I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 628: Request from Charles

Kobutzl and Count Rheinfels looked at each other again and saw intention in each other's eyes.

To be honest, the Treaty of Rhine-Seine did not bring Austria what it wanted at all.

When the agreement was first signed, people in Austria believed that they could take this opportunity to allow their products to enter France and occupy the southern German market.

France also allowed Austria to set relatively high protective tariffs in its advantageous industries.

Unexpectedly, the speed of France's industrial development was simply astonishing. Whether in terms of production scale, quality or cost, it soon surpassed Austria, not to mention other southern German states.

Even Austria's traditional advantageous industries, such as iron smelting and glass manufacturing, began to be unable to withstand the competition from France.

In terms of the steel industry, France invested heavily in the Wallonia region of the Southern Netherlands and built many ironworks with very advanced smelting technology. Every day, a large number of high-quality iron products were transported from there to the Rhine River and sold along the river to all parts of southern Germany. From quality to price, they completely crushed Austrian products.

As for glass products, although Austria is still the largest exporter, it needs to import chemical raw materials such as soda ash and colorants from France during the production process. The price of soda ash in France is only two-thirds of that in other countries, and the output is amazing, which has monopolized the European market. As a result, more than a quarter of the profits of Austrian glass go to France.

At the same time, the French used cheap soda ash to significantly reduce their glass costs. Although they could only produce low-end and medium-end products due to backward technology, they had already had a serious impact on the Austrian glass industry.

On the other hand, France's advantageous industries such as paper, cosmetics, furniture, and chemical products, despite Austria's high tariffs of 60% to 80%, are still more cost-effective and cheaper than Austrian local products.

What's more, when the agreement was signed, France's chemical industry had not yet developed, so the southern German countries only charged a 15% tariff on it. This led to French soda ash, soap and other products sweeping southern Germany overnight, causing the related industries in these countries to go bankrupt.

Plus, the French are particularly good at sales. For products of the same quality and price, they can create some gimmicks, add exquisite packaging, and place them in well-decorated department stores, and their sales can exceed those of Austrian products by several times.

Although Kobzl was reluctant to admit it, the southern German countries had actually gradually become a dumping ground for French products.

Therefore, if Austria could, as the British said, unite all the southern German states and re-sign the Treaty of Rhine-Seine, it would be exactly what it wanted.

However, there is still a risk of angering France.

Kobzl first sent Grenwill away, and then immediately reported the matter to Leopold II.

On the hospital bed, the Emperor of Shinra looked at the Minister of State tiredly and asked while coughing:

"Baron Turgut, ahem, what do you, ahem, think?"

The latter pondered for a moment, then bowed and said, "Your Majesty, this is a good opportunity to change our country's trade situation.

"However, the British are clearly trying to undermine our relationship with France. And France is likely to be angry about this."

Leopold II leaned back on his pillow and sighed:
"So, ahem, we should ignore, ahem, the British advice?"

"No, Your Majesty," said Baron Turgut, "We should take advantage of the British people's minds and put them under pressure."

"Please, ahem, go on."

"I think that Britain could be invited to join the Rhine-Seine Treaty and then have the British ask for a renegotiation of tariff rates.

"Also let Salzburg propose that the implementation of the agreement be suspended during the renegotiation period. All the contracting parties shall vote on whether to do so. I believe that with the exception of France and possibly Baden, all other countries will agree to suspend it.

"In this way, even if France is dissatisfied, it will not vent its anger on our country." Leopold II coughed violently again and nodded:

"Your method is, ahem, very feasible, ahem. Please talk to the British, ahem. If they, ahem, are unwilling to join, ahem, you can give them, ahem, some benefits. For example, improve relations with Prussia, ahem."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

What Leopold II did not expect was that the next day Baron Thugut proposed to Grenville that Britain join the Treaty of the Rhine and the Seine. The British agreed almost without hesitation and even expressed the possibility of bringing Saxony, Thuringia and even Prussia into the trade agreement.

That afternoon, Lord Grenville left Vienna and rushed to Württemberg to discuss the trade agreement.

In the carriage, he was thinking and dictating a report to the British Parliament to his assistant, who then wrote it down.

Kevin Ronald looked at the draft report and said hesitantly:

"My Lord, this matter will put our country at risk, and the Parliament is likely to veto it..."

"No, the Prime Minister will definitely ask the MPs to agree." Grenville smiled and said, "It is inevitable that we will confront France, and it is not a risk.

"The Austrians want to use us to resist France, but they forget that this will also make our relationship with Austria closer. At the same time, the southern German countries will also owe us a favor."

He leaned forward and whispered, "If necessary, we can even threaten them with withdrawing from the negotiations of the Rhine-Seine Treaty."

……

Paris.

Palace of Versailles.

Joseph checked the gift list copied by the clerk one by one and handed it to Emmanuel. "Please send someone to give this list to the Twin Companies and ask them to complete the purchase within three days and then ship it to Russia as quickly as possible."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Joseph rubbed his forehead tiredly. Just as he picked up the tea and took a sip, he saw his younger brother Charles shook off the tutor's hand and strode in.

The little boy bowed to Joseph, then clasped his hands in front of his chest, blushed, and said loudly: "Brother, please go and ask Grand Duchess Alexandra to marry you!"

"Puff..." Joseph nearly spit a mouthful of tea on Emmanuel, then he noticed that Charles's face seemed to be covered with tears, so he took the handkerchief from the tutor, squatted down to wipe his tears, and said with a smile:
"Why do you suddenly want me to propose to her?"

"I..." Ciel hesitated for a moment, then finally straightened his chest and said, "Because I want to play with her, and I want to beat her with a sword!"

Joseph laughed, "But what does this have to do with proposing?"

"Because she is going back to Petersburg!"

Joseph nodded: "She is going back to attend Prince Potemkin's funeral?"

"But I don't want her to leave!" Charles was so anxious that tears came out again. "If she could marry into the Bourbon family, she could stay in Paris forever!"

(End of this chapter)