Chapter 672: The Catfish Plan
It was destined to be a busy day.
After dismissing the head of intelligence and glancing at the setting sun outside his window, Joseph was about to head to dinner when Edmond approached briskly and bowed. "Your Highness, Mr. Staehler has returned."
"Staehler?" Joseph paused before recalling. "Ah, the general manager of Lightning Company."
Unlike Mesmer, who operated in the shadows under a false identity, Staehler had been the public face of the London gas lamp project. His identity had been thoroughly vetted by the British authorities.
When the project collapsed, Staehler became a wanted man in Britain, forcing him to hide in the Balkans. Now, after more than six months, he had finally returned to France to report.
"Bring him in," Joseph instructed. Staehler had sacrificed much for the mission, even giving up his family business.
Staehler followed Edmond into the room, removing the Phrygian cap pulled low over his face, and bowed deeply. "I deeply apologize for disturbing you so late, Your Highness. But Paris is crawling with British spies, so I could only venture out after dark."
Joseph gestured to the sofa. "Please, take a seat. You've made tremendous contributions to France, Mr. Staehler."
Staehler quickly corrected, "I go by Dietmar now, Your Highness."
"You've worked hard," Joseph said with a nod of appreciation. "I've already recommended to His Majesty that you be granted the title of Baron of Mémac, and he has agreed."
Staehler's eyes widened in shock. Standing abruptly, he bowed deeply once more. "I don't know how to express my gratitude, Your Highness! May God forever bless you!"
His excitement was understandable. A baronial title with a proper noble lineage was far more prestigious than those that could be bought. His family had officially risen to the upper class.
"This honor is well deserved," Joseph said with a smile. "However, you may need to remain abroad for a few more years before reclaiming your original name and returning to Paris."
Joseph was well aware that the tension between Britain and France would inevitably lead to war under Britain's policy of maintaining continental balance. When that time came, no one would care about Britain's warrants. In fact, the Lightning Company incident might even become a joke to humiliate the British.
Staehler bowed once again. "Thank you, Your Highness. In that case, I'll return to Greece and continue running my business there for a few years."
His confidence grew as he added, "My furniture business there has already taken off."
Joseph perked up. "Greece, you say?"
"Yes, Your Highness." Staehler nodded. "I import composite boards from Marseille and hire Corinthian craftsmen to turn them into furniture that appeals to Anatolian tastes. They've already found a market in the Levant."
At present, Greece was under Ottoman rule, separated from Constantinople by only the Aegean Sea.
Joseph said, "I'm planning to establish a trading company in the Ottoman Empire. It seems you'd make an ideal general manager."
Staehler bowed again. "I'd be honored to serve you, Your Highness."
"This won't be an ordinary company," Joseph continued. "It will have a fleet of the latest steam-powered paddle ships. Your task will be to monopolize Mediterranean trade and, if possible, extend operations northward into the Black Sea."
Joseph introduced the concept of steamships and continued, "You'll also be responsible for purchasing large quantities of cotton and sugar from Syria and Egypt. The Ottoman Sultan has granted us 70% priority purchase rights for these goods."
Staehler's face lit up at the mention of steamships but quickly darkened at Joseph's follow-up. "Your Highness, if I may be frank, such promises might lack enforceability."
"Yes, and the Egyptians might not even obey Selim III," Joseph agreed.
Staehler considered for a moment before nodding. "I'll do my best to bring back the goods you require."
"What's your plan?"
"The usual—alliances, bribes, and networking. Business often boils down to these."
"Excellent." Joseph smiled. "While you're at it, try to infiltrate Egypt's internal affairs, especially keeping an eye on an Ottoman officer named Muhammad Ali.
"Oh, and a war will likely break out there soon, so prepare accordingly."
"Yes, Your Highness. I won't disappoint you."
Shortly after, Staehler, now the general manager of the "Eastern Mediterranean Trading Company," took his leave.
Joseph wanted to invite him to dinner but refrained, given Staehler's sensitive status. Instead, he escorted him to the gates of Versailles.
Before leaving, Staehler hesitated and turned back. "Your Highness, I've always had a question: why name the company 'Lightning'?"
At the time, Staehler had suggested several elegant names, but Joseph insisted on the peculiar choice of "Lightning."
Joseph chuckled. "Because lightning is slow. I wanted the London gas lamp project to be as slow as lightning."
"Slow? Isn't lightning supposed to be fast?"
"No, it's slow."
"Why is that?"
"Because lightning is a sloth."
"??"
Western Poland
Krakow, Tarnowskie Góry
Outside the headquarters of the Umiayan Mining Company, which controlled 80% of the region's silver mining rights, Deputy Manager Depeux hurried out the door, boarded a carriage, and headed for the nearby town of Chrzanów.
Half an hour later, in a small building used by steam engine technicians at the mines, Depeux shook his head at a middle-aged man dressed as a technician.
"Captain Ribel—"
"Ahem!" The "technician" shot him a stern look. "It's Mr. Ferrier."
"Ah, my apologies, Mr. Ferrier," Depeux said hastily. "As you predicted, the board doesn't believe the Austrians will attack. They've rejected the proposal to train miners twice a week in military drills."
Captain Ribel, dispatched by the intelligence agency to oversee Krakow's defenses, frowned. "I understand. Don't worry; the operations division has contingency plans for this exact scenario."
Indeed, Joseph had anticipated Polish complacency toward Austria and devised a contingency plan: Operation Catfish.
"What do you need me to do?" Depeux asked.
Ribel nodded. "You'll play a crucial role. In fact, you might need to let yourself be kidnapped."
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