and the Habsburg family from disaster.
"If the Austrian state survives, the Habsburg family survives.
"My country and my family will always be grateful for His Majesty's great kindness."
According to the discussion and analysis between Metternich and Franz II, they believed that it was impossible for Zhu Jingyuan to come forward to protect a certain country for free.
But if he is asked to come forward to protect a certain traditional monarch family, there is a certain possibility.
So Franz II took the name of the Habsburg family.
Zhu Jingyuan watched the movements of the two people and listened to what they said, but his expression and mood did not change much.
I had already guessed what they wanted to do.
Zhu Jingyuan was sitting in his seat and suddenly changed the topic to a seemingly irrelevant aspect:
"I can give Austria a chance to officially abolish the so-called emperor title, downgrade it to a kingdom, and become a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty.
"At that time, Ming Dynasty will assist Austria in rectifying the domestic situation and station troops in Austria to protect its security."
When Franz II and Metternich heard these words, they immediately felt a sense of despair.
According to their understanding of Zhu Jingyuan, the implicit meaning of Zhu Jingyuan's words is that you must become a vassal state of Ming Dynasty, and then Ming Dynasty will come forward to protect you.
On the other hand, if you are not a vassal state of Ming Dynasty, then don’t even think that Ming Dynasty will help protect you.
This is the same attitude as the Ming Dynasty towards the Europa Naval Treaty.
Metternich and Francis II had already discussed the possibility of this situation, and believed that the possibility was not low.
This is the most realistic and straightforward direction.
What Austria can do, apart from choosing whether to become a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty, seems to have no room for maneuver.
Metternich continued to try to persuade without giving up:
"Your Majesty, as the leader of the League of Nations, you will play the role of the League, maintain the stability of the League, improve the authority of the League, and at the same time increase your prestige in Europe..."
Zhu Jingyuan waved his hand directly and spoke more straightforwardly:
"I have no interest in false fame, and false fame in Taixi is even more meaningless to me.
"The alliance is a platform for discussing things, and I will not let it become a tool for maintaining world or regional peace.
"As the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, I will only protect my subjects and people.
"If Austria is a vassal of the Ming Dynasty and fulfills its obligations as a vassal state, the Ming Dynasty will be responsible for Austria's security.
"If the Habsburg family is my vassal, I will do my best to protect the safety of the Habsburg family.
"Otherwise, the survival of Austria and Habsburg has nothing to do with Ming Dynasty and me.
"You should go back and think about it carefully, and make a decision before the ceremony."
Zhu Jingyuan directly issued an order to expel the guests.
Franz II hesitated to speak. Metternich really had nothing to say and could only bow and bow again to leave.
The two returned to the room where they were resting. Franz II asked Metternich angrily and helplessly:
"What should we do now? What else can we do?"
Metternich asked directly:
"Is Your Majesty willing to become a vassal of the Ming Emperor?"
Franz II was choked directly:
"I... if it were hundreds of years ago, before industry and commerce developed, becoming a vassal of another monarch would not have much impact.
"Anyway, we are all land farmers who manage their own fiefdoms. All we have to do is hand over part of the tax revenue from the corresponding fiefdoms to the loyal monarch.
"But now...if Austria becomes a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty, it will not only be a tax issue.
“We must use the basic laws of the Ming Dynasty, open most of the market to the Ming Dynasty, and allow the people of the Ming Dynasty to freely operate any industry in Austria.
"The Ming Dynasty must be allowed to station troops in Austria, and it must even accept the supervision of the censor sent by the Ming Dynasty..."
Metternich reminded dryly:
“If we were still in the feudal and agricultural era, there would be no need for you to be loyal to the Chinese Emperor who was far away.
“It is in this era that Austria has the need to obtain protection from the Ming Dynasty.
“If Austria becomes a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty, all the current problems in Austria will be solved.
“Of course your power as a monarch will be subject to certain limitations, but your status and that of the Habsburg family are now rock solid.
"Even if all the ethnic groups within the territory rise up in rebellion, Ming can easily help you suppress it.
"Of course, in fact, if you manage Austria according to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, the current chaotic situation will probably not happen again."
Franz II's expression was very complicated:
"I understand this truth, but to be loyal to the Ming Emperor, you must completely give up the claim of the Shinra Emperor and the claim of the German King..."
Metternich was silent for a few seconds:
“This seemed like a very important thing to the Habsburgs, even though it actually meant nothing anymore.
"But can't you make such a decision without direct threats to Austria and the royal family?"
Franz II was silent for a few seconds, and then nodded silently.
The corners of Metternich's mouth trembled slightly:
"Then we can only pray that when Austria is suppressed by soldiers and the empire falls apart, the Ming Emperor can still give us a chance..."
Francis II remained silent.
Metternich could see that his monarch was harboring illusions.
It is impossible for him to voluntarily hand over the power before his fantasy is shattered by reality.
He probably felt that Prussia might not attack Austria first, and that Prussia's attack on Austria might not succeed quickly.
Even if the Prussian army's fighter planes surpassed the Austrian army, it would take at least several months or even years to advance from the border to the capital.
Even if they reach the capital city, the battle for the city may still take months or even years.
As long as his own palace was not breached and he was not directly killed, there would still be a chance to ask for help from the Ming Dynasty.
Metternich himself also felt that this way of thinking was actually not wrong.
However, as a monarch, the less land and population he actually controls, the lower the status he can obtain when he joins the Ming Dynasty.
The Emperor of Ming Dynasty has actually given conditions just now. Now he can directly join Ming Dynasty and get the highest-level title of king.
Whether it sounds like this king or his actual status, there is no actual gap between this king and the monarchs of the Thai and Western countries.
By the time he is already at his wits end, it is hard to say whether he can still get a duke...
Metternich thought about it a lot, but in the end he didn't say it directly.
Franz II already understood these principles, but he was just unwilling to face this reality directly.
On the other side, Zhu Jingyuan continued to meet with the monarchs of the Ottoman, Spanish, Italian and other countries, and later met the monarchs of the Netherlands and other small countries together.
Most of them were just saying hello, and there was nothing serious to say.
The current sense of crisis in most countries is far from reaching the level in Austria.
At the same time, most people also understand that it is useless to simply ask Daming for help. Sufficient benefits must be provided in exchange.
The Austrians also understand that they just have to try.
The banquet lasted until more than ten o'clock in the evening before it officially ended. The monarchs from various countries returned to their residences one after another to rest and think.
The next day, Zhu Jingyuan summoned representatives from all Ming vassal states and overseas provinces.
Most of these people are Ming people, and a small number are barbarians and cannibals from vassal countries, such as the monarchs of Kazakhstan, Khiva, Persia, and Egypt.
There are only a few obvious Thais, such as Napoleon and Adams, the monarchs of the two vassal states formed after the Beiyinzhou War.
There are also some representatives from the imperial court and the people of Dongyi Kingdom, among whom the highest-ranking one is Gaosi, who participated in the political affairs of the Changshi Mansion.
There are also a group of female representatives, including Ming people, some Hu people and Taixi people, but the proportion of Taixi people is higher than that of men.
This meeting was actually purely official and ceremonial.
Zhu Jingyuan accepted their worship and greetings, and then said a few words of comfort and encouragement, and the meeting was considered over.
What followed was also a massive public banquet.
Most of the people who attended the meeting and banquet were very excited.
Being directly summoned by the most noble Ming Emperor in the world and participating in the same banquet is a lifelong honor for most people.
Whether they are Ming people, Hu people, or Taixi people, they all have very similar mentality.
Most of the Thai people were even more excited, knowing that they had received the highest treatment among all the Thai people.
But there are also some people who have rather complicated feelings.
For example, Napoleon.
Napoleon was born in 1769 AD. It is now 1820 AD, and Napoleon has just turned fifty.
In the original history, Napoleon would die of illness next year.
But Napoleon's death can be regarded as an unsolved case in history. Most people believe that he died of chronic arsenic poisoning or familial gastric cancer.
Napoleon was imprisoned on the island of St. Helena in history. The local climate was hot and humid and the environment was quite harsh.
Arsenic-containing wallpaper was also found in the room where Napoleon lived.
The hot and humid environment caused arsenic to escape from the wallpaper, and the air where he lived was filled with arsenic compounds for a long time, which eventually led to his chronic arsenic poisoning.
Gastric cancer has a certain heritability, but this heritability refers to people who possess certain genes and are susceptible to gastric cancer.
It does not mean that having this gene will definitely cause the disease.
The prerequisite for the onset of disease is still external conditions, mainly affected by diet and living habits.
If people with the corresponding genes eat the same carcinogenic foods, their chances of eventually inducing gastric cancer are higher than those of ordinary people.
But of course you won’t get it if you really don’t eat it.
In this world, although Napoleon did not become an emperor, he eventually became the monarch of a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty.
The place where he lives is the North American Great Plains with cool air, and the living conditions are also very good.
His eating habits also became highly enlightened from a very early age.
So now he has neither arsenic poisoning nor a predisposition to stomach cancer.
A man in his fifties should be in his prime now.
It is foreseeable that he will live much longer than in the original history.
Napoleon looked at the excited guests around him and looked into the distance through the wall of the hall. One person held a wine glass and murmured to himself:
"The war is approaching again, but it has nothing to do with me anymore...
"No...it's not completely irrelevant. If nothing happens this time, the Ming Dynasty will eventually unify the world, and I am now also a vassal of the Ming Dynasty.
“In the future, all human beings in the entire world will be ruled by the same country and monarch.
"For humans, this may be a good thing..."
