[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-life-of-being-a-crown-prince-in-france":3,"chapter-life-of-being-a-crown-prince-in-france-life-of-being-a-crown-prince-in-france-chapter-912":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Life of Being a Crown Prince in France",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},386391,646,"Chapter 911: 819: The Times Have Changed","life-of-being-a-crown-prince-in-france-chapter-912",912,"\u003Cp>Chapter 911: Chapter 819: The Times Have Changed\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Joseph was not in a hurry to be pleased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the Two Sicilies might only be posturing, just to ask for a price from Austria. Their specific diplomatic direction cannot be determined until we observe their actual actions in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, even if it’s just verbal goodwill towards France, it is beneficial to enhance France’s influence on the Italian Peninsula, which could definitely be encouraged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Talleyrand continued: “Your Highness, upon my departure from Italy, Parma has officially protested diplomatically to Austria, demanding an explanation and compensation for the Argentoratum Legion’s unauthorized entry into Parma territory.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Joseph nearly burst into laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Duke of Parma is quite adept at handling things. In the past, when troops from major powers came and went from his place, he didn’t dare utter a word, but now, having just leaned towards France, he immediately pulls this stunt to nauseate Austria.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, it seems Parma can also be encouraged a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Talleyrand finished reporting on his visit to Italy, Joseph smiled and nodded, saying: “With your exceptional diplomatic wisdom, you have excellently completed the diplomatic mission and consolidated national interests. It’s truly admirable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, by the way, I have reviewed your expense report, and there are no issues. Upon returning to Paris, you can settle directly with the tax director.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Talleyrand’s eyes immediately flashed with delight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The so-called “expense report” is essentially the record of profitable gains he amassed in Italy this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Due to the triumphant advance of the French Army, the Italian states did their utmost to ingratiate themselves with this diplomatic envoy, with bribes increasingly offered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On this trip back, he collected over a million in cash alone, along with numerous artworks, real estate, and the like.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the Crown Prince’s previous promise, he was able to obtain a total “commission” of 330,000 francs, which is the post-tax figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is all part of my duty, Your Highness. It is my honor to serve you and France.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Talleyrand bowed and saluted, then signaled to the Assistant Foreign Minister, Count Saigul, at his side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The latter immediately took out a document and respectfully placed it before Joseph.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Talleyrand, with an expression of pride, said: “Your Highness, this is the Italian diplomatic plan jointly formulated by Archbishop Brienne, Duke of Broglie, and myself. Please have a look.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? Diplomatic plan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Joseph, intrigued, opened it, and the first page revealed a map of Italy, with many areas marked in white.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Talleyrand explained beside him: “Your Highness, although our country has acquired a large territory in the Lombardy Region, these places are not connected by roads to our country, making governance extremely troublesome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Luckily, Genoa is still under our control now, and we can easily replace the Congress members. By next year, they could declare Genoa to be part of our country.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then have Sardinia abandon Pavia, so we can form a reliable border in Northern Italy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, we might need to compensate Sardinia. Our idea is…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Joseph then understood why the map of Italy had conspicuous white areas; it turned out these ministers had already counted these places as French territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that Parma, Pavia, and even a large part of the Pope State were painted white, he could not help but laugh and interrupted Talleyrand: “Please, hold on. Why would you think we should expand in Northern Italy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Talleyrand was momentarily stunned and responded as if it were obvious: “Your Highness, expanding territories is the quickest and most direct way to enhance national strength. We certainly need Italy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Joseph nodded: “Okay, let’s imagine that our country occupies most of Northern Italy. Then what happens?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Talleyrand was stunned again: “Happen? Ah, population increase, tax revenue enhancement, and more troop sources and ports…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Joseph smiled and said: “You are wrong. We will harvest never-ending riots and the hatred of Italians.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He left one point unsaid; that it would ultimately help Italians achieve unification.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Talleyrand, not taking offense, said: “Your Highness, there might be dissatisfaction in the short term, but simply stationing some troops can quickly resolve this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Joseph secretly sighed, thinking himself, historically, it was your and Napoleon’s expansion strategy that ultimately exhausted France’s national power, yet now you still adhere to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The times have changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the influence of the Enlightenment across Europe, national consciousness is awakening universally, with Italy making particularly fast progress. Italians can no longer completely integrate into France.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at Talleyrand and said: “Do you believe, between the cost of maintaining stability in those places and the gains obtained, which is higher?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Certainly the gains, Your Highness.” Talleyrand finished, then added: “Oh, maybe in the first few years, there’ll be a need to station troops, and costs will be higher, but after quelling the riots, the returns will quickly increase.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Joseph said: “What if, years later, the British or Austrians send spies to incite riots?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Talleyrand, with confidence, said: “We can definitely suppress the riots. The combat capability of the Italian army is exceedingly weak, let alone the mob.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Joseph shook his head: “You are wrong again. Endless riots are far more difficult to deal with than an army.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Future Americans easily defeated Afghanistan’s slipper army, but in the next 20 years, spent 2.3 trillion US dollars and ultimately retreated in dismay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Talleyrand’s expression of disbelief, he continued: “A riot instigated with 1 franc at least requires 10,000 francs to quell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Perhaps you could ask a few nobles in Turin or Parma to see if they are willing to be ruled by foreign powers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Talleyrand fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No need to ask, just looking at Milan will tell you; Austria has ruled there for nearly a century, yet Italians have uprisings almost every year, even without anyone inciting them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Joseph earnestly said: “Even if we can control Northern Italy for ten or twenty years, what then? There will inevitably be an independence war, dragging France into the mire of war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Perhaps we should adjust our strategic thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The future world will no longer belong to the old colonial era.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Talleyrand instinctively asked: “Then the future is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The era of economic colonialism.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Economic…colonialism?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Joseph nodded: “The future will be determined by industrial strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And for industrial production, the most essential elements are raw materials and markets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If the raw materials and markets of a region can belong to France, why do we need to occupy the land there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Talleyrand’s eyes flashed with shock, thinking more and more that what the Crown Prince said made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Administration and stationing troops both cost a lot of money, not to mention the bottomless pit of military funds when riots occur.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, he felt something was off: “Your Highness, but how can we ensure access to raw materials and markets there without occupation?”\u003C\u002Fp>",1130,"2026-05-30T06:21:22.149Z","2026-06-01T04:30:31.323Z",1,"novelbin.me","ba4bb364506ba347021c00539bb8d10f0ef0d5aabeeb2917e88b2c12714d823d","life-of-being-a-crown-prince-in-france-chapter-913","life-of-being-a-crown-prince-in-france-chapter-911",1568,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flife-of-being-a-crown-prince-in-france-cover.jpg"]