I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 587: The Backbone of Austria (Additional chapter for Lin Gu)

In the special advisory office on the top floor of Lightning Company, Kalona was summarizing the accounts with great interest amid the music played by the musician next door.

During this period, he served as the coordinator and was responsible for financial matters.

Styler is responsible for the company's operations, sales and external presentation.

Mesmer pretended to be a nobleman and boasted about the gaslight project, tricking rich people into buying bonds and molesting a few British girls.

Soon, the calculation results appeared in Kalona's account book:

The total proceeds from the Flash Corporate Bonds were £86;
Gross revenue from sales of gas street lamps: £11;
Received £2 in project funding from London City Hall;
The total expenditure was £1.

Total balance: £98.

Even though Caronne had once been France's finance minister, his heart beat faster when he saw this number.

98 pounds, that's more than 2 million francs!

If there had been so much money in the French treasury at the time, he probably would not have been dismissed.

He immediately began to sign bills of exchange or purchase lists, transferring the huge sum of money to banks in the Netherlands, Switzerland and Venice, and finally entering the French Reserve Bank through various channels. The purchased materials were shipped to the Southern Netherlands and then distributed to various parts of France through Wallonia.

Moreover, there is still a long time before the end of the year, and funds from all over the UK are still pouring into Lightning Company.

……

Austria.

The northern suburbs of Vienna.

A luxurious gray-black French-made "Jewel 6" carriage, pulled by two Gallic horses, drove quickly into the city.

In the luxuriously decorated carriage, Count Kaunitz was looking out the window with a frown, his fingers gripping the armrest turning pale from holding it too tightly.

"Your Majesty is too indulgent to those guys!" He gritted his teeth and said to himself angrily, "Your Majesty must be persuaded to issue an imperial decree to make the Hungarians pay special taxes."

He has just returned from Silesia.

Due to financial constraints, he had to personally comfort the soldiers on the front line, assuring them that their salaries would be replenished within a month and allocating much-needed supplies, which barely managed to stabilize morale.

Marshal Lacy reported to him that the Prussian troop strength on the opposite side had increased rapidly recently, and that they had apparently replaced their weapons and equipment.

If this trend continues, the situation in Breslau will become extremely unfavorable for Austria.

"We have to ask France for help as soon as possible..."

Kaunitz had only said half of his sentence when he remembered the recent news that the Vienna Chamber of Commerce was involved in an order fraud against France, and he was so angry that he slammed the armrest.

These damn profiteers offended Austria’s biggest ally at such a critical moment!

Just as he was thinking about how to resolve the current dilemma, the car slowed down slowly and a row of figures appeared on the roadside ahead.

Kaunitz saw his son and grandson in them, and immediately forgot the trouble in his heart and a smile appeared on his face.

After the people who came forward to greet him, his second son got into the car with a serious expression and sat down opposite him.

"Dominic, what happened?" Kaunitz looked at him and asked, knocking on the carriage, signaling the driver to continue on his way.

"Father, Count Bezbelodico had an audience with the Emperor yesterday."

Bezbelodiko is the Russian Foreign Minister. He must have something important to tell you when he suddenly comes to Vienna. Kaunitz felt something was wrong, crossed his hands, and frowned.
"Go on."

Dominic von Kaunitz said in a deep voice: "He is here to mediate the war between Prussia and Austria."

"condition?"

"Count Bezbelodiko said that the Tsar would recognize our claim to Wallachia if we signed an armistice with Prussia."

Kaunitz's heart tightened. This condition was too tempting! The administrative system of Wallachia had always been in the hands of Austria. If the Slavs there hadn't made trouble, Austria would have been able to completely control it soon.

It was a territory not much smaller than Silesia. Although not as rich as Silesia, a bird in the hand is worth a hundred in the bush.

"Go to Schönbrunn Palace immediately!"

He shouted to the coachman, and then said to his son: "It doesn't matter. The Prussians will definitely take back Liegnitz. As long as I grasp this point, I can convince Your Majesty..."

"Father," Dominic said, his head bowed, "the Russians said they would convince Prussia to give up Liegnitz."

"This...how is this possible?!" Kaunitz's back suddenly collapsed and he kept shaking his head.

Although Dominic couldn't bear to irritate his father any further, he had to make such a big thing clear as soon as possible:

"Count Bezbelodiko should be sure. He also said that if the war in Silesia continues, Russia will send 8 troops to mediate."

Kaunitz's back bent even more - he knew that Russia could not provide so many troops at the moment, but their attitude was enough to change the situation in Silesia.

Dominic continued: "The British Foreign Secretary also met with Your Majesty and said that they would guarantee the armistice..."

Kaunitz knew that it was difficult to turn the situation around this time, but he still rushed directly to Schönbrunn Palace.

After a long conversation with him for more than two hours, Leopold II reluctantly agreed to give him another month. If he still could not break the situation in Silesia, he would accept the Russian suggestion of a ceasefire.

When Kaunitz returned home and was about to use all his strength to raise enough funds, he saw his son rushing in with a messenger.

The messenger was sent by Marshal Lacy, and the letter he brought contained only a few words: the Hungarian Corps retreated to the Liegnitz line on the grounds of arrears of wages. In addition, the shells were all used up.

The next day.

When Kaunitz arrived at Schönbrunn Palace, ready to make a final effort, he met Baron Walter in the corridor.

The latter said in an exaggerated tone: "Oh! Dear Count Kaunitz, you seem to have said at the cabinet meeting that if Silesia cannot be recaptured, you will resign.

"Of course, although the current situation is extremely unfavorable, with your wisdom and ability, you will definitely be able to make the Prussians flee in panic."

"You rude fellow..."

Before Kaunitz finished speaking, he saw Turgut, Kobutzl and more than a dozen officials coming to both sides of the corridor, looking at him with mocking eyes.

He could already imagine how these people would act sarcastic if he went to see the Emperor.

His self-esteem and pride would not allow him to suffer such humiliation.

He straightened his back, glanced at these people with cold eyes, then turned and left, his steps still steady and powerful.

Two days later, Kaunitz formally resigned as Minister of State to Leopold II.

The emperor did not try to keep him, but praised him highly and bestowed him with numerous rewards. He then appointed Thugut as the new Secretary of State, with full responsibility for reaching an armistice agreement with Prussia.

(End of this chapter)