The Crown Prince of France - Chapter 193

Chapter 193: The Turmoil of the European Continent, Part 2

Talleyrand nodded.
"Yes, Your Highness, reclaiming Silesia has been a shared aspiration of Austria's nobility and commoners alike."

Joseph added,
"And Bavaria. If not for Prussia's interference back then, Austria might already have claimed that territory.

"In fact, both Prussia and Austria wish to become the true master of the Greater German region, constantly eyeing each other with vigilance.

"If Austria could secure our support and operate without other disruptions, they would be eager to crush Prussia completely. They wouldn’t hesitate to expend all their national resources to do so.

"Because if they succeed, the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire would finally wield true authority over the empire."

Speaking of which, during the Middle Ages, the Holy Roman Empire was truly a dominant power in Europe—stretching from the Netherlands to the eastern parts of France, from Italy to Hungary, encompassing Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and western Poland.

However, with the intervention of the Papacy, the empire began implementing the electoral system of the Prince-Electors. In the 14th century, Emperor Charles IV issued the Golden Bull, standardizing and solidifying this system. Consequently, the Holy Roman Emperor became a figurehead elected by the Prince-Electors, steadily weakening imperial power while the independence of the internal principalities grew stronger.

By the 18th century, the empire had split into two major powers, Prussia and Austria, alongside a multitude of smaller principalities such as Württemberg, Bavaria, Saxony, Hesse, and Hanover. The Habsburg family had monopolized the imperial throne for over a century, with the current Emperor being the Archduke of Austria.

At the same time, Prussia, leveraging its linguistic and ethnic ties with the Germanic principalities, also sought to unify Germany. In fact, roughly half a century later, Bismarck would essentially fulfill this ambition.

For now, however, Austria, which holds the imperial title, seemed to have a better chance of reviving the glory of the Holy Roman Empire.

This rivalry for the empire's "inheritance" had led to a state of continuous tension and warfare between the two powers, though they were generally evenly matched.

Joseph returned to his earlier point:
"Poland, however, is a wildcard. If Russia moves to annex Poland on a large scale, and Poland is clearly incapable of resisting, both Prussia and Austria will have no choice but to turn their attention eastward.

"This is because neither power can afford to let Russia monopolize such a significant gain. They would have two options: to jointly support Poland in resisting Russia or to participate in the partition, tearing off their share of the spoils.

"In either scenario, Prussia and Austria would develop significant shared interests, possibly even forming an alliance. This would drastically reduce Austria's willingness to wage war against Prussia. In the worst case, their alliance could target other powers, such as France.

"You must understand that the British would be delighted to see such an outcome and would actively facilitate it."

Hearing this, Talleyrand’s expression grew grave. He had to admit, the Crown Prince's vision was both profound and far-reaching.

Joseph continued,
"Therefore, we must erect a ‘barrier’ between Prussia, Austria, and Russia—that is, Poland.

"As long as Poland stands, Prussia and Austria will be forced to focus on the Germanic region. Competing for dominance there will inevitably generate irreconcilable conflicts between them."

In truth, Joseph had an even more ambitious plan he had not disclosed: to help Austria realize its dream of reviving the Holy Roman Empire and even to globally propagate the empire's prosperity and invincibility. Meanwhile, France could reap the benefits of Austria's wars to unify the empire, ideally securing the territory west of the Rhine River and making it France's natural boundary.

By then, the most conspicuous behemoth in Europe would be the Holy Roman Empire under Austrian rule. Given Britain’s habitual interference, it would not tolerate such a continental hegemon.

Whether Britain formed an "Anti-Imperial Alliance" to attack the Holy Roman Empire or rallied a weakened Prussia while inciting rebellion among the annexed German principalities, France could observe the chaos from the sidelines and seize opportunities to profit.

For a great power, the best strategic model was to quietly strengthen itself while letting others fight to exhaustion. When all others were battered and bruised, one could rise effortlessly as the unchallenged leader.

Historically, Napoleon violated this principle. Though his martial prowess was extraordinary, leading armies to trample nearly the entire European continent, he ultimately drained his nation’s resources and was worn down by Britain and its coalition of allies.

Joseph, well aware of the trajectory of future history, was determined not to repeat such mistakes. It would be sheer folly to ignore such lessons. Even in games, players knew that hunkering down defensively near one's tower was the surest path to development. Look at the United States in later centuries: it spectated during World War I and II, only stepping in when the other powers were spent. This calculated strategy earned it dominance as the world's hegemon.

Talleyrand pondered.
"Your Highness, then should we reject the Russian Tsar's claims regarding Poland?"

Joseph immediately shook his head.
"We must maintain amicable relations with Russia to the greatest extent possible. Only this way can we undermine the Anglo-Russian trade system and ensure access to the raw materials Russia exports, which we also require."

Talleyrand was puzzled.
"But you just said..."

Joseph smiled slightly.
"Unless France allies with Poland, our stance on Russia's claims will not stop them from annexing Poland. Publicly, we can align with Russia’s position while privately bolstering Poland's resistance. However, this requires us to act indirectly—through a ‘proxy.’"

"A proxy?"

"Yes, a nation to handle Polish affairs on our behalf. The United States is a suitable candidate, and the Ottoman Empire could also be considered."

Talleyrand nodded internally. Both the United States and Russia were major exporters of raw materials and geographically distant from each other, minimizing potential conflicts. The Ottoman Empire, as Russia's archrival, had longstanding cooperation with Poland.

Joseph sighed.
"Ultimately, Poland itself is the key. Given their current internal situation, they probably couldn’t resist Russia for even a month."

He recalled that the Second Partition of Poland by Russia, Prussia, and Austria was just five years away. Russia, having concluded its war with the Ottoman Empire, would soon turn to invade Poland.

To make Poland "stand tall" within such a short period seemed a nearly impossible task...

...

Joseph turned his attention back to Talleyrand as the discussion on Europe’s strategic landscape wrapped up. Talleyrand then proceeded to report on the results of his diplomatic visit to Russia:

"The Russian Tsar is highly enthusiastic about Russo-French trade relations. She hopes we can make greater use of the Russo-French Trade Agreement to expand the volume of commerce between our nations.

"Oh, and she expressed great support for your Twin Trading Company, even granting the monopoly over Far Eastern fur exports to Count Bobrinsky. She called it a gift to the company."

Joseph could not help but smile inwardly. Catherine II was indeed as shrewd as a fox. What she framed as a gift to the company was, in reality, an arrangement benefiting her illegitimate son, Bobrinsky. Yet, France would still owe her a debt of gratitude.

Still, the Far Eastern fur trade was a lucrative enterprise, and the company stood to make significant profits annually from this monopoly.

Talleyrand continued,
"Your Highness, there is one more matter. During my final audience with the Tsar, she repeatedly expressed her admiration for you and even hinted at the possibility of a Franco-Russian royal marriage."

Joseph rubbed his temples. Being Crown Prince was indeed exhausting—nearly all of Europe seemed preoccupied with his marital prospects.

However, a royal marriage with Russia carried significant political implications and would require meticulous consideration. For now, Joseph decided not to respond. After all, he was still young. By European standards, marriage discussions typically began at sixteen, giving him two more years to weigh the options.

After discussing various matters with Talleyrand, Joseph dismissed him to rest.

Talleyrand left the reception room deep in thought, replaying the Crown Prince's strategic insights in his mind. He could not help but feel a sense of awe. Despite his youth, this prince had meticulously charted the course of European geopolitics for the next decade or more, a feat that was both extraordinary and unnerving. Perhaps, in the decades to come, France would witness a monarch of unparalleled greatness, one who would lead the nation to an era of unprecedented glory.

...

At 9:50 p.m., Joseph attended a grand banquet hosted by the King, where he once again encountered the Spanish Crown Prince, Antonio, and his princess consort.

Joseph cast a questioning glance at Eymond, who discreetly whispered,
"Your Highness, everything is in place. Monsieur Fouché has also deployed his men to assist."

Joseph nodded, reassured by the efficiency of his steward. With a composed smile, he approached Antonio.

After the customary exchange of pleasantries, Joseph took a seat to Antonio’s left. The royal chamberlain, perceptive as ever, immediately ordered the seating arrangements to be adjusted.

Joseph began discussing mechanical innovations, soon steering the conversation toward a new type of boring machine.
"Do you know, the British have made great strides in this field? Their machines can bore holes with an error margin smaller than two sheets of paper’s thickness. His Majesty personally oversaw adjustments, and now that boring machine is the most precise in all of Europe."

Antonio’s eyes lit up.
"Oh, dear Joseph, you must show me this incomparable machine!"

"Of course," Joseph replied, his real intention being to distract Antonio and create opportunities for others. "After the banquet, I’ll take you to the Royal Workshop. There’s much there you might find fascinating."

"Thank you so much!" Antonio exclaimed enthusiastically.

As a trumpet sounded from the east side of the hall, the maître d’ ceremoniously tapped his staff on the ground, signaling the start of the meal. Nobles serving as stewards placed two large and two small soup courses on the table.

Following court etiquette, conversation ceased, and everyone began to dine in silence.

While Joseph considered his next moves, he noticed Antonio happily twirling a spoon in his partridge soup, eliciting a faint sigh. Managing the affairs of such a distant cousin required considerable effort.

Over an hour later, the banquet concluded, and Antonio eagerly pulled Joseph toward the Royal Workshop.

Meanwhile, Antonio's princess consort, Louisa, expressed her disinterest in machines and announced her intention to join the gambling soirée.

Without hesitation, Antonio cheerfully bid her farewell. In the spirit of the times, European aristocrats often pursued separate interests, leaving one another to their own devices.

Louisa, accompanied by her confidant Godoy, made her way to the gaming hall, noting with amusement the many lovers tucked away in the corridors and alcoves along the way.

"These French are truly bold," she mused, cheeks flushed, as they entered the hall.

In the softly lit chamber, filled with the strains of gentle music, Louisa found a seat at a card table. The faint aroma of high-grade incense wafted through the air as she began to play.

Strangely, within half an hour, Louisa felt a flush of warmth, her thoughts wandering to the scenes of intimacy she had glimpsed earlier. Her mouth went dry.

"The fireplace here is too hot!" she muttered, setting her cards down and stepping outside for air. She turned to find Godoy, his appearance inexplicably more alluring than usual.

"Is everything arranged?" she asked, her voice a sultry whisper.

Godoy smiled.
"Rest assured. Juan and Negro are keeping watch. Everything will go perfectly."

Louisa’s eyes sparkled with delight. She asked,
"Have you found a suitable spot?"

"There are many. The French are known for their...spontaneity, so numerous private rooms have been prepared, well away from prying eyes."

Louisa thought for a moment, then smirked mischievously.
"No need. Follow me."

...

Meanwhile, at the Royal Workshop, Antonio was completely enthralled, marveling at the mechanical wonders on display. He examined each device with childlike curiosity, unaware of the orchestrated distractions surrounding him.

At one point, a servant entered with drinks and quickly relayed a message to Eymond, who discreetly informed Joseph.

"Oh? So she’s already indulging herself?" Joseph chuckled knowingly.

The scenes Louisa had witnessed earlier were, of course, no coincidence. Eymond had orchestrated them, ensuring that every glance she caught was staged to ignite her desires. Even the incense in the gaming hall had been laced with a special compound. With her disposition, resistance was unlikely.

Still, Joseph had not expected her to boldly invite Godoy into the royal chambers assigned to her and Antonio. She had even stationed two of Godoy’s men to monitor Antonio’s movements, ensuring she wouldn’t be interrupted.

But this was Joseph's domain. Her schemes, subtle as they might seem, were transparent to the agents of the Intelligence Bureau. Those two spies shadowing Antonio were already under surveillance themselves.

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