Joseph, after delivering an impassioned speech, swept his gaze over the dozens of monarchs present and began to get to the heart of the matter: "At this conference, we will discuss the following matters—
"First, the reconstruction of order in North Germany..."
Those words immediately put the monarchs present on edge.
With hundreds of thousands of French Army troops glaring hungrily at North Germany, how could the Crown Prince of France's talk of "reconstructing order" not make their hearts pound?
Maximilian Franz, Archbishop of Cologne, immediately gave a cold snort and said in a voice just loud enough for several people nearby to hear, "Hmph, the Franks actually want to become the masters of Germany. We must let them know that this can only ever be a beautiful dream!"
He was Queen Theresa of Austria's youngest son and the uncle of the current Holy Roman Emperor, so naturally he had to firmly obstruct any French ambitions.
No one responded to him.
However, William IX, Earl of Hesse-Kassel, lowered his head and whispered to Karl August, Duke of Thuringia, and the others beside him, "If the worst comes to pass, we shall support Prussia as our leader and resist France together."
Henry XI, Prince of Reuss, quietly echoed him, "Yes, we absolutely cannot let the French rule the Right Bank of the Rhine!"
Frederick Francis, Earl of Mecklenburg, frowned. "I met His Majesty William II not long ago. He seems to have already lost his fighting spirit."
William IX spoke with considerable resolve. "That is because Prussia has exhausted its capacity for war. But if they gain the support of every North German state, the situation will be completely different."
"Exactly. As long as we stand united, we are fully capable of contending with the French!"
Joseph's voice came again from