I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 627 Trade Dispute
Four to five hundred people have gathered on Wiesgen Street in Munich, most of them are workshop owners, craftsmen and workers in Munich, as well as a small number of shop owners.

They held up wooden signs that read "Keep French goods out" and "Raise tariffs," as well as a scarecrow with the name "Cayetan Dietrich" written on it.

Dietrich was the diplomat who signed the Treaty of Rhine-Seine on behalf of Bavaria.

Berlant and his sons joined the crowd, shouting slogans protesting French goods along with the people around them.

Soon, a trumpet sounded in front of the team. Gabriel, a senior director of the Munich Chamber of Commerce, stood on the top of a carriage and waved his hands vigorously, shouting:

"Everybody follow me to that damn mall!"

He came here in an individual capacity, but such a large-scale protest could not be organized without the participation of the Munich Chamber of Commerce.

The crowd burst into shouts and followed Gabriel towards the Department Store of France.

Three black carriages passed by the protest team, and the window of the middle carriage suddenly opened. British Foreign Secretary Lord Grenville leaned out and looked at the words on the slogan with interest.

By chance, Brant came over holding the scarecrow. He waved at it and asked:

"Sir, what are you protesting about?"

The latter took great effort to understand his Low German and said in a hoarse voice:
"Our shop is going bankrupt, sir. Those damned officials set tariffs very low to please the French. People are buying French goods. We can't let this situation continue."

He had forgotten that when the Treaty of Rhine and Seine was first signed, they, the workshop owners, had celebrated the opportunity to enter the vast French market.

As he spoke, he quickened his pace to catch up with the main force.

Grenville remembered that a similar protest had taken place in Vienna not long ago, and immediately ordered the coachman to follow the protest team.

In front of the French Department Store, Berlant and others set fire to a "Dietrich" made of straw, waved wooden signs, and cursed loudly. Soon, they had disputes with customers who came to the mall to shop, and some even fought.

Half an hour later, the police and the army arrived one after another, blowing whistles to disperse the protesting workshop owners and arresting several of the most violent ones.

In the carriage, Lord Grenville's assistant watched the middle-aged man who had just spoken to them being escorted away by two policemen, and shook his head and said:

"These poor fellows actually thought they could influence the trade pattern with just a few hundred people."

Grenville looked at the mess outside the department store with great interest, stroking his cane and saying:
“Kevin, it’s just a city.

"There are probably thousands of such protesters in Bavaria. And as far as I know, there are also a large number of people dissatisfied with low tariffs in Austria, Württemberg, Salzburg and other places."

Kevin shrugged. "Yes, my lord, so they will keep the armies everywhere busy for a while."

Grenville closed the car window and smiled at his assistant: "Kevin, you have to consider that their anger comes from the same reason, that is, French goods have taken away their business."

"what do you mean?"

"If we can unite these people, it will be an extremely formidable force. And the target is France."

Grenville leaned back in his chair and told his assistant:

"Kevin, let's not go to the Southern Netherlands for now. Please help me make an appointment with Pappenheim and Dietrich, oh, and the president of the Munich Chamber of Commerce." Pappenheim is the Bavarian Foreign Minister, and Dietrich is the Trade Commissioner.

A week later.

In the lobby on the second floor of Schönbrunn Palace, Austrian Interior Minister Kobzl looked at Grenville who had suddenly visited with a serious expression and nodded:
"As you just said, our country's financial situation is not optimistic. Last year, the new debt exceeded 500 million florins."

He had tried to conceal Austria's debt situation from his Prussian allies. In fact, Austria's new debt last year was nearly 1 million florins, and its total debt exceeded 1 million florins.

Kobzl continued: "However, His Majesty the Emperor has approved the plan to issue paper money, which will greatly improve our country's financial situation. I hope your country can support our paper money in trade..."

"Paper money is indeed a very effective fiscal tool," Grenville said loudly, "but perhaps you should pay more attention to the country's trade imbalance, otherwise the deficit will only continue to accumulate."

“Yes, our trade revenue has shrunk to a certain extent.”

"It should be a significant decline." Grenville corrected bluntly. He had already obtained a rough grasp of Austria's trade data in recent years through various channels.

"At the same time, your country's trade expenditures continue to rise. With all due respect, if this situation is not changed, Austria's finances will soon face collapse."

Upon hearing this, Kobzl said happily: "So, you want to provide a loan to our country?"

The new Foreign Minister, Count Rheinfels, also smiled and said, "Or maybe we can broker a new trade cooperation agreement?"

Grenville shook his head: "You misunderstood, I want to help your country solve the problem of trade imbalance.

"You will note that the Rhine-Seine Treaty seriously worsened Austria's trade situation.

"A large amount of French goods have poured into your country. You have paid a lot of gold coins for them. However, your products do not have a large market in France, and you have even begun to lose the southern German market.

"I think this deal is very unfair."

Kobzl and Count Rheinfels looked at each other and remained silent.

Grenville continued to persuade: "Your country must renegotiate with France on the tariff ratio in order to reverse this situation."

Kobzl immediately shook his head: "Fao and I have a deep friendship, we are not prepared to do this."

He paused, then added: "Your suggestion will only anger France and even bring war to our country."

Trade disputes are the second largest factor causing war in this era, second only to succession issues.

"You don't have to worry." Lord Grenville smiled confidently, "Our country will fully support your trade proposition."

Without waiting for the Austrians to refuse, he continued: “To be honest, before I came here, I went to Bavaria and Salzburg, and they also believed that the Rhine-Seine Treaty urgently needed to be revised.

“I can help you convince all the contracting parties, including Württemberg and Augsburg, to unanimously request the renegotiation of the Rhine-Seine Treaty.

"Under the joint pressure from so many countries, France will have no choice but to compromise."

(End of this chapter)