Chapter 1387: 1293: Peace and Postwar Order

Capítulo 1387: Chapter 1293: Peace and Postwar Order

The number of Indians in the Ohio to Kentucky area was originally not very large, and later they were massively displaced by Americans, resulting in only sixty to seventy thousand Indians in a region as large as one and a half times Portugal.

Therefore, Joseph decided to retain the migrated Americans—approximately sixty thousand of them—as long as they are given enough farmland and taxed less, who will still remember the United States of America in ten years?

The future model of the Iroquois Duchy will be French advisors assisting Indians in managing the government and army, with immigrants from the United States providing technology, together building a beautiful homeland.

Although there are only over one hundred thousand people here now, due to means of resisting smallpox, the unnatural death rate of Indians has significantly decreased.

With their exceptional fertility, in just one or two generations, the population of the Iroquois Duchy can increase to several hundred thousand and become a force to reckon with on the North American continent.

Moreover, it was the French who helped the Indians reclaim their homeland and facilitated the establishment of the country, so the Iroquois Duchy naturally becomes a follower of France.

Major Thiebaud sighed, “Now, Americans won’t have the strength to advance west for at least several years.”

As he spoke, he flipped open the report given to him by Leotar and saw the phrases “enemy forces killed 2300, captured 4700”, “seized 12 cannons, over 5200 flintlock guns”, “called more than 40,000 Protestant believers back to the Holy See”, which brought a smile to his face: “Upon returning to the office, I will immediately report the situation in North America to the Palace of Versailles.”

…

Presburg, a city in central and western Austria.

Holy Roman Emperor’s Palace.

With a grateful look, Ludwig Kobtsel entered and saluted Franz II, saying, “Your Majesty, the French have finally agreed to make concessions.”

He walked past Count Speelman and other ministers and handed a stack of documents to the Emperor as if taking credit: “This is the adjusted ceasefire agreement draft.”

Yes, yesterday at noon, the British envoy to Austria brought news of the United States’ defeat, and Franz II immediately sent the Foreign Minister to meet Talleyrand.

In fact, as early as when Archduke Karl’s main force was defeated, Franz II was preparing to surrender, but he had always wanted to leverage the situation in Louisiana to negotiate better surrender terms. Now, all his bargaining chips have disappeared, and he only wants to quickly put an end to the defeat.

Franz II took a deep breath, opened the ceasefire agreement, and skipped the first two pages of formalities to read the specific terms—

[First, all Austrian Army in areas such as Passau, Bohemia, Presburg are to immediately lay down their arms and surrender to the French Army…]

Little Kobtsel glanced at the Emperor’s expression and explained from the side: “Your Majesty, the French have agreed not to station troops at Els Pass and Linz.

“Also, the French Army will not enter Vienna, and the signing ceremony of the ceasefire agreement can take place in Mödling.

“And General Wilmze’s forces are allowed to return to Vienna, of course, after the agreement is signed.”

Franz II could hardly show his happiness when the Foreign Minister continued: “However, we have to dismantle the fortress at Els Pass…”

“Let’s do it then.” Franz II nodded helplessly.

Being able to avoid French control of Els Pass and save the capital, giving up those few fortresses is acceptable.

Hmm, Joseph simply wants to help Prussia open a door to the south.

Franz II continued to look down.

[Second, Austria is to pay France 70 million florins in compensation, 6 million florins to Baden, compensation to Venice…]

Indeed, not a single penny less for compensation, which made his eyelid twitch.

Little Kobtsel hurriedly said, “Your Majesty, under my persistence, Talleyrand agreed to extend the payment deadline to 15 years.”

According to the French Ministry of Finance calculations, Austria can barely produce 14 million francs a year, and there’s no use squeezing them further for money.

“Oh, and the French agreed to abolish the ‘Seine-Rhine River Agreement’ and will not demand us to open up the market.”

This time, Austrian ministers all let out a relieved expression. Previously, it was that trade agreement that flooded Austria with French goods, leading to domestic industrial decline and causing millions of florins to flow to France annually. Now, they can finally rid of this damned thing!

Only Metternich, standing in the back row, knitted his brows, seemingly recalling something ominous.

Franz II’s gaze moved down.

[Third, Austria is to immediately withdraw from the Anti-French Alliance and promise never to form any type of military alliances with England, Russia, or Saxony…]

…

[Fifth, the Holy Roman Emperor is to announce recognition of the newly established Cologne Duchy and the Westphalian Bishopric, also recognize the merger of the two Hesse Duchies into the new Hesse Duchy…]

Little Kobtsel added: “Your Majesty, the French have promised to allow Archbishop Maximilian to return to Vienna.”

“I understand,” Franz II replied irritably. The power of the Empire no longer affects Northern Germany; not recognizing Cologne and Hesse’s matters would change nothing.

Count Colloredo, nevertheless, quipped: “Your Majesty, Cologne’s riot and division were all because the British insisted on having Archbishop Friedrich control the Osnabrück Diocese, they ought to compensate our losses.”

The Holy Roman Emperor nodded: “You are responsible for discussing this with the British.”

The remaining articles of the ceasefire agreement were all regarding post-war international diplomacy and Austria returning occupied Polish territories, etc.

Until Franz II saw clause nine, [The Holy Roman Emperor will announce recognition of the ‘Dresden Treaty’…], he impatiently flung the document onto the table and asked Little Kobtsel:

“So, when will the agreement be signed?”

“Talleyrand demands it next month on the 2nd, Your Majesty.”

Franz II waved his hand to him: “Please arrange it. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be done in Vienna…”

With everything settled, the Austrian ministers successively left the Emperor’s meeting hall.

Metternich, feeling anxious, returned to his temporary residence, immediately dug out a large number of documents, and began calculating with his pen.

Night fell.

Staring at the data in front of him, his expression had become grave.

Although due to the abolishment of the ‘Seine-Rhine River Agreement’, French goods will no longer flood the Austrian market. Austrian goods will, however, be blocked by tariff barriers from entering the Germanic Region due to the signing of the ‘Stuttgart Trade Agreement’. As for Italy, not to mention that there is a France-dominated common market there, given the Italian’s hostility towards Austria nowadays, normal trade would be challenging.

“We must allow more goods into the English and Russian markets to maintain the Empire’s trade balance,” he muttered with a frown, “We need to sign a new trade agreement with the British.”