Not long after the Minister of Civil Affairs left, Eman's voice came from outside the door. "Your Highness, Archbishop Talleyrand has arrived."
Joseph nodded. "Show him in."
The Minister of Foreign Affairs limped up to him and quickly bowed. "Your Highness, Russia has just sent someone to make contact. They conveyed their desire for a ceasefire."
France and Russia were still technically at war, though neither side had actually exchanged fire. Russia had clearly learned that France stood behind Poland and, under the immense pressure of fighting on two fronts, hoped to influence Poland through France.
Joseph smiled. "Hmm. This is an opportunity."
Talleyrand nodded. "Indeed, Your Highness. The Kościuszko Legion has already advanced into southern Minsk, while the Russian-occupied territories have been thrown into chaos by resistance groups. The Russians will likely accept ceasefire terms highly favorable to us. We can use this opportunity to demand that they cut off all trade with the United Kingdom."
Joseph glanced at him. "You misunderstand me. It is far too early to halt the offensive against Russia.
"I mean this is an opportunity to drag the English into the water through diplomatic means."
He knew very well that Russo-English trade was bound together too deeply to be severed.
In history, Napoleon had savagely beaten the Russian Army at the Battle of Friedland, frightening Alexander I into immediately signing the Treaty of Tilsit on a small wooden raft on the Neman River and joining the Continental Blockade—the policy prohibiting trade with the United Kingdom.
However, once Russia stopped trading with the United Kingdom, its finances immediately collapsed. It soon began large-scale smuggling trade with the United Kingdom. This was also one of the major reasons Napoleon later launched his invasion of Russia.
Thus, Joseph had never expected Russia to accept such terms.
Talleyrand