Chapter 1228: Counterattack Against Russia
Joseph immediately motioned to Eman: "Please bring Monsieur Trésaguet back."
He then turned to Talleyrand: "The war reparations will be signed for ten million francs. However, the funds from the Milan and Genoa banks must first be paid to Sardinia, and then Sardinia will deliver them to us. Of course, have Colonel Joubert send soldiers to supervise this process.
"Please remember, our nation is always a staunch defender of order and rules."
"Yes, Your Royal Highness."
Before long, the Minister of Transport, who had not yet left the Palace of Versailles, returned to the Crown Prince's reception room.
When he learned that the Verdun-Trier railway line had received funding, his face lit up: "This is excellent, Your Royal Highness. Now, almost all those 'Russian forced laborers' will have work."
Joseph nodded: "Please submit the project budget proposal to the Ministry of Finance as soon as possible, and request the General Staff to allocate the prisoners of war."
"Yes, Your Royal Highness." Trésaguet thought for a moment, then probed, "This line should only require an investment of just over five million francs. If there is more funding, we could continue the railway to Cologne..."
Joseph nearly laughed in exasperation at this "insatiable" minister and immediately dismissed him.
If military expenditure hadn't been the top priority, building a railway to Cologne would undoubtedly generate immense economic benefits.
Cologne was the largest trade, economic, and financial hub in the lower Rhine River region, surrounded by numerous coal mines, and also an important military fortress.
Across the entire North German region, Cologne's economy was surpassed only by Marburg in Upper Hesse, Berlin, and Potsdam, ranking fourth.
Thinking of this, Joseph couldn't help but smile wryly.
Truth be told, railways connecting Paris to Lyon, Lyon to Marseille, and Paris to Bordeaux could all yield extremely generous economic returns.
But one step at a time, where was there so much money at present to fully roll out railway construction?
As he pondered, Eman knocked and entered with a Major.
The officer stepped forward, saluted, and handed Joseph a document: "Your Royal Highness, the General Staff is inquiring about the disposal of Suvorov's remains."
Joseph opened the document and saw that the General Staff primarily had two opinions.
One was to transport Suvorov's body back to Paris for display, to boost public morale. The second was to follow tradition and return it to Russia.
Joseph smiled, then signed the document: "Of course, it must be sent back, and a solemn handover ceremony should be arranged. Inform the Russians then that their Marshal was sent by the Coalition Forces to rescue the Prussians, but Blücher refused to cooperate, leading to his death in battle."
...
Saint Petersburg.
The Winter Palace.
"That's roughly the situation, Your Majesty." Count Arakcheyev bowed his head and said, "However, the Blücher Corps was still surrounded by French forces in Glarus.
"Currently, the Marshal's body has reached Klagenfurt."
Alexander I clenched his fists tightly, but no clear emotion was visible on his face.
He didn't care about the 50,000 Russian soldiers—he could raise that many men at any time. But the loss of equipment for tens of thousands of elite troops, and the fierce general Suvorov, left him deeply resentful.
Moreover, he had only recently been crowned, and the defeat in the overseas war would inevitably affect his prestige.
He had to quickly compensate for it with a victory.
He knew well that the Russian populace tolerated his coup and patricide because they believed he could lead Russia to strength.
If he failed to do so, he might face the same fate as his grandfather and father.
He calmly looked at Arakcheyev: "Where is the Korsakov Corps?"
"They should have just passed Vienna, Your Majesty."
Alexander I nodded: "Tell him to fight in the way he believes is right, and not to always be manipulated by those Germans."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Also, have the War Committee dispatch another 25,000 soldiers, to be commanded by General Kutuzov, and send them to Western Europe immediately."
Count Arakcheyev hurriedly advised: "Your Majesty, it will be difficult for us to send so many more troops abroad..."
"Have the British provide assistance." Alexander I said coldly, "Tell them this is compensation for the Suvorov Corps!"
He had already placed his bets at the table; he couldn't afford to lose. To win more, he had to raise the stakes.
The high-spirited and energetic Tsar had yet to realize that a domestic economic storm was silently approaching.
In the office of the Donbas United Coal Company in Yekaterinoslav, southwestern Russia, adjacent to Crimea.
Viscount Olivier frowned as he looked at the "coal merchant" before him, then spoke in a low voice after a long moment: "I am honored to serve His Royal Highness, but if I arbitrarily raise prices, it will certainly arouse the Russians' suspicion...
"You know, many people in Saint Petersburg are coveting my assets. These people play dirty, and I absolutely cannot give them an excuse.
"Moreover, the British likely won't raise prices along with me. Although their coal production in Krasnoyarsk isn't high, it can still influence market prices."
Due to early strategic planning, two French companies, led by Viscount Olivier, controlled the best coal and iron mines in the Donbas region.
Later, to counter French influence, the British also invested heavily there, but they only acquired the leftover mines, and their output never reached a quarter of the French companies' production.
Mr. Belmont, the "coal merchant," smiled: "You don't need to worry about that. Just do as 'that esteemed figure' instructed. Even if coal and iron prices don't fluctuate then, he will fulfill his promise.
"Oh, rest assured, everything will be within the rules. The Russians won't find anything to hold against you."
Viscount Olivier hesitated for a few more seconds, then nodded vigorously: "Alright, I'll follow His Royal Highness's... I mean, that esteemed figure's instructions."
He knew that actively causing fluctuations in coal and iron prices would certainly incur losses for him, but His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had promised him that his factories in France would thereafter receive free authorization for the latest steelmaking technology.
It was said that this new technology was 50 to 100 times more efficient than crucible steelmaking, and the quality of the steel produced was also far superior to crucible steel. It even required no coal consumption!
It was foreseeable that this new technology would completely render crucible steelmaking obsolete, and the potential profits were unimaginable.
Although his company in Nancy represented only a third of his total assets, he couldn't stay in Russia forever. Once he earned enough money, he would eventually return to France to live.
Therefore, the Sirk Steel Company was his true core business. For this, he was entirely willing to accept losses from his Russian companies.
Belmont then slipped a piece of paper to Olivier and instructed: "We have channels in Moscow and Perm. If you need to spread the word, please let me know at any time."
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