I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 1445 Charles's Problem

Duke Levis was overjoyed and hurriedly pulled his wife into the house, eagerly asking, "Tell me quickly, what happened?"

It's important to know that being the Queen's lady-in-waiting was one of the top three most important positions in Versailles. Although he was a nobleman ranked 112th in the Senate, he still went to great lengths to secure this job for his wife.

If his wife could oust Countess de Berninnac to become the Queen's long-term lady-in-waiting, he would truly wake up laughing from his dream.

The Duchess hesitated for a moment, then pulled him into the inner room, skipping over other trivial matters, and nervously whispered, "His Majesty mentioned that he wants to establish a regent..."

……

Joseph waved to Alexandra, who was on her way to her art class, and once she was out of sight, he returned to his desk and picked up the report that had just been delivered.

After reading the four-page report, he couldn't help but smile: "It's a bit of a waste for Mr. Dorian Delat to be an assistant to Talleyrand."

He then picked up the "Egypt Investment Plan" drafted by the Ministry of Industry, glanced through it, and found no problems. He then signed it and added a line at the end: "Dorian Delat is appointed as the general manager of the Egyptian shipping company."

Because Egypt was nominally still a province of the Ottoman Empire, France could not establish diplomatic relations with it. Therefore, this shipping company was essentially a consulate in Egypt.

The company manager is in charge of foreign affairs.

Joseph handed the "Egyptian Investment Plan" to Emman and asked him to send someone to deliver it to the Ministry of Industry. He also instructed, "Also, notify the Egyptian Archaeological Institute to come see me tomorrow morning."

Since Massena's expedition to Egypt, France has quickly become enthusiastic about Egyptian culture, and subsequently established this archaeological institute.

In fact, only half of the institute's members are historians and archaeologists, while the rest are experts in engineering surveying.

After signing the agreement with Mohammed Ali, they were able to proceed with the geological exploration work of the Suez Canal.

Although Joseph did not know the exact location of the canal, he remembered that it was roughly dug along the route of the abandoned Pharaoh's ancient canal, so the exploration work would be much easier than in history.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Just as Emmanuel was about to turn and leave, a servant at the door said, "Your Highness, General Berthier and Monsieur Lavalette wish to see you."

Joseph nodded. "Please let them in."

The two men entered the room, bowed to Joseph, and then the Chief of the General Staff handed them a battle report: "Your Highness, this is a message that was just sent from Bern at noon."

"The Austrian army engaged in fierce fighting with the Basel militia near Aarau, after which Engelmann of Württemberg led two thousand mercenaries to reinforce them. This may have been part of Engelmann's plan."

Joseph opened the battle report: "What was the result of the battle?"

Berthier's expression was somewhat strange: "The Austrian army has been routed, Your Highness. Engelmann killed at least 500 Austrian soldiers and captured nearly 400."

Joseph paused for a moment, then looked at the Chief of the General Staff in surprise: "How many Austrian troops did the Austrian army send to Basel?"

"The Krems Infantry Regiment and the 11th Vienna Skirmisher Regiment. Approximately 4,000 men in total, Your Highness."

Joseph was even more puzzled: "So, they were all the main force of the Austrian army? Yet they were defeated by a colonel from Württemberg leading Swiss mercenaries?"

"That is indeed the case, Your Highness."

Since the battle had just taken place yesterday, detailed battlefield information had not yet been relayed back to Paris, so they had no idea how low the morale of the Austrian army, which had not received its pay for a long time, was.

After Engelmann launched a surprise attack from the flank and rear, the Austrian army offered almost no resistance and began to flee north.

Even Stephans' Basel militia had achieved the kill of 60 enemy soldiers. Joseph rubbed his forehead; this was completely different from his original plan.

According to his plan, the Württemberg army would certainly suffer a defeat, so he could suggest that the King of Württemberg seek help from Bavaria and other countries, and eventually bring more southern German countries into the Swiss battlefield.

The standoff between the two sides in the Swiss mountains not only weakened Austria's national strength but also increased the dissatisfaction of the southern German states with Vienna.

But now, the Austrian intervention forces have suffered a clean and decisive defeat.

Joseph's biggest concern at this time was that Franz II would withdraw his troops from Switzerland to avoid greater losses.

Lavalette chimed in, “Your Highness, perhaps the situation within Austria has affected their army.”

"Their tax reform has encountered significant problems, with tax evasion rampant."

"In addition, Bohemia, Slovakia, Hungary and other places are also very dissatisfied with the abolition of local tariffs. The influx of low-priced goods such as glass and textiles into Vienna has made it difficult for their workshops to survive."

"Currently, several local councils have delayed paying Vienna their share of military expenses as a result."

Joseph nodded: "Therefore, what Vienna needs most right now is stability."

"Then let's help them publicize the war in Switzerland."

The focus is on 'His Majesty the Emperor wasted huge sums of tax money in Switzerland, only to be defeated by fewer than two thousand mountain people.'

He thought for a moment and then added, "We can also bring up their tax reform."

Lavallet hurriedly said, "Your Highness, are you trying to create the impression that 'today's tax officials are worse than the tax farmers of the past'?"

Joseph waved his hand: "No, the tax farmers are already notorious, and supporting them will only breed resentment. Not only can we not do that, we should also help the Viennese government suppress the tax farmers."

"Yes, I will have the playwrights' association write a script about how tax farmers embezzle tax money and sabotage tax reform, and then it will be performed in Austria."

Lavallet asked, puzzled, "Your Highness, this doesn't seem to be in our best interest..."

Joseph smiled and said, "You need to contact the tax farmers secretly and guide them on how to deal with this. These guys, when they're cornered, will do anything."

"What kind of response are you referring to?"

"Tax farmers have enormous influence and financial resources, and there are many things they can do, such as this..."

After Joseph finished giving instructions regarding matters in Austria, Berthier took his leave, but Lavalette remained behind, hesitatingly saying:

“Your Highness, I have recently heard some unusual news about Prince Charles.”

Joseph looked at him: "You mean Charles?"

Lavalette quickly explained, "It's not the Security Bureau that's collecting information on His Highness Charles; it's a Viennese nobleman who leaked it."

According to Joseph's regulations, the intelligence agencies are not allowed to investigate core members of the royal family without his permission, and even investigations of some high-ranking government officials must be approved by him in advance.

This is to prevent highly powerful intelligence agencies from acting unilaterally and causing unnecessary losses to the country.

(End of this chapter)