Life of Being a Crown Prince in France - Chapter 1518 - 1424: The Grand Plan
After entering autumn, good news sent to Ten Downing Street was as plentiful as the wheat harvested in the fields.
And today, what the Chairman of the Trade Commission Jenkins spoke about was related to wheat.
“Prime Minister, the Ottoman people have agreed to sell us 190,000 piculs of wheat.” Jenkins’s face was full of joy, “The price is only 12% above the market price in the Levant.”
Due to Joseph halting the export of wheat from North Africa to England, coupled with Russia’s war-induced decline in harvest, grain prices in the UK market have remained high for over a year.
Previously, under France’s diplomatic suggestion, the Ottomans also raised the price of grain sold to England significantly.
In fact, even without France’s suggestion, the Ottoman people were very shrewd, naturally not holding back when it came to selling at high prices.
The British Treasury invests tens of thousands of British pounds each year to stabilize the bread prices in London. Even so, the average bread price in the UK has increased by over 15% in the past year and a half.
William Pitt Junior excitedly stood up from behind his desk: “This way, Earl Temple will finally have it easier when submitting subsidy applications to Congress.”
“It seems the warfare in Transcaucasia isn’t entirely to our disadvantage.”
Obviously, the Ottomans were willing to sell a large amount of grain at a “fair price” to quickly acquire funds to fill the huge fiscal gap caused by war with Russia.
“Indeed,” Jenkins nodded, continuing, “Also, the wheat we’ve ordered from Two Sicilies will arrive in the Levant next month, totaling over 60,000 piculs.”
He said with a frown: “However, to avoid potential interference from France and Spain, these grains will be shipped from Suez Port and won’t reach London until March next year.”
Yes, now the Mediterranean Sea is dominated by French steam frigates.
Though France’s official policy is not to interfere with other countries’ trade with England, there’s no guarantee they won’t find some contraband or even capture a few wanted criminals on the grain ships, thereby having grounds to detain the ships.
Similar operations are very familiar to the British themselves, so precautions are certainly needed.
Therefore, wheat from Southern Italy and the Ottoman people will first be transported to Suez and then shipped from ports in the Red Sea, bypassing the entire African Continent, before reaching England. This distance is approximately three times that from the United States to England.
William Pitt Junior’s smile faded, calmly yet firmly stating, “We will eventually reclaim the Mediterranean Sea.”
The Navy Department submitted a shipbuilding progress report to him the day before yesterday, currently, seven units of the latest “Prince-level” third-class battleships have been constructed, and as craftsmen become more skilled, the construction speed will continue to increase.
As long as funds are sufficient, the plan to build 30 ships in three years should be completed on schedule.
Additionally, the Navy Department plans to repair the 26 “Avenger Class” and “Comet-class” steam frigates that are currently unusable—these ships were all sealed due to frequent malfunctions and even multiple explosions of the steam engine.
This time, however, the newly manufactured Engine70 steam engine has regained the Navy Department’s trust, and Sea War Minister Lord Melville has applied to invest a “mere” 100,000 British pounds to restore these ships to fighting strength.
Soon after the Chairman of the Trade Commission left, George Hammond, the Permanent Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry of the United Kingdom, arrived at Ten Downing Street, saluting William Pitt Junior: “Prime Minister, Sir Liston sent back a report yesterday confirming that Philadelphia has officially set the plan, to act next summer.”
Sir Robert Liston was the former British Ambassador to the United States. However, under the influence of the pro-France movement within the United States, he has been downgraded to consul but still presides over the diplomatic affairs between Britain and the United States.
William Pitt Junior naturally knew what Hammond meant by “act,” promptly asking: “How about the situation in Rio de Janeiro?”
“They have also completed coordination. Their ‘timing’ is somewhat earlier, around next April.”
William Pitt Junior still felt uneasy, asking: “How is their military condition?”
It’s not surprising he asked this, mainly because the previous attack by the Portuguese-Brazilian Union on New Granada was excessively weak.
“Prince Joao promised to invest at least 13,000 soldiers.”
“Excellent.” William Pitt Junior was evidently very satisfied with this number, “Please extend my victorious blessings to Prince Joao.”
This time, his “big plan” in America could be considered a masterpiece, with substantial funding and diplomatic costs invested.
If successful, it not only severely impacts the colonies of France and Spain but also greatly enhances Britain’s influence over America.
That means the British market in America would expand by several times, reclaiming dominance over Caribbean Sea trade.
By then, the nations established by those black people would have to reduce sugar prices to a tenth of what they are now, or even lower, begging Britain to purchase!
Hammond continued: “Prime Minister, in Sir Liston’s report, Americans request to increase the ‘advance payment’ proportion to 25%.”
William Pitt Junior frowned immediately.
The so-called “advance payment” refers to Britain’s estimation of the total price of all smuggled sugar scheduled for purchase from the US next year, with part of the payment made to the US in advance.
Essentially, it’s to lock in sugar prices ahead of time. However, the US needs a substantial amount of cash to advance their “big plan.”
Previously, the agreed prepayment proportion was 18%, and now they’re asking for a 7-point increase, which would amount to over 1.3 million British pounds!
This sum the British sugar merchants should be able to share a bit, but the British Treasury likely needs to front at least 800,000 to 900,000 pounds to make it work.
“Those greedy Yankees…”
William Pitt Junior instinctively cursed but quickly covered his rudeness with a dry cough: “Ahem, have Sir Liston talk to the Americans again… preferably negotiate it down to within 1 million pounds.”
“Yes, Prime Minister.”
…
Saint Petersburg.
Winter Palace.
In the Tsar’s study, Alexander I looked at Foreign Minister Voronzo, frowning, “These stingy British people, just this little bit to appease me?”
The latter hurriedly replied, “Your Majesty, fortunately, Selim did not reject the British mediation.”
Count Arakcheev immediately reminded, “Your Majesty, the Gudovich Corps is under immense pressure, Dibisli could be lost at any moment…”
Alexander I raised his hand to interrupt him, almost without hesitation, ordering Voronzo, “You must seize this opportunity to achieve a ceasefire in the Transcaucasia direction.”
The Foreign Minister first bowed, agreeing, then revealed a troubled expression, “Your Majesty, the Turkic people hold an advantage, they certainly won’t be willing to give up Tbilisi.”
Alexander I decisively replied, “Then give them Tbilisi.”
He coldly laughed, “Not just Tbilisi, also Terav, Gori, and even the Imereeti Region.”
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