Life of Being a Crown Prince in France

Chapter 1212: Chapter 1117: Partitioning India

“Alliance?” Joseph paused for a moment, then smiled, “The Emperor truly dares to imagine.”

Talleyrand glanced at him quietly and said thoughtfully, “Your Highness, I think perhaps now is not the best time to ally with Russia.”

Joseph acknowledged him with a sound and continued walking toward the Hall of Mirrors.

The best state between France and Russia is to keep a strategic distance while continuously moving closer in trade.

If the two countries get too close, it will only cause fear throughout the European Continent and the Ottoman Empire, severely worsening France’s geopolitical strategy.

And this is undoubtedly the situation the British most want to see.

Of course, France can certainly maintain a certain level of “flirtation” with Russia, making Prussia and Austria feel strategic pressure in between, so that they dare not harm France’s interests.

However, this balance must be managed well, because Poland will also feel the pressure, and possibly more directly than Prussia-Austria.

Thus, even considering only the Polish factor, France cannot accept an alliance with Russia.

Talleyrand noticed that the Crown Prince seemed to agree with his viewpoint, and immediately breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried that the Crown Prince might choose to ally with Russia because of his affection for his wife.

He hurriedly took two steps and continued, “Your Highness, the message from Saint Petersburg says the Tsar has decided to withdraw the troops from Transcaucasia.”

Joseph frowned slightly, but soon accepted this result.

Paul I completely negates his mother’s strategy, so ending the war with Persia is not surprising.

It’s just that historically Russia was still entangled with the Persian Army in Georgia at this time, but now they have already reached Zanzan, which is nearly 600 kilometers more territory than historically, yet they are willing to give it up so easily.

Indeed, he is the most “genius” Tsar Russia has seen in nearly a hundred years.

While talking, they saw Alexandra waiting for the Crown Prince, dressed in festive attire.

Talleyrand hurriedly bowed and offered his position to the Crown Princess, letting her take the lead while he followed with the foreign officials from a distance.

Joseph and Alexandra entered the Hall of Mirrors together, and the court orchestra immediately switched to a more solemn tune. The nobles, already waiting there, bowed their heads and moved aside.

At the forefront of the crowd, the current Russian Foreign Minister Count Osterman and Ambassador to France Count Staganov were conversing with Queen Mary. Seeing Joseph, they turned around and quickly bowed, “Allow me to express my highest respect to you, esteemed Crown Prince.”

Subsequently, several people gathered around Joseph, leaving their female companions to continue addressing Queen Mary.

After some intricate diplomatic rituals and the customary opening dance, Joseph was finally able to discuss serious matters with the diplomats from France and Russia on the east side of the hall.

“So, your country is completely withdrawing from Transcaucasia?” Talleyrand looked extremely shocked, “This is really quite sudden.”

Osterman nodded somewhat helplessly, “Indeed, Your Excellency the Archbishop, the Tsar has issued the decree, and General Zubov will return to Orenburg in April.”

Talleyrand looked at the Crown Prince and then showed a worried expression, “But if that happens, your country’s cotton harvest in Central Asia may be affected. This could affect our cotton agreement…”

Osterman quickly said, “You need not worry, the Tsar decided to sign a ceasefire agreement with Persia as soon as possible and seek to form an alliance.”

Russia allying with Persia? Talleyrand was almost shocked.

The Russian Foreign Minister continued, “This will ensure Persia doesn’t attack Khiva and Bukhara.

“Simultaneously, our country will also gain a passage from Persia to India.”

He looked at the French Crown Prince, who was focused on the nobles’ splendid dance, “The Tsar hopes to join forces with great France to jointly control India, the strategic center of the world!

“Our two countries will each send 30,000 soldiers. Your country’s army can choose to first pass through the Black Sea, land in Georgia, and then head to Afghanistan after meeting our army.

“Or land in Syria, enter Persia along the Euphrates River. Our army will simultaneously depart from Orenburg…”

Even someone as brilliant in diplomacy as Talleyrand was stunned at the moment, internally “praising” the Tsar’s diplomatic strategy as truly imaginative and full of creativity.

At the moment, only Joseph remained relatively calm because what Osterman said was completely consistent with Paul I’s historical plan to “divide up India.”

However, it was due to Napoleon defeating the second Anti-French Alliance, making Russia aware of the strength of the French Army, that prompted the proposal to march into India together in 1800.

Now it seems that France has demonstrated enough strength, coupled with the influence of the Franco-Russian marriage, boosting Paul I’s ambition.

Soon, Joseph noticed that all the French officials simultaneously fell silent, all looking at him spontaneously.

He had to lightly cough, turn to Osterman, and smile, “Hmm, this is indeed a great plan.”

The latter was shocked internally, how could the Crown Prince echo the Tsar’s words almost exactly? Could the alliance actually happen?

Joseph pondered, “But you know, India is too far away, and we must first ensure we have a reliable supply route—whether through Central Asia or Persia. This requires long-term preparation.

“Furthermore, the Afghans are likely to refuse us entry into Kabul. Hmm, this also needs to be resolved in advance.

“I suggest that all preparations be completed before signing the alliance agreement to minimize the time the British have to arrange their defenses.”

Yes, he knew better than anyone else that marching into India from Central Asia was absolutely impossible.

In this era, the level of map surveying was extremely low, so neither France nor Russia understood the logistical challenges of passing through Persia and Central Asia.

Historically, 22,000 Russian soldiers set out from Orenburg, experiencing deserts, drought, storms, and temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees.

Before even reaching the Afghan border, a third of the horses had already died, and non-combat attrition among soldiers was severe.

Simultaneously, Khiva and Bukhara suffered from providing logistics to the Russian Army, leading to famine in their countries, ultimately forcing them to cease their support for Russia.

In the end, Russia spent millions of Rubles, only to harvest thousands of soldiers’ corpses and retreated hastily.

As for Napoleon, he didn’t take Paul I’s plan seriously and never deployed a single soldier.

However, Joseph did not intend to refuse Paul I, instead applauding and encouraging him, striving for the Russian Army to actually launch an attack on Afghanistan.