I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 1260 The Vanished Germany (Seeking Double Monthly Tickets)
Several high-ranking Prussian officials immediately began to whisper among themselves: "I think this is definitely worth considering."

"The biggest problem is that it will provoke retaliation from Britain..."

"Yes, they will blockade the Baltic Sea, but that won't have a big impact on us."

"It is clear that the revenue generated by the sugar trade far exceeds the meager aid from the British..."

"Perhaps this is a good opportunity to use France to suppress Austria. At the same time, as long as the French do not cross the Rhine, we can gradually integrate North Germany, which is something the British cannot provide for us."

The group suddenly realized that "the moment the thought of 'renouncing the Dharma' arose, the world suddenly seemed vast."

Joining forces with France would bring about revolutionary changes in everything from the economy and markets to geopolitics, yielding far greater benefits than acting as a henchman for Britain.

They were completely unaware that while large-scale sugar beet cultivation brought huge economic benefits to Prussia, it also meant handing over its economic lifeline to France.

First, France controls the sugar beet seeds and fertilizers—Joseph will certainly sign a supply agreement with them to dispel Prussia's suspicions, but if a truly national catastrophe occurs, the agreement will be nothing but toilet paper.

If you want to control Prussia, all you need to do is fabricate a story about "insufficient fertilizer production," and you'll be in for a real scare.

Secondly, France holds the power to set prices in the European sugar market. Whether to give Prussia a carrot or a stick depends entirely on the fluctuations in sugar prices on the Paris futures exchange.

Finally, as Prussia's finances become increasingly reliant on sugar beet cultivation, the planting area will inevitably continue to expand.

Joseph would then continuously import cheap grains from North Africa into Prussia. As a result, Prussian wheat farmers lost money year after year, while their sugar beet neighbors made a fortune. Who would grow wheat after that?
Fortunately, most of Prussia's land is very suitable for growing sugar beets.

When Prussia's staple food cultivation area shrank to the point where it could no longer meet the people's food needs, it completely lost the ability to wage war.

Meanwhile, Prussia, with a population of only 8 million, could live quite well by exporting sugar alone—30 percent of the British sugar market could support them each year—and the warlike Junker nobles would become planting experts and sugar refining technicians.

If they were to engage in further conflict with countries like Austria, they would have no choice but to seek assistance from France. This would further increase their dependence on France.

As for the "integration of North Germany" that Prince Heinrich and others longed for, it was nothing but a mirage.

Joseph did indeed promise not to seek territory on the east bank of the Rhine, but that did not mean France would not extend its influence there.

First, we'll engage in cultural infiltration. We'll import large quantities of French theater, music, and high-tech products into North Germany, and promote the French lifestyle through public opinion, gradually making it a social trend—this is something France has always excelled at.

The "rustic" Prussian culture will inevitably be despised.

You Prussians want to unite the North German states? What a country bumpkin you are! Look at your rustic appearance, who would want to unite with you?
What? Prussia also completely adopted the noble French culture? Then what's the point of the German Confederation? After all, everyone is learning from France, so where does the sense of German national identity come from?
Beyond cultural infiltration, it involves transplanting the same approach that was previously used in northern Italy.

It is extremely difficult for people from different regions to establish a sense of identity, but it is extremely easy to create antagonism.

Such statements as "Cologne will always be God's land," "You poor bastards, stop trying to get close to Hesse," and "Except for Thuringia, none of you deserve to be called warriors"...

In a few years, it will be good if these small countries don't start fighting each other; France may even have to go to great lengths to mediate between them.

What German nation?

We are "Hesseans", "Thuringians", and "Würzburgers". Don't try to claim kinship with us, you Prussians.

Thus, unless Prussia adopts a military conquest approach, it is destined to be unable to establish a unified German Empire as it has in history.

As long as Prussia cannot access the coal and iron-rich Ruhr region, it will be virtually impossible for it to keep pace with the Industrial Revolution—currently, this area is the territory of Cologne, Nassau, and Hesse. Given the enormous profits from sugar beet cultivation, Prussia will likely remain an agricultural nation indefinitely.

Prussia, which lacked even advanced industry, wanted to unify North Germany by relying on military force.

At that time, France will not need to intervene militarily; it will only need to provide North Germany with some advanced weapons, and they might even be able to push back into Prussia.

Joseph's core objective was to use this opportunity to completely eliminate the potential threat posed by France's powerful northern neighbor, Germany.

That night.

At an estate on the northern outskirts of Berlin, Prince Heinrich and a group of ministers stood before Wilhelm III's sickbed, presenting the terms proposed by the French:

"...The French prince also pledged to invest in the construction of at least seven sugar refineries in our country, so that all the sugar beets harvested thereafter will be processed into cane sugar domestically."

"Based on this, they will also restrict the scale of sugar beet cultivation in France to ensure our market share..."

"At the same time, our country can also obtain the most advanced automatic looms, steamships, and even the most advanced trains from France..."

William III, half-reclining on the bed, let out a faint hum.

His right thigh was covered in festering sores, with several leeches crawling on the wound, sucking pus and blood. The doctor had just taken his temperature: 39.3 degrees Celsius.

If he hadn't been young and strong, he probably wouldn't have been able to hold on much longer.

In this situation, Prince Heinrich was not even sure if the king had understood.

Queen Louise, sitting to the side, glanced at her husband's pale face and turned to Prince Heinrich, asking, "What conditions did they propose?"

The latter sighed and whispered, "Compensation, 800 million thalers..."

Queen Louise shook her head in despair: "This is too much; we absolutely cannot accept it."

Prince Heinrich hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, if the sugar beet planting plan is implemented smoothly, we can pay off this money in just 13 years without affecting the finances."

"Are you sure?"

“Yes, Your Majesty. If the French control the scale of cultivation, we can at least double the area under sugar beet cultivation within three years.”

The Queen of Prussia nodded: "I trust you, Your Highness. Is there anything else?"

"Some trade requirements, such as market opening, the requirement that our sugar must be sold on the Paris futures market, and mutual recognition of patents, etc..."

As he spoke, he winked at Baron Stein, who was standing to the side.

The latter had no choice but to bite the bullet and reply, "Our country must relinquish several exclaves, including Ansbach, Bielefeld, and Emden."

　There will be more tonight.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)