Chapter 45, The Federal Government's Counterattack

The French brazenly expanded their influence in Mexico, naturally causing dissatisfaction among various Mexican sectors, and Maximilian I found himself embroiled in the midst of it.

Unaware of his role reversal, Maximilian took measures that exacerbated tensions and pierced through the veil of pretense.

He directly protested to Napoleon III: The French Army acted recklessly and infringed upon Mexico's sovereignty, resulting naturally in tragedy.

From the standpoint of France, such actions of the French Army undoubtedly aligned with their interests.

The ever-adaptive Napoleon III ignored the protest, instead blaming Maximilian and the Mexican Government for lacking the ability to govern, saying they couldn't even maintain national stability and needed the French to do it for them.

Both sides struck at each other's vulnerabilities, engaging in a war of words. The intensified internal struggles gave the Republican rebel army led by Juarez a chance to escape disaster.