Reincarnated as Napoleon II-Chapter 88: Next in Line

"I think that should cover our agenda. Is there anything you want to say before I dismiss you?" Napoleon II asked. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"I have none, Your Imperial Majesty."

"In that case we are dismissed," Napoleon II said, rising to his feet and then extending his hand forward, offering a handshake.

Don Miguel grabbed his hand and shook on it. "I’ll inform you the moment I receive their response, Your Imperial Majesty."

"Good, like I said, I need a response tomorrow. If I haven’t seen you in this office tomorrow, it means Spain doesn’t want to make a deal."

Don Miguel nodded his head, acknowledging his words and then exited the office.

When he closed the door, Charles finally spoke.

"Cuba, Philippines, and Guam. Would Spain really give up their colonies for money?" Charles said, more to himself, in a thoughtful tone.

Napoleon II looked at Charles. "You are my secretary, so you should be proficient with the internal affairs of every nation, even if its little. So, based on our conversation, what do you think?"

"You are asking for my opinion, Your Imperial Majesty?"

"Yes," Napoleon II confirmed.

"Hmm..." Charles rubbed his chin as he contemplated, taking him twenty seconds to reply. "This is just based on my opinion sir but I don’t think Spain would give up her colonies just like that."

"Even when their coffers are drained?" Napoleon II asked.

"Well Sire, it’s not a matter of finance, it’s a matter of prestige. If they lose their colonies, they lose their prestige among the European powers. However, they could possibly sell one of their colonies, it’s either Cuba or the Philippines."

"Which is more likely?" Napoleon II asked.

"I’d say it would be Cuba. Their proximity to the former colonies of Spain to South America meant that it can have revolutionary ideas whereas the Philippines, they are too far from Spain and South America. So it’s best for them if they sell Cuba that could anytime revolt than the Philippines."

"Still, I want the Philippines. We don’t really have a presence in Asia and I believe the future market is in that region."

"I won’t get my hopes up, Your Imperial Majesty. You just gave them a day to decide. It’s sudden to them."

"They are desperate, Charles. And if they are desperate, they would take drastic measures to secure their position. If I am the King who cares about his country and the stability of it, I would say no to such a good deal...Anyways, let’s move on to the next ambassador."

"The next one in line is the British Empire. The British Ambassador is in his embassy as we speak, awaiting confirmation for a meeting. Would you like me to invite them here in Versailles so it can get started?"

Napoleon II nodded his head. "I don’t have much to do. Invite them please."

"I will go to a telegraph room, Your Imperial Majesty. I’ll leave you for a moment."

Napoleon II waved his hand, dismissing Charles out of the room.

***

Fifteen minutes later, Charles returned to his office.

"Your Imperial Majesty, the British Ambassador has agreed to meet with you today. He’ll arrive in an hour."

Napoleon II looked up and paused what he was doing, basically signing and stamping documents.

"They are so eager to meet us huh? You know my father once called the British Ambassador for peace but they denied it because they are surrounded by a huge fucking moat."

"Your Imperial Majesty, your language please."

"Sorry, I didn’t mean to. It’s just that I hate the British with every fiber of my being. You know for the last ten years when we were starting to export modern technologies across Europe and Britain, they always found a way to undercut and block the contracts," Napoleon II finished, dropping the pen onto the desk a little harder than necessary. "Tariffs. Inspections. Delays that somehow only apply to French goods."

"They would say they are protecting their industries."

"Yeah because their industries sucks the moment we industrialise better than them," Napoleon II said.

"What do they want from France anyways," Charles asked.

"I remember they are asking for a customs union," Napoleon II repeated, amused. "As if we would bind our economy to theirs and let London decide the rules."

Charles tilted his head. "On paper, they would sell it as free trade. Harmonized tariffs. Easier access to their markets and colonies."

"And in practice," Napoleon II said, "British merchants flood our ports while French goods rot in theirs under ’temporary inspections. But we don’t really need anything from them. I meant their goods are subpar compared to French goods. I won’t agree to a customs union when they already hurt ours by mysteriously increasing our shipping insurance fees whenever we dock at their ports. We really have to control our own shipping. I admit it, whenever we export by sea most of the companies would charter a boat would charter a British hull," Napoleon II finished. "Because Lloyd’s stamps it, insurers calm down, and suddenly every port opens a little faster. That is leverage disguised as paperwork."

Charles nodded slowly. "So the issue isn’t just tariffs. It’s control of the routes themselves."

"Exactly," Napoleon II said. He tapped the desk with two fingers. "We build locomotives, factories, telegraph lines... and then we hand the ocean to London. That’s foolish."

He pulled a blank sheet closer and began sketching short lines as he spoke.

"French shipping firms," he said. "State-backed if necessary. A national insurance bureau to underwrite cargo. If merchants know their goods are protected by Paris instead of London, they stop begging British insurers for permission to sail."

Charles leaned forward. "That would anger them."

"They’re already angry," Napoleon II replied. "The difference is whether we remain dependent while they are."

"So what are you going to do, Your Imperial Majesty?"

"Well, we fight where the British are best. We are going to build our own merchant ships. We create goods then we deliver goods to our customers overseas. It will be important when we start venturing to Asia."