As soon as the Russian Army appeared in Afghanistan, the British would immediately become like cats with their tails stepped on, dropping everything and dispatching troops to contain them. If Russia could bleed the United Kingdom for a few more years in Afghanistan, France's odds of victory in its future decisive battle with the United Kingdom would also improve by several points. The Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs was instantly overjoyed. He had assumed the French would reject this plan without hesitation; even he himself found it far too unbelievable. Yet the Crown Prince of France had agreed to it outright.
This was a major diplomatic achievement for him!
Count Osterman nodded repeatedly at once. "You have made this plan even more perfect, Your Highness the Crown Prince. I believe His Majesty the Emperor will certainly approve of your view as well."
Joseph smiled and nodded in cooperation. "I will have Archbishop Talleyrand go to the Ottoman Empire as soon as possible to negotiate for the right to let our fleet pass through the Bosphorus Strait."
Count Osterman, however, continued in a somewhat mysterious tone, "Your Highness, perhaps in the future, your fleet will be able to pass through there at will. Oh, and that includes the Dardanelles Strait."
Joseph narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"
"The land of the heathens will be destroyed!" Osterman said. "His Majesty the Emperor proposes that our two countries each occupy Ottoman territory in the Balkans and Anatolia.
"This is a goal the Christian world has striven toward for more than a thousand years!
"When future generations recite the name of God, they will remember the magnificent achievements we established in spreading the holy light!"
Joseph sighed inwardly. Paul I truly was as daring in his ambitions and actions as he had been