Chapter 294 Austrian Interests

Chapter 295 Austria’s Interests

"Oh, you'd better let her be busy. Tuscany is so far away, it's not easy to go back and forth." Joseph smiled and declined. He came to Austria to do business, and he didn't want to be pestered by little lolita all day long.

Vidoluka was startled for a moment, then smiled again. The French Crown Prince was worried that Clementine would suffer from the turbulence when she rushed back. It turns out that my son-in-law is not only handsome, but also very considerate.

I am getting more and more satisfied!

Led by Leopold II and his wife, Joseph drove all the way through the streets of Vienna towards Schönbrunn Palace.

Vienna was very different from what he remembered. There was no peaceful and artistic atmosphere, and everything was shabby. Although he met a few street musicians on the road, most of the music they produced was quite harsh.

The feces and urine on the streets are comparable to those in Paris before the renovation of public toilets. At the same time, there are also "sceneries" like garbage mountains. At many street intersections, half of the road is blocked by garbage.

What made Joseph feel most awkward was the faint hostility in the eyes of passers-by when they looked at the French Crown Prince driving his car. But this is not surprising. France and Austria have been fighting back and forth for hundreds of years for hegemony in Europe, and their people have also hated each other for hundreds of years.

After finally arriving at Schonbrunn Palace, the nobles who greeted him in front of the palace showed basic enthusiasm and etiquette.

Regardless of his illness, Joseph II personally came to the gate of Schönbrunn Palace with the support of his servants to greet his nephew.

Joseph hurriedly stepped forward to salute his uncle, then pushed away the servant, picked up his arm himself, and said enthusiastically: "Dear Your Majesty the Emperor, my father always said that if he hadn't been busy with state affairs and couldn't get away, he would have come long ago. It’s up to you. Oh, mother misses you very much too, and asked me to bring you many gifts, which are in the carriage behind.”

Vidoluka's eyes twitched when he heard this from behind, huh? Isn’t that car a gift for me?

Joseph didn't know what she was thinking, and continued to say to Joseph II: "Mother heard that there was a rebellion in the Southern Netherlands, and she was worried that you were working too hard, so I must help you share your worries."

Joseph II nodded happily and wanted to say something, but he coughed violently. He just raised his hand to gesture in the direction of the banquet hall.

Following closely behind them, Count Kaunitz, the Austrian Minister of State, vaguely heard Joseph's words. He quickly turned to look at the French Foreign Minister aside and whispered in pure French: "Archbishop Talleyrand, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince means, Will France send troops to the Southern Netherlands to support Austria?"

He is considered the most pro-French among Austrian senior officials. He spends several months of vacation in France every year, and even the most expensive clothes are sent to Paris for starching to show his authentic Parisian style. Therefore, he is also the most hopeful that France can participate in the counter-insurgency in the Southern Netherlands.

Talleyrand immediately showed a very sincere smile: "Her Majesty the Queen does intend to send troops. But you also know that France is in a terrible financial situation and cannot even spend millions to mobilize troops."

"In terms of funding, Vienna can provide..."

Kaunitz had just finished speaking when he was interrupted by Talleyrand with a smile: "So the Duke of Broglie proposed that France could provide logistical support to the Austrian army.

“To transfer supplies from Vienna to Brabant, we have to travel nearly a thousand kilometers along the way, oh, that’s more than 120 miles, and the transportation consumption will be huge.

"And we can resupply from Verdun, which will be much easier."

Kaunitz's eyes immediately lit up. If a war breaks out in the Southern Netherlands, Prussia's biggest advantage over Austria is the closer supply distance.

And if Austria gets logistical support from France, then Prussia's advantage will turn into a disadvantage - France and the Southern Netherlands are directly bordering!

In this way, even if France does not directly send troops, it will still provide great support to the Austrian army.

He immediately bowed slightly to Talleyrand: "Thank you, Her Majesty the Queen, for making the decision that is most beneficial to Faud!"

Talleyrand showed an embarrassed look: "Look, France's poor finances, I'm just worried that when the war in the Southern Netherlands is reaching a stalemate, there will be problems with the funds to purchase military supplies...Those black-hearted businessmen don't even think about it. I would like to give the royal family a penny on credit."

Kaunitz hurriedly said: "How can we ask Her Majesty the Queen to pay for it? All supplies will be paid for by Vienna according to the purchase price."

In this way, France earned a huge favor from Austria without sending a single soldier. As for the "purchase price", France doesn't have the final say. It's always much cheaper than shipping it from Austria.

Entering the banquet hall, Kaunitz took Talleyrand to sit next to him and began to discuss logistical supply arrangements for the Southern Netherlands.

As he spoke, he let out a long sigh: "Even with the help of France, this expedition will probably strain the empire's finances for a while..."

Talleyrand nodded in agreement: "In fact, the overseas trade income of the Southern Netherlands is getting lower and lower, and it is almost of no value to His Majesty the Emperor.

"Oh, by the way, if Archduke Otto Doll of Bavaria is interested in the Southern Netherlands, maybe we can take advantage of this rebellion to make some territorial exchanges with him?"

Kaunitz looked at him with some surprise. This is indeed a strategic goal that Austria very much wants to achieve - compared to the far-flung enclave of the Southern Netherlands, Bavaria, which borders Austria and is very wealthy, is what Austria wants most. territory.

"It's just," he frowned and shook his head, "I'm afraid Grand Duke Otedol won't agree, right?"

"I can help you convince Archduke Otto Dole about this." Talleyrand said immediately.

Joseph told him on the way here that Archduke Otdore had always had the dream of reviving the Burgundy dynasty - not the current Burgundy region of France, but the powerful Burgundy of the Middle Ages, which owned the entire South A vast territory stretching from the Netherlands to Mannheim.

Therefore, Otedol has always wanted to get the Southern Netherlands, so that he could get rid of the restrictions of the Holy Roman elector territory and hand over the Southern Netherlands land that did not belong to the elector to his illegitimate son.

Yes, he had no legitimate children, only a lot of illegitimate children. This resulted in his Bavaria being passed down only to relatives in Saxony. To him, the Southern Netherlands was more valuable than rich Bavaria.

Kaunitz grabbed Talleyrand excitedly: "Are you really sure?"

"Yes, I am somewhat confident in my eloquence." Talleyrand smiled and nodded, "And if Austria can reach an exchange agreement with Bavaria, then the rebellion in the Southern Netherlands will be Bavaria's own business. Archduke Oteddor More troops will definitely be committed to deal with the rebellion.

"After this, Austria and Bavaria, with their common interests, can do more."

He pointed to the north: "For example, deal with Saxony, or even march to Silesia!"