Chapter 1293: Peace and the Post-War Order
The number of Indians in the Ohio to Kentucky region was originally small. After being largely driven out by the Americans, this area, which was one and a half times the size of Portugal, was left with only sixty to seventy thousand Indians.
So Joseph decided to let the relocated Americans stay—there were roughly sixty thousand of them. As long as they were given enough farmland and slightly reduced taxes, who would remember the United States of America a decade or two from now?
From now on, the Principality of Iroquois would operate with French advisors assisting the Indians in government and military administration, while American immigrants provided technical expertise, working together to build a beautiful homeland.
Although there were only a little over a hundred thousand people here currently, with the means to combat smallpox, the unnatural death rate among the Indians had already significantly decreased.
Given their exceptional fertility, in just one or two generations, the population of the Principality of Iroquois could swell to hundreds of thousands, becoming a force to be reckoned with on the North American continent.
Moreover, it was the French who helped the Indians reclaim their homeland and establish their nation, so the Principality of Iroquois was naturally a loyal follower of France.
Major Thiébault remarked, "Now the Americans won't have the strength to push westward for at least several years."
As he spoke, he opened the report Léotard had handed him. Seeing phrases like "2,300 enemy combatants killed, 4,700 captured," "12 cannons and over 5,200 flintlock muskets seized," and "more than 40,000 Protestants called to return to the Holy See," a smile bloomed on his face. "Once I'm back in the office, I'll immediately report the situation in North America to Versailles."
...
The Holy Roman Emperor's temporary palace.
Ludwig von Cobenzl entered after knocking, a relieved expression on his face. He bowed to Franz II, his hand over his chest, and declared, "Your Majesty, the French have finally agreed to make concessions."
He walked past Count Spielmann and the other ministers, presenting a stack of documents to the Emperor as if expecting praise. "This is the revised draft of the armistice agreement."
Indeed, yesterday midday, the British envoy to Austria had brought them news of America's defeat. Franz II immediately dispatched his foreign minister to meet Archbishop Talleyrand.
In truth, Franz II had been ready to surrender ever since Archduke Charles's main forces were routed, but he had hoped to leverage the situation in Louisiana to secure more favorable terms. Now that all bargaining chips were gone, he simply wished to bring an end to their defeat as quickly as possible.
Franz II took a deep breath, opened the armistice agreement, and skipped past the preliminary formalities of the first two pages to the specific clauses—
"One: All Austrian forces in Passau, Bohemia, Pressburg, and other locations shall immediately lay down their arms and surrender to the French army..."
Little Cobenzl observed the Emperor's expression from the side and explained, "Your Majesty, the French have agreed not to garrison troops in the Ore Mountains or Linz."
"Furthermore, the French army will not enter Vienna, and the signing ceremony for the armistice agreement can be held in Mödling."
"And General Wurmser's army will be permitted to return to Vienna, though, of course, only after the agreement is signed."
Before Franz II could even show a hint of pleasure, the foreign minister continued, "However, we must dismantle the fortifications in the Ore Mountains pass..."
"So be it," Franz II nodded resignedly.
To avoid French control of the Ore Mountains pass and to save the capital, giving up a few fortresses was not entirely unacceptable.
Right, Joseph simply wanted to open a gateway for Prussia to move south.
Franz II continued reading.
"Two: Austria shall pay France 70 million florins in reparations, Baden 6 million florins, and Venice reparations..."
Sure enough, not a single florin of the reparations had been reduced, causing his eyelid to twitch involuntarily.
Little Cobenzl quickly added, "Your Majesty, Archbishop Talleyrand, at my insistence, agreed to extend the payment period to 15 years."
According to calculations by the French Ministry of Finance, 14 million francs annually was Austria's absolute limit; pressing them harder wouldn't conjure up more money.
"Oh, and the French have also agreed to abolish the Seine-Rhine River Agreement and will not demand that our nation open its markets."
This time, both the Austrian monarch and his ministers looked visibly relieved. It was that very trade agreement that had previously flooded Austria with French goods, leading to the decline of their domestic industries and sending several million florins to France each year. Now, they could finally get rid of that damnable thing!
Only Metternich, standing in the back, frowned deeply, as if a troubling thought had occurred to him.
Franz II's gaze moved downwards.
"Three: Austria shall immediately withdraw from the Anti-French Coalition and solemnly promise never again to enter into any form of military alliance with Britain, Russia, or Saxony..."
...
"Five: The Holy Roman Emperor shall declare recognition of the newly established Principality of Cologne and the Diocese of Westphalia. He shall recognize the merger of the two Hessian counties into the new Principality of Hesse..."
Little Cobenzl added, "Your Majesty, the French have promised to allow Archbishop Maximilian to return to Vienna."
"I understand." Franz II sighed irritably. The Empire's power could no longer influence North Germany; what difference would it make if he didn't acknowledge Cologne and Hesse?
However, Count Colloredo interjected, "Your Majesty, the riots and fragmentation in Cologne were triggered by the British insistence on allowing Archbishop Friedrich to control the Diocese of Osnabrück. They have a responsibility to compensate our nation for its losses."
The Holy Roman Emperor nodded. "You shall be responsible for discussing this with the British."
The subsequent articles of the armistice agreement concerned post-war international diplomacy and Austria's restitution of occupied Polish territories, among other matters.
It wasn't until Franz II read the ninth clause, "The Holy Roman Emperor shall declare recognition of the Treaty of Dresden..." that he finally, in exasperation, tossed the document onto the table and asked Little Cobenzl,
"So, when is the agreement to be signed?"
"Archbishop Talleyrand requested the 2nd of next month, Your Majesty."
Franz II waved a hand at him. "Go and make the arrangements. At least we don't have to do this in Vienna..."
With everything settled, the Austrian ministers successively exited the Emperor's reception hall.
Metternich, however, returned to his temporary residence filled with worry. He immediately pulled out numerous documents and began to calculate, pen in hand.
Night fell.
As he looked at the data before him, his expression grew solemn.
Although the abolition of the Seine-Rhine River Agreement meant French goods would no longer flood the Austrian market, Austrian products were equally likely to be blocked from the German region by tariff barriers due to the signing of the Stuttgart Trade Agreement. As for Italy, not only was there a French-dominated common market there, but given the current level of Italian animosity towards Austria, normal trade would be exceedingly difficult.
"More goods must enter the British and Russian markets to maintain the Empire's trade balance," he muttered, frowning. "We need to sign a new trade agreement with the British."
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