Chapter 1046: Let the Russian Cannons Keep Roaring
Joseph adopted an air of mystery. "It is a device capable of providing a continuous, controllable electrical current."
"That... how is that possible?" Coulomb exclaimed. "Wouldn't that mean we could recreate lightning in a laboratory?"
In his understanding of the world, lightning was the only source of continuous current; everything humans could generate was merely static electricity.
Yet the Crown Prince had just told him they were to design something called a "battery" to provide a sustained flow of power.
"You can think of it as a very weak form of lightning. In truth, controllability and measurability will be our primary focus going forward."
Coulomb could no longer contain his excitement. He bowed deeply and hurried toward the door. "Your Highness, I shall head to the laboratory at once..."
***
The following day.
Joseph had just returned to the Palace of Versailles after checking on the progress of the third laboratory when he saw Archbishop Talleyrand approaching with several Russians for an audience.
Nothing major should be happening at this point. What was he doing here?
'It couldn't be that Catherine II suffered an early stroke and went to meet her Maker, could it?'
It was only when Bezborodko smiled and performed a respectful bow with his hand over his chest that Joseph breathed a silent sigh of relief. "It is a pleasure to see you, Count Bezborodko. Welcome to Paris."
"Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress, has commanded me to bring several gifts for you, esteemed Crown Prince," Bezborodko said, bowing again and gesturing toward the chests held by the servants behind him. "She hopes they will be to your liking."
"Please convey my gratitude to Her Majesty," Joseph replied with a nod of acknowledgment. He casually picked up a gold cup inlaid with gemstones. "It seems something worth celebrating must have occurred."
Standing to the side, Talleyrand smiled. "Your Highness, General Zubov's army captured Khoy over two months ago. The Persians have already dispatched envoys to Saint Petersburg to beg for Her Majesty's forgiveness and have offered to pay an indemnity of two million rubles."
Joseph was internally stunned by the news.
Khoy was located just north of the Tabriz fortress. This meant the Russian army had occupied the entire Transcaucasia region and Armenia in a mere three or four months.
In his knowledge of history, it had taken Alexander I two and a half years of fighting before his troops finally reached the gates of Tabriz.
While the Napoleonic Wars had influenced that historical timeline, the Russian progress this time was remarkably swift.
Bezborodko added hastily, "This is all thanks to the vital intelligence you provided, Your Highness. Oh, and those excellent Charleville flintlock muskets—the soldiers at the front cannot stop praising them."
"Three months ago, General Gudovich ambushed the Persians south of Tbilisi, crushing that eunuch's main force in a single blow. Oh, please forgive my use of such crude language."
Talleyrand supplemented the report. "The Persians then fled all the way to Tabriz. Under General Zubov's fierce offensive, they had no choice but to request a ceasefire."
"A ceasefire?" Joseph asked Bezborodko with a neutral expression. "And does Her Imperial Majesty intend to accept it?"
"Her Majesty and the Marshals are still deliberating," Bezborodko replied. "However, it seems the lesson taught to the Persians this time has been sufficient."
Joseph frowned inwardly.
This war was ending far too quickly. If Persia surrendered so easily and the two nations signed a peace treaty, Britain would likely stop worrying about the situation in the Middle East.
The British didn't care if Persia lost territory; as long as Russia was satisfied and stopped its southward expansion, they would have no objections.
Therefore, Russia had to keep moving!
Joseph looked at Bezborodko and said, "Agha Mohammad is a usurper. He must maintain constant outward expansion to pacify his domestic opposition."
'Consequently, I judge that he is merely buying time to mobilize more troops.'
"Now is the perfect opportunity to follow up on your victory and crush him entirely."
"Please inform the Empress that I will fully support your country in the occupation of Shiraz."
At this time, Agha Mohammad had not yet moved the capital to Tehran; the Persian capital remained in Shiraz, the seat of the Zand dynasty.
Bezborodko had not expected the French to be so proactive in this matter. Surprised, he bowed. "I shall certainly relay your words to Her Majesty exactly as spoken."
Hardly had he finished speaking when the voice of a court official rang out: "The Crown Princess has arrived!"
Alexandra walked in with measured steps, performing the standard court etiquette perfectly. She greeted Joseph and the Russian minister in turn, exchanging pleasantries before turning to Bezborodko. "Where is the letter from my grandmother?"
The minister hurried to present Catherine II's letter to her. "Her Majesty misses you often."
"Archbishop Talleyrand will deliver my reply to you," Alexandra said as she tucked the letter away. She then asked, "I heard General Zubov has won a great victory?"
"Yes, Your Highness," Bezborodko replied, giving her a brief summary of the campaign.
Joseph pointed to the gifts scattered across the tables and floor. "These were sent by the Empress. See if there is anything you like."
Talleyrand stepped forward and pointed toward a necklace set with a massive emerald. "This necklace would suit the Crown Princess quite well," he suggested gallantly.
Alexandra's gaze swept over the gifts, but she curled her lip and looked at Bezborodko. "You see, my husband helped Her Majesty gain Transcaucasia, and she only sent this much?"
She then turned to Joseph with an exaggerated tone. "Your Highness, please be understanding of my grandmother. She spends her days worrying about military expenses and dealing with ministers who never stop embezzling her funds. Her finances are quite tight."
Such words would have been highly inappropriate in a formal diplomatic setting, but coming from a granddaughter as a joke about her grandmother, they carried a different weight.
She had heard back home that the French Crown Prince had sent shipments of arms several times and even helped her troublesome uncle with business, yet she hadn't seen her grandmother provide much in return.
Her current status was the perfect shield for voicing such grievances.
Bezborodko adjusted his collar awkwardly, trying to smooth things over. "Well, as you know, it is not yet the best season for furs. In the depth of winter, Count Bobrinsky will arrive with top-quality sables sent by Her Majesty."
"That is wonderful," Alexandra said happily. "There should be about two or three hundred pelts, right?"
Bezborodko could only nod helplessly. "Yes... yes, there will be that many."
Joseph felt a phantom urge to laugh. Top-tier Siberian sables were not cheap; the young girl had just earned him over a hundred thousand francs in a single breath.
In truth, he still underestimated the market. A single sable pelt could fetch at least 1,000 francs in Paris, and sometimes as much as 1,500. The value of 200 pelts was easily over 200,000 francs.
When Queen Mary sent an attendant to invite Bezborodko to a banquet, the minister took his leave. Joseph immediately whispered an instruction to Talleyrand: "It would be best if you traveled to Saint Petersburg afterward. You can take a few more flintlock muskets as a gift for the Empress."
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