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Chapter 1345: Entering the Game

It's important to remember that while Venice was one of the main battlegrounds of the last Anti-French Coalition, its more prosperous areas, such as Venice City and Treviso, remained untouched by the fighting.

Furthermore, it was primarily the Austrians fighting in Northern Italy; the Russian army had merely passed through a few times. Yet, France demanded 12 million francs in reparations for Venice.

Count Segur continued, his expression haughty, "And to Milan, war reparations of 4 million francs..."

Upon hearing this, the Milanese Foreign Minister looked a little embarrassed.

In the previous war, the Russian army had never even set foot on Milanese territory. They had only plundered a few Milanese merchant caravans within Swiss borders and killed just over twenty Milanese soldiers in battle.

To demand 4 million for that was truly outrageous.

Segur then announced the largest sum: "To our nation, war reparations of 32 million francs."

He cleared his throat, glancing at the Russian Foreign Minister: "Furthermore, Russia must immediately withdraw from the Anti-French Coalition and pledge never to form any alliance with Britain or Austria.

"Russia must prohibit the sale of any military supplies to Britain. The Mediterranean Security Organization will establish a checkpoint in Riga to inspect all Russian vessels entering the Baltic Sea..."

While the term used was "military supplies" at the moment, if such an agreement were signed, France would ultimately decide what precisely qualified as military-grade. Wood could be used for warships, iron ingots for firearms, and furs for military uniforms—meaning absolutely nothing could be sold to Britain.

With France leading the way, other member states of the Mediterranean Security Organization made exorbitant demands, ranging from trade clauses to military scale and diplomatic restrictions, practically treating Russia like a third-rate nation to be "abused."

By the time all the nations had finished their statements, Vorontsov's face had turned ashen.

In truth, starting from the war reparations, the demands had already far exceeded Russia's acceptable limits. If Russia could produce over seventy million francs, they would have long since pummeled Poland, the Ottoman Empire, and other nations into submission. Why would they bother coming here to be humiliated?

As for restrictions on troop numbers and the like, that was even more impossible.

To force Russia to limit its army to under 120,000 men would be even more agonizing than forbidding them alcohol.

Vorontsov gritted his teeth and continued with the negotiation process, reading Russia's demands: "...No member state of the Mediterranean Security Organization shall provide aid to Poland, the Ottoman Empire, or Persia.

"All nations must recognize Russia's territorial claims to the West Bank of the Dnieper River, as well as Moldavia, Transcaucasia, and other regions...

"Russia shall be granted unrestricted navigation rights through the Mediterranean Sea... and normal trade relations with all participating nations in the negotiations shall be restored..."

And with that, the first day of negotiations concluded.

It was a complete 'chicken talking to a duck' situation; no conditions could be agreed upon.

Yes, Joseph knew full well that Russia would never accept such terms. His goal was to let Russia, through endless haggling, gradually drag Britain into the fray.

That afternoon, Vorontsov used a Chappe signal tower in Northern Italy to transmit the terms offered by the Mediterranean Security Organization to Udine. From there, Russian diplomats who were already waiting on horseback carried the negotiation details to Klagenfurt, where they utilized Austria's signal tower to relay the message further to Iasi on the western shore of the Black Sea.

Two days later, Alexander I saw these extravagant armistice terms and flew into a rage, roaring at his guards, "Send Lord Hawkesbury to me!"

The British Foreign Secretary had arrived in Saint Petersburg two days earlier, proposing that Britain and Russia continue their joint resistance against France and offering Russia a loan of 400,000 pounds sterling.

At the time, Alexander I, considering the war situation on two fronts, believed that 400,000 pounds sterling was utterly insufficient to reverse their losing position, and so he politely declined the British.

Now, however, the harsh conditions proposed by France, Spain, and the Italian city-states made him reconsider.

Three hours later.

In the St. George's Hall of the Winter Palace, Lord Hawkesbury's eyelid twitched involuntarily as he read the clause stating, "Russia prohibits the sale of any military supplies to Britain."

He immediately bowed to the Tsar, saying, "Your Majesty, it is evident that only Britain is your most loyal friend. These others, they merely wish to destroy the great Russia."

Alexander I, still fuming, laid his cards on the table directly: "But the aid you offer is far from enough for me to repel the enemies at Minsk and Ganja."

Indeed, the Gudovich Legion had currently retreated to Ganja, with Tbilisi, the core city of Transcaucasia, behind them.

Lord Hawkesbury secretly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly stated, "I can request Parliament to increase the loan amount to 700,000 pounds sterling, and simultaneously provide supplies to General Kutuzov from the Baltic Sea."

Once the British fleet reached Riga, it could move south along the Dnieper River to supply Minsk, a far more efficient route than transporting from Saint Petersburg.

Alexander I then summoned Arakcheyev, Rumyantsev, and other military officers. After a detailed discussion, he concluded that the British terms were acceptable.

That very evening, Alexander I had the British terms sent to Vorontsov, ordering him to immediately break off negotiations if the French refused to make significant concessions.

Lord Hawkesbury also sent a message to Sir Grey, who was in Milan, instructing him to sabotage the negotiations there as much as possible.

Milan.

After two days of back-and-forth haggling, Vorontsov's tone suddenly sharpened. He demanded the cancellation of all war reparations and military restrictions, threatening to return to Saint Petersburg immediately if his demands were not met.

Count Segur immediately surmised that the British had entered the game.

After the negotiation meeting concluded that day, he immediately dispatched someone to secretly arrange a meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister.

The Crown Prince's mission for him was to stall the Russians as much as possible, but without scaring off the British.

He felt as if he were a shill at an auction, needing to drive the price as high as possible, yet ensuring he wasn't the last bidder.

In a carriage on the outskirts of Milan, Segur looked earnestly at Vorontsov. "You know, the Crown Princess has made significant efforts for peace between our two nations.

"Under her persuasion, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has largely agreed to your demands, but the clause prohibiting the sale of military supplies to Britain must remain. In exchange, our nation will also cease supporting Poland.

"Of course, resuming trade is a matter that requires a unanimous vote from all common market member states, so it's likely difficult to pass for now."

Vorontsov's eyes lit up immediately. He hadn't expected Princess Alexandra to cause such a significant retreat in France's stance. If this were the case, an armistice agreement would definitely be more advantageous.

After all, this was a "cash deal," whereas accepting British aid would mean continuing two very difficult wars, only then with the possibility of defeating Poland and other nations.