After Austria withdrew from the war, the entire anti-French alliance basically collapsed. Immediately after the Austrians sued for peace, the Prussians followed: "We have no ill will towards France, and we are fighting because of a misunderstanding." So it's better for everyone to sit down and talk, after all, everyone is peace-loving. ”

France and Prussia did not border each other at this time, and after Austria stopped fighting, the French and Prussians could not fight unless they crossed the neutral country, so the two countries also began peace talks. However, it is precisely because the two countries actually have little way to fight now, that the negotiations between the two countries have dragged on.

Prussia was willing to withdraw from the war, but he demanded assurances from the French that they would not act against Hanover. But in the eyes of the French, Hanover was a weapon used to threaten Britain and force it to withdraw from the war.

Because at this time, it was the Hanoverian dynasty that ruled England, and the English king was also the Elector of Hanover. Although de jure Britain and Hanover are two countries, they share the same head of state.

For a long time, the French navy was inferior to the British navy, and after the Toulon rebellion, the French navy suffered heavy losses, and naturally it was unable to challenge British sea power. As for things like landing in the UK, that's even more ...... Although the English Channel is not wide, it is not possible to send an army through a bathtub.

Therefore, the only thing the French were capable of was to strike at the interests of the British on the European continent. After Napoleon conquered northern Italy, he extorted money throughout Italy, and even the Pope could not escape his poisonous hands, and other countries were naturally terrified and did not dare to have anything to do with the British at all. This is a heavy blow to British interests.

After the occupation of the Rhine, General Rubert moved to the Netherlands, forcing the whole of the Netherlands to join the French camp. The Netherlands was an important gateway for British goods to the European continent, so it was another blow to the British.

However, the British still behaved very hard, and their attitude was still stubborn and ignorant of current affairs. The British were not opposed to peace negotiations, but their condition was that France would return to its original borders, but the French colonies seized by the British during the war would not be returned—this was a complete attempt to treat France as a defeated country!

Therefore, the French had no choice but to threaten the British with Hanover. But once France really occupied Hanover, it would border Prussia, which was obviously not good for Prussia. Therefore, negotiations with Prussia have now dragged on because of this.

Of course, the Prussian opinion was not enough to prevent the French from moving on Hanover. Shortly after Napoleon left Austria, the French launched an attack on Hanover and quickly occupied it. As for Prussia, although he protested a few times, his body was honest and did not dare to move.

Therefore, although there are still many things that have not been completely resolved, the war is in fact no longer possible.

Now there is only one remaining conflict, and that is at sea.

In fact, after France took Hanover, Britain's attitude was slightly relaxed, and the reason was simple: Britain could no longer find a decent ally on the mainland, and Britain's economic situation was not very good because it had recently lost too many markets on the European continent.

The British said they could recognize French control of the Rhine, but the French had to withdraw from Hanover, and the independence of the Netherlands had to be guaranteed, and the markets of all European countries, including France, had to be reopened to the British.

If that's all there is to it, it's not that this condition is not unnegotiable. But in France, this plan was opposed by the army system.

The apparent reason is, of course, "How can we send out the place we knocked down so easily?" "But the deeper reason is that for some, it is more beneficial for them to continue the conflict at sea for some time.

The British relied on their superior navy to block France's foreign trade routes, of course, in order to avoid too much attack, it still showed mercy to some neutral ships, but the French ships were indeed mercilessly attacked by the British on various routes.

But there was one French ship that would not be hit, and that was the clippers. With a speed much higher than that of the British, this type of ship could easily break through the interception of British warships and go to ports in other regions. So, as long as the British blockade of France continues, the clippers will sell very well, and the profit margins will be very high.

The whole of France, the original ships, were unable to go to sea because of the blockade of the British, or if they did, they probably never returned. This meant that the owners of ships who wanted to trade at sea would have to buy clippers from certain people to replace their old boats, which were difficult to use under the British blockade. These owners can only sell their old boats to foreigners at a low price, and then go and order new clippers from certain guys.

Now, with the French taking control of Italy and the Netherlands, basically the major foreign trade ports in Europe are under the control of the French, which makes some people even more ambitious.

"Britain is France's most dangerous enemy, and we can compromise with other enemies, but as long as we want France to be the king of Europe, there is no possibility of compromise between us and Britain – well, of course, that's just the most superficial truth. My brother, do you understand? Joseph cocked his legs and said to Lucien.

By this time, Joseph had moved some of his research institutes back to Paris, which also meant that he had more time to educate his younger brother.

"Of course I know that you want to take advantage of the British, and you want the British to intercept not only the French ships, but also the Italian and Dutch ships, so that you can sell the clippers for a higher price." Lucien replied.

"No, no, no...... Lucien, you are still too young and naïve. I don't want that, because the backlash will be too great. I just need you to make a noise like that in Parliament, and I don't need you to get Parliament to pass a resolution such as banning British goods from entering the ports of other countries. "The very sound of this can put considerable pressure on people from all sides." The council didn't pass it this time, so what about next time? Will it be passed by the next parliament? And as soon as such a resolution is really adopted, will the British also in turn block the routes of ships of other countries? With such concerns, who else would buy old ships that would have a hard time evading the blockade of the British? Now do you understand? ”

"In this way, the traditional shipbuilding enterprises in Europe will be in crisis, and then we will buy them at a low price!" Lucien clapped his hands excitedly.

"My stupid brother!" Joseph shook his head and said, "You're really unenlightened! No matter how cheap those shipyards are, it will cost a lot of money to buy them! Where do we have the money to spend it like that now? Why do we spend money? ”

"Then what are you going to do, is it that alliance?" Lucien said, "I really don't know what's good about this alliance, I really think that it's my own that is the best." ”

"Stupid! Is it really your own? What is really your own? Money is! If we really spend a lot of money on buying shipyards, will these shipyards bring us money as fast as we can build an alliance and then quickly use that alliance to reap the benefits? It's a very, very simple math problem, isn't it? It shouldn't be difficult for you at all. Why haven't you even reacted now? ”

Joseph put down his erected feet, sat up straight, and stared at Lucien: "Lucien, you have drunk too much alcohol lately, and you have spent too much energy with those women who are not careful, which has caused your mind to deteriorate severely...... Well, I should find a way to help you regain your intelligence......"

"Of course I know that. It doesn't take me a second to figure it out. Lucien hurriedly said, "But in this way, although the money comes faster in the early stage, the total income is not as good as that of his own acquisition!" I see you ......"

"This situation is caused by the political situation, the political situation is volatile, and if you think too long-term, the risk will be greater. I think you must have overlooked this one variable in your one-second calculations. Otherwise, you won't be able to figure out for a second. Joseph said.

"That's just an exaggeration, rhetorical ......," Lucien's voice narrowed. Apparently he did ignore this variable.

"It's not like you're ignoring the most important variable." Joseph continued, "Our business is not the same, we have many business lines in our hands, and the movement of funds in them will bring different ups and downs of income. The same money, invested in shipbuilding, can get a certain income; How complex is it to invest in another business to get a corresponding income, what kind of coordination can make this limited capital more efficient? I don't think it's any easier than proving the four-color problem, and you tell me you can figure it out in a second! ”

Speaking of this, Joseph smiled like a tiger: "So, Lucien, don't quibble, the decline in your mathematical ability is beyond doubt. Well...... I just need someone to help me with the calculations in one of my jobs......"

"Well......" Lucien's face turned pale, "but, Joseph, I have other ...... to do"

"Don't worry, it won't be too difficult, and it won't be too tiring for you." "Actually, it's just a good way for you to have a deeper understanding of the direction of our business." ”