I am the Crown Prince of France Chapter 647

Count Rheinfels seed to guess what the official whispered to Bailly, raising his head proudly and declaring,

"I am confident that the Italian states will support our proposal."

Thus, the initial eting ended in a tense, hostile atmosphere. Neither side achieved any aningful results beyond exchanging cold stares.

Of course, negotiations of this magnitude were rarely resolved quickly; dragging on for months was not uncommon.

Bailly left the Hall of Peace without attending the ball arranged for the Austrian diplomats and hurried to report the situation to the Crown Prince.

Second Floor, Tuileries Palace

Joseph furrowed his brows as he listened to Bailly recount Austria's demands.

Francis II was proving to be as audacious as history rembered him—a figure who personally buried the Holy Roman Empire. He hadn't even completed his coronation yet and was already causing trouble.

This was a treaty signed less than two years ago! While Leopold II had cautiously sought Britain's help as a workaround, Francis was charging in, demanding a renegotiation outright.

Such nerve!

Joseph couldn't help but think that if this had been during Louis XIV's reign, this kind of provocation would have led to an imdiate declaration of war.

Bailly continued,

"Your Highness, the Austrians also stated that if we do not accept their terms, they will coordinate with the Italian states to impose punitive tariffs on our goods. Furthermore, I've just received word that a 30,000-strong Austrian force has arrived in Tuscany for military exercises."

Joseph chuckled to himself. The Austrians do learn quickly; we hold one military exercise, and they imdiately follow suit.

A thought crossed his mind, and he turned to Bailly.

"Did you say they plan to incite the Italian states to impose trade restrictions against us?"

"Yes, Your Highness. Austria has significant influence over Venice and Tuscany and close familial ties with Parma and the Two Sicilies. They may well succeed in persuading them to act against us."

Joseph smiled slightly.

"That may not be entirely bad news."

Italy had long been a battleground for French and Austrian interests, as well as a cherished "backyard" for France. During Napoleon's ti, Italy provided imnse economic benefits that supported much of his military expenditures.

Joseph had always struggled to find a justification for intervening in Italy, as its political landscape had stabilized in recent decades. Now, however, Austria was handing him the perfect opportunity.

Francis II has his endearing qualities after all.

Of course, losing access to the Italian market was not an option.

After a brief mont of thought, Joseph instructed Aymon,

"Please ask General Berthier to see ."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Turning back to Bailly, Joseph said,

"Mr. Bailly, do your best to delay the Austrian foreign minister for at least two weeks. We need to increase our presence on the Italian Peninsula."

"Leave it to , Your Highness."

After further detailing his instructions to Bailly, Joseph dismissed him. Soon after, Fouché arrived hurriedly.

After saluting, the Director of Intelligence handed over a report.

"Your Highness, Russia has been making so unusual moves recently."

Joseph unfolded the report, the first line catching his eye: The Russian Imperial Guard's 14th Infantry Regint has been stationed east of Minsk.

Fouché elaborated,

"According to our intelligence, over 20,000 Russian troops have been assembled around Ula, while an additional 14,000 are stationed near Kiev in the south.

"At the sa ti, the Russians are constructing warehouses in both locations, with large quantities of grain, ammunition, and other supplies being transported there."

Joseph's expression turned serious.

Having spent more than three years in military school and personally participating in war, he was intimately familiar with the chanics of 19th-century warfare.

While troop movents could be attributed to training or routine deploynts, the buildup of logistical supplies was a clear sign of preparations for war.

The Minsk-Kiev line could only an one target: Poland.

I've done all I could. Despite delaying Russia's actions by more than six months compared to history, the inevitable was now unfolding.

Given Poland's strength, Russia would need to mobilize at least 100,000 troops to ensure victory. This initial buildup was just the beginning, and Poland needed to use the remaining ti wisely to prepare.

Joseph asked Fouché,

"If Russia plans to invade Poland, how long will it take them to complete their preparations?"

"That depends on the scale of the war the Empress intends to wage," Fouché replied.

"If it's just to capture Minsk and its surroundings, it would take about three to four months. A full-scale invasion, however, would require at least six months."

Joseph nodded and asked,

"What is Warsaw's current state of readiness?"

"Poland has 67,000 regular troops and over 10,000 local militia. Their logistical situation is relatively strong, with enough weapons and ammunition for nine months and ample food supplies."

Joseph exhaled.

"They need to accelerate their efforts."

He knew Poland faced a two-front assault from Russia and Prussia. With Prussia expected to deploy over 50,000 troops, Poland would need at least 100,000 soldiers to hold its ground, even with the defensive advantage.

As they spoke, Berthier entered the room with Aymon, saluting respectfully.

"Your Highness, you called for ?"

Joseph gestured toward a chair.

"Please, sit. Let's first discuss holding military exercises in Italy. Afterward, we may need to convene the General Staff to strategize for Poland's defense."

"Poland?" Berthier raised an eyebrow. "Have the Russians started moving?"

Fouché interjected,

"Reports indicate that even on his deathbed, Potemkin was arranging supplies for Minsk."

Berthier nodded before turning to Joseph.

"Your Highness, what kind of exercises are you envisioning?"

"Are you aware of Austria's large-scale exercises in Tuscany?"

"Yes, Your Highness. I just received the news."

Joseph replied,

"We need to counter Austria's show of force in Italy."

"Then let's organize an even larger exercise in Sardinia or Modena," Berthier suggested.

Joseph, recalling his experiences in Silesia, shook his head.

"We don't need to deploy such a large force. A small 'surprise' will suffice.

"Send Count Ségur to Modena as soon as possible."

One Week Later

Central Italy, Duchy of Modena

Duke Ercole III of Modena sat nervously, shaking his head at the French envoy.

"Count Ségur, I've heard about your country's trade dispute with Austria.

"However, Venice and Tuscany have already declared their support for Emperor Francis II's proposal, and Parma and the Two Sicilies have indicated they are seriously considering it.

"To hold military exercises now might be too late…"

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