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 greatly improve the living standards of the entire country.
Frederick tried to calm himself 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 French Reserve Bank will provide you with a loan of 900,000 francs for track laying. You only need to provide workers."
Frederick was excited 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, 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 It has attracted the covetous attention of some countries with evil intentions, and even launched wars 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. In order to win over the German states, Austria was also kind to him. Who would hit him?
Before he asked, Joseph answered firmly: "In order to protect the trade routes, our two countries should rehearse how to resist the invaders in advance!"
"Ah? What do you mean? ?”
“I propose that France and Pakistan send an army to conduct joint military exercises along the trade route.”
“Is this... really necessary?” Although Te Lie 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 900,000 francs. Franc loans, let alone Baden, a trading center.
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 sign a joint military exercise agreement first and include all these contents."
Frederick breathed a sigh of relief, and finally raised his glass to Joseph under the temptation of huge benefits:
"I wish our joint military exercises success."
......
Hesse-Damstad.
Marburg.
Oberhesse’s chief diplomatic adviser, who is also the top person in charge of foreign affairs here, Angst Werner von Lützke, looked at Bayi with eyes like that of a shrewd businessman:
"10 million francs, I have to admit, this is indeed very tempting."
Bay smiled and added: "And there is only 3% interest."
Lützke leaned back He 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."
Bayi frowned secretly. He had successfully reached agreements with Württemberg and Augsburg before. Upper Hesse, which is backed by the North German trade area, is 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 use this money to promote the development of domestic industries."
"Oh? Can you tell me more specifically?"
"For example, if there is any development Subsidies are provided to industries with great potential. "Bai said, "With the funds, workshop owners can improve their production processes, purchase better equipment, and even increase workers' wages so that they can work more seriously.
"A few years ago, my country's papermaking, ironmaking and other industries were not very competitive, and they were able to gradually improve through subsidies. "
Lützke nodded subconsciously. What the French said seemed to make sense. But Joseph did not tell him that directly subsidizing factories would not promote industrial progress. On the contrary, factories would bring subsidies. dependence on profits, once the subsidy is removed, it is likely to go bankrupt in a short time
Bay 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.< br>
“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. 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 and began to vote on a bill affecting the entire trade pattern.
Wilberforce, as the British negotiator, 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 caught 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 On our side."
Count Rheinfels still seemed uneasy: "Baden and Württemberg will almost certainly listen to the French, and Augsburg and Upper Hesse must all vote in favor. Only by voting can we ensure that Britain joins the treaty."
"Tomorrow, I will go and contact their representatives again to ensure..."
"Bang——" There was thunder in the distance. A loud noise interrupted him, followed by several more roars.
Wilberforce and the Austrian looked at each other and frowned:
"It seems like a cannon?"
Earl Rheinfels waved to the guard at the door:
"What are you doing over there?"
Before the guard answered, a Baden's palace officials came over with smiles on their faces, leaned forward and said:
"Please don't worry, it's a joint military exercise of 'Strong Will'."
At the same time, in another hall on the west side, Upper Hesse representative Lützke frowned and said:
“Joint military exercises?”
“It is our country and France to protect trade. Exercises conducted on both sides. A total of 50,000 troops were dispatched. "The palace official said enthusiastically, "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 Karl. North of Sruhe.
As the car continued to move forward, the smell of gunpowder smoke in the air became stronger and stronger. When there were almost no houses around, there was suddenly a dense sound of drums coming 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 car 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 the marching queue numbered tens of thousands. In front of this army, his carriage was like a fallen leaf in the surging waves.
Just after the group of soldiers disappeared, a Baden officer came to the car, first asked about Lützke’s identity, and then pointed to the hill not far away and said:
< br>“It’s a great place to watch if you’re interested in the drill.”
(End of this chapter)