Chapter 285 French Envoy

"Hello, Your Highness Wilhelm, the Crown Prince."

Wilhelm nodded slightly in acknowledgment. "Oh? The French envoy? Our two nations are in a state of war. Although there's the saying 'envoys are not to be killed during war', your abrupt arrival truly makes it difficult to fathom your country's intentions."

"Respected Prince Wilhelm." With a roof above his head, he had to lower his head. The voice of the French envoy was humble, almost choked. It was as if he had not heard the Ming Dynasty proverb "the river east or west changes every ten years" or the common saying "fortune's wheel is always turning". If he had, he would find these phrases quite fitting for the present situation in France.

From being arrogant twenty years ago to now being humble, the French had gone from wanting to dismantle Germany to practically begging for a way out. "The French government and people are advocates of peace…"

Wilhelm waved his hand, interrupting him. "Mr. Envoy, spare me the rhetoric. Do you think your nonsense will halt the advance of our armored forces? You have one chance. If you can't satisfy me, you can go back, or you can directly report to our prisoner-of-war camp and get accustomed to life there."

The French envoy had lost track of how many times he had wiped away sweat, so he straightforwardly stated the purpose of his visit. "Respected Prince Wilhelm, I came here hoping you could show mercy, have your army cease its advance, and I can assure you that France will provide your empire with a satisfactory response." He stopped just short of saying "plead".

Watching the envoy of France, who was now bowing excessively, and Ribbentrop, who looked extremely pleased and practically viewed people from his nostrils, Wilhelm couldn't help but recall the phrase "the dignity of a diplomat lies in the country behind him".

Weak countries have no diplomacy!

However, the fact is that weak countries can only rely on diplomacy! The most outstanding diplomats are often found in weak countries because they lack a country behind them like the diplomats of powerful nations. They only have diplomatic wisdom. Surviving in a world that follows the law of the jungle depends on their diplomatic wit.

"Oh? What is your so-called response? I'm curious about what a dying France can offer us. Don't say anything about ceding the areas we occupy. Let's make it simple. I'll state my conditions directly. If you can accept them, do so, otherwise, don't waste everyone's time."

The French envoy had guessed that the conditions Wilhelm was about to present would be difficult to accept, but he could only nod with a forced smile. "Please go ahead."

Wilhelm directly explained the content of the historical ceasefire agreement between Germany and France.

"First, France must cede one-third of its territory, including Paris.

Second, the French government must pay an occupation fee of 500 million francs to the German occupying forces daily (increased by one billion francs).

Third, the French air force and army must not exceed 100,000 personnel.

Fourth, the French government must align politically, economically, militarily, and diplomatically with Germany and must not deviate in any aspect."

In the original World War II, although the agreement stipulated that German troops would only occupy one-third of French territory, they effectively occupied half, undermining Marshal Pétain's authority and exerting control over Vichy France. France became a de facto industrial, military, and logistical base for Germany.

Why did France accept such a harsh treaty?

Mainly because the newly elected French Prime Minister Pétain decided to surrender and unilaterally ordered the French army to cease resistance before reaching a ceasefire (surrender) agreement with Germany. After stopping resistance, the German forces, which originally only occupied half of France, quickly occupied almost the entire French territory. Little Mustache ordered not to occupy Paris temporarily and initiated negotiations with France.

Due to Pétain's military background and limited political experience, he initially ordered the army to cease resistance, leaving him with a weak hand during negotiations. This led to the signing of an unfavorable treaty.

If he had ordered the army to continue resisting, using it as leverage for negotiations, engaging in talks while fighting, France might not have been so passive.

On the other hand, the surrender of the Pétain government did reduce France's losses in World War II, France suffered less than Britain.

"The cost... is it a bit... too much?" The French envoy shivered.

"Too much? My army has already conquered half of your country, giving up one-third is already granting you the fruits of our victory. I haven't finished. I warned your side to abandon the 'Fish' plan, didn't I?"

When the French campaign erupted, the Banque de France's vault held over two thousand tons of gold. To avoid unforeseen events, French Finance Minister Lucien Lamoureux instructed Banque de France President Pierre Fournier to create an evacuation plan for all gold reserves in emergencies, codenamed "Fish".

To execute this plan, they first moved the 2,226 tons of gold stored in the Banque de France's basement in Paris to fifty secret vaults across the country. These vaults were not far from the Mediterranean or Atlantic coasts' various naval ports, making transportation convenient for immediate implementation in case of emergencies.

As the war worsened, Lamoureux informed Fournier to execute the "Fish" plan. Thus, the French Finance Ministry used every means to transport these gold reserves to Brest, Toulon, and Lorient. The 2,226 tons of gold were prepared to cross the turbulent Atlantic.

Wilhelm had warned the French high command through a secret channel. "Yet you obstinately sent 2,226 tons of gold overseas. Do you think that, after your defeat, the United States will return that gold to you? Moreover, has your De Gaulle already escaped to form an exile government? Now it's even better, the U.S. has more excuses to swallow those gold reserves. You're playing a double-sided gamble. Every country faces such a situation when facing extinction, it's an inevitable occurrence in a community. However, success on one side is not guaranteed. Many countries and nations have completely disappeared due to defeat, even with traitors. Besides, didn't the 'Jeanne d'Arc' and 'Émile Bordes' already intercept and capture over 400 tons of gold?"

Feeling frustrated, the envoy, aware that they were enemy nations, sensed that His Highness seemed to regard the gold as originally belonging to France. And those remarks about events only known to the French high command made him somewhat horrified. He didn't even know the exact quantity of the gold, so how did His Highness know so much?

"I told you that you would pay the price. Now is the time. Since I can't get that gold, use your country's warships as compensation. The French Navy must surrender all battleships. Also, are there not several aircraft carriers still under construction in your shipyards? Those must also be handed over. Don't think of playing any 'Operation Rainbow' tricks, that's the glory of the German Navy and will not allow others to tarnish it! If you dare scuttle a warship, then I will take control of an additional city."

"Your Highness, I cannot make this decision." The envoy wiped away tears with a handkerchief. "I must contact the homeland, no Frenchman can make such a decision. Even if this decision can save France, the person signing this peace agreement will be hanged in front of the French people."

Haha, your words are true. In the original timeline, after World War II, Pétain was sentenced to death for collaboration. Later, considering his significant contribution in World War I and his old age (89 years), it was changed to life imprisonment.

"Well, then, make it quick. I have been very generous, I allowed your navy to retain its warships." After saying this, Wilhelm gestured to Ribbentrop to escort the French envoy. "Minister Ribbentrop, have Miss Anna invite Raeder and Dönitz."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Before Wilhelm could finish the lily painting on the canvas, Raeder and Dönitz rushed in.

"Hail Hohenzollern!"

"Admirals, please sit. I called you here because I just learned about the British 'Operation Crossbow.'"