Chapter 436 Adding fuel to the flames
In fact, what Queen Regent Christiana really wants is money, and she doesn't care about the future of Spain or France.
As long as I have money, I can play all over the world. If you don’t have money, you can only eat and drink under the roof of others.
At this time, Christiana couldn't sit still when she heard that Louis Philippe was planning to trade the Viceroyalty of La Plata for Gibraltar.
She didn't think there was anything wrong with France using Spanish territory to trade with the British, but she was very annoyed without money.
"No, absolutely not!..."
Before the Queen Regent Christiane had finished speaking, Louis-Philippe gave her a look that I understand.
In Louis-Philippe's view, Christiana was obviously "bargaining" for him, one being a good person and the other a bad person, so that it would be easier to reach a deal.
"Money," Queen Regent Christiana continued.
At this time, Louis Philippe got the other party's prompt and said again with a flash of inspiration.
"Yes! In order to compensate Britain for its losses, Spain is also willing to compensate five million Spanish silver dollars."
The Queen Regent Christiana on the other side is dying of anxiety. At this time, Spain is already heavily in debt and has long been on the verge of bankruptcy. If it were not for the support of France, it would not even be able to pay for the maintenance of the army.
In comparison, Victoria's political literacy and political sensitivity are much stronger.
"Your Majesty Philip, you should leave political matters to the right people, not yourself."
But at this time, Louis Philippe was a little confused about the current situation. He was eager to hear the other party's answer, but of course the result was a disappointment.
"This is beneficial to all three countries."
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty Philip. I'm a little tired. If you don't mind, I want to take a rest." Victoria said coldly.
Louis Philippe could only retract his face angrily.
After that, the big shots also left one after another. Gibraltar was too tempting for France. Even the Bonapartists, who were mainly army generals, understood its strategic value. It was simply the Verdun on the sea.
At this time, when everyone heard about Verdun, the first thing they thought of was the Verdun Meat Grinder. The German understanding seemed to be a trap used by Germany to consume France's effective strength. This is not a matter of debate here.
But in the era of the book, Verdun was to Paris as Shanhaiguan was to the capital. If Verdun was lost, Paris would not be saved.
Moreover, Verdun is also the place where Joan of Arc rose to power, and is very sacred and important to the French.
The Bonapartists firmly supported the return of control of Gibraltar. At this time, the other two factions unexpectedly put aside their previous differences and supported the acquisition of the land because it was too important for France, which was developing a colonial empire at this time.
Controlling this place would not only prevent the British from strangling the neck, but also in turn choke the Holy Alliance, thereby turning the Mediterranean into France's inland sea.
In fact, not only the big shots, but also the reporters on the side felt that doing so would be beneficial to France without any harm.
"British people should show enough sincerity if they want peace." This article occupied two pages of the French newspaper Le Monde that night.
Other newspapers also contributed front-page headlines, but of course the style was somewhat wrong.
From a political negotiation, it became a fight for justice. At the same time, he strongly advocated the positive impact France would have on the world after acquiring Gibraltar.
Stand on the moral high ground and criticize others. This was the favorite show for the small townsfolk after dinner, and soon the whole of Paris was talking about it.
They felt that taking back Gibraltar was just, right, and beneficial to France and the French.
A kind of simple nationalism spread rapidly among the people, and the French were once again ignited by nationalism. They took to the streets to demand the recovery of Gibraltar.
Just like during the French Revolution, the gendarmes and police who had originally driven them out of the way.
Because the military police and police also felt that the civilians were doing the right thing, and there were some big figures behind the scenes who were adding fuel to the fire.
Of course, these people were just marching in the streets of Paris and did not do anything radical.
However, Bismarck, who was living in Paris, discovered something unusual, that is, this wave developed too fast.
The Queen of England had only been in Paris for a few days, and the whole city felt like it was exploding. First there was an assassination, and then there was a disruptor at the banquet.
It only took three days for the issue of Gibraltar to become well known throughout the city and to become arousing public sentiment.
Although celebrities from all walks of life in France and a large number of newspaper reporters were invited to the dinner, the fermentation speed was still too fast.
Moreover, in a Paris cafe, he heard several narrators with German accents tell the whole story to the people, adding details but convincingly.
Bismarck smiled and wrote an anonymous letter to Le Monde.
The next day, the front page of Le Monde was occupied by the article "Liberty of France".
The article describes the Mediterranean as a cage that traps France, and Gibraltar is the key to unlocking this cage. Whoever takes it or loses it is a criminal who wants to imprison France.
This article does not say anything about the UK, but it clearly explains the importance of Gibraltar.
Coupled with the overwhelming century-old grievances between Britain and France, as well as the inflammatory articles such as the ten deadly sins of the British, the French at this time wanted to immediately pick up their guns and go to the other side of the strait to fight the British.
In fact, the national character of France had been suppressed by Guizot too many times before. Compromise after concession failed to bring about peace, and the people's lives became increasingly difficult.
(Actually, it was because Guizot was transferred away from the center of power that some compensatory measures and stability maintenance measures were not implemented in place.)
The emotions of all classes in France were as irrepressible as a flood. They needed an outlet, and that was Gibraltar.
They don't care about the benefits of Britain and France joining forces. They only know that if they don't say something or do something, they will be suffocated sooner or later.
At the same time, the British side is also pondering whether it should abandon Gibraltar and France and reconcile with Spain.
The result after careful consideration is impossible.
The reason why Britain has the courage to mess up the world is because Gibraltar is here. Even if the whole of Europe joins forces, it cannot do anything to the United Kingdom of Great Britain.
But once this gate is lost, crazy gangsters such as France, Austria, Russia, and Ottoman will come to compete with Britain for the world.
The United Kingdom has the smallest population among the world's major powers, just like they could not win the North American War of Independence. If the great powers were allowed to wander around the world, would the colonial system of the British Empire collapse?
Besides, the purpose of joining forces with France is to make Britain's hegemony permanent, not to cultivate one or more rivals for itself.
With this in mind, no one planned to continue Robert Peel's strategy of alliance with France at all costs.
Since the ownership of Gibraltar is more important than France's allies.
Moreover, coupled with the crazy actions of the French at this time, their primary goal now became to send the Queen back home safely.