Novels online

Chapter 1118: Partitioning India

"An alliance?" Joseph paused mid-step, a smile playing on his lips. "My father-in-law certainly doesn't lack for imagination."

Talleyrand stole a glance at him and said cautiously, "Your Highness, I believe this might not be the most opportune moment to form an alliance with Russia."

Joseph grunted in acknowledgement and continued toward the Hall of Mirrors.

The ideal state for Franco-Russian relations was to maintain strategic distance while steadily drawing closer through trade.

If the two nations became too intimate, it would only spark fear across the European continent and the Ottoman Empire, severely compromising France's geopolitical position.

Such a development was exactly what the British were hoping for.

Of course, France could still maintain a certain level of flirtatious diplomacy with Russia. This would keep Prussia and Austria, caught in the middle, under enough strategic pressure that they wouldn't dare undermine French interests.

However, this balance had to be struck with precision. Poland would also feel the pressure, likely even more acutely than Prussia or Austria.

Even if only for the sake of Poland, France could not accept a formal alliance with the Russians.

Seeing that the Crown Prince seemed to agree with him, Talleyrand breathed a quiet sigh of relief. He had been worried that Joseph's affection for his wife might sway him toward an alliance.

Taking two quick steps to keep pace, he added, "Your Highness, reports from Saint Petersburg indicate that the Tsar has decided to withdraw his troops from Transcaucasia."

Joseph frowned slightly, though he quickly accepted the news.

Paul I utterly rejected his mother's strategic legacy, so it wasn't surprising that he wanted to end the war with Persia.

However, in history, Russia should still have been skirmishing with Persian forces around Georgia at this time. In this reality, they had already advanced as far as Zanjan—occupying nearly 370 miles more territory than they had historically. To abandon it so casually was staggering.

He truly was the most "brilliant" Tsar Russia had seen in a century.

As they spoke, they spotted Alexandra waiting ahead in her ceremonial finery.

Talleyrand quickly offered a respectful bow and stepped aside for the Crown Princess, trailing behind at a distance with the other diplomats.

Joseph and Alexandra entered the Hall of Mirrors hand in hand. The court orchestra immediately transitioned into a more solemn melody, and the assembled nobles bowed low, parting to create a path for them.

At the front of the crowd, Count Ostermann, the current Russian Foreign Minister, and Count Stroganoff, the Ambassador to France, were conversing with Queen Mary. Spotting Joseph, they turned and bowed deeply. "Pray allow me to offer you my highest respects, Your Royal Highness."

Moments later, the men clustered around Joseph, leaving their female companions to continue attending to the Queen.

After a series of tedious diplomatic formalities and the customary opening dance, Joseph finally managed to pull aside the French and Russian diplomats to the eastern side of the hall to discuss serious matters.

"So, your country intends to fully withdraw from Transcaucasia?" Talleyrand feigned an expression of utter shock. "That is quite sudden."

Ostermann nodded with a touch of helplessness. "Indeed, Your Excellency. His Majesty the Tsar has issued the decree. General Zubov is to return to Orenburg in April."

Talleyrand glanced at the Crown Prince before adopting a troubled look. "But if you do that, your cotton harvests in Central Asia might be jeopardized. This could affect our cotton agreement..."

"There is no need for concern," Ostermann interjected quickly. "His Majesty has decided to sign a peace treaty with Persia as soon as possible and even seek an alliance."

An alliance between Russia and Persia? Talleyrand nearly let his eyes bulge out of his head.

The Russian Foreign Minister continued, "This will ensure that the Persians do not attack Khiva and Bukhara."

"Furthermore, our nation will gain a passage through Persia to India."

He looked toward the French Crown Prince, who seemed focused on the elegant dancing of the nobles. "His Majesty the Tsar hopes to join forces with Great France to jointly control India—the strategic center of the world!"

"Our two nations shall each provide thirty thousand soldiers. Your forces could choose to traverse the Black Sea and land in Georgia to rendezvous with our army before proceeding to Afghanistan."

"Or perhaps land in Syria and follow the Euphrates into Persia. Our forces would simultaneously depart from Orenburg..."

Even a diplomatic genius like Talleyrand was momentarily stunned, unsure how to respond. Inwardly, he could only marvel at the Tsar's diplomatic strategy—it was truly wild, a flight of pure fancy.

Only Joseph remained calm. He knew all too well that what Ostermann had just described was identical to Paul I's historical plan to partition India.

In history, it was only after Napoleon defeated the Second Coalition that Russia recognized French power and proposed a joint invasion of India in 1800.

In this timeline, France had already demonstrated sufficient strength, and the marriage alliance between the two houses had further fueled Paul I's grand ambitions.

Joseph soon noticed that all the French officials had fallen silent, their eyes turning toward him in unison.

He gave a soft cough and turned to Ostermann with a smile. "Well, it is certainly a grand design."

The Count was startled. The Crown Prince's reaction was almost identical to the Tsar's own words. Could this joint campaign actually happen?

Joseph mused, "However, as you know, India is quite distant. We must first secure a reliable logistics route, whether through Central Asia or Persia. This will require extensive preparation."

"Moreover, the Afghans are likely to refuse us entry into Kabul. That is a matter that must be resolved beforehand."

"I suggest we wait until all preparations are finalized before signing a formal alliance treaty. This will minimize the time the British have to organize their defenses."

'Of course,' Joseph thought, knowing better than anyone that invading India through Central Asia was an absolute impossibility.

Mapping technology in this era was primitive. Neither France nor Russia truly grasped the logistical nightmare of marching through Persia and Central Asia.

Historically, twenty-two thousand Russian soldiers had set out from Orenburg, enduring deserts, droughts, storms, and temperatures reaching minus thirty degrees Celsius.

Before they even caught sight of the Afghan border, a third of their horses had perished, and non-combat casualties among the soldiers were catastrophic.

Meanwhile, Khiva and Bukhara had been squeezed dry providing supplies for the Russian army; domestic famines broke out, forcing them to cease all logistical support.

In the end, Russia spent millions of rubles only to reap thousands of corpses before making a hasty retreat.

As for Napoleon, he had never taken Paul I's plan seriously and hadn't dispatched a single soldier.

However, Joseph had no intention of rejecting Paul I. Instead, he would applaud the idea, hoping to goad the Russian army into actually launching an offensive into Afghanistan.