Life of Being a Crown Prince in France

Chapter 1354: Chapter 1259: The Disappearance of Germany

Several Prussian ministers immediately began whispering, “I think this is entirely worth considering.”

“The biggest problem is that it might provoke retaliation from England…”

“Yes, they might blockade the Baltic Sea, but that doesn’t have much of an impact on us.”

“Clearly, the increased revenue from the sugar trade far exceeds the little aid the British provide…”

“Perhaps this is a good opportunity to use France to suppress Austria. As long as the French don’t cross the Rhine River, we can slowly integrate Northern Germany, something the British cannot offer us.”

Suddenly, they realized, following France, “a thought arises, and the world feels vast.”

By allying with France, immense changes would occur, from the economy to markets to geopolitics, yielding far more benefits than merely being enforcers for the British.

Yet they completely overlooked that although large-scale beet cultivation could bring significant economic benefits to Prussia, it also meant handing over their economic lifeline to France.

First, France controls beet seeds and fertilizers—Joseph, to allay Prussia’s concerns, will certainly sign supply agreements with them, but if a catastrophe of national proportions occurs, wouldn’t the agreements just be toilet paper?

To pressure Prussia anytime, just fabricate a “fertilizer shortage,” and it would give Prussia a fright.

Second, the pricing power of the European sugar market is in the hands of France. Whether to give Prussia a carrot or a stick entirely depends on sugar price fluctuations at the Paris Futures Exchange.

Finally, as the Prussian treasury becomes dependent on beet cultivation, they are bound to continually expand the cultivation area.

Then Joseph will continuously import cheap grain from North Africa into Prussia. As a result, Prussian wheat farmers suffer losses year after year, while their beet-growing neighbors get rich, so who will still plant wheat?

Most of Prussia’s land happens to be very suitable for growing beets.

Once the main grain cultivation area in Prussia shrinks to the point where it can’t meet the people’s food needs, the ability to wage war will be completely lost.

Meanwhile, with just 8 million people, Prussia can live quite well solely by exporting sugar—30% of the annual British sugar market can sustain them—war-hungry Junker nobles would all turn into planting experts and sugar refining technicians.

If they were to conflict with Austria or other countries, they could only seek assistance from France, further increasing their dependency on France.

As for Prince Henry and others’ obsession with “integrating Northern Germany,” it’s nothing but a mirage.

Joseph indeed promises not to seek territory on the East Bank of the Rhine, but that doesn’t mean France won’t extend its influence here.

Starting with cultural infiltration. Bringing large amounts of French theater, music, and high-tech products into Northern Germany, and driving public opinion to promote the French lifestyle as a societal trend—this is an area in which France excels.

The “rustically outdated” Prussian culture will inevitably be scorned.

You Prussians still want to unify the Northern German states? Bumpkins, can you look at your shabby self, who would unify with you?

What, you Prussians also fully adopt the noble French culture? Then there can be no German Federation, everyone learns from France, whence comes German national identity?

Besides cultural infiltration, transplant the set they used in Northern Italy.

It’s exceedingly difficult for people from different regions to build a sense of unity, but creating divisions is remarkably easy.

“Cologne always belongs directly to Jesus,” “you paupers stop chumming up with the Hessians,” “except for Thuringia, you’re not fit to be called warriors…”

In a few years, it would be fortunate if these small countries don’t start fighting, France might still have to spend effort mediating for them.

What German nation?

We are “Hessians,” “Thuringians,” “Wuerzburg people,” you Prussians stop claiming kinship with us.

Unless Prussia resorts to military conquest, they will never establish a unified German Empire like in history.

If Prussia fails to acquire the resource-rich Ruhr District, they will essentially miss the industrial revolution—currently, it is the territory of Cologne, Nassau, and Hesse.

With the lucrative beet cultivation, Prussia is more likely to stay on the path of an agricultural nation.

Prussia, without advanced industry, still hopes to militarily unite Northern Germany?

By then, France wouldn’t even need to send troops to intervene; providing the Northern German States with some advanced weapons might even reverse the advances toward Prussian territories.

Joseph’s core goal is to completely resolve the potential powerful northern neighbor—Germany and the threat it poses to France.

That evening.

In an estate in North Berlin, Prince Henry and several ministers stood by William III’s sickbed, reporting the terms proposed by the French:

“…The French Prince also promises to invest in building at least seven sugar refineries in our country, and all the harvested beets will be processed into sugar domestically.

“On this basis, they will also limit the scale of French beet cultivation, ensuring our market share…

“At the same time, we can also obtain the most advanced automatic looms, steamships, and even the most advanced trains from France…”

Semi-reclined on the bed, William III let out a faint groan.

The front of his right thigh was ulcerated, with several leeches sucking pus and blood over the wound. The doctor had just measured his temperature: 39.3 degrees Celsius.

Had he not been young and robust, he might not have endured.

Under such circumstances, Prince Henry couldn’t be sure if the King understood.

Sitting to the side, Queen Louise glanced at her husband’s pale face and then turned to Prince Henry: “What terms have they proposed?”

The latter exhaled heavily and said in a low voice, “Compensation, 8 million taels…”

Queen Louise shook her head in despair, “That’s too much; we cannot accept it.”

Prince Henry hurriedly said, “Your Majesty, if the beet cultivation plan is successfully implemented, we only need 13 years to repay this money without affecting our finances.”

“Are you certain?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. If the French control the cultivation scale, we can at least double the beet planting area within three years.”

The Prussian Queen nodded, “I trust you, Your Highness. Is there anything else?”

“Some trade requirements, like opening markets; our sugar must be sold on the Paris Futures market, and mutual patent recognition, etc…”

He gestured to Baron Stein nearby.

The latter had to brace himself as he continued, “We have to give up enclaves like Ansbach, Bielefeld, and Emden.”