Chapter 734: Threat
Lord Grenville then delivered an address on behalf of the British King for the fleet review.
Afterward, the crew of the Victory skillfully hoisted the main sails, and the battleship slowly steered out of the harbor.
Cannons boomed at the harbor, and immediately after, the melodious sound of bugles simultaneously echoed from dozens of warships in the naval base.
Lord Grenville bowed slightly to the foreign diplomats seated on the foredeck, smiling:
"The fleet review officially begins. I wish you all a pleasant afternoon."
Five massive first and second-rate battleships were the first to sail past them.
Behind them, arrayed in two columns, were sixteen slightly smaller third-rate capital ships.
And trailing them were twenty-one fourth-rate battleships, each armed with fewer than sixty cannons.
On the Victory, all the foreign diplomats, save for the Dutch Foreign Minister who came from a family with some naval background, stared in wide-eyed astonishment.
As for Prussia, a naval lightweight, it barely possessed a few cruisers.
Once the imposing mass of warships had all passed before the Victory, Admiral Jervis remarked from the side:
"Next, please enjoy a live demonstration of fleet maneuvers."
The Victory immediately sent out a series of flag signals. The British fleet outside the harbor, having received the order, promptly divided into two squadrons. Each sailed in a wide arc in the distance, forming two battle lines, and then, with sails fully set, charged at high speed towards each other.
Fifteen minutes later, the two battle lines began to converge.
The gunports on the broadsides of the two leading second-rate ships sprang open, and over forty cannons on one side simultaneously unleashed a thunderous roar.
On the Victory, only half a nautical mile away, the diplomats instinctively covered their ears, their eyes wide as they watched the vast black smoke, like a descending storm cloud, billow ahead.
Immediately afterward, more warships converged. The two battle lines ran parallel to each other, cannons on every ship firing relentlessly at their opponents, a multitude of fiery tongues intertwining, as if the sea itself had burst into raging flames.
For a moment, even though the diplomats knew the cannons were firing blanks, they were still overwhelmed and breathless by the terrifying display of power.
At this moment, they were all convinced that anything appearing on the sea would be effortlessly crushed by this invincible fleet.
After an indeterminate period, the cannon fire on the sea gradually ceased, but the hearts of those aboard the Victory still pounded wildly.
Lord Grenville was the first to rise, surveying the expressions of the assembly with satisfaction, and gestured with a smile towards the ship's cabin:
"A sumptuous dinner has been prepared in the officers' mess. I invite you all to partake."
Inside the cabin, the band had switched to a soothing and lively tune. Under the flickering candlelight, platters of delicacies were laid out on the tables.
Before the banquet began, Grenville approached Count Rheinfels, the Austrian Foreign Minister, sat to his left, and spoke in German:
"Voltaire, my old friend, it's a pleasure to see you."
"It is an honor to receive your invitation, my friend."
Grenville skipped the pleasantries and stated with a serious expression:
"Clearly, this is a very good opportunity for both of us right now."
"Are you referring to...?"
"An opportunity to resolve the troubles facing our respective nations," the Englishman stated. "Let me be blunt: your country's financial situation is not optimistic, serf reforms have stalled, and furthermore, nobles across your territories harbor considerable grievances against His Imperial Majesty."
Count Rheinfels remained noncommittal:
"I wish to hear more about this 'opportunity' you speak of."
"Indeed, an opportunity." Grenville nodded. "I believe you are well aware of the root cause of Austria's current problems."
"..."
Grenville gazed out the porthole towards the opposite shore: "France. The steady decline in Austria's financial revenue stems primarily from the vast South German market being forcibly occupied by the French. Even your domestic markets are flooded with French goods.
"If I'm not mistaken, your trade revenue has decreased by 17% compared to the year before last, leading to significant factory production cuts and even closures."
Count Rheinfels's expression darkened, but he did not respond. In truth, Austria's trade volume had plummeted by a staggering 27% compared to the year before last!
His Imperial Majesty had only ordered the publication of the 17% figure to save face for the Empire.
Grenville continued: "And the Southern Netherlands, a traditional source of revenue for Austria, is now providing taxes to the French.
"Oh, I've seen it there: vast ironworks, almost ceaselessly feeding coal from major mines into blast furnaces, producing pig iron at more than double the combined output of all other Austrian territories!
"I recall the French initially claimed they would share the profits there with you. But look, what has Austria gained from it? Negligible tax revenue."
He was, in fact, subtly shifting the goalposts.
The original Franco-Austrian agreement was for joint ownership of the Wallonian market, allowing both to invest there.
Afterward, Austria, either preoccupied with warfare or the new emperor's coronation, had not invested a single coin there.
Meanwhile, France, between government and private investment, had poured tens of millions of Francs into the Southern Netherlands. This enabled them to acquire all the major coal mines in Wallonia, construct numerous ironworks, and build wooden tracks to transport products to the German States for sale, creating a virtuous cycle.
Naturally, this bold investment was Joseph's doing, as he understood Wallonia's coal reserves and development potential based on future knowledge.
Had the Austrians been given the same information, even if they hadn't invested as heavily, they certainly wouldn't have done nothing.
But the reality was that Austria had completely overlooked Wallonia before.
By the time they saw the French profiting and wanted to invest themselves, they found that all valuable industries had already been snapped up by the French.
In fact, Wallonia's taxes still belonged to Austria, as it nominally remained Austrian territory.
Thus, their tax revenue had significantly increased with Wallonia's development. However, compared to the enormous profits of the coal and iron companies, Austria considered these taxes insignificant.
Count Rheinfels instinctively nodded:
"That is true. However, we have an agreement with France..."
The British Foreign Secretary immediately interjected:
"Unreasonable agreements should be abolished! This includes the Rhine-Seine River Treaty, which allows France to invade the South German market without scruple.
"Without this cursed treaty, those markets would all be yours. Any financial problems would be effortlessly resolved."
Count Rheinfels sighed:
"You are correct; we have indeed attempted to modify this treaty, but..."
"It's simply that the French have threatened you with military force... Oh, I mean, threatened those German States."
Grenville's tone was full of seductive persuasion:
"But now, we must unite to prevent the French from threatening any nation!"
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