Life of Being a Crown Prince in France

Chapter 1201: Chapter 1106: The Backdrop of the Era

Paris.

Palace of Versailles.

Joseph quickly read the report from “French and Irish Liaison Officer” Porte Yer, and immediately frowned.

“These Irish are too naive.” He glanced at the report date, it was written the night before last, and immediately said to Lavallette, “Notify Porte Yer at the fastest speed, and have him fully stop the United Irishmen Association.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” The Security Bureau Chief responded and then hesitated a bit before saying, “Your Highness, the scale of this riot is very large. If we support the Irish and that London Communications Agency, perhaps we can cause great disruption in England.”

Joseph shook his head: “You’re thinking too simply. England is isolated from the European Continent, as long as their Congress doesn’t mind the bloodshed, then any riot cannot succeed.

“Have the Irish conserve their strength, it’s not time to use them yet.

“Of course, we should seize this opportunity, but mainly to strike in public opinion.

“You can cooperate with Mr. Denico, follow this approach…”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Once the Security Bureau Chief had left, Joseph immediately gestured to Eman: “Please prepare the carriage, I want to go to the General Staff.”

He looked out the window, sighed lightly. The European Continent is likely to face war again soon.

He knew very well that this time a serious crisis would occur within England, and the British Government would likely seek to shift contradictions outward.

On the other hand, England would also not sit idly by as France’s current rapid development momentum continues.

There is a systemic contradiction between England and France, England wants to maintain their position as Europe’s strongest country, they must overthrow France.

And the same goes for France. Only by suppressing England and dealing with its powerful fleet can it truly gain space for future development.

Since war will come sooner or later, the sooner preparations begin, the less damage the war will cause.

…

London.

Ten Downing Street.

Lord Grenville signed the document and handed it to the Minister of the Interior, Earl Spencer: “Please try to control the scope of the impact, but make sure it happens quickly.”

The latter bowed slightly: “Rest assured, Prime Minister, I will handle it well.”

Grenville reminded again: “Please coordinate in advance with General Windham. Critics have already appeared in Congress, and they cannot be given an excuse.”

“I understand, Prime Minister.”

After sending away the Minister of the Interior, Grenville picked up William Pitt Junior’s report and began to read it carefully.

“God, 350 million British Pounds…” His facial features twisted slightly, “Where am I supposed to get so much money?”

This is the amount that William Pitt Junior estimated would be needed for a complete defeat of France.

What he didn’t know was, historically, the British spent over a billion British Pounds to defeat Napoleon.

After the Battle of Waterloo, England’s national debt had soared to 850 million British Pounds. That’s 21 billion francs!

By comparison, France’s previous debt of 2 billion is almost nothing.

Of course, England quickly stabilized its financial situation with the benefits of being a victorious nation and the terrifying profitability of the Industrial Revolution, eventually becoming the “The British Empire.”

Grenville continued to read, and saw the funding proposals provided by William Pitt Junior included——

Greatly increasing taxes on the colonies.

Strictly limiting colonial trade with other countries.

Regularly issuing banknotes.

Forming some form of trade system with allies that excludes France, preferably bringing Russia in too.

And borrowing from major capitalists in the Netherlands and Germany.

Based on William Pitt Junior’s judgment, if everything goes well, England can raise nearly 400 million British Pounds throughout the war.

This is enough to defeat France.

Even if several battles fail, England can rely on the stability of its homeland to continue draining France, and ultimately, with the enormous colonial market and sacrifice of allies, completely drag France down.

“This truly is an era with blood and fire as the background…”

Grenville shook his head and began to conceive the expansion plan, and how to persuade Prussia, Austria, and most importantly, Russia.

Hmm, England has always been about gang fights. Going alone is almost like delivering food.

“The army needs to reach at least 100,000. Plus, leave 40,000 troops to defend the homeland.” Grenville’s pen moved quickly on the paper, “This might require a substantial adjustment of the conscription system. This aspect should consider the opinion of the Marquess of Wellesley. It’s best to transfer him back to London; the army’s training must be handled by him.

“The Navy should exceed the French fleet’s size by 20% or more. And those steam battleships…”

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but frown, “It seems the government investment fund must directly take over that Steam Engine Company.”

Previously, he had already had Reid investigate, and the whole of Britain, only Bolton-Watt could produce steam engines above 20 horsepower, other companies were even more useless.

Government-controlled companies can, for one, suppress the naval procurement price to the lowest, and two, could spur research and development by military control methods.

…

“Lower sugar prices!”

“Arrest corrupt officials profiting from sugar prices!”

“Natural human rights, long live freedom!”

“Reform the electoral system…”

A dense crowd chanted deafening slogans, slowly walking towards St. James’s Palace.

Along both sides of the road, people from the London Communications Agency were loudly making speeches on “human rights and freedom.”

Contrary to many people’s impressions, it was not just the French who were enthusiastic about enlightenment thoughts, demanding human rights and freedom. In fact, during the French Revolution, English protests and demonstrations were no fewer than those in France.

Demonstrations with over tens of thousands of participants continued until 1799, even becoming more intense. Until the British Government issued the “Combination Acts,” deeming worker associations and strikes as criminal acts, arresting right upon discovery, while prohibiting gatherings of more than 50 people, restricting publishing freedom, allowing the arrest of “suspicious persons” without warrants, which barely stabilized the situation.

It could be said, if Louis XVI had been half as ruthless as the British, he probably wouldn’t have experienced the guillotine.

When over 5,000 protesters passed through the southern street of St. James’s Park, a few British intelligence agents disguised as petty merchants immediately rushed to the courtyard center of the neighborhood to report to the Volunteer Cavalry Commander.

The so-called Volunteer Cavalry is a military type of British local militia.

————————

In early 1793, responding to the initiative of the Sheffield Constitutional Knowledge Society, radical organizations nationwide (such as “Manchester Patriotic Society”) coordinated actions, jointly proposing three paths of reform: petitioning the King, petitioning Congress, convening a national representative conference. Ultimately choosing to pressure by each petitioning the Congress, forcing Congress to continue discussing reform topics.