Joseph continued asking:
"What about the preparations in Basel?"
Berthier immediately replied:
"Your Highness, all aid from Württemberg arrived in Basel three months ago. At present, the Basel Council has used those supplies to train more than eight hundred militiamen and establish defensive lines on the north side of the Jura Mountains."
After driving out the Seven-Man Committee, Freno and the other Stuttgart Faction councilors—their central platform being Basel's entry into the Stuttgart Trade Agreement—joined forces with the Basel Chamber of Commerce and several major noble families to reconvene the council. They declared independence from the Swiss Federation and began raising a militia for self-defense.
"As for Augsburg," the Chief of Staff said with obvious dissatisfaction, "although they have recruited mercenaries according to plan, they have yet to dispatch suitable officers."
Joseph gave a cold snort:
"Tell the Augsburg Council that if they have any misgivings, they may withdraw directly."
As a vassal state of Austria for centuries, it was only natural that Augsburg feared its overlord.
Berthier glanced at Lavalette.
The Director of Security Bureau hurriedly added:
"Your Highness, as a backup plan in case of emergency, we found a retired Captain named Clément Pelletier in Montpellier. He once served under General Massena and took part in several campaigns in Switzerland. He is quite capable. Had he not retired because of an injury, he should be a Major by now."
Joseph frowned:
"His pension should have been enough for him to retire on."
Lavalette explained:
"Indeed, Your Highness. He bought a vineyard back in his hometown. He simply does not enjoy a life that is too quiet and ordinary. He wants to accomplish something he can boast about to his children."
Only then did Joseph's expression soften. Docking soldiers' pensions had always been one of the things he hated