After Austria withdrew from the war, the entire anti-French alliance essentially fell apart. Following Austria's request for peace, the Prussians immediately chimed in, saying, "We don't actually bear any ill will towards France; we were only fighting due to misunderstandings. So, we should sit down and talk, after all, we all love peace."
At this point, France and Prussia didn't share a border yet, and after Austria withdrew, there was no feasible way for the French and Prussians to fight unless they crossed through neutral countries. Therefore, both countries began negotiations, but due to their limited military options, the talks dragged on.
Prussia was willing to exit the war, but they demanded assurances from the French not to take any action in Hanover. However, the French saw Hanover as a crucial tool to threaten England and force them out of the war.
At that time, the ruling family of England was also the Hanoverian royal house. While legally, England and Hanover were two separate countries, they shared a common monarch.
For a long time, the French navy had been no match for the British navy. After the losses suffered during the Toulon revolt, the French navy was even less able to challenge British naval power. As for a potential invasion of England, that was even more daunting—after all, the English Channel wasn't so narrow that one could simply float a bathtub across.
Thus, the only viable option for the French was to strike at British interests on the European mainland. After Napoleon conquered Northern Italy and extorted various Italian states, not even the Pope's territory was spared, other countries grew fearful. They dared not have any dealings with the British. This was a heavy blow to British interests.
General Joubert, after seizing the Rhine, moved into the Netherlands, forcing the entire country to join the French camp. The Netherlands was a crucial gateway for British goods entering the European mainland, so this was another blow to the British.
However, the British remained stubborn. They didn't oppose peace talks but set a condition that France must return to its original borders while keeping the colonial territories they had seized during the war—essentially treating France as a defeated nation.
Hence, the French had to use Hanover to pressure the British. But if they truly occupied Hanover, they'd share a border with Prussia, which was not in Prussia's interest. Therefore, negotiations with Prussia were delayed.
Nevertheless, Prussia's objections were not enough to prevent the French from taking action in Hanover. Shortly after Napoleon left Austria, the French launched an offensive against Hanover and quickly occupied it. Prussia, despite some protests, didn't dare to act.
So, while some issues remained unresolved, the war was effectively over. The last conflict now was on the seas.
In fact, after the French took control of Hanover, the British stance slightly relaxed. It was because they couldn't find any substantial allies on the continent anymore, and their economic situation had worsened due to the loss of markets on the European mainland.
The British offered to recognize French control over the Rhine region, but on the condition that the French must withdraw from Hanover. Dutch independence had to be guaranteed, and European nations, including France, would reopen their markets to British trade.
This condition was open to discussion, but the military establishment in France opposed it. Ostensibly, their reasons were, "Why should we easily give up what we've conquered?" But the deeper reason was that, for some individuals, continuing naval conflicts at sea was more profitable.
The British had been effectively blockading French overseas trade routes, although they showed restraint towards some neutral vessels, French ships on various routes suffered relentless attacks.
One type of French vessel, however, remained unharmed: the clipper ship. These ships easily evaded British naval interception with their remarkable speed and reached foreign ports. As long as the British continued their blockade, the demand for clipper ships remained high, and their profit margins were substantial.
Due to the blockade, conventional French ships couldn't sail overseas, or if they did, they might never return. Shipowners who wanted to continue maritime trade had to sell their old ships at low prices to foreign buyers and then order new clipper ships from certain individuals. This meant shipowners had to buy new ships to continue their trade.
With France now controlling Northern Italy and the Netherlands, most of Europe's major seaports were in French hands. This gave certain individuals even greater ambitions.
"England is France's most dangerous enemy. We can compromise with other foes, but as long as we wish for France to become the king of Europe, there is no possibility of compromise with England. Well, of course, that's just the surface reasoning. Do you understand, my dear?" Joseph said to Lucien, crossing his legs.
By now, Joseph had moved part of his research institutions back to Paris, which meant he had more time to educate his younger brother.
"I understand, of course. You want to use the English to your advantage, not only blocking French ships but also ships from Italy and the Netherlands. This way, you can sell clipper ships at higher prices," Lucien replied.
"No, no, no. Lucien, you are too young and naive. I don't want that, as it would lead to significant backlash. I just need you to create a buzz in the Parliament; I don't need you to pass resolutions like prohibiting British goods from entering other countries' ports. This kind of rumor, in itself, can exert considerable pressure on various people from different angles. If Parliament doesn't pass it this time, what about next time? Will the next Parliament pass it? Once such a resolution is passed, will the British start blocking other countries' ship routes in response? With such concerns, who will purchase those old-style ships that are difficult to evade British blockades? Do you understand now?"
"In this way, Europe's traditional shipbuilding industry will be in crisis, and we can buy it cheap. I'm excited," Lucien said.
"You're my foolish brother!" Joseph shook his head. "You're so dense. Even if those shipyards are cheap, buying them will still cost a fortune. Why should we spend money? What are we spending it for?"
"What do you plan to do, then? Is it that alliance thing again?" Lucien said. "I honestly don't see the appeal of this alliance. I think it's better to handle things on our own."
"This situation is created by political circumstances. Politics is fickle, and considering too far ahead brings risks. I believe that, if we want France to become the king of Europe, there's no room for compromise with the British. But, of course, this is just the surface reasoning. My dear brother, do you understand?"
"But only the British would see through this immediately, right?"
"This doesn't affect our ability to outperform their ships. We'll cut off their trade routes, and it will be profitable."
"Oh, I see it now! If we spend too much on buying shipyards, it's the same as establishing an alliance and rapidly gaining profits through it. I think you..." Lucien's voice faded. He had indeed overlooked this variable.
"That's not the most important variable you've overlooked," Joseph continued. "Our business isn't just one-dimensional. We have multiple lines of business, and the allocation of funds among them results in different income fluctuations. The same amount of money invested in shipbuilding can bring in some income, but investing it in another business can bring in equivalent income. It's a much more complex problem to figure out how to coordinate these limited funds to maximize efficiency. I think it's not any simpler than solving the four-color problem. And you claim you can calculate it all in a second!"
Joseph set his leg down and sat up, staring at Lucien. "So, Lucien, stop arguing. Your mathematical abilities have clearly deteriorated recently. Well, it might be time to help you regain your intellectual faculties."
"Fine, but I have other work too," Lucien said with a pale face.
"Don't worry; it won't be too difficult or too tiring for you," Joseph said. "Actually, it will help you gain a deeper understanding of the direction our business is taking."