Chapter 1322 - 1227: The Counterattack Against Russia

Joseph immediately signaled to Eman: "Please find Mr. Theresa and bring him back."

Then he looked at Talleyrand: "As for the war indemnity, it will be signed for ten million francs. However, the money from the banks of Milan and Genoa must first be paid to Sardinia, and only then transferred to us by Sardinia. Of course, Colonel Joubert may send soldiers to supervise this process.

"Please remember, our country is always a steadfast defender of order and rules."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Not long after, the Minister of Transportation, who had not yet left the Palace of Versailles, returned to the Crown Prince’s reception hall.

When he learned that funding had been secured for the Verdun-Trier railway line, he beamed with joy: "That’s great, Your Highness. Now those ’Russian free workers’ can almost all find work."

Joseph nodded: "Please swiftly submit the engineering budget proposal to the Ministry of Finance and apply to the General Staff for the deployment of prisoners of war."

"Yes, Your Highness." Theresa pondered for a moment and tentatively said, "This line should only require an investment of just over five million francs. If there’s more funding, extend the railway to Cologne..."

Joseph almost laughed in exasperation at this "insatiable" minister and immediately dismissed him.

Watching Theresa’s retreating figure, Joseph couldn’t help but sigh that railways are indeed a good thing.

If it weren’t necessary to prioritize military expenses, constructing a railway to Cologne would definitely generate huge economic benefits.

Cologne is the largest trade, economic, and financial center in the lower Rhine River, with a large number of coal mines around it, and it’s also an important military fortress.

In the entire Northern Germany region, Cologne’s economy ranks fourth, only behind Marburg of Upper Hesse, Berlin, and Potsdam.

Thinking about this, Joseph couldn’t help but smile.

To say the least, the railway lines from Paris to Lyon, Lyon to Marseille, and Paris to Bordeaux could all yield extremely lucrative economic returns.

But meals must be eaten bite by bite, and there’s no way to have enough money to fully embark on railway construction at the moment.

While he was contemplating, Eman entered, knocking on the door with a major officer.

The latter stepped forward to salute and handed a document to Joseph: "Your Highness, the General Staff is inquiring about how to handle Suvorov’s remains."

Joseph opened the document and saw there were mainly two opinions from the General Staff.

One was to transport Suvorov’s body back to Paris for display to boost public morale. The other was to follow tradition and return it to Russia.

Joseph smiled and signed the document: "Of course, it should be sent back, and a grand handover ceremony should be organized. Tell the Russians that their Marshal was sent by the Allied Forces to assist the Prussians, but Blucher refused to cooperate, resulting in his death."

...

Saint Petersburg.

Winter Palace.

"That is roughly the situation, Your Majesty." Count Arakcheev said, keeping his head bowed, "However, the Blücher Corps was still surrounded by the French Army in Glarus.

"Currently, the Marshal’s remains have reached Klagenfurt."

Alexander I clenched his fists tightly, but no clear emotion could be seen on his face.

He didn’t care so much about the fifty thousand Russian soldiers; he could muster that number anytime. But the loss of equipment for tens of thousands of elite troops and the warrior Suvorov was a bitter pill to swallow.

Moreover, he had just been crowned, and the defeat in overseas war was bound to affect his prestige.

He must quickly make amends with a victory.

He knows well that Russia tolerated his coup to usurp his father because they believed he could lead Russia to greatness.

If he could not achieve that, he might face the same fate as his grandfather and father.

He calmly looked at Arakcheev: "Where is Kosakov Corps now?"

"They should have just passed Vienna, Your Majesty."

Alexander I nodded: "Tell him to fight in the way he sees fit and stop being dictated by those Germans."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Also, instruct the Military Committee to redeploy twenty-five thousand soldiers under General Kutuzov’s command, and immediately send them to Western Europe."

Count Arakcheev hurried to advise, "Your Majesty, it’s challenging for us to dispatch so many troops abroad now..."

"Let the British provide aid," Alexander I coldly commanded, "Tell them it’s compensation for Suvorov’s Corps!"

He was already at the gambling table, so he absolutely could not lose. And to win more chips, it was necessary to bet more.

The spirited Tsar at this moment had yet to realize that a domestic economic storm was quietly brewing.

In Yekaterinoslav in Russia’s southwest, near Crimea, at the office of the "Donbas United Coal Company."

Viscount Olivier frowned at the "coal merchant" before him, finally speaking in a low voice: "I am honored to serve His Highness, but if I raise prices arbitrarily, it will surely arouse suspicion among the Russians...

"You know, many in Saint Petersburg covet my assets. These people act very ruthlessly; I absolutely cannot hand them an excuse.

"Moreover, the British are unlikely to raise prices with me. Their coal mine production in Krasnoyarsk is not high, yet it can influence market prices."

Due to early planning, the two French companies, led by Viscount Olivier, controlled the best coal and iron mines in the Donbas Region.

Later, the British, in order to counteract French influence, invested significantly here as well, but they acquired only the leftover mines, with production levels never reaching a quarter of the French companies.

Mr. Belmon, the "coal merchant," smiled: "You needn’t worry about that, just follow the instructions of ’that gentleman.’ Even if the coal and iron prices don’t fluctuate as expected, he will fulfill his promise.

"Oh, rest assured, everything is within the bounds of regulations; the Russians will not catch you out."

Viscount Olivier hesitated for a few more seconds and then nodded forcefully: "Alright, I’ll do as His Highness... as that gentleman says."

He knew that intentionally triggering fluctuations in coal and iron prices would undoubtedly result in losses for himself, but the Crown Prince Highness promised him that his factories in France would later receive free licensing for the latest steelmaking technology.

It is said that the production efficiency of this new technology is 50 to 100 times that of crucible steelmaking, and the quality of the produced steel is far superior to crucible steel. It even requires no coal consumption!

It’s foreseeable that this new technology will completely obsolete crucible steelmaking, with profits that are unimaginably high.

His company in Nancy only constitutes a third of his entire fortune, but he can’t stay in Russia forever. Once he earns enough, he will return to live in France.

So the Hilker Steel Company is truly his core enterprise. For this, he can fully accept the losses of his Russian company.

Belmon then slipped a paper to Olivier and instructed: "We have channels in Moscow and Perm; if you need to conduct any promotion, just let me know anytime."