I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 1323 Financial Warfare, Part Six
Godan nodded subconsciously, feeling that what the Crown Prince said made a lot of sense, but it also contradicted the economic theories he had studied for decades, so he still found it hard to accept for a while.

As for Lavallet, she had long since entered a state of "sleepwalking".

Joseph could only tell them to go back and digest the information slowly, and then continued talking about the financial war:
"So at this point, we must use every means to push up the inflation level in Britain in order to accelerate their stagflation."

Godan immediately replied, "This perfectly aligns with our previous plan, Your Highness."

The original objective of the financial war was to take advantage of the British government's massive printing of money to absorb national debt and then use various forms of imported inflation to plunge it into a high-inflation predicament.

I just didn't expect that now there would be an opportunity to trigger stagflation in the UK.

Lavallet finally understood something and hurriedly stepped forward, saying, "Your Highness, shall we expedite the next steps of the plan?"

Joseph nodded: "We must ensure that the Ministry of Civil Affairs has sufficient funds for subsidies, and we must not let it affect the income of North African farmers."

Godan bowed and said, “I have already allocated 70 francs to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Your Highness. Mr. Roland is trying to concentrate the wheat from North Africa and transport it to northern Italy and Germany. I estimate that the subsidies needed will not be too much.”

Yes, since sugar prices are already too high to rise much further, Joseph has chosen wheat as his "weapon" to inject inflation into Britain.

Due to extensive sheep enclosure and rapid population growth, Britain has become Europe's largest grain importer. North Africa is Britain's main source of grain.

Of course, there was no shortage of food in Europe; for example, Russia, Poland, and even Prussia were all grain exporters. However, Joseph had already tampered with all of Britain's grain "imports," and these tactic would eventually lead to disastrous consequences.

When Joseph heard Godan mention "Northern Italy," he couldn't help but ask in confusion, "But Northern Italy doesn't need to import much grain."

Godan smiled and said, "Count Segur went to the Two Sicilies to negotiate, and now Milan, Florence, Genoa, and even the Papal States have begun to buy wheat from North Africa."

Joseph smiled and nodded.

Previously, northern Italy's food supply mainly came from Naples in southern Italy, also known as the Two Sicilies—which has the best arable land in the Apennines—but during this war, Naples consistently sided with the anti-French coalition and even got involved in instigating riots in northern Italy.

He had forgotten to teach this two-faced fellow a lesson. This time, he's punishing him by restricting grain exports.

As for Naples directly turning to export wheat to the UK?

Putting aside the fact that Segur must have already warned them, even if France didn't intervene, the Strait of Gibraltar is still embroiled in fierce fighting, and Neapolitan merchant ships should try to cross it if they dare.

Joseph sighed with some emotion, noting that the French administrative machine was finally starting to develop its own inertia, and could make the right decisions without him having to personally oversee everything.

He mentally reviewed the next steps of the financial war, then looked at Lavallet and asked, "Where are those Russian prisoners of war now?"

The latter hesitated for a moment, then said, "I received their report last week that they had arrived in Khotebz, and they have most likely entered Poznan by now. Your Highness, as you know, this matter is handled by the General Staff, and it is not appropriate for me to interfere."

Joseph nodded, instructed Emmanuel to summon Berthier, and then asked the head of security, "What about Mr. Baie?"

“He arrived in Warsaw two days ago, Your Highness. We expect news to arrive soon.” Joseph nodded.

He has already received the negotiation reports from Denmark and the United States. Once the negotiations with Poland are finalized, they will be able to block all of Britain's wheat import channels. Given the current relationship between France and Poland, Warsaw will certainly cooperate fully.

Of course, the Russian merchant ships could only hold them off for two months. And during this time, the British would also purchase grain through various smuggling channels, but that was enough to send their inflation sky-high.

He thought for a moment and then instructed, "Our plan needs to be pushed forward one more step."

"Once the supply problems in Britain have temporarily subsided, we will immediately announce..."

Lavallet and Godan's eyes widened immediately, and the latter hurriedly said, "Your Highness, this will also have a negative impact on our country, especially in the field of trade."

Joseph replied without hesitation, "So you need to prepare in advance. After Mr. Bai returns, you two should work together to develop a response plan and submit it to me."

If there's an opportunity to kick someone when they're down, I'll definitely take as big a rock as possible, even if it hurts my back.

When Lavallet and Godan emerged from the Crown Prince's study, they saw the Crown Princess dressed in an extremely gorgeous silver-white silk gown, with delicate four layers of lace adorning the neckline, and her towering hair adorned with peacock feathers arranged in a floral pattern. She walked towards them like a dazzling work of art.

After smiling and greeting the two senior ministers, Alexandra flew like a bird into the Crown Prince's room.

She curtsied to Joseph, then lifted her skirt and twirled around, saying with a sweet smile, "Darling, do you like my dress?"

“Of course!” Joseph stepped forward and kissed her forehead, praising, “Your braids are like silk woven from moonlight and the Milky Way, the shimmering light in your eyes makes all the lights in Versailles pale in comparison, and your most captivating elegance is like a melody that even the Muses could not compose…”

Alexandra's cheeks flushed instantly, but she smiled even more broadly, wrapping her arms around his waist and saying sweetly, "I was asking about your suit. Baron Candice said it's his most prized creation."

Joseph feigned surprise and looked her up and down: "Sorry, I only saw the beautiful Sasha and didn't really notice her clothes."

"Yes, it is indeed very exquisite, exuding both elegance and approachability. This dress is meant to be..."

Alexandra blushed even more: "It was worn to the wedding ball."

Joseph patted his forehead: "I also need to hurry up and prepare my dress, otherwise the nobles won't be able to 'see' me that day."

Yes, Alexandra will turn 18 next year, and as previously agreed, they will hold their formal wedding early next year.

Of course, the two had already completed all the formalities of their marriage agreement and some church ceremonies, but they had been living separately. This is a common marriage pattern in European royal families, but the wedding usually takes place when the bride is around 14 years old.

Yes, next year's wedding will mainly consist of a series of celebrations, banquets, and dances.

According to Louis XIV's regulations, there was also a public "display" ceremony on the wedding night—Joseph had pushed for revisions to the "Court Etiquette Code" a year earlier, abolishing this "perk" for the nobles.

(End of this chapter)