Napoleon in 1812 - Chapter 111

Chapter 111

19. European Summit – 8

Inside the conference hall, there was a fierce confrontation between France, Prussia and Austria, but in fact Austria did not intend to confront them until the end.

If the Austrians had really intended to oppose France, they would have accepted the British proposal and would not have attended the Strasbourg banquet like Russia and Sweden.

Even Franz I and Metternich, who had very strong anti-French feelings, did not deny that France had the hegemony of the present Europe.

Austria’s true purpose at the Strasbourg talks was to expand its right to speak within the Union, which had become inevitable anyway, to secure suitable interests, and to create an environment where it could exert influence afterwards.

In particular, Metternich sought to restore the prestige of the Austrian Empire, which had been tarnished by its successive defeats, by realizing the traditional Austrian diplomacy that had beaten Europe in the past.

In the end, Austria took the place of the two pillars of the Union with France, and even took on the role to balance the Union and to properly keep France in check.

‘The council proposed by Napoleon has now become an irresistible flow. Unless Napoleon and France are defeated, other European countries will eventually participate in it.’

The brilliant Metternich looked forward to this future and established a diplomatic strategy accordingly. That was how he won the previous negotiations. But no matter how much he had prepared for this, he never expected to see this person.

“It’s been a long time… former Foreign Minister.”

“Thank you for not forgetting and remembering this old, obsolete man, Foreign Minister.”

To Talleyrand, who was smiling, Metternich could not express a sincere welcome. He had even heard the news that the conspirators in Paris had been caught and were detained, but he did not know that he would make such a surprise appearance.

“Did you read today’s morning newspaper? ‘Victory of Austria and Prussia! Metternich’s masterpiece!’ Those who praised and worshiped the Empire and His Majesty change their faces overnight to praise the other side. Isn’t human history funny?”

Metternich felt that there was an undertone in his words. Until then, the two had actively exchanged secret letters and conspired to end Napoleon’s reign.

However, when Talleyrand was caught, Metternich immediately cut him off and incinerated all the documents and letters that could prove his relationship with him.

It was in order not to get involved and not to give Napoleon another excuse to antagonize him. The tactic of keeping something while it was useful and throwing it away right after was clearly seen in international diplomacy.

“I’m sorry about the past. But I’m the Foreign Minister of the Austrian Empire. I have to do some cowardly things without hesitation for the national interest of my country. If you were in my position, of course you would have acted like that, and I wouldn’t have blamed you.”

It was uncomfortable anyway. Metternich was secretly asking back ‘Why did you ask me to see you in this situation?’ Metternich remembered that the person who secretly called him was the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, not Talleyrand himself.

That meant that this was an official meeting, not a personal one, and that Talleyrand was here as a representative of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In the end, he guessed that Talleyrand had been pardoned by Napoleon. So Metternich did not feel any burden about the past.

“Haha! Perhaps because the period of peace lasted quite a long time, the Foreign Minister’s sense seems to have become a bit dull. If you were like before, you would have guessed what I would say just by the fact that I was sitting here.”

Metternich frowned slightly at first because he could not grasp the true meaning of his words. But soon after, as a thought crossed his mind like a lightning bolt, he opened his eyes wide and looked at Talleyrand. With a subtle smile, Talleyrand spoke like a viper.

“His Majesty knows that your country has been hiding Joseph Fouché[1], a traitor to the Empire, for a long time. He is demanding a legitimate explanation from the Austrian cabinet. If he finds your country’s response to this insufficient, he added that he would not hesitate to retaliate.”

It was the moment when Metternich’s poker face, which had not even budged so far, like the iron-blooded diplomat he was, cracked.

===

The position of Police Minister of the French Empire was a key position with the authority to lead all police, guards, and security forces working in Paris. This was not all.

The police were obliged to inspect the dangers within the country and take action before they occur.

Therefore, the police minister was given a powerful power to operate secret police units and intelligence organizations to protect and defend the capital and prevent civil war.

In fact, since Napoleon became Consul with the Coup of 18 Brumaire[2], he used the secret inspectors of Joseph Fouché, the police minister at that time, to maintain his power.

Information that could be a weakness, such as embezzlement of public funds, various crimes, and scandals, had been held through secret police and intelligence organizations, allowing them to be thoroughly controlled and manipulated.

Thanks to this, Napoleon was able to save numerous servants and bureaucrats who were always loyal to him (even if he did not know what to do inside), and eventually opened the way to go beyond the position of life Consul and to become the Emperor.

However, the new monarch did not want factors that could pose a threat to his power. After becoming Emperor, Napoleon began to feel the burden of Fouché.

The fact that weaknesses of political opponents could be collected in detail meant, on the contrary, that Napoleon’s own weaknesses could also be fully grasped if wanted.

Fouché’s contribution to Napoleon’s crowning was great, but beyond that, the magnitude of power given to Fouché was too great.

It was natural that Napoleon, who was suspicious and greedy for power, began to check him. And Fouché, who had a secret information network and had a political sensibility, could not have ignored it.

Fouché felt threatened by Napoleon’s pressure and political offensive using public opinion around him that tightened day by day. It was Talleyrand, or to be exact, the Austrian Foreign Ministry behind him, who reached out to Fouché.

“Fouché was dismissed from his post as Police Minister, and was then appointed governor of Illyria. As I and the Foreign Minister know well, the three of us have been in close contact and built up friendships. However, it was intended to promote national interests by establishing close ties with major foreign officials, not betraying the country and selling information.”

Even after the arrest order for Fouché was issued, the Austrian court chose to embrace him. The connections and ties that he had accumulated for more than a decade while serving as Police Minister were still deeply rooted in French police and intelligence organizations.

This was because information such as corruption, various incidents, and concealment records about major French figures that Fouché knew were of great use.

However, after the Strasbourg talks were held to unite Europe, the Austrian court realized that Napoleon’s hegemony could no longer be challenged and eventually chose to send Fouché out.

Despite the fact that this was carried out very secretly, it seemed to have been discovered by French spies.

“I was informed that he and his family were in Vienna, and external intelligence agents of the Empire confirmed it. When I looked into his whereabouts, I found a deep connection with the Schönbrunn Palace. It was an amazing and shocking story. How should the Empire accept that the Austrian court took in a traitor who disappeared when he was caught conspiring to divide the nation and start a civil war?”

Considering that Talleyrand was the person who led this treachery act along with Fouché, it was absurd for him to say this. But diplomacy was an act of considering the present rather than the past.

Whatever the past, Talleyrand was now a spokesperson for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Fouché was a traitor to France for the capture of whom Napoleon himself even offered a reward.

And such a traitor had been hidden by Austria until recently. This could escalate into a serious diplomatic issue.

The documents presented by Talleyrand revealed the statements of French intelligence agents, with information about Fouché’s family, and even about the goods provided to them by the Austrian court.

‘I was caught in the perfect trap. There’s no way out!’

On the contrary to Talleyrand, who was drinking black tea with a relaxed expression, Metternich’s inner thoughts rotted black. What if this fact spread to the outside world? The fight for influence within the Union, for which the Austrian officials had been working so hard, would be of no use.

Austria would lose all its say and could even be expelled from the Union.

As for Britain and Russia, Austria had already drawn a line first with them before the Strasbourg talks. Therefore, it would be difficult to get their help. On the other hand, France would exercise its right to trample Austria with a good justification.

Metternich sighed, breaking his composure. His diplomat’s face had long disappeared. This was both an act of acknowledging the defeat of the negotiations and a declaration of complete surrender.

“…What does France want from us?”

If France did not want something, it would have exposed this case at the meeting and would have dropped Austria’s reputation to the abyss.

“I think the Foreign Minister is now ready to talk to me.”

Metternich glared once at Talleyrand, who was smiling, and leaned over in a chair. The night of secret talks between them was long.

===

The second day of the Strasbourg talks started. It was time for another diplomatic and political maneuvering that had been coming and going beyond the party venue to bear fruit, and the heads of state and diplomats gathered at the Rohan Palace with determined eyes.

‘Austria and Prussia formed a united front and took considerable advantage in the last meeting. Is there anything we can’t do?’

The main goal of each country was also to be judged as important as possible within the Union.

They heard that the rating of member states would be calculated periodically, but no specific date had been announced, while it was almost certain that high-grade countries would exert a great influence on the Union. As the value of the Union was reevaluated day by day, the values of these grades also naturally jumped.

The weak(?) appearance of the French foreign officials, who were thoroughly fooled by Metternich and Hardenberg, was also the reason why member states had unexpected confidence.

Whether they were building a negotiation, trading, or collusion to form a confrontation, they set up various strategies and entered the conference room of the detached palace. However, the scenery of the meeting hall was much different from what they expected.

“We would like to discuss an agenda that we have not completed in the last meeting. As you know, the purpose of our Union presupposes permanent peace in Europe. In order to achieve this, above all, the allied forces need the military right to quickly travel between member states.”

Louis Nicolas Davout was bringing up this issue again. Member states were puzzled. The French had already collapsed under the collaboration between Austria and Prussia, but they were bringing up the same agenda right away?

This was like the host country of the talks was cutting down its own authority. Austria and Prussia would never accept it. And of course Prussia voted against it.

“As I said before, our position is the same. Until trust relations between member states are established, it must be agreed in advance for foreign troops to cross borders.”

It was a remark made by Prussia’s Foreign Minister, Hardenberg. Small and medium-sized countries supporting Prussia also joined and agreed. Now if Austria joined them…

“Austria’s foreign staff stayed up all night to discuss this matter. And the conclusion that we came up with is… until military safety is guaranteed, the formation of the Union itself is threatened.”

The remarks of Franz I, the Emperor of the Austrian Empire, broke everyone’s expectations.

“In fact, Britain, Russia, and Sweden are exploding their military budgets, training troops, and casting war clouds on the European continent. It doesn’t seem necessary to explain where their guns are headed. In order for the Union to prepare for this, the member states must accept the permanent right of military passage as the military adviser said. Our country agrees with this proposal for the cause and survival of the Union.”

“What is the Emperor saying now!…”

“W-Wait! This… What the hell happened!?”

“That is all.”

Friedrich Wilhelm III’s embarrassing look represented Prussia’s position. Foreign Minister Hardenberg and Marshal Blücher were also surprised and could not hide their disappointment.

Napoleon was the only one smiling among the member states that were unable to figure out what was going on.