Chapter 439 The Taste of Vienna
Catherine II is indeed a hero of her generation. Her mind was spinning very fast and she immediately continued:
“In addition, I will relocate 3,000 serfs to the Donbass and contribute 50,000 rubles to French development plans.
“Accordingly, I hope to receive one-third of the mining profits of the Donbas region.”
Talleyrand suddenly showed a standard diplomatic smile: "Your Majesty, you know that our country's development in Donbas will face great risks. You know, those initial explorations are unreliable, and they are likely to be dug out in the end. It’s just a small mine of a few hundred tons..."
To be honest, the 3,000 serfs did help the development work a bit, but Joseph had already prepared other labor forces. Even without these people, work could still continue as usual.
As for 50,000 rubles, it is almost equivalent to 200,000 francs. If you invest it in a place as big as Donbas, you won’t even see a splash.
In fact, Joseph was prepared to give Ye Er a share of the profits. After all, it was easier to work with interests tied to mining on other people's soil, but the authority he gave Talleyrand was to give Russia 20% of the profits.
And Ye Er's appetite was a bit too big.
Talleyrand considered:
"Your Majesty, this development is entirely a risky decision by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. You should not be asked to take risks, such as the manpower you want to send, or sponsorship."
Before Ye Er could object, he immediately added:
"But when I left Paris, His Highness also told me to share 10% of the proceeds to show his respect for you. Oh, by the way, His Highness also said that if a large-scale mineral deposits, then investment will be made in the expansion of Kherson Port.”
Catherine II suddenly narrowed her eyes slightly.
The river connecting the Donbass region and the Crimean outlet is called the Dnieper River, and the port of Kherson is the port where the Dnieper River flows into the Black Sea. Talleyrand was reminding her of the importance of developing the Donbas region for Russia to control Crimea. Crimea is Russia's only foothold for trade with the Mediterranean coast, and successive tsars have tried to conquer it at all costs. Ye Er also used up all his strength to fight the Ottomans one after another, killing tens of thousands of people, and finally managed to control Crimea.
If the Donbas region on the northern shore of Crimea can develop rapidly, it will provide strong support for her rule in Crimea. At the very least, if a war breaks out in Crimea, it will definitely be much cheaper and faster to collect logistical supplies from Donbass than to transport them from Moscow.
She smiled at Talleyrand and said:
"Thank you, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, for thinking so much about our country. Then France will be responsible for all the investment first, and I will get 15% of the mineral income."
She does feel that developing Donbass is risky, and if the French really find a big mine, it will definitely require a lot of labor for mining, and it will not be too late to send serfs in exchange to increase profits.
Talleyrand secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but continued to bargain: "Your Majesty, this ratio is too high, so I hope you can give concessions on taxes for the mining plant..."
After the dinner that day, Talleyrand said to Catherine II inadvertently:
"Your Majesty, Prussia and Austria are currently at war in Silesia. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince implores you to understand His Majesty Joseph II's wish to regain his homeland of Silesia. You know that His Highness respects his uncle very much."
Catherine II immediately remembered that Britain also sent a special envoy to Petersburg last month to express the hope that Russia would not interfere in the war in Silesia. Today the French Foreign Minister actually mentioned this matter again.
The British stance was naturally what Joseph had requested in the Treaty of Non-Intervention.
Catherine II really hoped that Prussia and Austria could cease the war and then carve up Poland with Russia, but she still had to consider the attitudes of Britain and France. Moreover, the French just said that they would help her develop Donbass, which made her even more unable to refuse.
So, she nodded and said: "Archbishop Talleyrand, please tell His Highness that I have no intention of intervening in the situation in Silesia."...
Little Trianon.
Queen Mary couldn't wait to sit on the chair as soon as she entered the room. She looked very tired, but her face was filled with a smile:
"Ah, what a great event! You see, the whole of Europe is watching Paris, and everyone is admiring it, everyone!"
She stretched out her white and tender feet and cooperated with the maid to help her put on comfortable shoes, and sighed: "Joseph can always come up with such wonderful ideas. How much God must prefer his little head..."
"Oh, fortunately, the exposition will be held in Lyon in three years. It will be really tiring to host such an event."
She had just presided over the closing ceremony of the World Expo and then rushed back to Versailles from Paris.
Countess Debennac next to her reminded:
"Your Majesty, there will be Paris Fashion Week in two months. You may have to host the opening. After all, you are a symbol of French fashion."
"Oh, God—" Queen Mary raised her forehead exaggeratedly, but her eyes caught a glimpse of several plates of exquisite desserts on the small table in front of her.
"Is this the Viennese Vanilla Crispy Cake?" She was immediately pleasantly surprised and carefully picked up a small piece and put it into her mouth.
The sweet taste spread between her lips and teeth along with the crispy texture. Queen Mary instantly closed her eyes in intoxication and nodded with satisfaction:
"Yeah, yeah!"
After she tasted several other desserts, she suddenly looked at the maid: "These are definitely not made by Mr. Cecilian and the others. They taste so good!"
Cecilian is her chief cake chef, and although his craftsmanship is top-notch, he cannot make this kind of Viennese style.
"It's Miss Delvaux's masterpiece, Your Majesty." Debeninak said from the side.
"Huh? Yes, yes, she is the only one here who can make such a pure Viennese taste." Queen Mary looked at the maid next to her, "Where's Camelia?"
A maid hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, Miss Delvaux is cleaning your piano room."
Queen Mary smiled and shook her head: "She is always so restless, please stop her busyness and come chat with me."
Her original request for Camelia was to learn poetry, dance, etc. like an ordinary noble lady, but the latter insisted on fulfilling her duties as a maid and was busy every day. And she did a very good job. The old servants around the queen who had more than ten years of experience could not take care of her as carefully as she did.
Queen Mary cut off a small piece of pastry with a fork and was about to put it into her mouth when she heard the voice of the palace etiquette officer:
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has arrived."
Joseph entered the door and bowed to his mother:
"Dear mother, I may go to Austria soon. Well, this smells so good..."
(End of chapter)