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Chapter 294: Austrian Interests

"Oh, you should let her stay busy," Joseph said, quickly smiling and declining. "Tuscany is so far; it wouldn't be easy for her to travel back and forth." He was in Austria for serious business and didn't want to be constantly pestered by his petite cousin.

Vitorluka was momentarily taken aback, then smiled again. The French Crown Prince was concerned Clémentine would suffer the hardships of travel if she rushed back. 'So my son-in-law isn't just handsome; he's considerate too.'

'I'm more and more pleased!'

Led by Leopold II and his wife, Joseph's carriage traversed the streets of Vienna, heading towards Schönbrunn Palace.

Vienna was vastly different from his impression, lacking any serene or artistic atmosphere. Everything looked dilapidated and rundown. While he encountered a few street musicians, the sounds they produced were mostly cacophonous.

The streets were as filthy with excrement and urine as Paris before its public latrine reforms, with the added "scenery" of garbage heaps, which blocked half the road at many intersections.

What made Joseph most uncomfortable was the faint hostility in the eyes of passersby as they watched the French Crown Prince's carriage. This was hardly surprising; France and Austria had fought for centuries over hegemony on the European continent, and their people had mutually resented each other for just as long.

They finally arrived at Schönbrunn Palace, where the nobles awaiting them at the entrance displayed basic warmth and courtesy.

Joseph II, despite his ailing body, also came personally to the gates of Schönbrunn Palace, supported by servants, to greet his nephew.

Joseph quickly stepped forward to bow to his uncle, then waved away the servants and personally took his arm, saying warmly, "Your Imperial Majesty, Father is always reminiscing, saying that if he weren't so tied up with state affairs, he would have surely come to visit you long ago. Oh, Mother also misses you very, very much and asked me to bring many gifts for you; they're in the carriages behind."

Behind them, Vitorluka's eyelid twitched. 'Wait, aren't those gifts on the carriage for me?'

Unaware of her thoughts, Joseph continued to address Joseph II, "Mother heard about the rebellion in the Southern Netherlands and worried you were overworking yourself, so she insisted I help share your burdens."

Joseph II nodded continuously with satisfaction, wanting to say something, but was seized by a violent coughing fit. He simply raised a hand, gesturing towards the banquet hall.

Following closely behind them, Count Kaunitz, the Austrian Minister of State, vaguely overheard Joseph's words. He turned to the French Minister of Foreign Affairs beside him and quietly asked in impeccable French, "Archbishop Talleyrand, does His Royal Highness the Crown Prince mean that France will send troops to the Southern Netherlands to support Austria?"

He was considered the most pro-French among the Austrian high-ranking officials. He spent several months vacationing in France every year, and even sent his most expensive clothes to Paris for laundering to display his authentic Parisian style. Therefore, he was also the most eager for France to participate in suppressing the Southern Netherlands rebellion.

Talleyrand immediately offered a profoundly sincere smile. "Her Majesty the Queen does indeed intend to dispatch troops. However, as you know, France's current dire financial situation prevents us from even raising a few million for troop deployment."

"Vienna can provide the funds..."

Kaunitz had barely finished half his sentence when Talleyrand interrupted with a smile. "Therefore, the Duke of Broglie suggested that France could provide logistical support to the Austrian forces.

"Transporting supplies from Vienna to Brabant, spanning nearly a thousand kilometers—or over 120 *aoli*—would incur immense logistical costs and consumption.

"Whereas we can resupply from Verdun, which would be much easier."

Kaunitz's eyes lit up. If war broke out in the Southern Netherlands, Prussia's greatest advantage over Austria would be its closer supply lines. If Austria received logistical support from France, Prussia's advantage would turn into a disadvantage—France directly bordered the Southern Netherlands!

Even if France didn't directly deploy troops, its support for the Austrian forces would be immense.

He immediately bowed slightly to Talleyrand. "Thank Her Majesty the Queen; she has made a decision most beneficial to both France and Austria!"

Talleyrand, however, showed a troubled expression. "You see, with France's dreadful finances, I merely worry that when the war in the Southern Netherlands reaches a stalemate, funding for military supplies might become an issue... Those unscrupulous merchants aren't even willing to extend a single copper coin of credit to the Crown."

Kaunitz promptly stated, "How could we ask Her Majesty the Queen to pay? All supplies will be paid for by Vienna at their procurement price."

In this way, France, without sending a single soldier, earned a huge favor from Austria. As for the "procurement price," that would, of course, be whatever France decided; it would certainly be much cheaper than transporting supplies all the way from Austria.

Once inside the banquet hall, Kaunitz pulled Talleyrand to sit beside him and began discussing the logistical arrangements for the Southern Netherlands.

As they spoke, he let out a long sigh. "Even with France's help, this expedition will likely strain the Imperial treasury for some time..."

Talleyrand nodded in agreement. "In truth, the overseas trade revenue from the Southern Netherlands is steadily declining, rendering it almost valueless to His Imperial Majesty.

"Oh, by the way, if Grand Duke Ottodor of Bavaria is interested in the Southern Netherlands, perhaps we could seize this opportunity of rebellion to arrange some territorial exchange with him?"

Kaunitz looked at him with some surprise. This was indeed a strategic goal Austria desperately wanted to achieve—compared to the distant exclave of the Southern Netherlands, the wealthy Bavaria, which bordered Austria, was the territory Austria coveted most.

"However," he said, frowning and shaking his head, "Grand Duke Ottodor probably wouldn't agree, would he?"

"On that point, I can help you persuade Grand Duke Ottodor," Talleyrand immediately offered.

Joseph had mentioned to him on the journey that Grand Duke Ottodor harbored a persistent pipe dream of restoring the Burgundian dynasty—not the current Burgundy region of France, but the powerful medieval Burgundy, possessing vast territories stretching from the entire Southern Netherlands all the way to Mannheim.

Therefore, Ottodor had always wanted the Southern Netherlands, as this would also allow him to escape the restrictions of the Holy Roman Prince-Elector territories and bestow the Southern Netherlands lands, which were not part of an Electorate, upon his illegitimate sons.

Indeed, he had no legitimate children, only a multitude of illegitimate ones. This meant his Bavarian lands could only be passed down to his relatives in Saxony. For him, the Southern Netherlands held more value than the fertile Bavaria.

Kaunitz excitedly grasped Talleyrand's arm. "Are you truly confident?"

"Yes, I have some confidence in my oratorical skills," Talleyrand replied with a smile and a nod. "Moreover, if Austria and Bavaria can reach an exchange agreement, then the rebellion in the Southern Netherlands will become Bavaria's own concern. Grand Duke Ottodor will undoubtedly commit more troops to resolve the insurgency.

"After that, Austria and Bavaria, united by common interests, can achieve even more."

He pointed north. "For instance, dealing with Saxony, or even—marching on Silesia!"