Louis Vult
As I pulled out pastels in three colors, the two men couldn't conceal their excitement. It was tantamount to a proposal for an alliance.
"Your Majesty, frankly, I have no idea how to receive this."
"Then hear me out first and judge."
England would be astonished. They were waiting for a peace treaty, only to be handed a plan for dividing hegemony.
"This is how I envision the European balance of power."
I began by shattering Poland into pieces.
"As I mentioned before, Poland will be partitioned. You know French farming methods? Applied to Polish soil, France would become Europe's breadbasket. But it's too big for one country to devour alone, so let's divide it: Prussia takes up to Warsaw, England the area north of the Dniester, and France west of the Dnieper."
France gets an enclave, Prussia territory right next door, and England a chunk with Königsberg as a port. It looked like France was taking the short end of the stick.
But that lopsided deal was my picture.
"A moment—I have a question. Why Prussia, of all powers? For partitioning Poland, bringing in Austria would be far better."
"As I told Lord North, I need England and Prussia."
Precisely, I didn't need Austria. Well, they were useful for now. Holy Roman Emperor, duke of this, king of that—solid legitimacy there.
But it all blows up eventually.
"France seeks sturdy allies."
I still couldn't fathom why World War I unfolded as it did. It all stemmed from that Austrian hunger. Pigs stuffing themselves till their guts burst couldn't be France's allies.
"And isn't present-day Austria a bit unreliable?"
"Indeed."
"Continuing. With this, France would naturally need to pass through Constantinople. As you know, Constantinople is currently Ottoman territory."
Istanbul, too, but anyway.
"Partition Poland, and Prussia walks in, England sails in. But France's share west of the Dnieper requires passing the Bosphorus-Dardanelles into the Black Sea."
Now for the main point.
"So I propose: let us form a Crusade. In a few years, once Europe stabilizes, launch a Crusade to push out the Ottomans."
Would Prussia and England really fight the Ottomans just to gobble Poland?
"May I speak frankly?"
"Of course."
"The Ottomans are no easy foe. I understand the puffed-up shoulders at twenty-seven after unprecedented victories, but the Ottomans remain a mighty empire."
As expected.
"In the time of France's late king, Russia crushed the Ottomans. But dismissing them on that alone is shortsighted. The Janissaries gained political clout and greater autonomy. No single European power can handle the Ottoman weight class."
"You're overestimating the Ottomans."
Those Janissaries with high autonomy had turned the Ottomans into Europe's sick man.
"Y-Your Majesty, may I speak from England's perspective on this?"
"Anytime."
"Looking at this map, if France cedes the Dnieper, there's no need to conquer the Ottomans at all."
Naturally, both Prussia and England opposed striking the Ottomans. After all, France was the hegemonic power now, not them.
"Why not partition somewhere else first?"
Yes—they bit.
"Hmm. Perhaps it's premature to hit the Ottomans directly. As Lord North says, let's carve up elsewhere first."
"Before that, the Poland partition stands as is? France recognizes Prussia's claims?"
Hm. Truth be told, I didn't care much either way. I'd feigned outrage earlier about the land crying out, but that was for legitimacy.
Did I really want Ukraine's black soil? Honestly, it was a hot potato. The physical distance alone was too far. Overland from France: through the Holy Roman Empire, Poland, Ottoman tributaries. By sea from Marseille: Mediterranean, Aegean, Dardanelles, Marmara, Bosphorus, past Constantinople, into the Black Sea. Vulnerable to coastal guns and blockades from the Dardanelles strait onward.
Grain from Ukrainian black soil? Shipping and escort costs would make it a loss.
And something about that Gallipoli Peninsula on the Dardanelles felt ominous.
"Haha... this is awkward. We divided it with France's share in mind..."
Still, in negotiations, feign attachment even if you're indifferent. That's how concessions gain value.
"Then we'll give more to England."
Even handed to England, they couldn't fully exploit the black soil. East of the Dnieper: Russia. South: Ottomans. West: Austria eyeing chunks. They'd get it but couldn't use it openly.
"On to the next, then."
"One moment."
Frederick II stopped my hand as I moved toward Africa.
"Poland's next door, fine. But beyond that is excessive. Pre-dividing colonies assumes conquest, and even if conquered, such distant lands would cost more to hold than they yield. Isn't that so?"
Frederick II was right.
"Quite right. With sailing ships, we can't haul vessels far inland."
Sailing ship era. Without river navigation deep inland, colonies meant coastal ports at best.
"I take Your point, Great King."
"Great King?"
"Yes. You'll be called that soon enough."
Right—sailing ships.
"Lord North, might we improve the steam engine? Ah, we can include it in the peace treaty."
I asked Lord North about using steam engine patents. James Watt's improved engine patent ran to 1800, so Britain's permission was needed.
"We'll consider, but Parliament must approve. Britain strictly honors inventors' patents."
Meaning no.
"I expected as much. Then France will develop its own steam engine. That fine?"
"Well, yes. As long as no patent theft... that's France's sovereign right."
Whether Britain allowed it or not, I'd improve steam engines. No sitting idle till 1800 sucking my thumb.
"Understood. I brought up steam engines for this very reason."
I pulled a ship blueprint from the drawer. It looked like an ordinary sailing vessel, but something suspicious was attached at the stern.
Yes—a steamboat.
"A steamboat? Truly feasible? France has advanced that far already?"
"Of course."
Lies. Fake blueprint. I'm no shipwright—how could I design one? Academy mechanical engineering masters had faked a mundane ship plan.
"Ahem. Parts are classified..."
I deliberately covered the screw propeller underside and engine stern with my palm while showing it.
Now Lord North and Frederick II had to believe. A steamboat—not fantasy; Watt was researching it in Britain now.
With their own engine work, they'd swallow this truth-laced lie.
"Back to the main point."
After sowing chaos, I colored the preordained territories to advance.
"You know France regained North America. South America stays Portuguese and Spanish. Oh, the top of North America goes to the Americans—no worries."
Confirming steamboats were imminent, Frederick II and Lord North pondered other continents seriously.
"My guess is about this."
I colored North America light blue. Blue in America was only Central America...
...and the Mississippi delta.
"You're giving all that to those upstart Americans? They can't pay for it."
"Lease. Now, India."
I painted India, Southeast Asia, Philippines red.
"France fully recognizes Britain's Indian interests."
I'd agonized over this. In original history, Indonesia was tangled Spanish, French, Dutch claims. Handing England the whole honey pot might cede hegemony.
Hard to gauge as a modern man—colonies' true value escaped me.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Recognizing the British Empire's vested rights will greatly aid relations."
Lord North's reaction suggested it was huge. Felt like a loss, but probably just nerves.
No take-backs, though. England needed to play punching bag in this tripartite pact; concessions like this were essential.
That way, England earns infamy.
"Prussia has little interest in distant colonies. Going to sea means clashing with naval powers inevitably."
Frederick II took yellow pastel, coloring the Holy Roman Empire, its south, east—all swallowed. Whole HRE, South European Ottoman tributaries, eastern Poland.
"Prussia prioritizes internal affairs."
Solidifying European hegemony wasn't bad.
"Excellent. Speak up anytime for changes."
Thus ended the two powers' territorial adjustments. Superpower continentals, vast colonial empires.
Now France's turn.