Joseph looked to the Director of Security Bureau. "How many protesters are there in northern Switzerland?"
"About four hundred in Basel and Zurich, and over two hundred in Schwyz."
Basel's urban population was only a little over twenty thousand, while Zurich had yet to fully recover from the ravages of war, so a protest involving more than four hundred people was no small matter.
Joseph nodded. "The harder the pro-Austria forces press them down, the greater the force of the backlash will be later."
He then instructed him, "Your main task from here on will be to send people into Austria to spread word that their government has provided massive aid to northern Switzerland in order to weaken our country's influence there.
"By the way, how much aid has Vienna given the Swiss?"
Lavalette opened his notebook. "An estimated one hundred to one hundred twenty thousand Florins, along with more than a thousand Flintlock Guns, Your Highness."
"Too little. Publicize it as one million Florins and five thousand guns. I'll have the Ministry of Foreign Affairs let it be known that our country will not consider requests for union from Switzerland's other cantons."
"Yes, Your Highness." Lavalette carefully noted it down, then hesitated slightly. "But would this not weaken the pro-France forces in places like Basel..." Joseph smiled. "It will make Vienna bolder."
Though the Director of Security Bureau had not figured it out, he did not press the matter further and instead said:
"Your Highness, there is one more matter. The Marquis of Albuquerque in Porto has most likely reached some kind of agreement with Madrid. Since last week, the Braganza and Vimala Perez families have been gradually withdrawing from the Porto area."
Joseph could not help frowning. Before he could ask anything, Alexandra noticed his expression and leaned