Fundamentals

The joint statement from the two countries immediately made the journalists attending the press conference wonder if they were dreaming. Some even pinched themselves in frustration. This time, after releasing the joint statement, Foreign Minister Talleyrand and Ambassador Metternich didn't even give the journalists time to ask questions, but directly announced that the press conference was over.

In fact, the reporters didn't even have time to ask any questions. What was the most important thing now? Of course, it was to publish this big news immediately. Isn't the purpose of being a reporter to create a big story? So, as Foreign Minister Talleyrand adjourned the meeting, the reporters immediately poured out of the main entrance like a tidal wave and rushed towards their respective newspaper offices.

It is said that afterwards, some newspapers added a new requirement when recruiting reporters: a twelve-minute run test. "If you can't even run, how can you be a reporter?" became a reason for newspapers to dismiss some reporters. Not long after, at the first modern Olympic Games, Drexler, who won the world sprint championship for France, was also an entertainment reporter for the Sun. So much so that a new proverb emerged in France at that time. "As fast as a tabloid reporter."

Yes, generally speaking, tabloid reporters are always faster. In contrast, reporters from Les Scientia and Businessman's Daily Pravda n't need to run as fast, because their editorial departments already know about the news in advance. Although the advance notice isn't long, it's enough for them to be the first to issue a special edition. At this time, while reporters from newspapers like the Sun were still doing parkour on the streets of Paris, Science Truth Daily and Les Provost were already carefully considering the wording of their editorial.

Of course, as Science Truth Daily and Businessman's Daily were the first to issue their special editions, another group of people also started running, and they were just as fast as the tabloid reporters. These people were the speculators.

Prior to this, due to widespread fears that Austria would go to war with France and suffer a crushing defeat, Austria government bonds had plummeted in the market, almost becoming worthless. Now, with this news, everyone knows that Austria government bonds will definitely rise, recover, and perhaps even rise higher.

Unfortunately, most people had already sold their Austria government bonds at near-worthless prices before this happened. Now, the market is seeing Austria bond prices soaring, but there are practically no Austria bonds left to buy. Everyone sighs with regret, wondering who bought up all those Austria bonds at such low prices.

But they never imagined that the person who bought up all of Austria's government bonds at the price of selling waste paper was also full of dissatisfaction.

"The financial instruments of this era are so outdated and lack any innovation! There's not even a way to drive Austria government bond prices into negative territory, and there's not a single usable financial leverage tool. Otherwise, how much money could they have made with that!"

Seeing Napoleon and Lucien basking in their newfound wealth, Joseph couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

However, Napoleon was clearly much more easily satisfied Joseph. This kind of money was already enough for him. He calculated the returns on Austria government bonds and found that the returns from this trip were even higher than the income he had earned from his personal audience with His Holiness the Pope.

"Joseph, this is practically robbery! And it's even more efficient than sending in the army to rob us. Last time in Italy, we said we were doing a risk-free business, but using the army actually cost a lot. This time, we just told a few 'truths,' and we've already reaped so much. This is truly..." Lucien rubbed his hands together, excitedly saying.

Although Napoleon was also having the same thought, he instinctively became displeased when he heard Lucien say it, because it was, well, a bit of a denial of his own worth.

However, before Napoleon could refute him, Joseph spoke first.

"Lucien, and Napoleon, there's something I need to remind you of," Joseph suddenly said. "There was once a fool who ate four loaves of bread one morning and was full. The fool said, 'How foolish I was! If I had known this would happen, I would have just eaten the last loaf. Why did I waste the first three?'"

Anyone who says such a thing is obviously a fool. But we must also be wary of becoming fools ourselves, like Napoleon and Lucien. There's a reason we can now use financial means to harvest wealth as easily as reaping wheat. If we didn't possess an invincible army, an army that would intimidate any enemy and even discourage them from resisting, how could we possibly use such methods to reap wealth?

So, Lucien, don't think that financial exploitation is truly costless. Without our invincible army, who could I exploit using such methods?

Upon hearing Joseph mention "an invincible army," Napoleon immediately perked up, beaming, and said, "Joseph is right. Ultimately, this harvest depends on the army. Only the army is the sickle in our hands."

"Napoleon's words have some merit, but they don't tell the whole story. We haven't fought a war for several years, so why hasn't the deterrent power of our army declined, but instead continued to rise? When those guys signed the peace treaty with us, I think you should understand what they were all thinking. So, do they still have such intentions now? Why?"

Napoleon paused for a moment, then said, "They should have initially thought to catch their breath, lick their wounds, and wait until they recovered before challenging us. But now, they certainly don't have that thought anymore. Now, there's no need to fight; even a fool knows they're no match for us. The difference between us and them is like that between a strong man and a child."

Joseph nodded. "Our strength is growing faster than theirs. The artillery firepower of one of our divisions is now much stronger than that of an entire corps of theirs. Before long, the firepower of one of our divisions will even overwhelm that of an entire army group of theirs. What can they use to fight us? As long as our commanders aren't idiots, they won't stand a chance."

"Joseph, to be honest, if things continue like this... all that's left is bullying children. War has lost all its artistic beauty; all that's left is crushing... Life is truly as lonely as snow." Napoleon uttered an extremely childish lament.

Joseph glanced at Napoleon and continued, "Many things in the world have their fundamental causes and outward manifestations. Everything has a beginning and an end. When dealing with things, we should know what to do first and what to do later, what to place in the most fundamental position, and what to treat as mere tricks. Knowing what to truly value is what it means to truly understand things."

What is the fundamental reason for our current strength? It's not our superior skills, nor even the strength of our army; ultimately, it's our powerful industry. Why is it that in Europe, only Britain can be considered a relative rival? Isn't it because, comparatively speaking, Britain has a better industrial base? Therefore, maintaining a strong industry is our foundation. Although industrial costs are high and profits are slow—at least much slower than financial exploitation—we must constantly remind ourselves not to entertain the idea that we can skip industry and live solely through financial means."

"How could we have come up with such a stupid idea?" Lucien asked.

Upon hearing this, Joseph chuckled, "Lucien, people are always prone to laziness. Even intelligent people are like that. When France transforms from an industrial empire into a financial empire, that will be the beginning of the end for France hegemony."

"Joseph, what you said makes perfect sense!" Napoleon said, glancing around. "Lucien, give me your notebook. I want to write this down and then carve it on my desk."

Putting aside Napoleon's actions, the news has now reached Hungary. The Hungary nobles who are currently advocating for Hungary autonomy, as well as the Poland nobles who, encouraged by the Hungary nobles, have once again mustered the courage to have those "separatists" come and plant a few bombs, are all dumbfounded.

Some fools, having shouted too loudly before, couldn't turn back and could only stubbornly resist to the end—at least outwardly. Other nobles, however, began to consider how to quickly demonstrate their loyalty to the Emperor, revealing that they had been used, or simply stating, "Your Majesty, I'm an undercover agent! I joined to gather intelligence and report back to you. I've now learned..."

Even those who had jumped the gun and couldn't turn back immediately quickly reorganized their ranks, saying, "Everyone must unite, we must unite," while secretly sending people to the emperor to repent.

Under these circumstances, the Hungary National Guard mutinied shortly after General Karl Philippe's Imperial Army arrived in Hungary.

The mutinous National Guard, led by a young viscount named Báthory, arrested the rebel leader, the Marquis Báthory, the viscount's uncle, and handed him over to General Karl Philippe. Thus, the Hungary rebellion was suppressed.

Thereafter, both His Majesty the Emperor and the France showed remarkable mercy to the rebels.

"Now that they have realized their mistakes, they have become our compatriots again," Emperor Franz declared in the newspapers. Therefore, even the rebel leader, Marquis Bathory, was only exiled. His title and lands were not stripped.

Of course, any barriers and taxes that hindered free trade in Hungary were abolished.

As for the Poland nobles who followed suit, they received some leniency after obediently relinquishing key lands at "market prices." After all, the Austrian Empire still needed to use them to bully ordinary Poland.