Joseph immediately gestured to Eman. "Please bring Monsieur Tressaguet back."
Then he looked at Talleyrand. "Then let the war reparations be signed at ten million francs. However, the money from Milan and Genoa Banks must first be paid to Sardinia, and then handed over to us by Sardinia. Of course, colonel Joubert must send soldiers to supervise the process.
"Please be sure to remember that our country has always been a steadfast defender of order and rules."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Before long, the Minister of Transport, who had not yet left Versailles Palace, returned to the Crown Prince's reception room.
When he learned that the Verdun–Trier railway line had secured funding, his face lit up with joy. "This is wonderful, Your Highness. Now those 'Russian Free Workers' will more or less all be able to find work."
Joseph nodded. "Please submit the project budget proposal to the Treasury Department as soon as possible, and apply to the General Staff Headquarters for the deployment of prisoners of war."
"Yes, Your Highness." Tressaguet considered for a moment, then ventured, "This line should require only a little over five million francs. If there is additional funding, we could continue onward and extend the railway to Cologne..."
Joseph was nearly amused to anger by this "insatiably greedy" minister and promptly threw him out.
Watching Tressaguet's retreating figure, Joseph could not help sighing again. Railways truly were marvelous things.
If he did not have to prioritize military expenditure, a railway to Cologne would certainly yield enormous economic benefits.
Cologne was the largest center of trade, commerce, and finance in the lower Rhine River region. It was surrounded by numerous Coal Mines and was also an important military fortress.
In the entire North German Confederation, Cologne's economy ranked fourth, surpassed only by Marburg in Upper Hesse,