(The end is still not fully typed out, please wait for me for 10 minutes. I'm very sorry.)
Of course, the current Italian states, due to their lack of strength, could only talk tough.
But if Austria, which holds significant influence in Italy, gives them covert support, they would indeed dare to bite off a piece of flesh from the Pope State!
"Your Highness, but why would Austria want to prevent the Holy See from supporting Poland?"
Joseph replied without hesitation, "Austria is going to act against Poland too."
He faced Talleyrand's surprised look and ordered Eman, who stood by the doorway, "Please have Mr. Fouche come to see me."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Joseph frowned and said, "We must strengthen Poland's defenses in the southwest immediately."
Talleyrand expressed his concerns, "Your Highness, the current relations between Poland and Austria are close, they may not take this seriously."
"And it also conflicts with the planned combat strategy," Joseph sighed, "It seems we will have to help them with their defense. At least we need to withstand the first wave of Austrian offensives."
"You mean, we are to send troops directly?"
"No, that would lead us into a diplomatic crisis," Joseph shook his head and looked towards the map on the table, "We own 40% of the shares in the Tarnovsk Mountain Silver Mine.
"If the fierce miners were to arm themselves to protect the mine, that would have nothing to do with us."
He looked back at Talleyrand and asked, "So, how's the situation with the Ottoman Empire?"
Talleyrand appeared relieved, "Selim III has agreed to provide logistical support for the Black Sea region later on.
"For trade, he has requested control of 40% of the steam transport ships, we're to help build a cannon foundry for him, and provide 2,000 sets of infantry equipment in exchange for a 70% priority purchasing right for cotton and sugarcanes."
"You have done very well," Joseph nodded in satisfaction, "This way our Polish strategy can be well-supported."
If the Ottoman Empire had refused to support Poland, Joseph would have had to resort to using the "Special Trade Association's" smuggling ships to purchase supplies from the Levant and transport them to the north coast of the Black Sea.
Doing so would not only be extremely costly, but the volume of supply would certainly not be very large.
However, if the Ottoman Empire could supply them from nearby, it would be much more efficient. More importantly, the Ottoman Empire had many merchant ships in the Black Sea, making it easy to conceal the existence of the supply fleet.
While they were talking, Eman knocked lightly on the door and said, "Your Highness, Viscount Carolina and Mr. Mesmer have returned."
Talleyrand had finished reporting his work and stood up to take his leave upon hearing this.
Shortly after, the "swindler duo" entered under the guidance of Eman.
The two of them hastily bowed respectfully and then began to lavish the Crown Prince with all manner of sycophantic praises.
Joseph expertly raised his hand to interrupt them and then turned to Carolina, "Viscount Carolina, have all the 'funds' from England been taken care of?"
The latter bowed, seeking credit, "Please rest assured, every penny has returned to France, and I swear, no one can trace the whereabouts of this money."
The entire London gas streetlight project, in cooperation with Mesmer, had yielded a total "investment" of 1.04 million British Pounds. But after these vast sums were transferred out of England, people could easily trace the money flowing into France.
As a professional who had been a Finance Minister, Carolina was appointed by Joseph to handle these funds.
In the end, he truly lived up to his trust, making all the funds flow safely into France through a variety of investments, loans, and stock operations.
He had spent the past six months dealing with this matter and had only just returned to France.
"You have done an outstanding job."
Joseph praised him and then, suddenly remembering the previous matter regarding the Holy See, he narrowed his eyes.
All he wanted was for the Holy See to issue a call for a "Holy War" against heretics. Since Pope Pius VI was unwilling to exert himself, Joseph could very well make the call on his behalf.
As long as the morale of the Poles could be stirred up, what difference did it make between a true Holy See and a false one?
He looked at Mesmer. It just so happened that he had a person very skilled in "impersonation" at his disposal.
Joseph quickly planned everything in his mind, confirmed that the method was feasible, and then took out a Pardon Letter from the drawer, handing it to Mesmer, "You provided quite some help to Viscount Carolina in London, and now it is time for me to fulfill my promise. This is your Pardon Letter, you'll no longer need to go to prison."
Mesmer hurriedly took the Pardon Letter, unfolded it, and saw Louis XVI's signature and seal on it. He became so moved that his eyes reddened, and he bowed to Joseph, "Thank you, Your Highness, your most loyal servant will remember your kindness for the rest of my life. Oh, and His Majesty the King, his benevolence is like..."
Joseph had to lift his hand to interrupt him again, smiling, "If I'm not mistaken, all your property has been confiscated, right?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"So, even if you are free, you'll have to beg for a living?"
Mesmer said with an embarrassed smile, "Your Highness, I have some medical skills."
"But your medical license has also been revoked."
"That... indeed, it has."
Joseph nodded, "So, do you want to start living a respectable life again?"
"Of course, certainly!"
"I have a matter that I need you to help me with," Joseph began to entice the swindler, "Once it is done, I will give you a new identity, and, 20,000 francs. You will return to upper society."
Mesmer bowed again excitedly, "Thank you for your trust, Your Highness, I am willing to do anything for you, even if it means giving my life without fear."
Joseph smiled at him and said, "I need you to disguise yourself as a papal envoy and falsely transmit a decree from the Pope."
The room fell silent instantly.
Mesmer was evidently in the midst of a violent struggle.
He dared to deceive the King, he dared to deceive a vagrant, but to falsely transmit the will of Jesus was something he truly didn't dare!
Yes, in his view, the Pope's decree was the will of Jesus.
This could send him to hell!
His lips quivered, and he stepped back half a step, "Your Highness, this, this might be..."
Joseph maintained a smile, "A reward of 30,000 francs."
"I will be punished by Jesus..."
"No, Your Highness, you can't do this..."
"Plus a title of nobility."
His simple design was widely used in the early 19th century and became the foundation of national signaling systems, eventually realizing communication between Lisbon and other major cities as well as the key border fortresses of Elvas and Almeida.
These simple devices played a decisive role in the actions of the Duke of Wellington during the Peninsular War of 1808-1814, making high-speed communication possible in Portugal.
At that time, the British Army did not have a signaling system, and Britain was left behind by some European countries in the use of these technologies.
In the early 19th century, optical telegraphs became a fashionable means of solving the issue of transmitting information quickly. However, setting up these devices was costly, and only a few countries possessed mature signaling systems.