Berthier asked in some surprise, "How did you know?"
Joseph thought to himself, Of course, because Franz II had never been in the habit of resisting to the bitter end. Whether facing Napoleon or the Russians in history, he had never felt the slightest psychological pressure when it came to compromise.
Hmm, the Treaty of Campo Formio should be signed around now.
But he merely said calmly, "Call it a conclusion deduced from the international situation and the state of the battlefield."
The Chief of Staff's admiration for the Crown Prince had long since overflowed; he did not mind letting it overflow once more now. "Your wisdom always teaches me so much, Your Highness."
After he hurried off to send orders to Napoleon, Archbishop Brienne knocked anxiously and entered. After a hasty salute, he placed a report on Joseph's desk.
"Your Highness, our provisional governments in Rhineland have sent word. There have recently been repeated public protests in various places, and several anti-government organizations have been discovered."
According to Joseph's plans for Rhineland, two provisional governments had been established there—the "Lower Rhine Government" north of Palatinate, and the "Palatinate Government" to its south.
The main duties of these two provisional governments were to stabilize Rhineland after the war and clear out the former bureaucratic systems at every level.
That way, many of the thankless tasks could be left for the provisional governments to take the blame for. Once everything had been "scrubbed clean," the provisional governments would announce their dissolution on the spot, and Rhineland would then be incorporated into France.
Yes, the French Government could even punish some provisional government officials afterward to win the people's hearts.
Joseph flipped through the report briefly and nodded. "This is perfectly normal. The British, Austrians, Prussians, and even Bavarians may all be