Chapter 1271: A New Order in North Germany
Franz Egon paused, a glint of excitement flashing in his eyes. "Talleyrand also indicated that, if things go smoothly, the Holy See might promote me to Cardinal Archbishop."
The room quickly descended into a dispute.
But barely half an hour later, Ferdinand, who advocated loyalty to the Archbishop of Cologne, was expelled, and one of Franz Egon's confidants hastily returned to Paderborn in the early hours of the morning.
...
In Talleyrand's reception room.
Count Friedrich Wilhelm of Nassau, with a beaming smile, bowed to Talleyrand and said, "Thank you, Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince. In fact, Nassau has long wished to join the 'Seine-Rhine Trade Agreement'. As for the mine share issue, I will immediately instruct Adleit to handle it once I return."
Just now, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs had promised to hand over Düsseldorf and southern Westphalia to Nassau's rule.
The territory of their small Rhine-side nation instantly expanded by 120%!
Now Nassau was nearly as large as Mainz, and with its already excellent economy, it was destined to become an influential nation in North Germany in the future.
If they could use this to enter the French and even the Italian markets, it would further boost Nassau's economy.
Of course, Friedrich Wilhelm would also support all of Talleyrand's decisions in subsequent votes, and side with France in North German diplomatic affairs.
After he left, the Archbishop of Mainz eagerly entered Talleyrand's room.
Friedrich Karl von Erthal first enthusiastically praised the French Crown Prince and Talleyrand, then cautiously said, "Your Excellency, Archbishop, you see, regarding the ownership of Rothenburg..."
Rothenburg was a place Mainz had always longed for; obtaining it would allow direct trade with Bavaria.
Talleyrand smiled, gesturing for him to drink his tea, then shook his head and said, "Rothenburg is better suited for Baden's administration."
He observed Friedrich Karl's disappointed expression, deliberately paused for a moment, before unhurriedly saying, "I heard you have a son, a Lothar Franz, isn't that right?"
Friedrich Karl was startled and sprang to his feet, waving his hands repeatedly. "You absolutely mustn't believe rumors, Your Excellency, Archbishop."
Although these prominent Archbishops undoubtedly all had illegitimate children, publicly, none dared to admit it.
Talleyrand nodded calmly, motioning for him to sit down. "There's no need to be nervous. We are friends; there's nothing we can't discuss.
"You see, poor Lothar cannot even bear the Erthal surname. When the day comes that you are called to your final rest, he will likely have to leave for distant lands; otherwise, the Schönborn or Wittelsbach families would very likely seize all the money you leave for him."
As an archdiocese, Mainz's ruler, the Archbishop, was elected. The two families Talleyrand mentioned were powerful contenders for the Archbishopric of Mainz.
In fact, the Erthal family had only been elected Archbishop twice in several hundred years, the last time being over a century ago.
Friedrich Karl couldn't help but be stunned. "What do you mean?"
Talleyrand smiled like an old fox. "Do you not wish for the Erthal family to forever enjoy your current power?"
"But, how could that be possible?"
"With the aid of my nation, it is not impossible." Talleyrand took a sip of his black tea. "For example, first grant your Lothar the title of Count. Then you would announce Mainz's Secularization Reform and establish an assembly, which would then elect Count Lothar as the new ruler of Mainz."
Friedrich Karl's heart began to pound wildly. He had painstakingly climbed to the position of Archbishop, and naturally wished to pass it on to his descendants.
He suppressed his excitement and asked, "Your Excellency, Archbishop, the Schönborn and Wittelsbach families would never agree. They hold immense influence in Mainz."
Talleyrand said indifferently, "Prussia, Hesse-Darmstadt, Nassau, Württemberg, and Bavaria will all support Count Lothar. Oh, and my nation as well."
Friedrich Karl sprang up again, placed a hand over his chest, and bowed deeply to Talleyrand in a gesture unbefitting his status. "This, I truly don't know how to express my gratitude!"
With the unanimous support of Prussia, France, and all of Mainz's neighboring states, who would dare not vote for his Lothar?
For example, the Schönborn family's main financial backer was Bavaria; as long as Bavaria supported him, they could securely hold a majority of seats in the assembly.
Talleyrand smiled and nodded. "These are all the Crown Prince's intentions."
"Oh, the great Son of Divine Favor, may God forever bless him. I will go and personally thank His Royal Highness tomorrow morning!"
After Friedrich Karl finished his effusive words of gratitude, Talleyrand continued, "By the way, let's discuss Mainz joining the trade agreement.
"Oh, and also, some 'internal affairs' of the Holy See might occur in northern Aschaffenburg in a while. You simply need to act as if you saw nothing when the time comes."
"Understood, everything will be as you instruct."
Starting from the seventh day of the Stuttgart Summit, the progress of various affairs suddenly accelerated.
Proposals for the allocation of unowned lands were passed one after another, and the balance of power in North Germany underwent monumental changes—
Baden, as the most loyal subordinate who had staked everything on France, received the most generous rewards. All lands west of the Neckar River, along with northern Breisgau, Mannheim, and Rothenburg, were all allocated to Baden, expanding its territory to 260% of its former size.
Although Württemberg had previously been forced to join the Coalition Forces, after the British and Russian armies departed, it immediately switched allegiance to France and thus gained some rewards, mainly a small portion of western Ansbach. And as compensation for ceding some territory along the Neckar River to Baden, it received lands west of Ulm.
Bavaria obtained Nuremberg and Schellenberg, as well as Ulm and eastern Ansbach. Not only did it recover the territory lost during the last Anti-French Coalition, but it also made a slight gain.
Hesse-Darmstadt obtained the majority of Frankfurt, as well as some scattered lands in Westphalia.
Nassau obtained Düsseldorf and other areas.
Würzburg obtained a portion of Bamberg.
Brunswick obtained Goslar. Yes, this was the territory of Duke Brunswick, Commander-in-Chief of the Prussian army. He was currently fighting alongside the French army, yet his own lands had suddenly expanded. In comparison, he had followed Prussia for decades before, constantly subsidizing military expenses...
Prussia obtained most of Hanover's territory.
Even the Netherlands received some land west of the Ems River.
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