I Am the Crown Prince in France

Chapter 739 A complicated battle situation

It's not that Joseph is overflowing with kindness, but he doesn't want Spain to suddenly suffer a financial collapse in the middle of the fight.

At that time, whether France allocates funds to "milk" them or watches them withdraw from the battle, it will be a very disappointing thing.

Joseph roughly sorted out the current situation in Spain and quickly determined his destination.

That is the church.

The Spanish Church owns a large amount of property, levies high taxes on the private sector, and has great ability to interfere in national politics. It is definitely Spain's biggest cancer.

He handed the shotgun to Emman to load, turned to Carlos IV and said: "Your Majesty, have you considered taking the opportunity of this war to carry out church reform?"

The latter was startled for a moment and nodded: "If it can be done, of course it would be the best."

Joseph signaled the followers around him to stay away, and then continued: "You first need to have an absolutely loyal army. I mean the kind of army that only takes orders from you personally. The current Spanish Army has too many interests related to the church."

"How to do this?"

"You can use the war as an excuse to create a new Royal Guard. Select officers who have no connection with the church to take charge. All soldiers will be recruited from the American colonies, even Creoles. As for training, I can ask the General Staff Send someone to help you.”

Carlos IV looked at a loss: "This... how big is the guard force, and where will the funds come from?"

Joseph rubbed his forehead and said patiently: "8,000 people is enough. As for the funds, you only need to control the smuggling activities of the American silver mines under your own name, which will be enough to support these soldiers."

The silver mines in America were the economic lifeline of Spain, but hundreds of years after the empire was established, various forces had their hands on the silver mines.

Today, various smuggling and illegal mining account for almost one-third of Spain’s total silver production!

Carlos IV blinked in confusion: "How can we control the smuggling activities you mentioned?"

Joseph breathed out: "You are the king. You only need to send a reliable envoy to the Americas to preach that the empire will severely crack down on smuggling. Then let him let it out in private, saying that he has a way to help the smugglers avoid detection, but A 30% profit fee is charged.

"The smugglers themselves will come to 'take refuge' in you."

Carlos IV's eyes suddenly lit up: "Yes, this is indeed a good idea!"

Joseph continued: "Then you ask the smugglers who 'resigned' to you to report those who did not, and sent an anti-smuggling team to eliminate them, and you can get another income."

The King of Spain excitedly drew his horse over and put his arm around Joseph's shoulders: "Joseph, you are definitely the most talented person I have ever seen!"

Of course, Joseph's method can indeed make a lot of money in the short term, but in the long term, it will make the smuggling situation in the American silver mines get out of control - with the official smuggling license, the license holders will not be crazy to expand. scale of smuggling.

However, considering that the independence movement will sweep across the Americas in at most 20 to 30 years, these silver mines will no longer belong to Spain by then, so it is not a loss to have a few more bites before "dying".

And if this money can be used to help Carlos IV secure the church, it will be a huge profit for Spain.

Joseph gave Carlos IV another reassurance: "I will also start to weaken the influence of the Holy See. Just let Count Aranda carry out reforms."

The barking of dogs and the shouts of followers were heard in the distance, and a black shadow emerged from the bushes ahead.

Carlos IV gave Joseph his shotgun, pointed at the prey and shouted: "Look there! I'll leave it to you!"

In the afternoon of the same day, Joseph and Carlos IV formally signed the "Treaty of Alliance between France and Spain" in the latter's hunting palace.

The treaty stipulates that the two countries will open their borders to each other; when one party declares war on other countries, the other party will declare war accordingly; form a joint Franco-Spanish fleet to jointly maintain order in the Mediterranean, etc.

Signing this treaty with France may be the most correct decision Carlos IV made in his life.

Joseph did not stay longer in Madrid and returned to France by car the next day with a large number of gifts from Carlos IV.

As soon as he left the Royal Palace in Madrid, he received the latest information from Paris.

Joseph opened the pile of documents, and the first thing he saw was that several British cavalry battalions, totaling more than 10,000 people, had arrived in The Hague, Netherlands, by boat, and their subsequent movements were unknown.

Then, 50,000 Prussian troops passed through the Gelden area and arrived at Liege on the northwest side of France. The General Staff judged that its target may be Liege or Luxembourg.

Behind them were two Austrian armies, advancing from the southwest and northwest respectively.

The former has 35,000 men, and its goal should be to join the Prussian army. The latter has 40,000 people and is likely to attack Strasbourg or Salans on the east side of France through Switzerland.

What concerned Joseph the most was that the Dutch navy began to move south. These warships must be going to join the British Navy. The specific location of the main force of the British Mediterranean Fleet is still unclear.

He asked Eman to spread out the map and briefly sketched the anti-French alliance's military deployment, and couldn't help but exhale.

There are heavy troops on the northwest, north, and east sides of France.

The British fleet would most likely launch an attack on France from the Mediterranean coast in the south.

Of course, the British fleet may also head to Tunisia and send marines to land to attack.

Except for the coastal areas in the west and the part bordering Spain in the south, France was completely surrounded.

Joseph couldn't help but shake his head slightly. If any of these places were breached by the enemy, it would be a heavy blow to France.

But if the troops were divided for defense, it would be exactly what the anti-French alliance wanted to see most.

Because the French army had fewer troops, the more scattered they were, the easier it would be for the enemy to find weak points and tear a gap.

This situation is much more complicated than the first anti-French alliance in history.

Joseph stared at the map and couldn't help but fall into deep thought...

On the afternoon of the day when Joseph went to Spain, Queen Mary was sobbing sadly in her tea room.

"Joseph risked his life to help Austria fight on the Silesia front, but my nephew repaid him in this way..."

She wiped her tears and choked, "This is a shameful betrayal... They actually stood with the British, what a shame..."

Louis XVI sat beside her at a loss, not knowing how to comfort her, but just kept muttering: "Dear, leave everything to Joseph. Our son will definitely be able to handle it..."

Yes, when the cabinet meetings were held these days, he had been listening outside the house - as a king, he must be extremely concerned about such a major event as a national war.

But he was afraid that the ministers would ask him "How should France respond?" He didn't know how to answer, so he finally followed his social phobia and chose not to show up.