‘Yes,’ the Tsar responded softly, stroking his jaw. Then he glanced towards Napoleon. ‘We are forgetting one thing.’
‘That is?’
‘Prussia. What is to be her part in these peace negotiations? Will Prussia be admitted to the alliance you propose?’
‘No,’ Napoleon replied firmly. ‘Our two nations would not have been at war were it not for the calculated mischief of the Prussian court. It was they, and particularly Queen Louise, who brought about the conflict in the first place. Prussia must pay the price for the French and Russian lives lost in this unnecessary war.’
Alexander frowned. ‘But Prussia is my ally.’
‘An underserving ally if ever there was one. Where is the Prussian King at this moment?’
Alexander gestured over his shoulder. ‘The King and his Queen are located in a mill a short distance north of here. Together with what remains of his army. I had hoped that he might be able to join us here.’
‘He is a spent force.’ Napoleon waved his hand dismissively. ‘All that remains is to decide on the magnitude of his punishment for making war against France. Rest assured, my dear Alexander, that Russia will gain as much from Prussia’s misfortune as France. Now then, I think we have a common understanding. I am sure that our diplomats can be left to discuss the details. So let us leave Prussia aside for a moment and talk of other things.There is much we can learn from each other.’
As soon as he returned to imperial headquarters Napoleon summoned Berthier and began to dictate a rapid series of orders.
‘First,’ he began as he strode up and down the map room outside his office, ‘send for Talleyrand. I want him here as soon as possible to negotiate a peace agreement with the Tsar. The basis of the peace will be an alliance with Russia, and a declaration of war between Russia and Britain. Second, the town of Tilsit is to be made a neutral area. All hostilities between French and Russian forces, together with their Prussian allies, are expressly forbidden within the town limits of Tilsit. I wish to make the town freely available to the Tsar and his court, together with their senior officers. All French soldiers must accord the Russians full honours and respect. Any man who fails to obey this order will be severely disciplined. Got that?’
Berthier glanced up from his notebook. ‘Yes, sire.’
‘Then, once you have issued the orders, I want you back here. Summon the other marshals and have them join us.’ Napoleon’s eyes sparkled.‘We are going to offer the Tsar such displays of military power that he will never consider going to war against France again!’
The following day was hot, and as midday drew close the last of the preparations to receive the Tsar was hurriedly completed. Napoleon, his marshals and the staff officers stood waiting on the bank of the Niemen. A special landing stage had been constructed and decorated with the eagle emblems of Russia. From the end of the landing stage the route into Tilsit was bordered by two lines of guardsmen.They had been hard at work since before dawn cleaning and polishing their kit and now stood to attention in full dress uniform. Every button gleamed, and pipe clay had been applied to the cross straps until they attained a dazzling whiteness. Each line stood three men deep and stretched down the side of the road, thence along the sides of the streets leading up to the fine townhouse acting as imperial headquarters, and from there to the mansion Napoleon had chosen for Alexander’s accommodation. The mansion was the most gracious house in Tilsit and Napoleon would have claimed it for himself in normal circumstances. But now everything depended on impressing the Tsar with the good intentions of France and her Emperor. On either side of the guardsmen, batteries of the Imperial Guard artillery stretched out along the banks, their crews standing silently by.
Napoleon paced up and down at the end of the jetty, hands clasped behind his back, as he waited for Alexander and his entourage to arrive.
Ney puffed his cheeks out and crossed his arms.‘Hope those bastards don’t keep us waiting much longer. It’s too hot out here. I could do with a drink.’
Napoleon rounded on him and stabbed out a finger.‘That’s enough of that! I need the Tsar for an ally and I will not risk any man here offending him, or his entourage, or even that milksop the King of Prussia. No one is to cause our guests the slightest offence. Is that clear, Marshal Ney?’
‘Yes, sire.’ Ney stiffened his spine. ‘Clear as day.’
‘Good. Don’t forget what I have said.’ Napoleon swept his arm round at the rest of his officers. ‘That goes for everyone.’
Berthier nodded towards the far bank. ‘Sire, they’re coming.’
Turning round, Napoleon could see that several barges had emerged round a bend in the river and were making for the landing stage. The leading barge was gilded about the prow, and the standard of imperial Russia rippled languidly from the bows as the craft struck out across the Niemen towards the French bank.
‘Telescope.’ Napoleon held out his hand and a staff officer hurried forward and handed his master a spyglass. Napoleon snapped it out and raised it to his eye, tracking across the gleaming surface of the river until he found the barges. He saw Alexander in the stern of the leading boat, sitting beside another man in uniform, equally glittering and encrusted with decorations.That had to be the King of Prussia, Napoleon realised with a faint smile. No wonder he looked so dour. He would be more depressed still once he discovered the terms Napoleon was going to demand from the peace agreement with his country. If he was abandoned by Russia the Prussian King would have little choice but to accept the demands that Napoleon intended to set before him. As the boat approached the west bank of the Niemen Napoleon lowered the telescope and handed it back to the officer.
‘Right, everyone in position. Stand to attention and make this look as formal a welcoming ceremony as possible.’
The band of the Imperial Guard struck up with the Russian national anthem as the Tsar’s barge drew up alongside the jetty.The oarsmen had learned their lesson from the previous day and were far more cautious in their approach, and Napoleon could almost sense their relief as the boat gently eased itself into position and was held in place by one man at the bows and another in the stern.The two rulers rose up from their cushioned bench and were helped ashore. The King of Prussia landed first and there was no movement from the French ranks until the Tsar stood upon the jetty.
Then Napoleon nodded to Berthier, who waved a hand towards the nearest gun crew.
‘The artillery will commence the salute!’ a sergeant roared out. The cannon had been loaded with blank charges and as the first linstock was applied there was a brief fizz and then the gun belched flame and smoke as it boomed across the river. At regular intervals the other guns followed, one by one, a hundred of them, giving a formal salute to the Tsar of Russia.
Napoleon stepped forward to greet Alexander. Clasping his arms, he planted a kiss on each cheek.
‘I bid you welcome, your majesty.’
Alexander smiled. ‘I offer you my thanks, imperial majesty. And may I introduce Frederick William, King of Prussia?’
The Prussian ruler smiled awkwardly as he stepped forward. Napoleon took his hand and shook it briskly. ‘And I welcome you too, Frederick William. I trust that you will enter into peace negotiations with France as readily as your ally.’