I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 1326 Avenging His Majesty Paul!
Bai continued:
"After the agreement is signed, the Industrial Development Foundation will immediately pay for the first year's goods. If necessary, the second year's payment can also be made in advance."

Because Poland's industry is very underdeveloped, it has been reluctant to join the Stuttgart Trade Agreement. Therefore, "long-term contracts" are the best way to strengthen economic ties between France and Poland.

Moreover, with large advance payments flowing into Poland, the influence of the franc will further expand throughout Eastern Europe.

Joseph had already planned for the impact of Polish low-priced goods on the income of his French counterparts.

First, the supplies purchased from Poland, apart from wheat and lead, were all things France desperately needed, especially copper and timber. Lowering the prices of these items would greatly benefit both French industry and the military.

Secondly, wheat is a key weapon in this financial war against Britain. After purchase, it won't be immediately released to the market but will be stored as a strategic reserve. Given France's current financial capacity, buying and stockpiling three million francs worth of grain won't put too much pressure on them.

As for lead, it was also a necessity for military production. Although the trade volume was not large, as long as it could help Britain increase imported inflation, they would buy a little bit.

Count Pototsky then cautiously inquired about the "long-term contract prices" for goods such as wheat and oak.

Upon hearing that Bai's estimated price was only slightly lower than the market price, he immediately beamed with delight and nodded to Stanisław II:

“Your Majesty, I believe that His Highness the Crown Prince’s proposal is entirely acceptable. In fact, it would be very beneficial to our country.”

Although the negotiated price was lower, the Polish government did not have to pay interest compared to a direct loan, which saved them a considerable amount of money.

The King of Poland, not being very knowledgeable about economics, asked in a low voice:

"But in the end, this money still has to be paid to the farmers or the mines."

Count Pototsky hurriedly explained:

"Your Majesty, this is a year's advance payment. We will make the payment to the mine later, for example, three months later."

"So we can invest this money in military expenses first, and then use the taxes and silver mine revenue from these few months to pay for the goods, which is almost equivalent to an interest-free loan."

What he didn't mention was that the Polish government could pocket a small portion of the price difference and even encourage sellers to convert payments directly into government bonds. If handled properly, it might only require paying about half of the actual amount three or four months later.

King Stanisław II didn't quite understand, but trusting his finance minister, he immediately nodded and said:
"Then please submit the bill to the parliament as soon as possible, and don't keep His Excellency the Special Envoy waiting too long."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

A week later, the draft of the Gdansk Long-Term Supply and Price Agreement was officially signed. The agreement is for a period of 5 years and will be automatically renewed if neither party objects upon its expiration.

The annex to the agreement required Poland to refrain from selling wheat to Britain for two years and to increase timber prices as much as possible.

Meanwhile, Polish Foreign Minister Szczesny Potocki also reached a prisoner exchange agreement with Russian representatives in Minsk.

4300 Russian prisoners of war were exchanged for 7 Polish soldiers. This was roughly 95% of the Polish troops who had been captured earlier.

The reason so many people were able to be brought back was mainly due to the activities of the families of those five Russian generals in St. Petersburg.

……

Outside St. Petersburg.

Oleg Chadov swallowed the black bread in his mouth and couldn't help but look west through the window.

He suddenly began to miss the days when he was building the railway in Strasbourg. Although it was tiring, the bread he ate had only a small amount of rye in it and absolutely no sawdust or anything like that.

Princess Alexandra would periodically bring the captives rye bread with sugar and butter, as well as stew and vegetable soup. Her maids, Aglaya or Anna, would sing songs from their homeland while they ate.

Chadov sighed. He thought he was finished the day he was captured in Switzerland, but little did he know that it was the beginning of a new life.

He worked and studied every day in France, sang with everyone, and read for half an hour every night—the French officers in the POW camp would bring them many books, which taught him a great deal. Those were truly the most fulfilling days of his life.

If it weren't for more important things, he would have preferred to spend his entire life building railways in France.

Thinking of "more important things," his eyes suddenly turned cold.

That damned devil is still sitting on the throne enjoying himself, while His Majesty Paul is being mocked as "the fool who fell to his death on the candlestick."

He knew that His Majesty Paul had been killed by that devil!

Her Highness showed them a letter written by Charles Whitworth, the British Minister to Russia, to the Governor of Hanover, which detailed the assassination attempt.

Chadov's father had been falsely accused and exiled to the Eastern Urals, but Paul I pardoned him immediately after he ascended the throne.

At the time, the Chadov family was living in poverty, and his father's sudden return gave him renewed hope. Therefore, Paul I became the greatest Tsar in his eyes.

Although Paul I was somewhat eccentric, he always upheld the spirit of chivalry, ordering the retrial of numerous wrongful convictions during his reign and pardoning thousands of people.

Chadov's sole purpose in returning to Russia was to expose the ugly face of the current Tsar!

Footsteps sounded at the door. Chadov instinctively straightened up, about to call out "Sir," when he realized he was no longer in the POW camp.

The newcomer was a well-dressed middle-aged man with typical Gaulish features.

Chadov hurriedly stepped forward and bowed, saying:
"You must be Mr. Kolesnikov?"

Viscount Olivier nodded. Kolesnikov was his alias in Russia.

"Are you Sergeant Chadov?"

"Look, now I'm just a homeless person."

Viscount Olivier didn't ramble on, but instead handed him a slip of paper with an address written on it:
"This is an ironware shop on Aguang Street. You will be the shop manager there from now on."

"Several more staff members will be coming here later; you should know them."

"You have complete control over the store's revenue; you just need to report the accounts to the company manager every month."

Chadov's eyes widened immediately.

Before leaving Strasbourg, Princess Alexandra said she would offer him some help, but unexpectedly she gave him a shop instead!

But he immediately realized that this was so that he could better seek justice for His Majesty Paul.

He took a deep breath and stood at attention forcefully, saying:
"Please rest assured, I will definitely..."

Before he could finish speaking, Viscount Olivier had already turned and left.

The latter returned to the carriage and, following the address, arrived at a dilapidated inn, where he handed over one of his transport teams to a tall man.

By 7 p.m., he had met with seven prisoners of war who had just returned from France and brought them ample "expenses for their activities."

　Thank you to Archbishop Richelieu and Chenxi for their generous donations to Queen Mary! Queen Mary will treat you both to the most delicious macarons!

　　Many thanks to the generous donations from two great readers: 自娱自乐_dB and 书友20170325230921095! The author is deeply grateful! Thank you!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)