Chapter 581: Promotions
Kaunitz had no idea that a net had been silently cast around him four months prior.
Hungary had received promises of benefits from Wallachia—concessions Britain had secured from Russia.
Wallachia lay south of Hungary. If Austria decided to expand into that region, Hungarian nobles would stand to gain the most. Thus, they strongly favored ending the Silesian War so the Emperor could focus on the Balkans.
Meanwhile, several influential Bohemian nobles accepted bribes from the British, repeatedly sabotaging Vienna's attempts to raise war funds.
Baron Thugut also assured these Bohemian nobles that, once he assumed the position of Chancellor, he would grant them greater autonomy. This promise immediately aligned the Bohemian Parliament with the peace faction.
Other factions proved even easier to sway. The Slavs didn't even demand benefits; a simple nod from Russia was enough to set them against Kaunitz.
Throughout this process, the support of Empress Ludovika, the Holy Roman Empress, was critical. Baron Walter, acting as her representative, traveled across Austria to ensure key factions remained steadfast in their stance.
July, Vienna
In the Austrian Chancellor's office, Kaunitz sat with a dark expression, staring at the war preparation reports before him. His hands trembled slightly with anger.
While the front-line forces continued to grow, the funds needed to support the war effort were not forthcoming.
With nearly 70% of war supplies still lacking and the current rate of military expenditure, they would run out of funds for soldiers' wages within three months...
France, Paris
On the Seine docks, workers bustled as they loaded crates of fashion goods and synthetic panel furniture onto ships.
These ships belonged to the "Blue Horizon Fleet," part of the French Trade Alliance. Their mission was to capitalize on Tuscany's newly reduced tariffs and transport as much merchandise as possible for sale there.
The goods, of course, came from the production surplus created during the order fraud scheme.
Having lost their original orders, factories—partially compensated by deposits and subsequent government aid—were eager to recoup any possible losses. As a result, they priced their goods exceptionally low.
Upon receiving Talleyrand's report on his negotiations, Joseph ordered the French Trade Alliance to sell these surplus goods in the Southern Netherlands and Tuscany. Large quantities were also shipped to the German states, as the first two markets were too small to absorb over 10 million francs worth of merchandise.
The government's ownership of a massive commercial fleet proved advantageous.
Once orders were issued, it took less than two weeks for the goods to be collected nationwide. Unified pricing by the Trade Alliance further reduced transportation costs to about 85% of their usual rate.
To protect French industry, Joseph mandated that the Trade Alliance's purchase price not drop below 80% of the normal market rate.
Independent merchants hoping to exploit the situation were forced to raise their bids to match this floor price, thwarting any attempts at profiteering.
Onboard the Giant Tortoise, sales agents of the Blue Horizon Fleet received a final training session.
This training, organized by the Minister of Trade at Joseph's request, introduced them to modern promotional techniques.
The sheer volume of surplus goods made traditional sales methods insufficient for clearing stock quickly.
Joseph had also rejected Bailli's proposal to drastically cut prices.
Massive price reductions would devalue French goods' prestige, and once prices dropped, raising them back up would be challenging.
Thus, Joseph focused on innovative sales strategies.
"Not selling for 99 florins, not 9 florins—just 9 kreuzers takes home this Nancy-refined high-carbon industrial-grade axe!" shouted a salesman.
"At 9 kreuzers, you're not losing out; you're making a steal—a real bargain!"
"Today, I'm giving out family benefits right here!" bellowed another. "This Paris-designed luxury dress—look at the fabric, the style, the craftsmanship—normally sells for 100 florins. Today, not 100, just 90! A 10% discount!
"But wait—buy one dress, and I'll throw in a pure silver brooch! Look at this craftsmanship—this brooch alone normally costs 15 florins!
"Think I'm not being generous? Fine, I'll add a belt—look at this embroidery! In Paris, this belt alone sells for 15 florins! That means this dress is essentially yours for 60 florins..."
"Today's special is limited to 50 pieces! Once they're gone, I'm leaving—not a single extra one available. If you want these deals again, you'll have to wait until next year! Oh, and don't forget the raffle—first prize is the most popular synthetic panel wardrobe!"
Fleet sales agents practiced these pitches tirelessly, perfecting their delivery.
In France, these high-energy sales techniques had already proven to boost sales tenfold, with customers behaving as though under a spell, scrambling to buy.
On a Carriage to Eastern Paris
The Minister of Trade, Bailli, reported to the Prince about the Trade Alliance's preparations.
"…So far, nearly 5 million francs worth of goods have been purchased and are expected to reach their destinations within 10 to 15 days. Sales training for the fleet has been completed. I estimate all goods will be sold within two and a half months.
"As for the next batch of goods, I recommend holding off sales until next spring..."
Joseph frowned slightly. "Why wait so long?"
"Your Highness, these goods exceed the usual demand in normal trade," Bailli explained. "Most people have already purchased what they need. Selling an additional 5 million francs worth of items this year has already stretched their budgets."
Joseph realized that this wasn't the consumption-driven society of the modern era. People's purchasing power was limited, and they typically bought only essential items meant to last a lifetime.
Convincing them to buy an additional 10 million francs worth of goods would be challenging.
How could they stimulate more demand in foreign markets?
Joseph recalled something a former client had once said during a collaborative project:
"If customers don't have a need, then we create one for them."
That client had later promoted renewable energy in France, successfully selling thousands of wind turbines across several provinces.
Joseph turned to Bailli. "When are people most willing to spend money?"
"Uh..." The Minister hesitated before replying, "When they're sick… or getting married?"
"Getting married—exactly!" Joseph's eyes gleamed. "Then we need to create more opportunities for people abroad to spend on weddings."
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