Chapter 594: You are in the first year of junior high school, and I am in the fifteenth year.
However, given the current situation in France, it is not easy to quickly increase maritime trade.
Joseph finished his lunch absentmindedly, but still couldn't think of any particularly effective way.
Among the largest maritime trade nodes in France - the United States, Russia and the Ottomans, the first two have long been saturated, and the Russian side is even somewhat overloaded.
Only trade with the Ottomans can be expanded, but this will inevitably require lengthy diplomatic negotiations and the transfer of some benefits to the Ottomans.
And even if it can be negotiated, it will at most increase France's maritime trade volume by 20%, which is better than nothing at increasing the number of sailors.
In short, let Talleyrand blend with Selim III first.
After Joseph and everyone left the restaurant and were about to take a look at the repair status of the "Indomitable", they saw a naval officer running quickly. He first raised his hat and saluted him, and then said to Brest Fleet Commander Roger Forre reported a few words in a low voice.
Rojifor frowned and whispered in the same low voice: "Ask Colonel Meyer to send a few ships to search, and then just write a report to me afterwards."
"Yes, General.”
The officer left, and Joseph asked casually: "General Rogiforre, what happened?"
"Nothing, Your Highness." Rogiforre glared at the officer's back and hesitated. , "The patrol fleet discovered a smuggling ship, and the other party suddenly opened fire, killing several of our crew members, and then...ah, escaped."
This is quite embarrassing for the navy. , after all, I have suffered a loss and haven’t caught anyone yet.
In fact, the merchant ships of this era were not as strong as battleships and equipped with fewer cannons, but their performance was not much worse. Therefore, if the navy is slightly negligent, it will be slipped away by civilian ships.
When Joseph heard this, his heart moved. Yes, since it is difficult to increase trade volume through legal means, isn't there also illegal... well, extraordinary means?
If the government comes forward to encourage smuggling, or even provide certain "help", driven by huge profits, maritime trade volume will inevitably grow rapidly.
And the smuggling ship will definitely need a lot of sailors. The problem of insufficient sailors will also be solved.
At the same time, the smuggled goods can also bypass the destination's tariffs and increase the sales of French products.
Simply accomplishes multiple things with one stone!
Of course, you need to choose carefully where to smuggle.
Mainly controlled by Britain's colonies in North America and the Far East, as well as Portugal's colonies in South America. You can even try it in Britain, Portugal, Northern Europe and other countries.
Normal trade partners such as Spain and Russia are strictly prohibited.
As for Britain and Portugal, will they be angered?
So what?
Based on the intelligence currently obtained, Britain is already actively planning a "continental balance" and will declare war on France in a few years.
So what is the impact of adding smuggling?
Besides, the British have been issuing "private licenses" since the time of Queen Elizabeth I, encouraging citizens to go to sea and rob other countries' merchant ships. Until the beginning of the 18th century, Queen Anne of England was still issuing privateering licenses and robbed countless things from France and Spain.
Since the British have all done the first grade of junior high school, why not allow the French to do the fifteenth grade?
Furthermore, France only sells goods peacefully, which is no match for the cruelty of the British who kill and sell goods.
Thinking of this, Joseph patted Rogifort hard on the shoulder and smiled: "Thank you very much for your help, General."
The latter was startled, thinking that the crown prince was making fun of him, so he stood at attention and said loudly: "Your Highness, please rest assured, I promise to catch those smugglers within three days!"
Joseph nodded. , thinking in his mind that such a large-scale "official" smuggling must be carefully planned and will involve many departments. I'm afraid I have to go back to the Palace of Versailles to discuss it with Brian and the others. He then put the matter aside for the time being and told the Minister of the Navy about the plan to build a naval academy.
“Your Highness, the navy’s training camp in Varn is fully equipped, or it can be expanded based on it.” Marquis of Castelli suggested, “This can be used in the shortest time. Complete the preparation, and it will save money."
Joseph nodded: "Your proposal is very good. Based on the standard of training a thousand officers and professionals every year, how much money do you estimate it will cost?"
The Marquis of Castelli hesitated and said: "It will cost about 2 million francs."
He glanced at the Crown Prince, fearing that the latter would be frightened by this number, and hurriedly added: "If If we do some streamlining, 1.5 million might be enough..."
Joseph secretly breathed out, the Navy is indeed a gold-swallowing behemoth, and all the army military academies across the country have not spent so much money before.
He said to the Minister of the Navy: "Just 2 million francs. If you want to build it, build it to a high standard."
He said in his heart that in this way, Carona will "raise funds" in the UK. There isn't much money left.
The next day.
Joseph and the Marquis of Castelli were inspecting the naval training camp in Vane, and Eman brought an officer from the Intelligence Bureau to him.
Joseph took the secret report from the stranger and opened it. He only glanced at it and suddenly frowned.
It read: Austrian Minister of State Count Kaunitz resigned, Baron Turgut took over, and is currently signing the Prussian-Austrian Armistice Agreement. The date was a week ago.
“Why is it so sudden?”
Joseph remembered that the French ambassador to Austria reported to him last month that Kaunitz pressured the armistice faction and persuaded Leopold II to increase increased the military strength of Silesia.
The officer of the Intelligence Bureau glanced at the Minister of the Navy and saw that the Crown Prince had no objections. Then he said: "Your Highness, it seems that Baron Walter, Baron Turgut and others designed a plot against Count Kaunitz. Conspiracy.
"In addition, the Intelligence Bureau believes that there are also British figures involved. "
Joseph crumpled the secret report into a ball with a sullen face. Britain in this era is indeed capable of producing many people, and it can move so fast.
He originally thought that the Pu-Austrian stalemate would last until at least next year.
Once the war ceases in Germany, Britain can begin to integrate Prussia and Austria and point the finger at France.
Joseph immediately ordered Eman: "Please prepare the carriage, we will return to Paris immediately."
"Yes, Your Highness."
In the bumpy carriage, Joseph quickly organized The way of thinking is that Prussia and Austria have just experienced the war and are currently in a state of depleted national power. Even if the UK can win them over, they do not have the strength to be tough against France.
He tapped his fingers on the armrest, so now Poland is going to be pushed to the forefront.
Prussia can only "recover" quickly by taking a big bite out of Poland. This has been what he has been planning, and now he finally has his hands free.
The Russian side also ended the Russo-Swedish War. The next step must be for both parties to join forces to start the "second partition."
This is more than a year earlier than in history.
(End of this chapter)