Life of Being a Crown Prince in France

Chapter 1206: Chapter 1111: The Neurotic Tsar

Noan was taken aback for a moment, then erupted in fury: “Wouldn’t that mean handing Lisbon over to the Spaniards?! What’s the difference from surrender?!”

The Marquis of Loris bowed slightly and said, “Your Highness, the Spaniards will only receive a city that’s empty and filled with hostility.

“We will move everything from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro, and the Royal Navy of England will assist us.

“Then you will issue a decree in the name of Her Majesty the Queen, granting military ranks to all who resist the Franco-Spanish Alliance and offering titles for significant achievements.

“Afterward, the supplies from Rio de Janeiro will be sent constantly to Iberia, providing support and funds to the resistance forces here, quickly putting the occupying army under constant attack.

“In a few years, the Spaniards will retreat of their own accord, unable to bear the drain.

“Even if the Spaniards are willing to spend a large sum to sustain themselves, by then, you would have gathered a strong army in South America, ready to seize the opportunity to strike back at Lisbon and defeat the enemy in one fell swoop!”

Noan fell silent for a moment. The strategy of the Chief Minister seemed acceptable. If successfully implemented, he could become the great monarch who led the Portuguese to repel strong enemies and be forever remembered.

Mainly, it was indeed better than surrendering or being captured by the Franco-Spanish Alliance.

Off to the side, the Duke of Tecera and the Marquis of Loris exchanged glances and loudly said, “Your Highness, actually, this is also a chance to integrate Brazil.

“The Caboclos have been rioting more frequently these years; if you could personally govern there, the people would no longer be swayed by the Independence Party.

“Brazil has vast lands and minerals and could soon become a crucial support for the nation.”

The “Caboclos” were the mixed descendants of Portuguese whites and South American natives. They were numerous but governed by a small number of Portuguese elites without political status, often inciting natives and even blacks for revolts.

The Duke of Tecera’s words immediately garnered the agreement of several ministers.

They were nobles with large landholdings in Brazil who believed that if the Royal Family could move to Brazil, it would surely bring great development opportunities to the area—the Marquis of Loris had just mentioned moving all of Lisbon’s valuables to South America.

Finally, Noan made up his mind and nodded: “Then let’s discuss the details of relocating the capital.”

He looked towards the Foreign Minister: “Duke Alcos, please immediately request assistance from the British Navy.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Under the pressure of the tense situation, within just four hours, Noan officially decreed the relocation of Portugal’s capital to Rio de Janeiro.

Due to Joseph’s intervention, the Portuguese Royal Family fled to South America nine years earlier than historically.

…

Saint Petersburg.

The garden of the Winter Palace appeared lifeless under the onslaught of the east wind, with only a few rows of pine trees stubbornly maintaining a hint of green, providing the gardeners with some tasks.

Suvorov shook the snow off his collar, only to find a large chunk had fallen into the hood of his Knight’s uniform, and promptly signaled to the attendant beside him: “Strahov, help me get rid of these damned things!”

Admiral Aleksey Orlov quickly helped him turn the hood over: “These ’costumes’ are burdensome and hideous, His Majesty has been made dizzy by those Malta scammers…”

Suvorov quickly used his eyes to silence the second half of his sentence. The Winter Palace no longer rang with music as before, but was as quiet as a tomb, with Orlov’s words possibly overheard by the secret police hundreds of steps away.

Indeed, Tsar Paul I now greatly disliked the Winter Palace, his mother’s residence, and thus set his former residence Gatchina Palace as the political center.

Orlov waved his hand indifferently: “Marshal, I don’t fear those fellows.

“I’ve fought the Ottoman People over a dozen times and have never lost. And what have those Malta people done? Encouraged His Majesty to wear these ridiculous ’costumes,’ or wear ’dog collars’? Or cheated Him of 500,000 rubles annually under the pretense of a ’Knight Order Protector’?”

The “costumes” and “dog collars” he referred to are the classical knightly attire and the white cross badge of the Malta Knight Order, which Paul I forced the nobles to wear after taking power.

Suvorov slapped him hard: “His Majesty just likes those knight legends, it’s best if you speak less of this in the future.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll listen to you.” Orlov spread his hands, “Where were we just now?

“Oh right, how to exonerate this unlucky fellow, Leonid Koslovsky.

“Lord, what’s wrong with this world? He just slept with that widow for a few nights, such a small matter, yet he’s facing trial. And those Malta clowns are serving as judges… What’s it called again?”

His attendant whispered beside him: “It’s ’Knight Glory Court,’ sir.”

“Right, something like that, it’s as if we’ve returned to the time of Don Quixote.

“Honestly, even during Don Quixote’s time, there wasn’t any talk of banning mistresses, right?”

“Who told him to shout everywhere?” Suvorov shook his head, “His Majesty just announced a ban on adultery, and he put himself directly into the spotlight.”

Orlov sighed: “He might face two years in prison and four hours of daily repentance.

“Oh, I heard General Ushakov’s brother has some ties to that barber. Maybe a bit of money could work.”

He was referring to Count Kutaisov—the former barber of Paul I, who was now elevated to Court Chief.

Suvorov frowned: “His Majesty likely won’t listen to him on this matter.”

Orlov couldn’t help but stare: “Do we need to bribe those Malta people?”

“If they’re willing to take money, it might not be impossible.”

They were referring to the Malta Knight Order, or Hospital Knight Order. During the Crusades, this knight order indeed made great contributions and was later granted Malta Island by the Holy See as a camp.

However, after centuries of comfort, the knight order had become a loan syndicate, and some Mediterranean merchant supply business—the Malta Island is right in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, southeast of Italy.

Yet, their good days have come to an end in recent years.

Most of their assets were previously invested in French banks and tax farming. Under Joseph’s financial reform and tax reform double blows, they were heavily fined and confiscated, with their assets shrinking by over eighty percent.