Chapter 559: The Merchant's Scheme
Seeing the Duke of Leeds nod, Norbert Kleistiel instinctively shrank back in his chair.
He understood all too well what a deliberate breach of contract worth 13 million florins aimed at the French market could mean in such a short time.
His voice trembled as he stammered, "This... this could even lead to war!"
"And so what if it does? At most, it will be a war between the Holy Roman Emperor and the King of France," the Duke of Leeds leaned casually against the armrest of his chair, chuckling softly. "You're not even an Austrian noble. Why trouble yourself over the affairs of monarchs?"
"No, no, I wouldn't dare…" Kleistiel's tone was one of growing panic.
"My dear friend," the Duke's voice turned soothing, almost hypnotic, "I hear your business has been struggling lately. Without help, it may not survive past July, isn't that right?"
Kleistiel lowered his head, effectively confirming the observation.
"You see, this scheme carries no risk whatsoever," the Duke continued, his words dripping with allure. "By the time the French realize what's happened, you'll already have left Vienna, taking with you all your assets—and the one million florins I promised.
"Afterward, you can start a new, prosperous life in a place where no one knows you—be it Britain, Russia, or even America.
"Even in the unlikely event of trouble, I will ensure you receive diplomatic protection.
"Of course, if you handle things properly, no one will ever trace this back to you."
At the mention of one million florins, Kleistiel's heart began to race.
His current debts exceeded 400,000 florins, and barring a miracle, he faced bankruptcy within five months.
The British proposal, however, seemed like salvation.
After a long pause, he wiped the cold sweat from his brow with a handkerchief and swallowed hard. "You swear you'll provide diplomatic protection?"
"By the name of Jesus, I swear it."
Finally, Kleistiel gritted his teeth and nodded. "But I'll need half the payment upfront."
"That's entirely reasonable."
Half an hour later, the Duke of Leeds left the red-brick villa with a calm expression, stepping into his waiting carriage.
He held little admiration for such underhanded tactics, but in his calculations, it would take at least one to two years for Prussia and Austria to reach a truce, align their interests, and rebuild their military strength.
In the meantime, using merchants to sow chaos in France's markets would make executing his broader strategy much easier.
After all, being forced to step down as Foreign Secretary had not broken him. Instead, he had dedicated himself to studying France, crafting a strategy to avenge his disgrace. The plan had been approved by William Pitt the Younger and further refined by Britain's political elites. It was now being implemented across Europe.
The Duke glanced at his attendant. "What time is Baron Walter's salon?"
"7:00 PM, sir. We still have two and a half hours."
"Take me to Baron Thugut's first," the Duke ordered.
Compared to the petty tricks of merchants, his visit to Thugut would deal with matters capable of shifting Europe's political landscape.
The Austrians' anti-Prussian faction was strong, insisting on reclaiming Silesia at any cost, while the pro-French faction held considerable influence as well.
The Duke's task of aligning Austria with Britain's plans, while reducing French sway, was daunting. But as a seasoned diplomat, he had already mapped out his approach, beginning with Empress Ludovika and her cousin, Baron Walter, who led Vienna's anti-French faction.
Suddenly, a thought occurred to him. "Have Brays keep a close watch on Kleistiel. Make sure we're ready to act at any moment."
"Yes, sir," the attendant replied.
Central Austria, Pest
Inside an opulent polo club, Baron Graz was passionately selling an idea to the manager of the "Mockbruno Caravan Company."
"There's no risk at all. The company has secured massive investments, and payment for goods will be prompt. You have nothing to worry about."
Seeing the manager's hesitation, the baron produced a bank deposit slip, laying it on the table with a flourish.
"Look here—this is the initial deposit for purchasing equipment: 30,000 florins. The company is enormous; it's guaranteed to make a fortune.
"All you need to do is introduce us to your French business partners under your caravan company's name, and you'll receive a handsome commission."
The manager's doubts melted away as he eyed the deposit slip showing 30,000 florins. The company clearly had substantial backing, and their willingness to pay upfront made deception seem impossible.
Moments later, he signed the agreement Graz had prepared.
Shortly after, the baron left the club, his face alight with satisfaction. The deal brokered by Erwin Renner had been almost too easy.
Renner, in turn, was a trusted confidant of Kleistiel, though Graz remained oblivious to this connection.
By that evening, at a grand ball, Graz boasted to another merchant, Georg, about his recent achievements.
Georg, also commissioned by Renner, smirked. "You're too cautious. I posed as a wealthy investor to join a Venetian caravan company. By purchasing a small share, they're now handling all the negotiations with France for me.
"Here's a tip: split your deposit payments into smaller installments. It gives the impression that you always have funds flowing in."
Over the course of a month, similar schemes played out across Austria and Austrian-controlled Italian regions.
Dozens of caravans and companies participated, quickly signing contracts with French firms totaling 4 million florins—approximately 10 million francs.
The surge in orders ignited an economic boom in France. Factories across the nation scrambled to expand their workforces, stockpile raw materials, and work overtime to fulfill the avalanche of contracts.
But a closer look at the involved French factories revealed a common thread: they were all investments of the French Industrial Development Fund.
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