Chapter 969: Eighteenth-Century Genius 'Public Intellectual'
Mrs. Schérer seemed to wake from a nightmare. She rushed a few steps to pull open the door, immediately covering her mouth and sobbing. "Lu... Lukas, is it really you..."
Baron Schérer, standing by, now saw clearly as well.
It truly was his son.
Four other people followed behind him—two officers in Austrian Military Police uniforms, a well-dressed middle-aged man, and another who appeared to be his attendant.
One of the military police officers looked at Baron Schérer and handed him a document. "You are Rabo Tobias von Schérer, aren't you? Your son has been released. Please sign here."
Schérer took the pages, bewildered, and immediately saw the words "Acquitted and Released" on them. His hands began to tremble violently.
Not parole!
It was an acquittal!
He jolted, then spun around, rummaging through his luggage for a quill pen. He signed his name, returned the document to the military police officer, and said excitedly, "Thank you so much! You've practically saved our entire family! Uh, about Lukas's situation, what exactly happened...?"
As the military police officer left, the tall man nearby smiled and bowed proactively. "Baron Schérer, I am Lagardère, a French diplomatic representative."
The following afternoon.
A black carriage departed from Vienna, heading west.
Inside the carriage, Baron Schérer watched with a complicated expression as his wife held their son's hand, asking him endless questions. His heart swelled with emotion.
Austria's shameless bureaucrats had thrown Lukas into prison and, after extorting 3,000 Florins from him, still sentenced him to 25 years of hard labor.
In the end, it was a prominent French figure who had saved his son. Though he didn't know who this person was, there was no doubt that only the great nation of France could produce such a just and benevolent gentleman.
Moreover, that important figure had also offered him a generous job opportunity—a position in Paris.
Paris—a city of fashion even more beautiful and prosperous than Reims!
He turned to look at the chaotic streets outside the window, muttering to himself, "Thank God, we're finally leaving this filthy, reeking place."
Indeed, Joseph had overcomplicated the matter of Schérer's son. In reality, Lukas was merely a worthless minor figure in the eyes of the Austrian high command.
Archbishop Talleyrand had simply relayed the task to the French diplomatic staff in Vienna via the Chappe Telegraph. The staff then contacted Austria's Interior Minister, and Lukas was released the very next day. After all, with war between Austria and Prussia imminent, and their hopes for French support, what did a mere prisoner matter?
As for Schérer, when he heard that the prominent French figure wanted him to work for the Paris Business Journal, he agreed almost without a second thought.
Leaving aside the great debt of gratitude for saving Lukas, the offer of a high monthly salary of 80 Francs and the chance to settle in Paris were enough for a "Francophile" like him to accept without hesitation.
...
By mid-July, the Palace of Versailles was already beginning to feel stiflingly hot.
Joseph motioned for Eman to open all the windows, then turned to Comte de Robert. "Please, continue."
"Yes, Your Highness," the Security Bureau director replied, bowing slightly. "Based on these clues, and Lavalette's decryption of previous secret communications, we believe someone plans to have the Udine garrison launch an attack on Klagenfurt Fortress.
"Moreover, they've bribed some Austrian officers within the fortress. These individuals will shell our troops when necessary, escalating the situation.
"Lavalette's assessment is that they are likely to make their move very soon."
Joseph's face immediately darkened. "It must be after the start of the Austro-Prussian war. At that point, Austria won't be able to spare troops to reinforce Klagenfurt. These scoundrels, they're helping Prussia and Austria reach a truce agreement."
Robert cautiously inquired, "Your Highness, do you wish to arrest Colonel Desaix and Second Lieutenant Maistre?"
These two were presumably the masterminds behind this incident. The Security Bureau had acquired fairly reliable evidence by bribing Austrian officers in Klagenfurt through an Austrian logistics supplier named Schulmeister.
Joseph pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "No, let them make their mischief."
"Your Highness, this could make the situation uncontrollable..."
Joseph said coldly, "If you stop them in Klagenfurt, they'll just cause trouble elsewhere sooner or later. It's better to fully utilize this opportunity to resolve certain issues. The Security Bureau should deploy as follows..."
After outlining the plan to handle the Klagenfurt incident, Joseph took a stack of manuscripts from his drawer and handed them to the Security Bureau director:
"Are you familiar with the war situation in Portugal?"
"I have some understanding, Your Highness."
"Excellent." Joseph nodded. "Another task for the Security Bureau is to send agents to disseminate the contents of these manuscripts around the Serra da Estrela mountains."
Robert looked down and opened the manuscripts. The title on the first page read: "Beware! This Nation Is the True Culprit Seeking to Destroy Portugal!"
He quickly skimmed through it. The content roughly stated that Britain intended to destroy Portugal so it could permanently occupy the ports of Lisbon and Sines, using them as naval bases. Britain's earlier forced order for Portugal to burn down all villages and towns near Porto was just the first step. Such events would continue to occur until all of Portugal was reduced to scorched earth.
Robert secretly drew a sharp breath.
This rumor was indeed malicious enough... no, it was ingenious! The British heavily relied on Portuguese ports, and their previous burning of the Porto area was a factual event. The subsequent deductions were also well-reasoned and logical.
'If I were Portuguese and heard these words, I would certainly grow suspicious of Britain too,' he thought.
He then looked at the next manuscript, titled: "On Whose Side Does Justice Truly Lie? Clearly Not Ours."
He once again read through it at a glance, marveling anew at the author's brilliance.
This article attributed the Franco-Spanish Coalition Forces' "counterattack" military action against Portugal to Portugal's alliance with wicked Britain, providing military ports and material support for Britain's malicious efforts to blockade France and Spain.
Spain and France, to prevent their coastal populations from starving, were forced to launch a righteous counterattack against Britain. To break through the British blockade, they had to strike at Britain's military ports in the Bay of Biscay—namely, the Portuguese ports.
If Portugal ceased its support for Britain, the Franco-Spanish Coalition Forces would undoubtedly withdraw immediately.
This argument was plausible and logical, directly placing the embattled Portuguese government in an unjust position. It was sure to spark calls among the Portuguese populace to "dissolve the alliance with Britain for peace."
Comments