Chapter 820: The Times Have Changed
Joseph wasn't quick to celebrate.
Because the Two Sicilies might have just been posturing to get a better price from Austria. Their actual diplomatic direction would only be clear from their future actions.
Still, even verbal gestures of friendship toward France helped increase French influence on the Italian Peninsula and were encouraging.
Talleyrand continued, "Your Highness, when I left Italy, Parma had formally protested to Austria, demanding an explanation and compensation for the Argenteau Corps' unauthorized incursion into Parma's territory."
Joseph almost laughed aloud.
The Duke of Parma was quite shrewd. Major powers had long marched troops through his lands without complaint; now that he had turned to France, he immediately played this trick to annoy Austria.
Well, Parma was worth encouraging as well.
After Talleyrand finished detailing his Italian mission, Joseph smiled and nodded: "Your outstanding diplomatic skill has admirably secured national interests.
"Oh, and I have reviewed your expense report—no issues there. When you return to Paris, settle directly with the tax commissioner."
A gleam appeared in Talleyrand's eyes.
The "expense report" was actually the record of the profits he collected in Italy.
Because of the French advance, the Italian states tried their best to curry favor, bribing the envoy more and more generously.
Talleyrand returned with over a million francs in cash, along with many artworks and property.
According to the Crown Prince's promise, he would receive 230,000 francs as his "commission" — a post-tax figure.
"It is my duty, Your Highness. Serving you and France is my lifelong honor," Talleyrand said with a bow, then gestured to Count Ségur, assistant to the Foreign Minister.
Ségur respectfully presented a document to Joseph.
With a proud look, Talleyrand said, "Your Highness, this is the Italian diplomatic plan I formulated with Archbishop Briand and Duke de Broglie. Please review it."
"Ah? A diplomatic plan?"
Joseph opened it with interest, seeing a map of Italy marked with many white areas.
Talleyrand explained, "Although we obtained large territories in Lombardy, these lands don't connect to France via roads and will be difficult to govern.
"Luckily, Genoa remains under our control and can easily change its parliament members. Next year, they will declare Genoa annexed by France.
"Then Sardinia will relinquish Pavia, letting us form a secure northern Italian border.
"Of course, Sardinia will perhaps need compensation—our proposal is…"
Joseph understood why the map had so many odd white patches—his ministers already accounted for these areas as French territory.
Seeing Parma, Pavia, and much of the Papal States marked white, he smiled and interrupted, "Wait. Why do you think we should expand into northern Italy?"
Talleyrand was taken aback but replied as expected, "Your Highness, expanding territory is the quickest and most direct way to strengthen the nation. We certainly need Italy."
Joseph nodded. "Alright. Let's imagine we occupy most of northern Italy. What then?"
Talleyrand hesitated. "What then? Population will rise, taxes increase, and more men and ports become available…"
Joseph smiled. "Wrong. We'll harvest endless revolts and hatred from Italians."
He kept one point unstated—the eventual unification of Italy.
Talleyrand was unconcerned: "Your Highness, dissatisfaction may arise briefly, but with troop deployments, unrest will soon be quelled."
Joseph sighed inwardly. Historically, it had been exactly the expansionist strategy planned by him and Napoleon that drained France's national strength—yet here they still clung to it.
Times had changed.
Across Europe, the Enlightenment had sparked widespread national consciousness, especially in Italy. Italians could no longer be fully assimilated into France.
He asked Talleyrand, "Do you think the cost of maintaining stability in these areas outweighs the benefits?"
"Of course benefits, Your Highness." Talleyrand added, "Perhaps in the first few years garrisons cost more, but after quelling revolts, the benefits skyrocket."
"If, years from now, the British or Austrians send spies to incite revolt?" Joseph asked.
Confidently, Talleyrand replied, "We will suppress all uprisings. Italian troops are weak and so are rioters."
Joseph shook his head. "You're wrong again. Ceaseless revolts are much harder to contain than armies."
Americans easily defeated Afghanistan's guerrillas, but over twenty years spent 2.3 trillion dollars before a humiliating withdrawal.
Seeing Talleyrand's disbelief, Joseph said, "It costs one franc to stir revolt but at least ten thousand to stop it.
"Perhaps you should ask nobles in Turin or Parma whether they'd prefer foreign rule."
Talleyrand grew silent.
No need. One glance at Milan sufficed—after nearly a century under Austrian rule, Italian revolts flared almost annually, and there was no foreign agitation behind it.
Joseph solemnly said, "Even if we control northern Italy for ten or twenty years, what then?
An independence war will surely erupt, dragging France into endless conflict.
"Perhaps we should rethink our strategy.
"The future world will no longer belong to the old colonial era."
Talleyrand asked instinctively, "What then?"
"The economic colonial era."
"Economic… colonial?"
Joseph nodded, "National power will be determined by industrial strength.
"For industry, raw materials and markets matter most.
"If a region's resources and market belong to France, why occupy the land?"
Shock flashed in Talleyrand's eyes. He increasingly felt the Crown Prince's reasoning was sound.
Running administration and garrisons costs a fortune—and revolts drive military expenses through the roof.
He suddenly felt something was wrong: "Your Highness, if we don't occupy the land, how can we guarantee access to its resources and markets?"
(END CHAPTER)
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