Seeing that the strategy to fully bind Savoy and Nice with the French Empire had not been completely successful, Cavour could only choose to take a step back and prioritize safeguarding the Savoy Clan’s rule in the Sardinian Kingdom.

No one knows whether the Austrian Empire will continue to be as lenient with them as it was the last time.

"Your Majesty, as long as the French Empire is willing to guarantee the Savoy Clan’s continued rule in the Sardinian Kingdom, then the Sardinian Kingdom is willing to give Savoy and Nice to the French Empire!" Cavour replied to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Count Cavour, I believe that the conflict between you and the Austrian Empire will gradually dissipate through honest exchanges!" Jerome Bonaparte responded to Cavour with righteous assurance.

Enticed by the lures of Savoy and Nice, Jerome Bonaparte decided to make some modifications to the plan being executed.

However, before modifying the plan, he needed to inform the Austrian Empire behind Richard Metternich in advance.

Otherwise, there was a real possibility that the Austrian Empire and the French Empire might go to war directly over the Sardinian Kingdom.

Such an outcome would not be good for either the Austrian Empire or the French Empire.

Therefore, Jerome Bonaparte and Count Cavour took a train back to Paris the same day after their conversation ended.

Then, the next day, they swiftly summoned Richard Metternich, who was still in Paris.

At this moment, there were less than 24 hours before the Austrian Empire formally went to war with the Sardinian Kingdom.

"Your Majesty!" Richard Metternich first bowed to Jerome Bonaparte, then asked what orders Jerome Bonaparte had called him over for.

"Richard!" After hesitating for a moment, Jerome Bonaparte spoke to Richard Metternich, "I know this matter may be a bit difficult for you, but I still hope you can temporarily halt your actions!"

"Your Majesty, what exactly are you trying to say?" Richard Metternich looked at Jerome Bonaparte with confusion.

"What I mean is, can the Austrian Empire temporarily halt its attack on the Sardinian Kingdom!" Jerome Bonaparte solemnly asked Richard Metternich.

Richard Metternich looked at Jerome Bonaparte in disbelief, then shook his head and replied, "Your Majesty, I’m afraid not!

There are less than 12 hours before the Austrian Empire’s attack on the Sardinian Kingdom, and a sudden halt to the war would deal a certain blow to the morale of the Austrian Empire!"

"3 billion francs!" Jerome Bonaparte raised three fingers and said to Richard Metternich.

"What?" Richard Metternich looked at Jerome Bonaparte in confusion.

"As long as the Austrian Empire is willing to temporarily halt this action, the French Empire is willing to lend a loan of 3 billion francs to the Austrian Empire!" Jerome Bonaparte said expressionlessly to Richard Metternich.

Richard Metternich shook his head and replied to Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, this is not a decision I can make!"

"5 billion francs!" Jerome Bonaparte extended five fingers and continued, "An interest-free loan of 5 billion francs!"

This time, Richard Metternich instinctively swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

An interest-free loan of 5 billion francs is a huge sum of money for the Austrian Empire in ordinary times.

Not to mention, the Austrian Empire has yet to extricate itself from the economic crisis.

Why does the Austrian Empire desperately want the Sardinian Kingdom, if not because they want to divert conflicts?

If the French Empire is willing to lend them 5 billion francs to tide over the crisis, then what point is there in fighting the Sardinian Kingdom?

"Your Ma... Majesty!" Richard Metternich responded to Jerome Bonaparte with difficulty, "This... might be a bit challenging!"

"6 billion francs!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Richard Metternich with a half-smile, "The French Empire is willing to lend the Austrian Empire an interest-free loan of 5 billion francs and a 4% loan of 1 billion francs, Mr. Richard Metternich, I hope you can consider it prudently!"

Faced with the choice between an interest-free loan and the morale of the army, the scales in Richard Metternich’s heart began to sway violently; he knew what changing decisions 12 hours in advance would do to the Austrian Imperial Army’s morale.

But Jerome Bonaparte’s 6 billion francs interest-free loan (a 4% loan at this time was tantamount to an interest-free loan, as the standard for a French Empire bond is 4%) really tested one’s sanity.

"Your Majesty, if I refuse, what measures might the French Empire take?" Richard Metternich suppressed his impulse and asked Jerome Bonaparte. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Jerome Bonaparte spread his hands and replied to Richard Metternich, "Apart from losing the 6 billion franc interest-free loan, the Austrian Empire stands to lose nothing!

However, with your Austrian Empire’s industrialization in full swing, refusing now may not be a wise decision!"

After a moment’s thought, Richard Metternich raised his head and asked Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, has the Sardinian Kingdom made any promises to you?"

"Indeed!" Jerome Bonaparte admitted frankly, "The Prime Minister... or rather the former Prime Minister, Cavour, told me that as long as I can secure the Savoy Clan’s rule in the Sardinian Kingdom, then Savoy and Nice will become our territories.

Richard, you should know that I must prove to Paris that only I can lead them to victory!

I can sit securely in Paris, but Parisians are always so capricious!"

"Your Majesty, could you be honest with me! Do you still wish to restore the territories of the First Empire!" Richard Metternich asked Jerome Bonaparte seriously.

"Richard, are you mad?" Jerome Bonaparte looked at Richard Metternich in surprise, "Restoring the territories of the First Empire, how could you think of that!

You should know how vast France’s territory was during the First Empire.

If I truly wanted to restore the First Empire, I would have first destroyed the Kingdom of Sardinia and then moved westward to seize Lombardy and Venice!

I’ve always told you, this era is no longer one of dominance by a single power, only sincere cooperation between great nations can lead to mutual benefit and win-win outcomes!

Tell me, haven’t I treated your Austrian Empire well enough?

Poland, Danube Duchy... which of these were not secured for you by me!

Now, I only wish to take Savoy and Nice, yet you suspect I intend harm against you!

If I really intended harm against you, then why would I help you.

Tell me, what is my purpose in doing so!

Am I just looking for trouble while idle, aiding the enemy?"

"Your Majesty, that’s not what I mean!" Richard Metternich responded awkwardly to Jerome Bonaparte,

Indeed, Jerome Bonaparte treated the Austrian Empire more kindly than his "father-in-law country" (the Kingdom of Württemberg), and Richard Metternich’s suspicions were indeed unfounded.

"Mr. Richard, I know what you’re afraid of!" Jerome Bonaparte patted Richard Metternich on the shoulder, "I can assure you once more, as long as the Bonaparte Clan remains on the throne of the French Empire!

I will never turn against my brothers! I hope the Austrian Empire can reciprocate the same attitude towards us!"

"Your Majesty, rest assured! The Austrian Empire will likewise not strike against the French Empire!" Richard Metternich hurriedly said.

"Richard, you should know that what I want is not this assurance!" Jerome Bonaparte spoke with an unusually solemn expression to Richard Metternich.

"Your Majesty, I..." Richard Metternich’s nostrils flared slightly, he certainly understood what Jerome Bonaparte wanted, but he dared not promise Jerome Bonaparte anything yet.

"Now, immediately report my previous conditions to Vienna!" Jerome Bonaparte chuckled lightly and then patted Richard Metternich on the shoulder.

"Yes!" Richard Metternich replied to Jerome Bonaparte.

Following this, Richard Metternich left the Tuileries Palace and returned to the Austrian Imperial Embassy in France.

Upon entering the embassy, Richard Metternich immediately encountered a military attendant holding a telegram, "Ambassador!"

"What’s the matter?" Richard Metternich glanced at the telegram, then asked the military attendant.

"Just now, we’ve received a telegram from Vienna!" the military attendant replied to Richard Metternich.

"What is the content of the telegram?" Richard Metternich inquired.

"Ambassador, you’d better take a look yourself!" The military attendant handed the telegram to Richard Metternich.

Richard Metternich picked up the telegram and carefully read its content.

Though the telegram was sent from Vienna, its content pertained to Sardinia.

It turned out the Kingdom of Sardinia’s request for the Austrian Empire to establish a joint investigation team was reported by the Austrian ambassador to Prince Metternich in the Milan Region, who then sent a telegram to Vienna.

Once Vienna received the telegram, they also weren’t sure if the French Empire intended to establish a joint investigation team.

So, they relayed this information via telegram to Richard Metternich.

Richard Metternich looked at the telegram in hand, momentarily confused.

On one hand, Jerome Bonaparte was offering funds to the Austrian Empire to temporarily cease actions, while on the other, the Austrian Empire was inquiring if the French Empire was willing to establish a joint investigation team.

These two seemingly unrelated messages led Richard Metternich to suspect whether the Sardinian Kingdom was toying with both the French Empire and the Austrian Empire.