Chapter 148 The professional qualities of a diplomat (asking for double monthly votes)

The Minister of the Navy reacted again and realized that the naval bases the Crown Prince was talking about were Algiers, Tunisia and other places where Barbary pirates were entrenched.

"However, the impact on the Ottomans in the Barbary Sea area is limited, and the Gulf of Sirte is more..."

Seeing that he was still entangled, Joseph quietly gave Brian a look. The latter immediately coughed lightly and said: "Marquis of Castries, you know, our finances are very tight, so there is no additional allocation for this operation."

No funding? Upon hearing this, the Minister of the Navy immediately stopped and muttered: "But even if we show our strength near the Barbary Sea, we still need funds."

Joseph smiled and said: "So, we have to bring the United States and Spain together to carry out joint operations."

Queen Mary looked at her son with interest: "Joseph, why do you want Americans and Spanish?"

"Because the Americans can pay," Joseph said. "Their merchant ships in the Mediterranean are often attacked by the Ottoman navy, so they can spend 600,000 livres and let us help protect the safety of the merchant ships.

"Oh, by the way, since there is a joint operation, the United States also needs some decent warships. I believe they will be willing to buy two frigates or the like from us."

The United States today is not the world's policeman in the future. They have just founded the country, are as poor as ghosts, and have almost zero navy. Sell them two old French frigates, and for them they are absolute battleships.

The queen nodded and said, "What about the Spaniards?"

"They can send out warships. Spain has a lot of interests in the Barbary Sea, and they want to expel the Ottoman forces there more than we do."

Brian lost no time in echoing: "Your Majesty, I think the plan proposed by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is very practical."

Queen Mary nodded happily. The Americans contributed money, the Spanish contributed efforts, and France won the benefits of Russia. Is there anything more cost-effective than this?

She turned to look at Brian: "Archbishop Brian, please make a detailed plan for uniting Russia to fight against the Ottomans and operations in the Mediterranean, and submit it to me as soon as possible."

"Yes, Your Majesty. In fact, the corresponding plan has been formulated." Brian placed a thick stack of documents in front of the queen.

"Oh, it's amazing how efficient you are."

"Thank you for the compliment." Brian smiled and continued, "I plan to let Viscount Leonidas go to Russia as the representative of His Majesty the King. If the conditions given by the Russian Empress are suitable, we can even agree to send an envoy to the Ottoman Empire. Declare war.”

Queen Mary was about to nod, but Foreign Minister Vilzhin frowned and said: "Archbishop Brian, it was I who brought back Queen Catherine's letter last time, why should I change it to Viscount Leonidas this time? "

Brianne said, of course, to prevent this diplomatic credit from falling into your hands.

But on the surface, he said seriously: "Count Verzhen, there are other more important things to leave to you."

"Oh? Is there anything more important right now than sending an envoy to Russia?"

"You will go to Constantinople on behalf of His Majesty the King of France."

Constantinople was the Ottoman capital of Kostantiniya, which later became Istanbul. However, "Kostantiniya" is what the Turks called it after they occupied it. People in Catholic countries still like to use the name given by the Romans - Constantinople.

Virgen was startled: "What are you going to do in Constantinople?"

"This is very important." Brian said seriously, "We must minimize the possibility of Ottoman turning his attention to the Mediterranean.

"So you are going to show Hamid I that we are here to protect free trade in the Mediterranean and combat Barbary pirates."

Several cabinet ministers were amused in their hearts when they heard this. Just now they had vowed to attack the "Ottoman Navy", but in the blink of an eye they became "Barbary Pirates".

Vilzhin immediately realized that this was a trap for him. How could Osman have time to "turn his spearhead to the Mediterranean" at this moment? Didn't Russia put enough pressure on him on the northern front?

But what else could he say? Say "I won't go"? Wouldn't that be an excuse for Brian to remove him?

At this moment, the Duke of Orleans, who had been silent before, suddenly said: "Archbishop Brian, if we want to unite with Russia, it will definitely anger the Ottomans. It may not be safe for Count Verzhen to go to Constantinople now."

It was not once or twice that the Ottoman Empire detained or even killed envoys from Catholic countries for various reasons. Of course, the latter was often rude to Ottoman envoys.

Joseph immediately looked at Verzhen and said seriously: "Count Verzhen, this is the time to show your professionalism as a diplomat!"

Weirren was furious and could only nod with a sullen face: "I will complete the mission."

Brian then talked about some details of the operation in the Barbary Sea. After Queen Mary signed the action plan, she took out another document with a smile: "Next, we need to discuss the plans proposed by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince in major cities. A bill to establish a grain reserve depot.”

Joseph suddenly thought of something and said to Virzhin: "Count Virzhin, after you arrive in Constantinople, you must immediately notify the ambassador to the Ottomans and ask him and the embassy staff to return home as soon as possible."

"ah?"

"We might declare war on the Ottomans, in which case they would be very dangerous."

Virgen's face turned green - after talking for a long time, you also know that place is not safe! Why don't you say that the ambassador to the Ottoman Empire should have "diplomatic professionalism" now? I just need to be educated, right? !

He gritted his teeth and uttered a few words: "Okay, I will remind them."

Then everyone began to discuss issues related to food. Since everyone's interests were relatively consistent in this area, the motions were passed smoothly.

Joseph also obtained a special allocation of 3 million livres to purchase grain. This is all the funds that the French finance can currently provide.

After the cabinet meeting ended, all the ministers left with satisfaction, except for Virgen and the Duke of Orleans, whose faces were gloomy.

Joseph walked out of the golden door and remembered the news sent by Fleiselle this morning, saying that the preparations for Paris Fashion Week had been completed, so he decided to go to the Tuileries Palace to see the situation.

As soon as he walked around the corner of the corridor, he suddenly felt like there were eyes full of resentment looking at him.

He hurriedly turned around and saw the two Sicilian princesses bowing their heads and bowing silently.

What happened to this little girl?

Joseph suddenly slapped his forehead. By the way, he seemed to have promised to take her to visit Paris, but he was so busy these days that he forgot all about it...

He hurriedly stepped forward, stroked his chest and saluted, and said with a smile: "My beautiful princess, I wonder if I am lucky enough to visit Paris with you?"

The resentment in Princess Maria's eyes was immediately swept away, and she nodded repeatedly with a smile: "Thank you for the invitation, Your Highness, I am very happy!"