Counterattack

Portalis suggested that the Church could organize clergy Lawyer, help them find suitable clients, and recommend suitable Lawyer to them when handling marriage and inheritance cases in secular courts.

This Legal Consultation Society charges Lawyer very little in service fees, and coupled with the inertia of its previous experience in handling such cases, it will soon be able to establish a business monopoly over the Clerical Lawyer.

Although Legal Consultation Society appear to be unprofitable, the potential profits from handling a single divorce case involving a high-ranking Nobility can be astonishing.

Moreover, even if countries abolish Guild, this consultation meeting will not be affected.

Because it doesn't set industry barriers, doesn't limit industry prices, doesn't conduct qualification certifications, and even seems to be losing money on paper, everyone would praise it as a non-profit organization.

But Joseph estimates that Legal Consultation Society in various countries contribute millions of Franc to the Holy See's revenue each year.

It wasn't until after 8 p. m. that the group of Cologne Church leaders boarded their Carriage and returned to their lodgings. Almost everyone was silently calculating how much they would benefit from the Church reforms.

The Church may appear to have handed over its assets and religious taxes, but at the same time, it has left the money-related tasks to secular governments.

With the plans Mr. Portalis has outlined in the past few days, the local Church's net income should be significantly higher than before.

Moreover, the greatest grievances the public had against the Church in the past included religious taxes, the rejection of Enlightenment thought, and Judiciary privileges.

Wait, now they've all disappeared.

It is foreseeable that the Church's image among the people will see a significant improvement.

The following day, the United Kingdom counselor continued his tireless efforts to persuade some senior Church to oppose joining the Trade Alliance.

Three days later, the Archbishop of Cologne personally sent someone to warn him to behave himself, or he would be deported as a "heretic."

Sir Briggs simply couldn't understand why the clergy in Cologne would be so indifferent to the loss of their own interests.

The Holy Trade Alliance was progressing even faster Joseph had anticipated.

On March 2, 1803, the Cologne Trade Alliance Negotiating Delegation began the first round of negotiations with the Alliance Provisional Council and the existing four member states.

It's important to understand that the Holy Trade Alliance is on a completely different level from the previous Stuttgart Trade Agreement.

The latter is just a simple Tariff reciprocity agreement, while the former involves coordination of industrial rules, finance, investment, Taxation, and even laws among member states.

With so many policy adjustments, the Cologne Parliament's ability to formulate all the negotiation objectives within just over two months is truly an exceptional achievement.

As the news spread, within a little over a month, Nassau, Mainz, the Bavaria-Württemberg Dual Core, and all the countries in Northern Italy submitted their letters of intent to join the alliance.

The Holy Trade Alliance has become unstoppable in the European Continent.

The Holy See subsequently announced that multilateral negotiations for member states of the Trade Alliance would be held in Karlsruhe in June. Countries participating in these negotiations could obtain "founding member" status.

Founding member countries have more voting power in the Trade Alliance Supreme Conference and in sectors such as the Holy Investment Bank.

Now, more countries are no longer hesitant, because as long as negotiations begin, they can secure a founding member status, and missing out could potentially impact their country's future.

By mid-May, all Catholicism countries west of Austria, except for Thuringia and Weimar, had decided to begin accession negotiations.

Even Poland submitted an application.

United Kingdom, London.

In the corridor outside the audience chamber at Windsor Castle, Sir Stewart looked at Pitt the Younger with tenderness in his eyes and said softly, "His Majesty has been somewhat troubled lately about the Trade Alliance the France have formed. However, I am certain that he still trusts you very much."

Pitt the Younger nodded, wanting to take his hand for comfort as usual, but hesitated for a moment and only said "Mmm".

He made a sound.

Their relationship is no longer like a raging fire in the wilderness, as it was more than a decade ago; instead, it has become as deep and restrained as the sea, just like his political career.

The Oak Wood doors were pushed open by the servants, and a mixture of Beeswax, ink, and strong herbs wafted out.

George III sat in an ornate chair by the fireplace, with an old oil painting depicting the Britain Wars behind him.

He straightened his back with great effort to maintain the image of a monarch, but his hands, clasped on his knees, trembled slightly from time to time.

In fact, he had just recovered from a severe Porphyria attack three months ago.

"Please sit here, Mr. Prime Minister." He gestured for Pitt the Younger., who was bowing, his voice dry and weary. The situation didn't seem too good, did it?

Pitt the Younger stopped beside the chair and nodded. "France's influence in the German Territories, especially in the middle Rhine River region, can no longer be ignored."

"You may have heard that they are pushing for a Trade Alliance that covers almost all Catholicism countries."

"Once formally signed, our country's trade in the European Continent will face a huge threat."

George III pointed to the chair again. "How much will this affect us?"

"It's mainly exports, Your Majesty. Our goods may be blocked from the port of Rotterdam by Tariff, and factories will soon go bankrupt. This will then affect our Finance, and in extreme cases, revenue could drop by a third."

George III's expression didn't change much. "So, how do you intend to deal with this?"

Pitt the Younger sat down, his eyes still brimming with fighting spirit. "Your Majesty, the France's use of the Holy See to promote Trade Alliance is indeed a brilliant tactic, but it has also created a breach in their 'defenses'."

George III nodded. "You mean Protestantism countries?"

"Yes, Your Majesty." Pitt the Younger clenched his fist. "Prussia, Saxony, and Austria."

"Prussia and Austria's national strategy is to completely control the German Territories. The France actions represent the most serious provocation against them."

"So?"

"All diplomatic attempts have encountered resistance. I believe that the current situation can only be resolved through war."

George III's eyelids twitched, but his tone remained emotionless. "War. You and Lord Grenville both tried it, and we know the result."

"And Austria is now weaker than before. How do you plan to win the war?"

"Austria has indeed suffered a heavy blow," said Pitt the Younger., "But their core strength remains, and they can still send out hundreds of thousands of troops at any time."

"Prussia, on the other hand, has become even stronger. Their steel production now accounts for nearly one-sixth of ours, and their firearms and artillery are of the best quality in the German Territories."

One-sixth may not sound like much, but just a few years ago, that number was one-fifteenth.

Needless to say, the quality of the steel produced was even worse. At that time, Prussia was basically an agricultural country.