I Am the Crown Prince in France

Chapter 632 Deterrence

In addition, there are fees for the use of wooden tracks and porters' wages.

Baden only has a population of more than 2 million, and these incomes are enough to significantly improve the living standards of the entire country.

Frederick tried to calm down and said with a smile:

"Your Highness, the cost of building wooden tracks...you know, our country's financial situation may not allow us to spend so much money."

"You don't need to worry." Joseph raised his glass and signaled to him, "The Reserve Bank of France will provide you with a loan of 900,000 francs for track laying. You only need to provide workers."

Frederick was so excited that the corners of his mouth turned up, and he raised his glass and touched it with Joseph:

"Respect for France and friendship! I really don't know how to express my gratitude. Your Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, you will always be my most sincere friend. May God bless you!"

Joseph took a sip of wine, put down the glass, and turned to a serious expression:

"Your Majesty, after such an important trade road is opened, I am worried that it will attract the covetous attention of some countries with evil intentions, and they will even start a war to destroy it."

Frederick was stunned and thought to himself that Baden was surrounded by France, Württemberg and Austria. The first two were on good terms with him. Austria was also kind to him in order to win over the German states. Who would hit him?

Before he could ask, Joseph said firmly: "In order to protect the trade routes, our two countries should rehearse how to defend themselves against invaders in advance!"

"Ah? What do you mean?"

"I propose that France and Pakistan each send an army to conduct joint military exercises along the trade route."

"Is this... really necessary?" Although Frederick had never heard of the term "joint military exercise," he could roughly guess what it meant.

Joseph nodded: "This is related to our country's investment of 900,000 francs. We must let certain countries see our determination to defend trade!"

The meaning is very clear - without military exercises, there would be no loan of 900,000 francs, let alone the trade distribution center of Baden.

Frederick hesitated: "Your Highness, we are only conducting exercises. The army will never cross the border, and after the exercise is over, the French army will withdraw into the country?"

"That's right. We can first sign a joint military exercise agreement and include all these contents."

Frederick breathed a sigh of relief, and finally, under the temptation of huge benefits, raised his glass to Joseph:

"I wish our joint military exercises success."

…

Hesse-Damstad.

Marlborough.

Angst Werner von Lützke, the chief diplomatic adviser of Upper Hesse and the top person in charge of foreign affairs here, looked at Bai Yi with a look like that of a shrewd businessman:

"10 million francs, I have to admit, this is indeed very tempting."

Baiyi smiled and added: "And the interest is only 3%."

Lützke leaned back, shook his head and said: "No amount of loans can solve the serious imbalance problem in our country's trade with France."

He spread his hands: "You know, the loan will eventually be spent, and it will have to be repaid later. After that, our country's trade deficit will continue to expand."

Baiyi frowned secretly. He had successfully reached agreements with Württemberg and Augsburg before, but Upper Hesse, which was backed by the North German Trade Zone, was much more difficult to deal with.

Fortunately, the Crown Prince analyzed various possible situations with him before setting off. He immediately followed the plan and said: "You can definitely use this money to promote domestic industrial development."

"Oh? Can you tell me more specifically?"

“For example, subsidize industries with development potential,” Bai said. “After workshop owners receive funds, they can improve production processes, purchase more sophisticated equipment, and even increase workers’ wages so that they can work more seriously.

"A few years ago, our country's industries such as papermaking and ironmaking were not very competitive, and it was only through the use of subsidies that they were able to gradually improve."

Lützke nodded subconsciously. What the Frenchman said seemed to make sense.

It’s just that Joseph didn’t tell him that directly subsidizing factories was basically impossible to promote industrial progress. On the contrary, factories will become dependent on the profits brought by subsidies. Once subsidies are removed, they are likely to go bankrupt in a short time.

Bayi continued to make suggestions: "Look, you only need to spend 1.5 million francs to buy hundreds of steam engines from the French United Steam Engine Company. Oh, I can even help you get a discount.

"These steam engines will help your woolen textile industry make a leap forward."

Lützke finally felt a little moved. He knew that the British and French textile industries relied on steam engines to achieve significant cost reductions, and perhaps Hesse could also follow this path.

He looked at Bai Yi again, nodded and said, "I will report this matter to the Grand Duke."

…

March 10, 1792.

The signatories to the Treaty of the Rhine-Seine gathered at the Royal Palace in Karlsruhe to vote on a bill affecting the entire trade landscape.

As the British negotiator, Wilberforce was standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, whispering something to the Austrian representative, Count Rheinfels.

The British Second Chancellor of the Exchequer was deeply involved in the "whirlpool of inciting slaves to riot" and had to take this job in order to temporarily leave the UK to avoid the limelight.

"You don't need to worry about the little tricks of the French." He said with a confident smile, "Our country can also provide those loans, even if the amount is slightly smaller, but those countries will consider the interests of re-signing trade agreements and should stand on the side of From our side.”

Count Rheinfels still seemed uneasy: "Baden and Württemberg will almost certainly listen to the French. Augsburg and Upper Hesse must all vote in favor to ensure that Britain joins the treaty."

"Tomorrow, I will go and make contact with their representatives again to make sure..."

"Bang -" A loud thunderous sound in the distance interrupted him, followed by several more roars.

Wilberforce and the Austrian looked at each other and frowned:

"It looks like a cannon?"

Count Rheinfels waved to the guard at the door:

"What's going on over there?"

Before the guard could answer, a Baden palace official came over with a smile on his face, leaned down and said:

"Please don't worry, it's the 'Strong Will' joint military exercise."

At the same time, in another hall on the west side, Upper Hesse representative Lützke frowned:

"Joint military exercises?"

"This is an exercise conducted by our country and France to protect trade routes. Both sides dispatched a total of 50,000 troops." The palace official said diligently, "If you are interested, you can go to the northern suburbs to watch."

Lützke hesitated briefly, ordered his entourage to prepare the carriage, and then rushed to the north of Karlsruhe.

As the car continued to move forward, the smell of gunpowder smoke in the air became stronger and stronger. When almost no houses could be seen around, a dense drum sound suddenly came from the front.

The driver hurriedly reined in the horse, and then he saw a group of soldiers wearing straight white military uniforms and carrying August-style percussion guns, passing in front of the vehicle in a neat queue.

The team was also mixed with baggage carriages, and cavalry were constantly patrolling back and forth on both sides of the team, or loudly delivering military orders.

Lützke had to wait for an hour, because there were tens of thousands of people marching, and his carriage was like a fallen leaf in the surging waves in front of this army.

Just after the group of soldiers disappeared, a Baden officer came to the car, first asked about Lützke's identity, and then pointed to a hill not far away and said:

“It’s a great vantage point to watch if you’re interested in the drill.”