Chapter 646: Trade Conflict
Kevin looked over the loss report, a question suddenly occurring to him. "You just said a small town in the outskirts of Namur could mobilize over 50 police officers?"
Captain Pickering nodded. "Yes, Mr. Kevin. And they kept over 30 more at the police station as backup that day."
"That many?" Kevin exclaimed, greatly surprised. Even in Britain, a police station in a town of that size would have at most twenty or thirty officers.
Pickering shrugged. "That's nothing. Namur city has over 800 police officers, and Mons police station has even more, over 900."
"Besides police officers, the stations in Wallonia also have 'auxiliary defenders' and 'duty teams.' We previously thought the latter two were just doing odd jobs, but after this failed operation, we realized that aside from lacking uniforms, they're no different from regular police in any other respect."
Indeed, to ensure stability and control in Wallonia, Joseph had equipped the region with over 6,000 police officers, intending them to function as a military force. However, to avoid provoking the Flanders Region and the Austrian government, he changed the titles of some officers, resulting in only just over 1,300 appearing as official police on paper.
Kevin quickly asked, "So, how many police officers, or similar personnel, are there in all of Wallonia?"
"It should be over 4,000."
Pickering immediately narrowed his eyes. "Wallonia's population is less than a million, yet they have so many police officers..."
Captain Pickering continued, "Moreover, their response speed and shooting skills are remarkably high."
Kevin nodded and instructed, "Start an immediate investigation into the recruitment, training, and funding of the Wallonian police force. My gut tells me something extraordinary is at play here."
The diplomatic system and intelligence agencies have always been intertwined. Even in the 21st century, the foreign embassies of various nations often function as offices for their intelligence departments.
As an assistant to the Foreign Secretary, Kevin possessed the authority to command certain intelligence personnel.
A month later.
Prussia.
Potsdam.
In a room adjacent to the ballroom of Sanssouci Palace, Lord Grenville, the British Foreign Secretary, rubbed his cane and addressed his assistant. "So, the French have spent a vast sum to train at least 5,000 police officers for Wallonia."
Kevin nodded. "These individuals are primarily equipped with flintlock muskets and possess over 1,000 horses. Oh, and that includes 600 mounted police."
"Their salaries are 20% covered by the Walloon Chamber of Commerce, with the rest paid directly by Paris."
Grenville, with his sharp mind, immediately grasped the crux of the matter. "So, what interests does France have in Wallonia that warrant such a massive investment?"
"According to my investigation, the Walloon Chamber of Commerce and the local council there are almost entirely under French control."
"Just tell me the conclusion."
Kevin drew a breath. "While I haven't obtained definitive evidence, it's highly probable that the French Industrial Development Fund has acquired stakes in nearly a third of Wallonia's coal mines, and the remaining ones are essentially controlled by French companies—even if, ostensibly, those mines still belong to some Southern Netherlands owner."
"The ironworks and coal washing plants, too, are likely French investments."
Lord Grenville's eyes glinted, his thoughts unreadable. "Is this the reason our recent plan failed?"
Kevin quickly responded, "I'm not trying to make excuses for my failure..." "No, I'm not blaming you," Grenville interjected, a sudden smile gracing his lips. "In fact, your intelligence has given us more room to maneuver and more effective strategies."
He patted his assistant's shoulder. "Means far more elegant and effective than simply relying on agitation and violence."
"What do you mean, sir?"
Grenville turned and returned to the ballroom. "The new, hot-headed emperor in Vienna, from what I know, is quite impulsive and easily swayed. He likely won't be pleased with the current situation in the Southern Netherlands."
...
Paris.
Versailles Palace, Peace Hall.
Count Rheinfels pressed both hands firmly onto the tabletop, declaring in a loud voice, "The severely imbalanced trade situation currently is absolutely unacceptable to our nation!"
"Regarding France's occupation of most of the South German market, His Imperial Majesty has magnanimously stated he will not pursue the matter. However, tariffs on the Austrian market must be raised to ensure trade equality between our two nations."
"Furthermore, a new system for market access must be established for French steel and chemical products."
Bailly, France's Minister of Trade, immediately pushed a copy of the "Rhine-Seine River Treaty" across the table to the Austrian diplomat. He stated, expressionless, "Only two years have passed since the treaty's signing, and our nation sees no need for amendment. Frankly, what your esteemed nation ought to be doing is improving your industries and lowering costs, rather than blaming all your problems on trade agreements."
Bailly's diplomatic experience was clearly insufficient; he directly rebuffed the other party's unreasonable demands. However, Archbishop Talleyrand, who was most adept at handling such situations, was currently in the Ottoman Empire, leaving Bailly to manage this affair.
Count Rheinfels, acting at Franz II's behest, adopted the toughest stance he could. "No, this is precisely a problem with the agreement."
"French steel products cost nearly 35% less than ours. Clearly, you previously concealed the true state of your industries to secure lower tariff rates."
"As for chemical products, furniture, and the like, your industries in these areas were practically non-existent at the time of signing. Therefore, it should be concluded that the previous tariffs were set without proper basis."
"All of this requires renegotiation."
Bailly had actually received the Crown Prince's permission to allow a moderate increase in Austrian tariffs. After all, France's industrial advantage was significant, and a slight rise wouldn't drastically impact trade.
However, the Austrian diplomat's current aggressive posture clearly indicated that a minor concession wouldn't suffice.
Moreover, the other party had mentioned "product access," meaning French steel and chemical products could not be sold in Austria without specific approval from the Austrian government.
This was a non-starter.
Bailly, too, firmly rejected Count Rheinfels' demands, intending to haggle only after the other party softened their stance.
Unexpectedly, the Austrian immediately retorted, "Then I must warn you, if our nation's trade demands are not met, we will unite with the various states of Italy to impose punitive tariffs on French products."
Just then, a diplomat softly entered the Peace Hall and whispered a few words into Bailly's ear.
Bailly immediately frowned, looking toward Count Rheinfels. Austria had actually mobilized 30,000 troops and conducted military exercises in Tuscany. This was clearly intended to increase their leverage for the renegotiation of the trade agreement.
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