Thinking Back to the Era of Rome
As Minister of Finance, Brienne showed no concern over the enormous expenditure. Instead, he looked quite excited. "Military expenditure is indeed very high, Your Highness, but it is absolutely necessary.
"I spoke with Duke of Broglie, and we both believe that if the war goes smoothly, within two years at most—perhaps even a year and a half—we may be able to completely conquer the German Territories!
"Our armies will ultimately advance all the way to the Vistula River..."
Joseph immediately pressed a hand to his forehead. The Vistula River was already on Poland's border. Was the Chief Minister planning to swallow Western Europe and Central Europe whole in one bite?!
He looked questioningly at Mirabeau and Venio.
The two immediately nodded in agreement.
Joseph could not help letting out a sigh.
He had been with the army all this time and had assumed this fever for war existed only in military circles. Now it seemed that even the French Cabinet had been carried away by the string of great victories.
Well, France truly was a martial nation.
Looking at it this way, Napoleon's historical rush of blood to the head, all the way to Moscow, had probably been the result of the entire nation pushing him forward together.
But Joseph knew very well that this doctrine of military victory above all else was an extremely dangerous notion.
He looked sternly at Brienne. "Why should we occupy all of the German Territories?"
"Why?" Brienne froze for a moment, then said as though it were only natural, "Our army is invincible, Your Highness. This is precisely the perfect opportunity to let France's glory shine over all of Europe!"
Yet Joseph gave a slight shake of his head. "Do you believe our national strength is sufficient