I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 1295 Tearing Open Austria's Wounds
The French Crown Prince's speech on "Peace and Post-War Reflection" lasted for more than 40 minutes before it ended, and solemn music once again filled the square.

At Joseph's request, all formalistic steps were eliminated, and the French and Austrian representatives sat directly on either side of the long table that had been prepared, each picking up a draft of the Murdrin Treaty.

Dozens of officials from Germany and Italy sat on the periphery to witness the signing ceremony.

There's not much to say about the treaty's contents. After displaying the "Certificate of Plenipotence" granted by the Holy Roman Emperor, Ludwig von Kobtsl turned to look at the French Crown Prince sitting at the head of the table with mixed emotions, sighed softly, picked up a pen, and signed his name on the treaty.

After Talleyrand signed his copy and exchanged texts with the Austrian representative, the signing ceremony of the armistice agreement was concluded. The entire process took less than 15 minutes.

As soon as Archduke Leopold declared the ceremony over, reporters swarmed around him, bombarding him with questions about the treaty. But most of them were still savoring the profound insights and profound truths of the French Dauphin's speech, secretly resolving to make it the front page of tomorrow's newspapers!

There was none of the usual swaggering and boasting of the victorious nations. Even the French diplomats who came to Moulding barely paid any attention to the reporters, and the entire French delegation left under Joseph's leadership.

On the white carriage, only Charles was still looking back at the small town behind him, seemingly reluctant to leave.

Joseph and Talleyrand had already begun discussing future diplomatic affairs.

“Yes, Your Highness, Hungary is definitely the most important target.” The Foreign Minister nodded. “In fact, Baron Linsel has just returned from Budapest, but due to the many concessions that Franz II made to the Hungarian Parliament, coupled with Count György’s conservative attitude, it is currently difficult for us to incite the Hungarian nobles to strongly oppose the Habsburg family.”

Count György is currently the "Vice-King" of Hungary.

Joseph stroked the teacup in his hand and asked, "Is there any force worth cultivating?"

Talleyrand was extremely familiar with the situation in Hungary and immediately replied without hesitation: "There are the Bytren family and the Kalmanchoi family in Hungary. During the reign of Leopold II, they proposed that 'the Habsburg family has no right to rule Hungary,' but after the power of the Hungarian Parliament increased, they stopped speaking out."

"In addition, there is the 'Kuruc Exile' organization currently in the Ottoman province of Thekilda. They are followers of the former Transylvanian Duke Rakoc. Although Rakoc has been dead for more than 60 years, this organization still occasionally sneaks back into Hungary to distribute pamphlets or give secret speeches."

Joseph thought for a moment and then instructed, "Let's choose the latter. Have Ottoman provide them with a sum of money every year, and you can also have some printing presses sent to them."

It's difficult to feed a powerful noble family like the Bytrons, but overseas resistance forces like the "Exiled Kuruts" can accomplish a lot with just a few tens of thousands of francs.

While they are unlikely to cause Vienna any military trouble, they are highly anticipated in inciting discontent among the Hungarians against the Habsburgs.

“Yes, Your Highness.” Talleyrand quickly jotted it down in his notebook.

“But that’s not enough…” Joseph pondered. “We need to find a rift in interests between Hungary and Austria. By the way, what important industries does Hungary have?”

Talleyrand said, “Furs, grains, salt, wine, and silver mines, Your Highness.”

Joseph frowned: "Only the furs are still selling somewhat..."

Currently, France has grain from North Africa, salt mines in the Rhineland, and silver mines in Poland, making it very inexpensive to import from Hungary.

Just then, Charles suddenly interjected, "Brother, I remember that Hungary grows a lot of chili peppers. I even had some for lunch yesterday. They're quite expensive in Paris." Talleyrand smiled and said, "Your Highness, as far as I know, Hungary's annual chili pepper exports do not exceed 200 tons."

Joseph nodded slightly. Chili peppers are a commoner's secret ingredient; adding a little chili pepper to any vegetable instantly transforms it into a delicious dish.

This could be used to improve the French public's satisfaction with food, and also as a way to divide Austria and Hungary.

He told Talleyrand, “As long as there is profit, their exports will increase rapidly. You need to arrange some trade routes as soon as possible to bypass Vienna’s regulations and import large quantities of chili peppers and furs from Hungary. I will have Mr. Bai cooperate with you.”

"By the way, you also need to help me find some famous Hungarian chefs to take back with me. I want to promote chili peppers at Versailles Palace."

Hungary is the most unstable "bomb" within Austria, and the best strategy to quickly weaken Austria is to foster the trend of Hungary leaving Austria.

Even if a true secession cannot be achieved, every time Hungary attempts independence, it inflicts a severe internal wound on Austria.

This first requires Hungary to gain access to resources outside of Austria. When Austria begins to influence their interests, the adage "cutting off someone's livelihood is like killing their parents" will take effect.

Although the chili pepper and fur trade was estimated to be only a few million francs in volume each year, the damage to the interests of just a dozen or so influential nobles could unleash astonishing destructive power.

When the convoy reached the outskirts of Vienna, Joseph inquired again about the situation in Russia.

“St. Petersburg has not yet shown any intention of surrendering,” Talleyrand said. “According to my information, Kutuzov’s army has returned to Kiev and is replenishing its forces there.”

Joseph wasn't surprised, after all, given the Russians' character, admitting defeat would be a death sentence for them.

Moreover, the Russian army had previously suffered heavy losses in the Swiss and Baden battlefields. If Alexander I were to declare a ceasefire now, the Russian nobles would most likely begin planning a coup.

"Take half of Austria's first war reparations to aid the Poles; they have long wanted to reclaim their lost eastern territories."

Joseph then asked, "Has there been no response from Constantinople yet?"

“Yes, Your Highness,” Talleyrand said with a smile, “However, I believe that Selim III will make a decision with the signing of the Treaty of Merdring.”

When Russia first launched its military campaign, Joseph sent envoys to contact the Ottomans, hoping they would cooperate in putting strategic pressure on Russia. However, perhaps because the anti-French coalition was too powerful at the time, Selim III was too intimidated to agree.

Joseph nodded: "Go to Constantinople again. Take them a ship full of cannons; we captured quite a few on the battlefield this time."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Meanwhile, the day after Metternich returned to Vienna, his assistant finally obtained a copy of the Treaty of Dresden from the archives of the Vienna Foreign Minister.

(End of this chapter)