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Chapter 1363: Illusion?

Bern Canton, Switzerland.

The long queue that once snaked in front of Ahrens Bank had vanished, with some even starting to deposit money. Rumors were circulating everywhere that Bern might secede from the Swiss Confederation and become a French province. When that happened, Batzen coins would be converted into francs, and money already in the bank would spare people the hassle of conversion, directly becoming francs upon withdrawal.

In the streets and alleys, citizens gathered in small groups, excitedly discussing: "Do you know about Paris's public water system? You just turn a valve in your own home, and clean water flows out. Maybe we'll have that too someday!"

"What's more, medical care in France is free. And the government assigns doctors to all parishes..."

"Really? French doctors are the best in all of Europe!"

"I'm more interested in the schools. If we become French, we'll get six years of free education. After graduation, there will be plenty of factories in Lyon to choose from..."

"I heard three-year-olds can even go to kindergarten, with professional supervision, for only 3 Batzen a month, and they get two meals of bread."

"And maybe even gas streetlights!"

"What's that?"

Of course, some people were strongly opposed to Bern's integration into France.

These were primarily tax farmers, certain urban oligarchs, and Protestants.

Tax farmers, naturally, went without saying. If Bern joined France, the tax farming system would most likely be abolished. They had long heard about the tragic fate of their French counterparts back in the day.

Urban oligarchs were capitalists who monopolized certain urban industries through illicit means, such as controlling the wheat or timber trade in the city. Who knew if the French government would permit such practices?

As for the Protestants, they naturally feared suppression by the Catholic Church.

However, the voices of these individuals were almost entirely drowned out by the cheers of citizens eager to become French.

Inside the Cantonal Parliament building, Legislator Ludiger clutched a letter and scurried to the Speaker's office. As soon as he entered, he excitedly declared, "Count Haupert, Count Erlach has written to say that things are progressing very smoothly! French officials have been paid off, and we should have a result within a week."

Haupert snatched the letter, unfolded it, and looked directly at the date at the bottom.

The letter had been sent five days ago, meaning that in another two or three days, Versailles would announce the establishment of the Bern province.

He immediately stood up and gestured to Ludiger: "Convene all legislators at once. We'd best complete the legislation before Paris does."

Indeed, if the French government had already declared its intention to annex Bern, and yet Bern's laws still designated it as a member of the Swiss Confederation, wouldn't that make Bern seem presumptuous?

That afternoon, the Bern Cantonal Parliament held its first round of voting, with 86% of legislators supporting legislation to join France.

An excited Haupert canceled all cumbersome legislative procedures and, with astonishing efficiency, formally enacted the decree five days later.

Following this, the Bern Parliament dispatched diplomats with a diplomatic note to Zurich, waiting only for confirmation from Paris to immediately declare their secession from the Confederation.

Thus, the news of Bern's impending integration into France quickly spread throughout Switzerland.

Geneva Canton was naturally the most excited.

Its population was almost entirely French-speaking, and it had always been very pro-French, with its economy completely dependent on France.

If Bern could be accepted by France, why not Geneva?

Moreover, Geneva, strictly speaking, was not even a member of the Swiss Confederation, sparing it the step of secession.

Consequently, the Geneva Parliament immediately convened its legislators and began planning its integration into France.

Other western Swiss cantons like Fribourg, Lucerne, and Solothurn also started to have ideas.

They had previously maintained a delicate balancing act between France and Austria, profiting as a connecting point between the two great powers. But now, with all the German states to the north having joined the Stuttgart Trade Agreement, the balancing act had long lost its meaning.

They had originally intended to strive for inclusion in the trade agreement, but now, with a seemingly direct opportunity to join France, they certainly had to seize it.

Meanwhile, the German-speaking and Protestant cantons, such as Zurich, Basel, and Schwyz, began to fall into a panic.

They weren't concerned about the dissolution of the Confederation—the Swiss Confederation itself had little influence—but French influence, once it crossed the Jura Mountains, would undoubtedly soon spread to the eastern and northern parts of Switzerland.

...

Paris.

Ten days had passed since the Bern Parliament wired 400,000 francs to the French officials.

Count Erlach's mind was not at peace.

In the first few days, Viscount Nobert had frequently sent people to inform them of the progress, but for the past three days, they had received absolutely no news from Nobert.

The three Bernese legislators debated fiercely and finally decided, disregarding Viscount Nobert's instruction for them "not to contact anyone else," to go out and inquire about the situation.

In front of the Palace of Versailles, Count Erlach slipped 50 francs to a court official, who readily told them the location of Viscount Nobert's room.

Seeing the three men walk straight into the Palace of Versailles, the court official hurried after them: "Are you... looking for Viscount Nobert?"

"Ah, yes, we have some matters of trade to discuss."

The court official waved his hand: "Then you may be disappointed. Viscount Nobert is busy with the World Expo in Karlsruhe and has not yet returned."

Count Erlach immediately chuckled, "How can that be? We had coffee with him just last week."

The Frenchman glanced at them as if they were fools, then turned and walked away.

Then, the three men met Viscount Nobert's wife.

She informed them that her husband was in Baden.

Count Erlach and the others would never believe it. Shouting, they tried to force their way into the house, frightening Lady Nobert into screaming.

Soon, the Palace Guard "politely" escorted the Swiss out of the Palace of Versailles, and Baron Fred received a heavy kick.

The three Bernese delegates realized something was wrong. After repeated attempts to contact Nobert failed, they had no choice but to spend more money and reveal their identity as Bern Canton diplomats. Finally, a few days later, they met Monsieur Bailly, the French Minister of Trade.

After the customary greetings, Count Erlach surveyed the spacious and luxurious office and said to Bailly with a wry smile, "Last time, you didn't meet us here..."

Bailly immediately frowned: "I apologize, but I don't believe we've met before?"

"Have you forgotten? Two weeks ago, in the office on the west side of the first floor."

Bailly looked him up and down, then chuckled lightly: "You're truly humorous. Two weeks ago, I was still in Genoa. I only returned to Paris this Monday."

"Impossible! That day, Viscount Nobert brought us to meet you! It was on the west side of the first floor..."

Baron Fred suddenly tugged Erlach's arm, looked at the French Minister of Trade, and whispered, "Don't you think... Monsieur Bailly seems... a little different from that day..."

Count Erlach froze, scrutinizing Bailly. That day, they had been directly facing the sun and couldn't clearly see his face, but his silhouette seemed smaller now.

His mind reeled. Pointing at Bailly, he exclaimed, "No, you—you're an imposter minister!"

Before long, the Bernese legislators were again "politely" escorted out of the Palace of Versailles by the Palace Guard.

The three stood dumbfounded in the marble courtyard, cold sweat beading on their foreheads.

"How can this be?!" Fred was the first to speak. "That day, we clearly entered the Minister of Trade's office..."

Count Erlach nodded: "I even personally saw Viscount Nobert and Count Mirabeau working together."