Chapter 1295: Tearing Open Austria's Wounds
The French Crown Prince's speech on "Peace and Post-War Reflection" lasted over forty minutes before concluding, and solemn music once again filled the square.
As per Joseph's instructions, all ceremonial formalities were canceled. The French and Austrian representatives sat directly across from each other at a pre-arranged long table, each taking up a copy of the drafted Treaty of Mödling.
Dozens of officials from German and Italian states sat on the outer perimeter, witnessing the signing ceremony live.
There was little to say about the treaty's contents. Ludwig von Cobentzel, after presenting the plenipotentiary certificate granted by the Holy Roman Emperor, turned with a complex expression to glance at the French Crown Prince seated at the head of the table. He sighed softly, then picked up his pen and signed his name to the treaty.
Talleyrand signed his copy and exchanged texts with the Austrian representative, bringing the entire armistice signing ceremony to a close. The whole process took less than fifteen minutes.
When Archduke Leopold declared the ceremony over, reporters immediately swarmed forward, beginning to ask questions related to the treaty. Yet, most were still replaying the profound ideas and insights from the French Crown Prince's speech that had stirred their souls, quietly resolving that tomorrow's newspaper front page must feature this address!
There was none of the usual victor's grandstanding; in fact, the French diplomats who had come to Mödling barely even acknowledged the reporters. The entire French delegation, led by Joseph, departed.
Inside the white carriage, only Charles still gazed back at the small town, seemingly lost in thought.
Joseph, meanwhile, had already begun discussing future diplomatic affairs with Talleyrand.
Count György was currently the "Deputy King" of Hungary.
Joseph toyed with his teacup and inquired, "Are there any forces worth cultivating?"
Talleyrand, deeply familiar with the Hungarian situation, immediately responded without hesitation: "Within Hungary, there are the Bethlen family and the Kálmáncsehi family. They had once argued during Leopold II's reign that 'the Habsburgs have no right to rule Hungary,' though they have since fallen silent after the Hungarian Parliament gained more power.
"Beyond them, there's the 'Exiled Kuruc' organization currently in the Tekirdağ province of the Ottoman Empire. They are followers of the former Transylvanian Duke Rákóczi. Although Rákóczi died over sixty years ago, this organization still occasionally infiltrates Hungary to distribute pamphlets or hold secret speeches."
Joseph pondered for a moment before instructing, "Let's opt for the latter. Arrange for the Ottoman Empire to provide them with annual funds, and then send them some printing presses."
Large nobles like the Bethlen family were difficult to satisfy, whereas overseas resistance movements like the "Exiled Kuruc" could accomplish much with just tens of thousands of francs.
While they posed no military threat to Vienna, they were highly promising in their ability to incite Hungarian dissatisfaction with the Habsburg family.
"Understood, Your Highness," Talleyrand hastily jotted down in his notebook.
"But that's not enough..." Joseph mused. "We need to find points of contention between Hungarian and Austrian interests. Speaking of which, what are Hungary's major industries?"
Talleyrand replied, "Furs, grain, salt, wine, and silver mines, Your Highness."
Joseph couldn't help but frown. "Only furs have any significant market..."
Currently, France had grain from North Africa, salt mines in the Rhineland, and silver mines in Poland, all at very low costs. Importing from Hungary simply wasn't viable.
Just then, Charles interjected, "Brother, I remember Hungary grows a lot of chili peppers. I even had some for lunch yesterday, and they fetch a good price in Paris."
Talleyrand smiled faintly. "Your Highness, to my knowledge, Hungary's annual chili pepper exports do not exceed two hundred tons."
Joseph, however, nodded slightly. Chili peppers were a miraculous seasoning for common folk; adding a bit to any vegetable instantly transformed it into a delicacy.
They could be used both to increase the French public's satisfaction with food and to serve as a lever to pry Austria and Hungary apart.
He turned to Talleyrand. "As long as there's profit, their export volume will quickly increase. You need to swiftly arrange trade routes that can bypass Vienna's oversight, allowing us to import large quantities of chili peppers and furs from Hungary. I will have Monsieur Bailly assist you.
"Oh, and you'll also need to find some famous Hungarian chefs to bring back. I want to promote chili peppers at Versailles."
Hungary was the most unstable "bomb" within Austria. To rapidly weaken Austria, the best strategy was to accelerate the trend of Hungarian secession.
Even if complete separation wasn't achieved, each independence movement Hungary stirred up would inflict severe internal damage on Austria.
This first required Hungary to gain an economic lifeline independent of Austria. When Austria began to interfere with their interests, the truth that 'ruining a man's livelihood is like killing his parents' would begin to take effect.
Although the chili pepper and fur trade might only amount to a few million francs annually, if the interests of even a dozen influential grand nobles were harmed, it could unleash astonishing destructive power.
As the motorcade reached the outskirts of Vienna, Joseph inquired about the situation with Russia.
"Saint Petersburg has not yet shown any intention of surrendering," Talleyrand reported. "According to my intelligence, Kutuzov's army has returned to Kyiv and is replenishing its forces there."
Joseph wasn't surprised. Given the Russian character, forcing them to admit defeat would practically be a death blow.
Moreover, the Russian army had suffered heavy losses in Switzerland and on the Baden front. If Alexander I were to announce a ceasefire now, the Russian nobility would likely begin plotting a coup.
"Take half of Austria's first war reparations payment and aid the Poles. They've long wanted to reclaim their lost eastern territories."
Joseph then asked, "Has there been any response from Constantinople?"
"Yes, Your Highness," Talleyrand replied, a smile playing on his lips. "However, I believe that with the signing of the Treaty of Mödling, Sultan Salem III will make a decision."
When Russia first mobilized its troops, Joseph had sent envoys to contact the Ottomans, hoping they would cooperate to exert strategic pressure on Russia. But perhaps the Anti-French Coalition's power had been too intimidating at the time, scaring Sultan Salem III into not agreeing.
Joseph nodded. "Go to Constantinople once more. Take a ship full of cannons with you; we captured quite a few on the battlefield this time."
"Understood, Your Highness."
Meanwhile, the next day at noon, Metternich's assistant finally managed to procure a copy of the Treaty of Dresden from the Vienna Foreign Minister's archives.
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