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    "Hmm, grilledmb chops, beet truffle thick soup, roasted bread."


    Alexei casually ordered a few dishes from the waiter beside him, then turned to Joseph and said, "I''m quite curious, what do you mean by ''business unrted to politics''?"


    "Bring me a cup of ck tea, no milk, spices, or sugar."


    Having dismissed the waiter, Joseph smiled and said, "For instance, engaging in some business. If you had your own trade in Paris, then the Empress would not recall you back to Russia for fear of your conduct—oh, please excuse my choice of words."


    Business? Alexei blinked, sensing some logic in the proposal. No one would associate a busy merchant with a position in the line of session to Saint Petersburg. It was indeed a good way to stay away from politics and to some extent shed the image of a wastrel.


    In fact, that was exactly what Alexei''s descendants did. To stay away from politics, they started doing business and eventually established Russia''srgest sugarpany.


    However, Alexei immediately shook his head, "Thank you for your suggestion, Your Highness. But I know nothing about business, and every year the Empress has to subsidize me with tens of thousands of rubles. I don''t want to lose even more of her money."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "No, I believe you will make money," Joseph said with a smile, "and significant amounts at that."


    "Your Highness, if I may be so bold, this seems rather unlikely. I know my capabilities."


    Joseph, sniffing the aroma from the teacup the waiter brought, nced at the illegitimate child and said, "Actually, it is not as difficult as you think. All you need is a good partner."


    "A partner?"


    Joseph gestured with a small spoon towards himself: "For instance, me."


    Alexei eximed in surprise, "You mean, go into business with you?"


    Joseph nodded: "We could jointly invest in and establish a tradepany, focused on trade between France and Russia."


    His suggestion was not impulsive; he had long harbored such a n.


    In fact, France and Russia had already signed a trade agreement the year beforest, but on one hand due to France''s tight finances, and on the other because there were not many products of mutual interest between the two countries—other than wine and Enlightenment ideas, France had little else to offer Russia.


    Likewise, Russia''s main exports such as x, oil, and timber did not see high demand in France.


    This led to lukewarm trade between the two parties.


    Yet, both countries were eager to substantially increase their trade volume with each other.


    For Russia, there was an ongoing concern about being too reliant on trade with Ennd and a desire to change the trade structure. For example, by increasing France''s share in trade to reduce the risk of being manipted by the British.


    As for France, increasing trade volume with arge country like Russia would certainly greatly improve its financial situation.


    But desire is just desire. Historically, until Napoleon came to power and Russia joined the Anti-French Alliance, trade between the two countries had not significantly improved.


    This was the situation that Joseph wanted to change, and he had the means to do so.


    Historically, France''s demand for Russian goods wasn''t high because France''s textile industry was crushed by Ennd. But now, under Joseph''s guidance, France''s textile industry would challenge Ennd''s dominance, and thus would need arge amount of textile raw materials, x among them. As for cotton, wool, and the like, those would need to be sourced from North America and Australiater on.


    At the same time, since Ennd''s x supply was highly dependent on Russia—about eighty percent of its consumption—should France consume arge quantity of Russian x, it would inevitably cause a x shortage in Ennd, subsequently leading to higher prices for British x textiles.


    It was a ssic win-win situation.


    On the other hand, France''s industry would enter a period of explosive growth and would urgently need markets to sell its products. Russia, with a poption of over thirty million, was an enormous market that definitely needed the participation of French products.


    Originally, Joseph had nned to wait for Talleyrand to make contact with the Russians and then push forward with the trade issue.


    But upon meeting Alexei today, he felt this might be an even more suitable opportunity.


    "You need not worry about management; we can hire professionals to run thepany," Joseph said, "I''ll provide some merchant ships as my share. These ships will fly the Russian g, enjoy your ''armed neutrality'' policy, and avoid British interference."


    "And you could have someone in Russia buy up x, grease, perhaps even iron, as your share."


    "After these goods arrive in Marseille, they''ll be loaded with French wine, textiles, and in the future possibly paper and machinery as well, and sent back to Crimea."


    The so-called "armed neutrality deration" referred to the Russian trade policy announced by Catherine II in 1780, the main content of which was "As a neutral country, Russian ships can freely navigate between ports and along the coasts of warring nations, unless they carry wartime contraband, in which case the belligerent nations must not impose restrictions."


    This policy had been recognized by Ennd. Thus, Alexei''s "Russian ships" transporting the cargo could ensure normal trade regardless of any tensions between Ennd and France.


    Besides, Joseph had another card up his sleeve.


    He had previously reviewed the Anglo-Russian trade agreement, which allowed Russian merchant ships to transport goods from the East to Europe unobstructed by the British fleet. The British had reckoned that Russia had little presence in the East and had readily agreed, a point Joseph nned to exploit through his tradepany with the illegitimate child in the future.


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