I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 1424 The Grand Plan

As autumn arrived, good news was delivered to 10 Downing Street as plentiful as wheat harvested in the fields.

The first person to arrive at Pete Jr.'s office today, Trade Commission Chairman Jenkinson, spoke about something related to wheat.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, the Ottomans have agreed to sell us 39 dan of wheat." Jenkinson's face was full of joy. "The price is only 12% higher than the market price in the Levant."

Due to Joseph's suspension of wheat exports from North Africa to Britain, coupled with a decline in Russian harvests caused by the war, grain prices in the British market have remained high for more than a year.

Previously, on the diplomatic advice of France, the Ottomans had also raised the price of grain sold to Britain to a very high level.

Actually, the French didn't even need to offer advice. The Ottomans were very shrewd; they wouldn't hesitate to sell at a high price if they could.

The British treasury spends hundreds of thousands of pounds annually to subsidize bread prices in London. Even so, the average price of bread in Britain has still risen by as much as 15% in the past year and a half.

Little Pete stood up excitedly from behind his desk: "Now it will be easier for the Earl of Temple to submit his subsidy application to Parliament."

"It seems that the war in the South Caucasus is not entirely against us."

It is clear that the Ottomans were willing to sell large quantities of grain at "flat prices" in order to obtain funds as quickly as possible to make up for the huge financial shortfall caused by the war against Russia.

“That’s true.” Jenkinson nodded and continued, “Also, the wheat we ordered from the Two Sicilies will arrive in the Levant next month, about 10 piculs.”

He frowned as he spoke: "However, to avoid possible interference from France and Spain, the grain will be loaded onto a ship in Suez and will not arrive in London until March next year."

Yes, the Mediterranean is now dominated by French steam frigates.

Although France's official policy was not to interfere in other countries' trade with Britain, it was hard to guarantee that they wouldn't find contraband on grain-carrying ships, or even arrest a few wanted criminals, and then have a reason to seize the ships.

The British are very skilled at similar operations, so they would definitely take precautions in advance.

Therefore, wheat from southern Italy and the Ottoman Empire had to be transported to Suez first, and then shipped from ports on the Red Sea, circumnavigating the entire African continent, before reaching Britain. This entire journey was more than three times the distance from the United States to Britain.

The smile on Pete's face vanished, replaced by a calm yet resolute expression: "We will take back the Mediterranean sooner or later."

Two days ago, the Navy Department submitted a report to him on the progress of shipbuilding. Currently, seven of the latest "Prince-class" three-tier battleships have been completed, and as the craftsmen's skills improve, the construction speed will continue to accelerate.

Provided there is sufficient funding, the plan to build 30 ships in three years should be able to be completed on schedule.

In addition, the Admiralty is also preparing to repair 26 unusable Avenger-class and Comet-class steam frigates—these ships had been mothballed because their steam engines frequently malfunctioned and even exploded several times.

However, the newly built Engine 70 steam engine regained the trust of the Admiralty, and Lord Melville, the First Lord of Naval Warfare, requested a “mere” £10 to restore the ships to combat readiness.

Shortly after the chairman of the Trade Commission left, George Hammond, the Permanent Under-Secretary of State of the Foreign Office, arrived at 10 Downing Street, bowed to Pitt Jr., and said, "Your Excellency, Sir Liston sent back a report yesterday that Philadelphia has officially finalized its plan and will begin operations next summer."

Sir Robert Liston was the former British Minister to the United States. However, influenced by the pro-French movement in the United States, he was later demoted to consul, but continued to oversee diplomatic affairs between Britain and the United States.

Little Pete naturally knew what Hammond meant by "taking action," and quickly asked, "What about Rio de Janeiro?"

"The coordination has already been completed. Their 'timeline' is earlier, around April next year."

Little Pete was still somewhat worried and asked, "How is their army doing?"

It's no wonder he asked that question, mainly because the last Portuguese-Pakistani offensive against New Grenada was so disastrous. "Crown Prince João has pledged to deploy at least 13,000 soldiers."

“Very good.” Little Pete was clearly very satisfied with the number. “Please give my congratulations to Prince João on this victory.”

His "grand plan" in the Americas this time can be described as a masterpiece, and it has invested a lot of money and diplomatic resources.

If all goes well, it will not only severely damage the French and Spanish colonies, but also greatly enhance Britain's influence in the Americas.

That would mean Britain's market in the Americas would expand several times over, and it would regain dominance in Caribbean trade.

At that time, the countries established by those black people will have to reduce the price of sugar to one-tenth of what it is now or even lower, and they will have to beg Britain to buy it!

Hammond continued, "Your Excellency, Sir Liston's report mentions that the Americans are requesting that the 'advance payment' ratio be increased to 25%."

Little Pete frowned immediately.

The so-called "advance payment" refers to the UK estimating the total price of all smuggled sugar it will purchase from the US next year and then paying part of the payment to the US in advance.

Essentially, it's about locking in sugar prices in advance. However, the US also needs a large sum of cash to move forward with their "grand plan."

The previously agreed-upon prepayment percentage was 18%, but now it's going to be increased by 7 percentage points, which amounts to more than £130 million!

British sugar merchants should be able to share some of the cost, but it is estimated that the British treasury will have to advance at least £80 to £90.

“These greedy Yankees…”

Little Pete instinctively cursed, then quickly covered up his rudeness with a dry cough: "Ahem, you should have Sir Liston talk to the Americans again... preferably get it under one million pounds."

"Yes, Your Excellency the Prime Minister."

……

St. Petersburg.

The Winter Palace.

In the Tsar's study, Alexander I looked at Foreign Minister Vorontsov and frowned, saying, "These stingy Englishmen, is this all they have to offer me?"

The latter hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, fortunately Selim did not reject the British mediation."

Count Arakcheev, standing nearby, immediately warned, "Your Majesty, the Gudvich Legion is under immense pressure right now, and Tbilisi could fall at any moment..."

Alexander I raised his hand to interrupt him, and almost without hesitation instructed Vorontsov: "You must take advantage of this opportunity to reach a ceasefire in the Transcaucasian direction."

The Foreign Minister first bowed and agreed, but then looked troubled and said, "Your Majesty, the Turks have the upper hand and certainly will not want to give up Tbilisi."

Alexander I decisively said, "Then give Tbilisi to them."

He gave a cold laugh: "Not just Tbilisi, but also Telavi, Gori, and even the Imereti region."

(End of this chapter)