Wisgen Street in Munich was already crowded with four to five hundred people, mostly workshop owners, craftsmen, and workers from Munich, as well as a few shop owners.
They were holding wooden signs that read "Kick out French goods" and "Raise tariffs," along with a straw man labeled "Kayetan Dietrich."
Dietrich was the diplomat who represented Bavaria in signing the Rhine-Saone Treaty.
Bertrand and his sons joined the crowd, chanting slogans of protest against French goods together with those around them.
Soon, the sound of a horn erupted from the front of the procession. Gabriel, a senior director of the Munich Chamber of Commerce, stood atop a carriage, waving his hands and shouting, "Follow me to that damn department store!"
He had come as an individual, but such a large-scale protest could not have been organized without the participation of the Munich Chamber of Commerce.
A roar from the crowd followed, and they surged towards the France Department Store, led by Gabriel in droves.
Three black carriages passed by the side of the protest procession, the window of the middle one suddenly opened, and Lord Grenville, the British Foreign Minister, stuck his head out, eagerly examining the words on the banners.
Just then, Bertrand came by, carrying the straw man, and he hurriedly waved and asked, "Sir, what are you protesting against?"
The latter exerted a lot of effort to understand his Low German, and shouted hoarsely, "Our shops are going bankrupt, my lord. Those damn officials, to please the French people, have set the tariffs extremely low. People are all buying French goods. We can't let this situation continue."
He seemed to have forgotten that when the Rhine-Saone Treaty was first signed, these workshop owners had even held celebrations, hoping to enter the vast French market.
Having said that, he hurried to catch up with the main troop.
Grenville remembered similar protests that had occurred recently in Vienna, and immediately instructed his coachman to follow the procession of protesters.
In front of the France Department Store, Bertrand and the others set fire to the straw "Dietrich," waving their wooden signs, and cursed loudly. Soon, they clashed with customers who had come to shop at the department store, and even started fighting.
Half an hour later, police and military forces arrived, blowing whistles to disperse the protesting workshop owners, and arrested a few who had caused the most trouble.
From the carriage, Lord Grenville's assistant watched the middle-aged man who had spoken to them being led away by two policemen and shook his head, "These poor fellows, thinking that just a few hundred people could influence the trade situation."
Yet Grenville seemed genuinely interested in the mess outside the department store, stroking his cane and musing, "Kevin, this is just one city.
"In all of Bavaria, there are likely thousands of such protesters. And from what I've gathered, there are significant numbers of people dissatisfied with the low tariffs in Austria, Wurttemberg, Salzburg, and other places."
Kevin shrugged, "Yes, my lord, and so they will keep the armies busy in those regions."
Grenville closed the carriage window, smiling at his assistant, "Kevin, you must consider that their anger all stems from the same cause, which is that French goods are taking away their business."
"If we could unite these people, it could become a formidable force. And moreover, their target is France."
Grenville leaned back in his seat and instructed his assistant, "Kevin, let's not head to the Southern Netherlands just yet. Arrange for me meetings with Pappenheim and Dietrich, oh, and with the president of the Munich Chamber of Commerce."
Pappenheim was the Bavarian Foreign Minister, and Dietrich was the trade commissioner.
In the grand hall on the second floor of Schonbrunn Palace, Austria's Minister of the Interior, Kobutsel, looked grave as he nodded at the suddenly visiting Grenville, "As you've just said, our country's financial health is indeed not optimistic, with new debts last year surpassing five million florins."
Facing his allies from Prussia, he was trying his best to conceal Austria's debt situation. In reality, Austria's new debts last year were nearly ten million florins, with the total debt exceeding one hundred million florins.
Kobutsel continued, "However, His Majesty has approved a plan to issue banknotes, which will greatly improve our country's financial condition. I hope your country will support our banknotes in terms of trade..."
"Banknotes are indeed a very effective financial measure," Grenville eagerly interjected loudly, "but perhaps you should be more concerned with the imbalance of your national trade, otherwise, the deficit will continue to accumulate."
"Yes, our trade revenue has indeed shrunk to some extent."
"It should be a considerable shrinkage," Grenville corrected bluntly. He had already obtained a rough understanding of Austria's trade data from recent years through various channels.
"At the same time, your country's trade expenses have continued to rise. Forgive me for speaking bluntly, but if this situation doesn't change, Austria's finances will soon face collapse."
Upon hearing this, Kobutsel was overjoyed, "So, are you offering a loan to our country?"
The newly appointed Foreign Minister, Count Rhinefeels, also smiled, "Or maybe we can facilitate a new trade cooperation agreement?"
Grenville shook his head, "You misunderstand; my intention is to help your country resolve the trade imbalance.
"You must have noticed, the Rhine-Saone Treaty has severely worsened Austria's trade situation.
"A flood of French goods has entered your country, for which you've paid a vast amount of gold coins. Meanwhile, your products have not gained much of a market in France, and you're even beginning to lose the Southern German Market.
"I believe this agreement to be extremely unfair."
Kobutsel and the new Foreign Minister Rhinefeels looked at each other and kept silent.
Grenville continued to tempt them, "Your country must renegotiate with France concerning the tariff rates to reverse this situation."
Kobutsel immediately shook his head, "Austria and France have a deep friendship, and we are not prepared to do that."
He paused, then added, "Your suggestion would only anger France and could even bring war upon our country."
Trade disputes were the second most common cause of war in this era, just after issues of succession.
"You need not worry," Lord Grenville revealed a confident smile. "My country will fully support your country's trade stance."
Without waiting for the Austrians to refuse, he went on, "I'll be frank with you, before coming here, I went to Bavaria and Salzburg, and they too believe that the Rhine-Saone Treaty urgently needs to be amended.
"I can help persuade Wurttemberg, Augsburg, and all other signatory countries to collectively demand a renegotiation of the Rhine-Saone Treaty.
"Under the joint pressure of so many countries, France will have no choice but to compromise."