Chapter 586: Austria's Backbone
In the special consultant's office on the top floor of the Lightning Company, Calonne was enthusiastically summarizing accounts to the sound of a musician playing next door.
During this period, he had been coordinating and managing financial affairs.
Steller was in charge of company operations, sales, and external presentations.
Mesmer, meanwhile, posed as a nobleman, touting the Gas Lamp project everywhere, conning wealthy individuals into buying bonds, and charming a few English ladies along the way.
Soon, Calonne's ledger displayed the calculated results:
Lightning Company bond revenue: 860,000 Pounds Sterling;
Total revenue from Gas Streetlight sales: 115,000 Pounds Sterling;
Project funds received from London City Hall: 20,000 Pounds Sterling;
Total expenditures: 12,000 Pounds Sterling.
Even though Calonne had once served as France's Minister of Finance, his heart raced at the sight of such a figure.
980,000 Pounds Sterling—that was over 24 million Francs!
If the French treasury had possessed that much money back then, he likely wouldn't have been dismissed from his post.
He immediately began signing drafts and procurement lists, distributing the enormous sum to banks in the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Venice, eventually funneling it into the Bank of France through various channels. The purchased goods, meanwhile, were transported to the Southern Netherlands, then dispersed through Wallonia to various parts of France.
What's more, with a good deal of time still left until the end of the year, funds from all over Britain were continuously pouring into the Lightning Company.
...
Austria.
Northern suburbs of Vienna.
A luxurious charcoal-grey French-made "Jewel Model 6" carriage, drawn by two Gallic Horses, rapidly sped towards the city.
Inside the lavishly decorated carriage, Count Kaunitz frowned as he gazed out the window, his fingers, gripping the armrest, pale from exertion.
'The Emperor indulges those scoundrels too much!' he muttered, gritting his teeth in resentment. 'I must convince His Majesty to issue an edict compelling the Hungarians to pay a special tax.'
He had just returned from Silesia.
Due to tight finances, he had personally gone to comfort the soldiers on the front lines, assuring them that their pay would be replenished within one month and that urgently needed supplies would be allocated, barely managing to stabilize morale.
Marshal Lacy had reported to him that the enemy Prussian forces had rapidly increased in number recently, and had clearly acquired new weapons and equipment.
If this trend continued, the battle in Breslau would become extremely disadvantageous for Austria.
"I also need to quickly request aid from France..."
Count Kaunitz had only spoken half a sentence when he recalled the recent scandal involving the Vienna Chamber of Commerce's participation in order fraud against France, and he angrily slammed the armrest.
'These damned profiteers, offending Austria's greatest ally at such a critical moment!'
As he pondered how to resolve the current predicament, the carriage slowed, and a row of figures appeared by the roadside ahead.
Count Kaunitz spotted his son and grandson among them, immediately forgetting his worries, a smile gracing his face.
After the group who had come to greet him bowed and offered their respects, his second son, looking serious, boarded the carriage and sat opposite him.
"Dominic, has something happened?" Count Kaunitz asked him, simultaneously tapping the carriage wall to signal the driver to continue.
"Father, Count Bezborodko had an audience with His Imperial Majesty yesterday."
Bezborodko was the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, and his sudden arrival in Vienna surely meant something important.
Count Kaunitz felt an ominous premonition. He crossed his hands and frowned, saying:
"Go on."
"He's here to mediate the Prusso-Austrian conflict," Dominic von Kaunitz stated gravely.
"Conditions?"
"Count Bezborodko said that if we sign a truce with Prussia, the Tsar can acknowledge our claim to Wallachia."
Count Kaunitz's heart tightened. The offer was too tempting! Wallachia's administrative system had always been in Austria's hands; without the Slavic interference there, Austria could quickly gain complete control of the region.
It was a territory not much smaller than Silesia. While not as rich, a bird in hand was worth two in the bush.
"To Schönbrunn Palace at once!"
He called out to the driver, then turned to his son. "It's alright, the Prussians are bound to reclaim Liegnitz. If I seize on that point, I can convince His Majesty..."
"Father," Dominic said, lowering his head, "the Russians said they would persuade Prussia to relinquish Liegnitz."
"This... how is this possible?!" Count Kaunitz's shoulders slumped instantly, and he shook his head repeatedly.
Though Dominic hated to provoke his father further, he knew he had to clarify such a major matter as quickly as possible:
"Count Bezborodko seems confident. He also stated that if the Silesian war continues, Russia will dispatch 80,000 troops to intervene."
Count Kaunitz's back stooped further—he knew Russia couldn't field such a large force at the moment, but their stance alone was enough to shift the balance in Silesia.
Dominic continued, "The British Foreign Secretary also had an audience with His Majesty, claiming they would guarantee the armistice..."
Count Kaunitz knew it would be difficult to turn the situation around this time, but he still headed directly to Schönbrunn Palace.
After Leopold II had a heart-to-heart talk with him for over two hours, he reluctantly agreed to give him one more month. If he still couldn't change the situation in Silesia, he would accept the Russians' suggestion for a truce.
Count Kaunitz returned home, just as he was about to mobilize all his resources to raise enough funds, when he saw his son arrive in haste with a messenger.
The messenger was sent by Marshal Lacy, and the letter contained only a few sentences: "The Hungarian Legion has retreated to the Liegnitz line, citing unpaid wages. Furthermore, they've run out of cannon shells."
The next day.
When Count Kaunitz arrived at Schönbrunn Palace, preparing to make one last effort, he encountered Baron Walter in the corridor.
The latter, with an exaggerated tone, declared loudly, "Oh! Esteemed Count Kaunitz, I believe you mentioned in the cabinet meeting that if you couldn't reclaim Silesia, you would resign. Of course, even though the current war situation is extremely unfavorable, with your wisdom and ability, you will surely make the Prussians flee in disarray."
"You impertinent fellow..."
Before Count Kaunitz could finish his sentence, he saw Thugut and Cobentzel arrive with over a dozen officials, lining both sides of the corridor, all watching him with mocking glances.
He could already imagine how these individuals would make snide remarks if he were to go see His Imperial Majesty.
His pride and dignity would not allow him to endure such humiliation.
He forcefully straightened his back, swept a cold gaze across the assembled people, then turned and walked away, his steps still firm and steady.
Two days later, Count Kaunitz formally resigned from his position as Minister of State to Leopold II.
The Emperor did not try to dissuade him much, merely praising him profusely and bestowing numerous honors, then appointed Thugut as the new Minister of State, fully authorizing him to conclude a truce with Prussia.
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