Life of Being a Crown Prince in France

As a country that once faced off against France in Southern Netherlands, the Dutch Prime Minister’s reception was far from as good as that of the Danes.

Schmelpenink waited for over three hours in a small room on the second floor of the Palace of Versailles before finally being granted an audience with the Crown Prince of France.

However, he left Joseph’s parlor with a despondent look after less than twenty minutes.

The fact is, the Netherlands could offer nothing that could sway France at the moment.

He and several “Dutch People’s Party” members discussed for a long time, only to realize they could offer France a loan of just over 1.1 million Dutch guilders.

Moreover, since their party represented the interests of financial capitalists, they couldn’t even lower the interest rate.

Joseph naturally did not want to get involved in Dutch affairs for a mere 13 million franc loan.

Back then, he helped these liberals defeat William V, but they turned around and followed England in intervening in Southern Netherlands. Now, letting William V teach them a lesson wouldn’t be so bad.

Even if William V returned to power, it wouldn’t affect France much.

After all, even William V’s backer, Prussia, has already bowed to France. After experiencing a civil war, he might be more Pro-French in wanting to stabilize his rule than a liberal government would be.

Joseph had just finished lunch when Eman reminded him in his ear, “Your Highness, the Ottoman Sultan’s envoy is preparing for an audience and is expected to arrive at the Palace of Versailles in an hour.”

Joseph rubbed the center of his forehead wearily.

Recently, envoys from various countries have been appearing at the Palace of Versailles almost incessantly. Those of high enough rank require his presence; obviously, Talleyrand and Saigul received even more.

After defeating the Anti-French Alliance—the British indeed continue to independently support the “Alliance,” but at least the land wars have ended—France had become the political focus of the European Continent.

Almost every country was readjusting its diplomatic policies with France.

Overall, they hurried to pay tribute to France, or at the very least, ensure they didn’t offend it.

According to convention, the Sultan’s envoy would generally be received by Louis XVI and his wife, but Joseph currently didn’t want Franco-Ottoman relations to be too conspicuous, so he arranged a relatively simple diplomatic procedure instead.

After completing a lengthy religious ceremony, the Ottoman envoy Hamoud Zagelos followed Joseph into the Peace Hall at the Palace of Versailles.

“His Majesty the Sultan asks me to extend his most sincere blessings to you, honorable Crown Prince,” Zagelos bowed and gave a courtesy before instructing servants to bring in boxes of gifts, “This is His Majesty the Sultan’s generosity to his ally, wishing them to bring you prosperity.”

Soon, the large and small boxes filled a corner of the hall, all opened to reveal a dazzling display. Well, the Ottomans preferred to hit you right in the face with gold, silver, and jewels.

By rough estimate, their value was over two to three million francs, much more lavish than what the Dutch offered.

However, Joseph immediately noticed that the envoy had used a term not heard in a long time—ally.

He suddenly became cautious.

It was like an ex-girlfriend from over a decade ago suddenly sending you gifts, softly calling you “dear.” Their intention surely wasn’t small.

Sure enough, after Zagelos elaborated on the traditional Franco-Ottoman friendship and the recent successes of the countries’ Mediterranean shipping cooperation, he cautiously shifted the topic to the internal unrest in Austria:

“…that evil nation, now paying a heavy price for waging war against the great France!

“The tens of thousands of rebels in Transylvania and Slavonia are a curse from the Lord, causing decay, wailing, and demise.

“You know, our nation suffered the theft of much land by Austrian robbers and the Imperial citizens of Wallachia had been enslaved by them for over half a century, suffering endless abuse.

“The Grand Vizier hopes that seizing the opportunity of the robbers’ weakness, we can recover the Empire’s northwestern territories. It’s also a follow-up punishment against robbers daring to offend France!

Joseph’s expression remained unaltered, though he sighed inwardly, indeed, people rush to kick a wall when it’s down. With Austria just entering a period of decline, you have Prussia sharpening its blades to the north, and now the Ottomans are getting ready in the south.

If he didn’t lend the Habsburg family a hand, they might well be done for.

It’s just that helping Austria by depleting national resources was somewhat unsettling.

Oh well, let’s consider what benefits France could get from aiding Austria.

The money is a lost cause; they likely can’t even fully pay the 75 million francs in war reparations.

Territory… Austria seems to only have core regions left.

How about politically?

Joseph suddenly brightened.

Right, the Emperor of Sanctum still retains some political influence.

The many small states in Germany, even if following inertia, should more or less respect Vienna’s instructions.

And isn’t there something at hand that requires substantial participation from small countries?

If he could get the dozens of Holy Roman Empire states to join the International Maritime Convention, and then bring in the small states of Italy, the number of member states would soar.

He could then change the promotion of the International Maritime Convention to indicate that its member states cover vast regions from Northern Europe to Eastern Europe, and even North Africa, numbering over 60, truly the internationally recognized maritime code of conduct.

Hmm, it’d be best to get the Ottomans into the Maritime Convention this time.

Wouldn’t momentum be achieved at once?

Previously he thought it might take over a decade to gradually advance this, but if he could get a large number of Holy Roman Empire states to “support the scene,” the process might just be shortened to a year or two!

Even though Britain could still rely on its powerful navy to show off across the oceans, the cost would be becoming the public enemy of Europe.

Thinking of this, Joseph paused.

Forcing Austria to order the Holy Roman Empire states to “join the group,” meant helping them face threats from Prussia and the Ottoman Empire.

Sending troops and spending money aside, they would become enemies with those two countries.

Especially the Ottomans. Franco-Ottoman trade was currently thriving.

How unwilling…

His mind raced with thoughts of whether it was possible to help Austria get through this crisis with the help of other forces?

For example, the Netherlands.

Hmm, Joseph didn’t view Schmelpenink’s 13 million franc loan with a 10% interest favorably, but for Austria, it might be a crucial “life-saving blood.”

Joseph shook his head to himself, for military expenses alone, Austria would still find it difficult to fend off assaults from both north and south.

However, Archduke Karl was now beginning to command the Austrian Army; if he could gain time for him, this military genius might indeed achieve victories through piecemeal engagements.

So, could the Ottomans delay dispatching troops?

Unless he cut off the Ottomans’ munitions supply or such, but then he’d offend the Ottomans.

Then, could Prussia wait a few months?

Joseph chuckled to himself, that was even more impossible. Prussian forces had already moved into Silesia, could they honestly wait idly by?

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