Chapter 249 Heat
France.
Jaime Medina, the current head of the Medina family, the old Count Jacob Medina unfortunately passed away in March this year, and Jaime Medina inherited the title.
The Medina family is an ally of the Hechingen royal family in France, but earlier the old Count Jacob Medina was thrown into the cold palace because he opposed the reforms of Napoleon III.
As an old man who followed Napoleon the Great, Jacob Medina was very dissatisfied with some of Napoleon III's policies, especially when faced with other factions other than the Napoleonic faction in the country.
After being rejected by Napoleon III, it was already hostile to the Orleans and Bourbon dynasties as well as the Republicans. The fate of the Medina family can be imagined.
The Medina family, which had faded out of politics, had already suffered a severe decline before Ernst's rise. This decline was comprehensive.
Later Ernst went to France to reintegrate these old family friends, and through financial assistance, that is, the Hechingen Consortium's agent in France, they became financially better day by day.
But the price paid is that it is further away from the political center of Paris, because the center of the Hechingen Consortium in France is the southern seaport city of Marseille.
The Hechingen French ally group represented by the Medina family, with the support of Ernst, has formed a considerable force in southern France.
The death of the old count reminded Napoleon III of this stubborn old guy. Although he disliked him very much, he was an old minister who followed the Napoleon family after all. So in June, Napoleon summoned Jaime, the successor of the Medina family, in Paris. Medina.
“Your Majesty, although the Medina family has long been ignored in France, I still want to say that there is no chance of winning the war. Unless France is prepared for a full-scale war, any irrational behavior may Destroy the reputation of the Napoleon family in France."
This was the first thing Jaime Medina said after meeting Napoleon III.
"Well, Count Medina, I have no plans to start a war recently."
"I am just predicting that there will always be a winner between Prussia and France, and we need the Rhine River The land and divided Germany, while Prussia wants the unity and integrity of the entire Germany, there are irreconcilable conflicts between the two sides. ”
"That's a good thing to say, but what do you mean by preparations for total war?"
"Prussia is not a small country, but a military power in Europe. The existing French military power and system cannot defeat Prussia quickly. , and once the war is delayed, the whole of Germany will be squeezed into a fist by Prussia. Therefore, France’s war against Prussia and the previous battlefields in Crimea and Italy. It’s different. To deal with the North German Federation, we should first change the structure of the French Army to be similar to that of Prussia, making it easier to organize large corps to fight..."
Before Medina finished speaking, he was interrupted by Napoleon III. : "Prussia has indeed achieved some results in recent years, but that is because of the help of France and without my acquiescence. Not to mention Austria, even Denmark probably has done enough. Choking. Moreover, we were deceived by that despicable man Bismarck last time. He promised us the land of France, but he failed to fulfill it at all. Recently, Bismarck encouraged Leopold to compete for the King of Spain. If it is not stopped in time, France will be attacked from both sides. "
"Your Majesty! Of course I know this, but the problem now is that the Prussian army has completed drastic reforms. With the experience of war, its military system is getting better and better, but France is a little unwilling to make progress!”
“That’s enough, Count Medina, it’s not your turn for the imperial army to make irresponsible remarks here. If the old count is unwilling to make progress! Knowing that you are like this, you are as scared as a tiger of a small Prussia, and I am afraid you will crawl out of your grave in anger," Marshal McMahon, who returned from Algeria, angrily yelled at Medina.
At the same time, other French generals also began to bombard Medina. Seeing that the situation in the court became a bit chaotic, Napoleon III urgently called a halt.
"That's enough, stop arguing. Let Medina go back to Marseille first! The answer will naturally be revealed in a month, and the imperial soldiers will prove everything with their strength."
One sentence , the Medina family was sent away again. Count Medina seemed to have expected it. He turned around and prepared to leave. Before leaving, he looked back and said: "Your Majesty, you will regret it!" After leaving the Compiègne Palace, a group of media reporters swarmed in. They came from various French newspapers and publishing houses, and surrounded Medi as if they had premeditated plans. Be around.
The reporter from "Hustle" magazine asked Count Medina: "Count Medina, is it true that I heard that you are opposed to the war!"
"Of course, France is not ready for war."
One day later, "Hustle" magazine published a cartoon called "Surrender without a fight, the old count sheds tears." Medina knelt down On the map of Germany, facing the direction of the French map, the word "peace" is shouted, while the vilified Bismarck sets up an artillery piece behind him, and an artillery shell has already flown to France. In the upper right corner of the cartoon, the old Count Jacob Bu Medina denounced the "traitors" in heaven.
The Havas News Agency reporter then asked: "Count Medina, who do you think is stronger, France or Prussia!"
"Of course it is France, but it is not military-wise. Good review.”
The next day, the headline of Havas News Agency was “Count Medina believes that France is no match for the Prussians”
...
That night, Medina took a train overnight and "escaped" from Paris. If he didn't run away, the angry people of Paris might eat him alive tomorrow.
The French people, who have just experienced the humiliation of the Ems Telegram, also known as the "Bismarck Secret Telegram" incident, are furious with Prussia. The war against Prussia has become the popular trend. If you sing the opposite, you will definitely be attacked by the crowd. Of.
The reporters were not hired by others, they were all hired by Medina with money. As for why they did this, it was naturally for traffic.
Medina knows very well that since the old count retired, the Medina family has been completely marginalized in France. Even if it comes back now, it is impossible to gain trust. The French Empire does not have Medina's ship.
Although he deliberately caused a lot of trouble in Paris, after returning to Marseille, Medina planned to use the media under Hechingen to clean himself up.
You can't really let the reputation of a capitulation faction fall on your head. You are also a militant, but not a blind militant, but a rational militant who "sees the shortcomings of the French government."
Three days later, the media in Marseille began to exert force. Medina used local newspapers to start a confrontation with the Paris newspapers.
“The news media in Paris distorted the facts. They misinterpreted my original words. Unlike the media practitioners in the city of Marseille, they have an excellent and realistic spirit.”
One step With a handful, the Marseille media naturally We are very happy. They used the "Medina Incident" to criticize their colleagues in Paris. They are noble children living in a "big city". Their public opinion towards France will always remain in the capital of Paris, and they look down upon any place outside Paris. Even Marseille, a great revolutionary city.
The Paris media, who were manipulated by Medina, naturally did not show weakness and bombarded Medina and his colleagues in Marseille.
Things got worse and worse. The French government stepped in in time to stop this farce, but the reputation of the Medina family was completely destroyed. Medina is now the main war faction, the peace faction, and the capitulation faction don't matter anymore.
(End of this chapter)