I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 820 Times have changed
Joseph was not in a hurry to be happy.

Because the Two Sicilies may just be a gesture to extort money from Austria. Their specific diplomatic direction will have to wait and see their actual actions in the future to be determined.

However, even if it is just a verbal gesture of goodwill towards France, it will help France increase its influence on the Italian peninsula and is worth encouraging.

Talleyrand continued: "Your Highness, when I left Italy, Parma had already formally lodged a diplomatic protest with Austria, demanding an explanation and compensation for the Argentau Legion's unauthorized entry into Parma territory."

Joseph almost laughed out loud.

The Archduke of Parma is quite capable of handling things. In the past, the armies of the great powers came and went from his place and he didn't dare to say a word. But now that he has turned to France, he immediately did something like this to disgust Austria.

Well, it looks like Parma could use some encouragement.

After Talleyrand finished talking about his visit to Italy, Joseph smiled and nodded, saying: "You have accomplished your mission brilliantly with your excellent diplomatic wisdom and consolidated national interests. This is truly admirable.

"Oh, by the way, I've already read your expense report and there's nothing wrong with it. After you return to Paris, you can settle the account directly with the tax director."

Talleyrand's eyes immediately flashed with joy.

The so-called "funding report" is actually the report on the profits he made in Italy this time.

Due to the rapid progress of the French army, the Italian states tried their best to please his diplomatic envoy, and the bribes were larger than the last.

When he came back this time, he received over a million in cash alone, as well as a lot of artworks, real estate and other things.

According to the Crown Prince's previous promise, he would receive a total of 23 francs in "commission", well, this was the post-tax figure.

"This is all my duty, Your Highness. It is the honor of my life to serve you and France."

Talleyrand bowed and gestured to Count Ségur, the assistant foreign minister.

The latter immediately took out a document and placed it respectfully in front of Joseph.

Talleyrand said with a proud expression: "Your Highness, this is the Italian diplomatic plan that I, Archbishop Briand, and the Duke of Broglie have jointly drawn up. Please take a look at it."

"Oh? Diplomatic planning?"

Joseph opened it with great interest and saw that the first page was a map of Italy with many parts marked in white.

Talleyrand explained: "Your Highness, although our country has acquired a large amount of territory in Lombardy, there is no road connection between these places and our country, which will be very troublesome to rule.

“Fortunately, Genoa is still under our control, and we can easily replace the members of the parliament. Next year, they will be able to announce the annexation of Genoa into our country.

"Then, let Sardinia give up Pavia, and we will have a reliable border in northern Italy.

"Of course, maybe we need to give Sardinia some compensation. Our idea is..."

Only then did Joseph understand why there were sudden white areas on the map of Italy. It turned out that these important ministers had already counted these places as French territory.

When he saw that Parma, Pavia, and even most of the Papal States were all white, he couldn't help laughing and interrupted Talleyrand: "Please wait a moment. Why do you think we should expand in northern Italy?"

Talleyrand was stunned for a moment, and said as a matter of course: "Your Highness, expanding territory is the fastest and most direct way to strengthen the country. Of course we need Italy."

Joseph nodded. "Okay, let's imagine that our country has occupied most of northern Italy. What will happen then?"

Talleyrand was stunned again: "Happened? Ah, population increase, tax increase, more soldiers and ports..."

Joseph smiled and said: "You are wrong, we will only get endless riots and the hatred of the Italians." There was one thing he didn't say, which was to eventually help the Italians achieve unification.

Talleyrand said unconcernedly, "Your Highness, there may be some dissatisfaction in the short term, but as long as we send some troops, it can be resolved quickly."

Joseph sighed secretly. He thought, in history, it was the expansion strategy planned by you and Napoleon that eventually exhausted France's national strength. Now we still have to stick to this set of rules.

Times have changed.

Under the influence of the Enlightenment, the whole of Europe began to generally awaken to national consciousness, and the progress in Italy was particularly fast. It was impossible for Italians to completely integrate into France.

He looked at Talleyrand and asked, "What do you think is the cost of maintaining stability in these places, or the benefits gained?"

"Of course it's the benefits, Your Highness." Talleyrand finished speaking, and then added, "Oh, maybe it will cost more to send troops in the first few years, but after the riots are quelled, the benefits will increase rapidly."

Joseph said, "What if, in a few years, the British or Austrians send spies to instigate a riot?"

Talleyrand said confidently: "We will be able to suppress the riot. The fighting power of the Italian army is extremely weak, not to mention the mob."

Joseph shook his head. "You are wrong again. Endless riots are much more difficult to deal with than the army."

Later generations of Americans easily defeated Afghanistan's Slipper Army, but in the following 20 years, they invested 2.3 trillion US dollars and still ended up withdrawing in disgrace.

Seeing Talleyrand’s disapproving expression, he continued: “It takes at least 1 francs to quell a riot that costs 1 franc to incite.

"Perhaps you could ask a few nobles in Turin or Parma if they would like to be ruled by a foreign country."

Talleyrand fell silent.

There is no need to ask, just look at Milan to know that Austria ruled there for nearly a century, but riots by Italians occurred almost every year. This is when no one incited.

Joseph said earnestly: "Even if we can control northern Italy for ten or twenty years, what will happen after that? An independence war will surely break out there, dragging France into the quagmire of war.

“Perhaps, we should adjust our strategic thinking.

“The future world will no longer belong to the old colonial era.”

Talleyrand asked subconsciously: "What about the future?"

“The Era of Economic Colonialism.”

"Economic...colonial?"

Joseph nodded: “In the future, national strength will be determined by industrial strength.

“For industrial production, the most important things are raw materials and markets.

"Why should we occupy a region's land if its raw materials and markets can be owned by France?"

There was a flash of shock in Talleyrand's eyes, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt that what the prince said made sense.

You know, administrative management and garrisoning troops cost a lot of money, and riots will be a bottomless pit of military expenditure.

He suddenly felt something was wrong: "Your Highness, if we don't occupy it, how can we guarantee that we can obtain the raw materials and market there?"

(End of this chapter)