Chapter 163: Peace and Business (1)
After Austria withdrew from the war, the entire anti-French alliance essentially fell apart. Following Austria's request for peace, the Prussians immediately chimed in, saying, "We don't actually bear any ill will towards France; we were only fighting due to misunderstandings. So, we should sit down and talk, after all, we all love peace."
At this point, France and Prussia didn't share a border yet, and after Austria withdrew, there was no feasible way for the French and Prussians to fight unless they crossed through neutral countries. Therefore, both countries began negotiations, but due to their limited military options, the talks dragged on.
Prussia was willing to exit the war, but they demanded assurances from the French not to take any action in Hanover. However, the French saw Hanover as a crucial tool to threaten England and force them out of the war.
At that time, the ruling family of England was also the Hanoverian royal house. While legally, England and Hanover were two separate countries, they shared a common monarch.
For a long time, the French navy had been no match for the British navy. After the losses suffered during the Toulon revolt, the French navy was even less able to challenge British naval power. As for a potential invasion of England, that was even more dauntingafter all, the English Channel wasn't so narrow that one could simply float a bathtub across.
Thus, the only viable option for the French was to strike at British interests on the European mainland. After Napoleon conquered Northern Italy and extorted various Italian states, not even the Pope's territory was spared, other countries grew fearful. They dared not have any dealings with the British. This was a heavy blow to British interests.
General Joubert, after seizing the Rhine, moved into the Netherlands, forcing the entire country to join the French camp. The Netherlands was a crucial gateway for British goods entering the European mainland, so this was another blow to the British.
However, the British remained stubborn. They didn't oppose peace talks but set a condition that France must return to its original borders while keeping the colonial territories they had seized during the waressentially treating France as a defeated nation.
Hence, the French had to use Hanover to pressure the British. But if they truly occupied Hanover, they'd share a border with Prussia, which was not in Prussia's interest. Therefore, negotiations with Prussia were delayed.
Nevertheless, Prussia's objections were not enough to prevent the French from taking action in Hanover. Shortly after Napoleon left Austria, the French launched an offensive against Hanover and quickly occupied it. Prussia, despite some protests, didn't dare to act.
So, while some issues remained unresolved, the war was effectively over. The last conflict now was on the seas.
"In this way, Europe's traditional shipbuilding industry will be in crisis, and we can buy it cheap. I'm excited," Lucien said.
"You're my foolish brother!" Joseph shook his head. "You're so dense. Even if those shipyards are cheap, buying them will still cost a fortune. Why should we spend money? What are we spending it for?"
"What do you plan to do, then? Is it that alliance thing again?" Lucien said. "I honestly don't see the appeal of this alliance. I think it's better to handle things on our own."
"This situation is created by political circumstances. Politics is fickle, and considering too far ahead brings risks. I believe that, if we want France to become the king of Europe, there's no room for compromise with the British. But, of course, this is just the surface reasoning. My dear brother, do you understand?"
"But only the British would see through this immediately, right?"
"This doesn't affect our ability to outperform their ships. We'll cut off their trade routes, and it will be profitable."
"Oh, I see it now! If we spend too much on buying shipyards, it's the same as establishing an alliance and rapidly gaining profits through it. I think you..." Lucien's voice faded. He had indeed overlooked this variable.
"That's not the most important variable you've overlooked," Joseph continued. "Our business isn't just one-dimensional. We have multiple lines of business, and the allocation of funds among them results in different income fluctuations. The same amount of money invested in shipbuilding can bring in some income, but investing it in another business can bring in equivalent income. It's a much more complex problem to figure out how to coordinate these limited funds to maximize efficiency. I think it's not any simpler than solving the four-color problem. And you claim you can calculate it all in a second!"
Joseph set his leg down and sat up, staring at Lucien. "So, Lucien, stop arguing. Your mathematical abilities have clearly deteriorated recently. Well, it might be time to help you regain your intellectual faculties."
"Fine, but I have other work too," Lucien said with a pale face.
"Don't worry; it won't be too difficult or too tiring for you," Joseph said. "Actually, it will help you gain a deeper understanding of the direction our business is taking."
