Abolitionist Movement

At noon, the Cabinet Meeting ended.

As the Minister of the Navy walked out through the Golden Gate of the conference hall, he smiled more brilliantly than he had on his wedding day.

Not far behind him, however, Mirabeau and several other ministers from the Emerging Nobles faction looked rather solemn.

Once they had passed the corner of the corridor, Bayei glanced at Mirabeau's expression and said, "You noticed it too, didn't you?"

The latter nodded gravely. "The Crown Prince granted the navy an additional twenty million Francs. That truly is unusual."

Those twenty million were allocated on top of the navy's regular military budget. Counting the sum Calonne had previously brought back from the United Kingdom, the navy had already received an additional forty million Francs.

Before this, the navy's military spending had been reduced for three consecutive years, and the tonnage of newly built warships was even lower than Russia's.

Bayei immediately added, "Yes. In addition, His Highness wants me to purchase large quantities of Timber, Oils, ropes, and even Cotton. Clearly, he is worried that trade channels may be cut off."

Venio added, "Grain as well. Yet there are no signs of a poor harvest at present."

These were all instructions the Crown Prince had issued before the Cabinet Meeting ended.

"So," Bayei lowered his voice, "is war about to break out?"

"It seems the United Kingdom has made a move." Talleyrand followed the three with some difficulty. He was still very familiar with the United Kingdom's latest strategic direction. "His Highness is clearly preparing in advance."

He suddenly paused, then shook his head. "But what makes little sense is that His Highness wants me to go to the Ottoman Empire at a time like this to facilitate a new trade agreement."

Joseph's task for him was