Chapter 735: The Threat
Lord Grenville delivered a formal speech on behalf of the King of England, marking the start of the naval review.
Then, aboard HMS Victory, the sailors expertly hoisted the main sail, and the ship began moving out of the harbor.
From the shore, cannons roared in salute.
Simultaneously, trumpets blared from dozens of warships docked within the naval port.
Lord Grenville turned to the foreign diplomats seated on the forward deck, offering a polite bow and a charming smile.
"The naval review has officially begun. I hope you all enjoy this splendid afternoon."
The Grand Fleet Parade
First came five colossal first- and second-rate ships of the line, gliding past in a majestic display.
Behind them, sixteen third-rate battleships, forming two parallel columns, followed in perfect alignment.
Further back, twenty-one fourth-rate warships, each carrying less than 60 cannons, completed the procession.
Aboard Victory, the Dutch foreign minister—who had some naval experience—remained composed.
But the other diplomats from Austria, Prussia, and the Netherlands were visibly shaken, their eyes widening in disbelief.
Even the Dutch navy, ranked fourth in Europe, only had a handful of fourth-rate ships.
As for Prussia, their entire fleet barely had any frigates, let alone warships of this size.
As the seemingly endless procession of black-hulled giants sailed past, Admiral Jervis stepped forward and announced:
"Gentlemen, next you will witness a live combat exercise."
Victory signaled with a series of flag commands.
Instantly, the fleet outside the harbor split into two formations, each maneuvering in a wide arc, preparing to face off in a simulated naval battle.
After fifteen minutes, the two battle lines began to converge.
At the head of each line, two second-rate ships swung open their gun ports.
More than 40 cannons fired at once, unleashing a deafening roar.
Aboard Victory, the foreign diplomats instinctively clutched their ears, staring in shock at the massive clouds of black gunpowder smoke, rolling across the sea like a descending storm.
Then, the rest of the ships opened fire.
The two battle lines sailed parallel to each other, exchanging relentless volleys.
Flashes of blazing fire erupted across the decks as hundreds of cannons thundered in unison.
For a moment, the sea itself seemed to be on fire.
Even though the diplomats knew these were blank rounds, the sheer ferocity of the scene left them breathless.
At that moment, every one of them believed—
Nothing on the open ocean could withstand the might of this fleet.
The Unspoken Warning
Eventually, the deafening bombardment ceased, but the diplomats' hearts continued to pound.
Lord Grenville stood up, observing their reactions with satisfaction.
Then, with a smile, he gestured toward the lower decks.
"A grand banquet awaits in the officers' dining hall. Please, let us dine together."
Inside the warmly lit chamber, the band played soft, cheerful melodies, while servants laid out exquisite dishes.
As the diplomats settled in, Lord Grenville approached the Austrian Foreign Minister, Count Rheinferth, and took a seat beside him.
Switching to German, he spoke in a serious tone:
"Volrath, my dear friend, it is a pleasure to see you again."
"The pleasure is mine, my friend."
Grenville skipped the pleasantries, leaning in slightly.
"Surely, you recognize the unique opportunity before us."
"And what opportunity would that be?"
"An opportunity to resolve the troubles plaguing both our nations."
The Austrian minister gave a neutral expression, waiting for him to continue.
Grenville did not hesitate.
"Let's be frank. Austria's finances are in dire straits. The serf reforms have stalled. Meanwhile, the nobility is increasingly dissatisfied with the Emperor."
Rheinferth remained silent.
"The root of Austria's problems," Grenville pressed on, "is clear."
He gazed out the window, looking toward the distant French coastline.
"France."
The Austrian minister's expression darkened.
Grenville continued, his voice calm but firm:
"Austria's declining revenue stems from the fact that France has taken control of Southern Germany's markets. Even within Austria itself, your markets are flooded with French goods.
"If I recall correctly, your trade revenue fell by 17% last year. This has led to widespread factory closures and economic stagnation."
Rheinferth's jaw tightened.
In reality, Austria's **trade revenue had fallen by 27%—a fact the Emperor had hidden from public records to preserve national dignity.
Grenville leaned in.
"And let's not forget the Southern Netherlands."
"Your nation's historic source of wealth is now paying taxes… to France."
"I have seen it firsthand—vast iron foundries working day and night, fueled by coal from French-owned mines. Their iron production alone surpasses Austria's entire industrial output."
"And what has Austria gained?"
He smirked slightly.
"A pittance in taxes."
Grenville's words were deceptively framed.
In reality, Austria and France had agreed to share the economy of Wallonia, allowing both nations to invest freely.
But while France poured millions of francs into developing mines and industries, Austria had been preoccupied with wars and coronations—and never invested a single coin.
Now that France was reaping massive profits, Austria suddenly realized its mistake.
By the time they tried to invest, every profitable industry had already been taken over by French enterprises.
Even though Wallonia's tax revenue still belonged to Austria, its economy was firmly under French control.
Compared to the staggering profits of coal and iron exports, Austria's small share of taxes felt meaningless.
Count Rheinferth slowly nodded.
"It is true. But Austria has a treaty with France…"
Grenville pounced on his hesitation.
"Unfair treaties should be abolished!"
He fixed Rheinferth with a piercing gaze.
"That includes the Rhine-Seine Treaty.
"France uses it to dominate Southern Germany's economy, unchecked.
"Without this cursed treaty, those markets would belong to Austria.
"Your financial crisis would be over."
The Austrian minister sighed deeply.
"You're right. We have tried to renegotiate the treaty, but…"
"But France threatens you with military force—oh, I mean, they intimidate the Southern German states."
Grenville's tone turned persuasive.
"But now, we stand together.
"And together, we can ensure that France never threatens another nation again."
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