Chapter 548: The Unbalanced Continent of Europe
"Oh, according to intelligence gathered by Lord Grenville, France's textile industry costs are currently only about 15% higher than ours, and their steel industry has almost caught up. The French have discovered enormous coal and iron ore deposits in northern Crimea, which has provided them with vast quantities of high-quality pig iron.
"As for the wine industry, French costs have decreased by 40% compared to two years ago, and the quality has even improved."
He was referring to the three most critical industrial sectors between Britain and France—either fiercely competitive or involving enormous trade volumes.
William Pitt Junior paused, his expression growing serious. "In short, France is growing stronger at an incredibly rapid pace, like a colossal beast.
"Previously, we were blinded by arrogance and carelessness. Now, we must first acknowledge the most crucial point: we are about to face an adversary more formidable than ever before.
"This is far from the France of the Seven Years' War. It has already begun to shatter the balance of power on the European continent."
Marquis Wellesley, however, showed no surprise upon hearing this; instead, he seemed to sigh in relief. "My old friend, your strategic intuition is as sharp as ever. To be honest, I've been worried all this time that you might not have noticed these developments."
William Pitt Junior shook his head. "This is not my achievement; it was outlined in a report submitted by the Duke of Leeds a few months ago."
As he spoke, he retrieved a stack of documents from a briefcase beside his chair and handed them to Wellesley. "I had intended to give these to you in a couple of days, as you've just returned from the Far East and need some proper rest. But I suddenly felt just now that I need your help as soon as possible."
Wellesley took the documents and immediately spotted the words "Cabinet Top Secret" on the cover, prompting him to hesitate. "I don't currently hold a government position; this might not be entirely appropriate, might it?"
"It's nothing," William Pitt Junior dismissed with a wave of his hand. "Your opinion is what this report needs most."
He leaned back in his chair as he spoke. "Furthermore, I hope you will accept the position of Secretary of War. If you don't refuse, you'll be a cabinet member."
"Secretary of War?" Wellesley looked surprised. "What kind of position is that?"
Indeed, ever since the British Army had betrayed the King during the Glorious Revolution, and coupled with Britain's relatively low demand for a large standing army, the country only had a First Lord of the Admiralty at this time. The army itself was managed by several senior generals, each overseeing their own segment. Historically, it was Napoleon's immense pressure that led the British to establish a Secretary of War three years later, but now, it had appeared prematurely.
William Pitt Junior stated gravely, "As I just said, we must seriously contend with the French. This is a crucial military measure.
"Although you are young, you've accumulated great prestige from your campaigns in the Far East, and the soldiers hold you in high regard. You are the most suitable person to integrate the army."
"Alright, I'll do it." Wellesley nodded without pretense before his old friend. "We can't just leave this to those stuffy old fogies. In fact, I do have some ideas for military reform."
The soon-to-be Secretary of War now confidently opened the Duke of Leeds' report, quickly scanning through it as he continued, "According to the intelligence I've received about the French army, they've made enormous advancements in the past two years. These even surpass their achievements in industry.
"The Prussians managed to acquire some French muskets, and I requested a few. They are a revolutionary weapon, which the French call the 'Percussion Cap Musket.' Its range, power, and reloading speed significantly exceed our most advanced Brown Bess 1769."
"It's safe to say that our soldiers, when facing this weapon, will inevitably be defeated unless they possess a force advantage of over 30%, or if the enemy is afflicted with malaria."
William Pitt Junior, unfamiliar with military matters, frowned. "I've also heard of this rifle, but Sir Henry Conway believes it poses no significant threat."
Sir Conway was considered the most senior general in the British Army at the time.
"That's precisely why I dislike those old fogies," Wellesley scoffed. "They won't admit their methods are obsolete until they've taken a beating."
"Oh, and the horse artillery. Prince Edward and I proposed developing this powerful invention by Frederick several years ago, but our old generals only agreed to establish two battalions.
"Do you know how astonishingly effective the French horse artillery was in the Southern Netherlands and on the Silesian battlefield last year?"
William Pitt Junior nodded. "That's why I want you as Secretary of War. You can pursue these initiatives freely now, and I will ensure Parliament doesn't obstruct you financially."
"Only you possess such resolve." Wellesley gave him a grateful look. "There's still much we can learn from the French army, but I can promise you that I will return to you a powerful army capable of defeating them..."
He stopped abruptly mid-sentence, the Duke of Leeds' report causing his brow to furrow deeply. He looked up at William Pitt Junior. "Are you certain what's written here isn't an exaggeration?"
The latter nodded. "The Cabinet has held several meetings on this matter, and everyone highly endorses the report's contents."
"This..."
Wellesley quickly flipped forward a few pages. It mentioned that France had now stabilized the situation in its North African colonies such as Tunisia and Tripoli, establishing an initial governing system, and the number of immigrants was steadily rising.
Last year alone, French immigrants to North Africa exceeded 70,000, with a peak of 11,000 in the final month. This caused the price of ship tickets from Marseille to Bizerte to increase by 35%.
One must remember that major colonial powers, whether Britain, Spain, or Portugal, required a considerable amount of time, a series of wars, and substantial financial investment to gradually wear down the resistance of local populations before they could firmly control their overseas colonies.
This process typically took 5 to 10 years. Yet, the French had accomplished it in just one and a half!
Although North Africa's proximity to France gave them a significant advantage, the speed of their progress was truly astonishing.
In fact, had it not been for previous British interference, this timeframe would have been considerably shorter. The 'Roman Identity' and 'Divine Manifestation' strategies implemented by Joseph had proven exceptionally effective, far surpassing what colonial empires relying solely on firepower could achieve.
Concurrently, the report also stated that while the areas of Luxembourg and Wallonia in the Southern Netherlands acquired by France were small, they had rapidly developed a vast number of coal and iron industries in both regions.
Coupled with the fact that the residents of both regions already had a greater affinity for France, the governing order was established even more swiftly. The Duke of Leeds estimated that France would recoup all its investments in these areas within two years at most, perhaps even one.
The overseas colonies France had lost during the Seven Years' War had largely been compensated for by these territories.
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