Chapter 596: The Song of Poland · Part One
Bailly continued outlining his envisioned "Northern Trade Points":
"Even if the British dispatch a significant portion of their navy—say, over a third of their forces—to blockade the entire western coast of the Austrian Netherlands, we can simply shift our 'business' to Dunkirk or even Calais."
Joseph glanced at his Trade Minister with a mixture of surprise and admiration. It seemed this wasn't an off-the-cuff idea but a well-thought-out plan.
Dunkirk and Calais, both ports in northwestern France, were only about 50 kilometers from Ostend. With river connections between them, transferring operations would be remarkably easy.
Joseph could already picture the scene: British officials storming into France, furious about rampant smuggling, only to have Bailly feign innocence and say,
"It seems numerous smugglers from the Austrian Netherlands have infiltrated Dunkirk, causing severe disruption to local order. However, as a border town, our resources are stretched thin. Rest assured, the French government is dispatching additional forces to handle the situation. Please exercise patience."
Perhaps France might even request "funding assistance" from the British to combat these "Austrian Netherland smugglers."
Brienne, catching on to the brilliance of the scheme, chuckled and remarked:
"The British are bound to regret selling Dunkirk to us. In fact, there are numerous small harbors along the northern coast of the Austrian Netherlands. It would be nearly impossible for the British to enforce a complete blockade."
Dunkirk had been sold to France by Charles II for £400,000, a decision the British might come to rue.
Brienne then raised another concern. "Your Highness, those interested in engaging in this 'special trade' may not be particularly wealthy. They might struggle to acquire ships, and securing funds for goods could also be a challenge."
Joseph smiled. "The pirate ships we confiscated after dismantling the Tripoli pirate fleet are still in storage at the sheltered ports of Gabès Bay. We can sell them at a low price to these 'traders' or even lease the vessels to them."
Bailly immediately added, "Or, we could use the ships as equity investments."
"Excellent idea," Joseph said approvingly. He then continued,
"As for upfront funds for goods, the Industrial Development Fund can provide guarantees. Factories can supply products on credit to these 'traders.'"
Brienne hesitated. "Your Highness, wouldn't this be excessively risky? For instance, if the British seize the goods…"
"That's why we'll require them to purchase insurance," Joseph said matter-of-factly.
"Cargo loss insurance, personal accident insurance—whatever reduces our risk."
Brienne and the others exchanged amused yet bewildered glances. Insuring smugglers? The idea seemed absurd yet oddly reasonable.
Joseph went on:
"Additionally, have the Walloon Chamber of Commerce fund the construction of a wooden railway from Hainaut to Ostend to facilitate the movement of goods.
"Recruit locals to form a 'Customs Patrol' tasked with safeguarding this 'special trade.' Ensure they are well-equipped, as they may encounter British Royal Marines attempting raids onshore."
Turning to Fouché, Joseph added, "The Intelligence Bureau must also fully support this operation. Establish a new department—call it the 'Trade Investigation Office.'"
The "Special Trade" Takes Shape
That very afternoon, Bailly, now officially the Chairman of the Special Trade Association, convened representatives from France's finance, industry, taxation, and law enforcement agencies. Over the next week, they developed a detailed plan for the "special trade" and presented the proposal to Joseph.
Warsaw, Poland
The Royal Castle in Warsaw was alive with the sounds of a solemn yet uplifting melody performed by a grand orchestra.
King Stanisław II Augustus walked side by side with Sieyès through the elaborately dressed honor guard. He spoke warmly,
"Please extend my deepest gratitude to His Majesty and His Royal Highness, the Prince. In these dire times, they are the only ones who still remember Poland."
Sieyès, ever composed, replied evenly,
"I will certainly convey your message, Your Majesty. However, my visit to Poland is primarily to discuss matters concerning the Church with the Archbishop of Poznań, so I may not return to Paris immediately."
The king glanced at his nephew, Prince Poniatowski, puzzled. Isn't Sieyès a bishop appointed in Avignon? Why is he handling Church affairs here?
Poniatowski, quick to grasp the situation, interjected,
"It's wonderful that you'll be staying in Poland for a while. Oh, the king has prepared a banquet in your honor, which will begin shortly."
"Thank you for His Majesty's generosity," Sieyès said with a slight bow. As they walked through the castle's grand hallways, he added to the prince,
"Frankly, if it weren't for the formalities, I would prefer to skip such gatherings. Poland cannot afford to waste even a moment."
Stanisław II and his nephew exchanged startled glances.
"What do you mean?" the king asked.
Lowering his voice, Sieyès said,
"His Royal Highness instructed me to inform you that certain neighboring nations may act against Poland sooner than anticipated. War could erupt as early as six months from now."
Prince Poniatowski's expression grew grave. "We have noticed some unusual movements by the Russian Mikhail Kakhovsky Corps."
"That's only the beginning," Sieyès replied.
"With the Prussia-Austria ceasefire, Prussian forces will soon concentrate between Tuchola and Chełmno, putting Poland in a two-front predicament.
"However, His Royal Highness is pleased that you heeded his advice and refrained from involving Poland in the Prussia-Austria conflict. This has made Austria more inclined to maintain Poland's current status."
As they approached the banquet hall, Sieyès paused and said,
"This may be presumptuous, but I would like to understand Poland's preparations, especially regarding military readiness."
Two years earlier, Joseph had instructed Prince Poniatowski to assemble an army of at least 100,000 capable soldiers to withstand assaults from Russia and Prussia.
The prince hesitated before admitting,
"We have trained and recruited 40,000 troops thus far. Fortunately, public enthusiasm for military service remains high."
Stanisław II added softly,
"However, training and funding limitations have hampered us…"
Sieyès was visibly unimpressed by this progress.
If Joseph were present, he might have commended Prince Poniatowski for his efforts. Historically, Poland's main army during the Second Partition was just over 30,000, supplemented by a few thousand volunteers. Thanks to Joseph's early warnings, Poland had managed to raise 40,000 soldiers—a year ahead of schedule.
Sieyès said firmly,
"Your Majesty, you must accelerate your efforts. Regarding military funding, His Royal Highness suggests ramping up the exploitation of the Tarnowskie Góry silver mines. According to his information, current operations are barely at 20% of the mines' full capacity."
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