I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 767: Saving France is Saving America
That's right, even after the war broke out, Britain still had to continue buying sugar from France.

At the same time, France continues to supply sugar products to the whole of Europe.

After all, the British always have to get sugar to survive, and France has invested heavily in the sugar beet industry. There are many farmers who rely on growing sugar beets for their livelihood, and the refined sugar also needs to be sold.

Besides, sugar prices are so high now, only a fool would not sell.

In fact, the high profits from sugar cane currently support almost one-fifth of France's military expenditure.

Somewhat contrary to popular belief, no matter how fierce the war was, most economic exchanges between the people continued.

Just like when the United States and the Soviet Union were in the Cold War, they wanted to dig up each other's ancestors' graves, but in fact, the business that should be done has always been done, it's just that the transaction methods may be a little more complicated.

Of course, France's transport capacity of only seven merchant ships was far from enough to meet its trade needs with the Americas and the Far East.

We can hold out for a short time, but if the war drags on too long, the impact on the domestic economy will be very large.

The first is the shortage of industrial raw materials.

France was heavily dependent on foreign imports for its cotton, wool, leather, oils, and even ropes.

These products are processed in France and then sold to all over the world with high added value. If there is a shortage of raw materials, France's industry will soon shrink on a large scale.

The second is the reduction of the market.

If the funds cannot be recovered after the products are produced, it will further undermine France’s industrial base.

The decline of industry and commerce was followed by a nationwide economic crisis...

Therefore, facing the British naval blockade, the overall situation of France is still very dangerous - it must win on the battlefield as soon as possible to break the deadlock.

Another thing is to use diplomatic means as much as possible to create a favorable situation for France.

More than 50 days later, the "Yunwu" finally completed its crossing of the Atlantic Ocean and arrived at the Port of Philadelphia in the United States.

Baron Fourcade changed into a formal outfit and met the US Secretary of State Jefferson who came to greet him at the port. Fourcade came to the United States as a special envoy of the King of France.

He originally planned to follow the French Navy fleet to North America, but Lord Richard Howe had been leading the English Channel Fleet to travel around the ports of Le Havre and Brest, and the large number of warships leaving the port would easily attract the attention of the British Navy.

It would be very troublesome for a diplomat like him if he were captured by the British.

So, at the suggestion of the French Navy, he took a different route and quietly came to the United States on the "Trade Express" ship.

After a simple welcome ceremony, Fourcade submitted a note to Jefferson. The content was very simple, requiring the United States to comply with the Franco-American Treaty of Alliance and immediately declare war on Britain.

Joseph knew very well that the American traitor had betrayed France in history.

After France went to war with the anti-French coalition, it became difficult for the United States to trade with France due to the British naval blockade.

In order to make up for the lost market, the Americans immediately signed the Jay Treaty with Britain and turned to Britain, without mentioning the fact that Louis XVI almost bankrupted the country in order to support American independence.

Afterwards, it even defaulted on the huge loan that France had provided when the United States gained independence.

In this life, Joseph naturally cannot allow the United States to be indecisive and stab France in the back at will.

Washington immediately resorted to delaying tactics, using the excuse that Congress needed to discuss and vote, making Fourcade wait for more than half a month.

Fourcade was not in a hurry to urge Washington, but began to give speeches in various places in Philadelphia according to the instructions of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. The theme was to recall how France had helped the United States gain independence, the deep brotherhood between the United States and France, and how the shameless Britain had once again provoked war. The American and French brothers should unite as they did before and teach the British a lesson together.

At the same time, the French-controlled American News also hyped up the situation, saying that the British naval blockade was actually a conspiracy to undermine the US trade with Europe and weaken the US. If France was defeated, Britain would immediately concentrate its forces to turn North America into its own colony again.

For a time, a saying became popular all over the United States: saving France is saving America.

Subsequently, some people began to call on the public to march in front of the U.S. Congress, calling for compliance with the treaty and opposing British hegemony.

(End of this chapter)