His Majesty the Emperor's Hard Line (Monthly Ticket Request)

State Minister Baron Thugut nodded.

"Your Majesty, over the past two years, the empire's trade revenues have indeed been declining steadily."

Franz II asked again, "And the key to reversing the trade situation lies with France?"

Baron Thugut hesitated slightly before nodding once more. "In a sense, that is correct."

Beside him, Baron Walter waved his uninjured hand and said angrily, "The French used unfair trade agreements to seize our markets in South Germany and crush many of our factories. So long as that treaty remains in force, our trade situation can never improve!"

Baron Thugut hurriedly interrupted him. "In fact, when the treaty was signed, its terms were favorable to us."

He had signed the Rhine-Seine River Treaty on Austria's behalf, so naturally he could not slap his own face now.

Franz II looked toward Earl of Rhinefels. "Then how do you believe we should deal with the treaty's adverse effects?"

The latter had already considered the matter on his journey back to Vienna and promptly replied, "Your Majesty, none of the South German States currently dare offend France. Perhaps we can negotiate with France in private and seek to establish independent tariff quotas between our two nations outside the treaty."

What he meant was to abandon the South German market and trade benefits with France in order to preserve Austria's domestic market.

Franz II turned to Baron Thugut again. "Do you also agree with Earl of Rhinefels's proposal?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. It would indeed stabilize our trade revenues for the time being," said the State Minister. "Afterward, we can use our influence in the German Territories to call on the other nations to boycott French goods together, eventually achieving the goal of renegotiating the treaty."

Franz II nodded. "Very well, then we shall proceed thus."

The ruler and