Two days later.

Peace Hall, Palace of Versailles.

Joseph put away Charles IV’s letter and looked at Count Florida Blanca, puzzled: "You mean to say that the Americans’ ’deadline’ is actually serious?"

The Chief Minister of Spain nodded: "It seems indeed so, Your Highness. They have been recruiting a large number of refugees and bankrupt individuals in Georgia for over a year, often raiding Florida.

"After the ’Repatriation of Runaway Slaves’ memorandum, Wilkinson assembled nearly two thousand troops in Charleston.

"Governor Morales of East Florida believes that the Americans might launch an attack on Frederick at any time."

Frederick is the town in eastern Florida close to Georgia, and also the only barrier north of Saint Augustine, the capital of East Florida’s governor district.

Joseph shook his head slightly: "The Americans wouldn’t risk declaring war on Madrid just for over two thousand runaway slaves."

The law of the Florida Colony stipulates that any black slave not bought by Spaniards would be considered a free person upon entering Florida.

Thus, every year, many American black slaves risk their lives to escape here. Florida is also known as the "haven for runaway slaves."

The colony government’s registration of runaway slaves is close to two thousand, with the actual number possibly doubling.

But even 4,000 black slaves aren’t worth the Americans inciting a war in Florida.

Count Florida Blanca said gravely: "The colony government has determined that after being blocked in the west, the Americans have decided to expand south."

He bowed to Joseph: "His Majesty hopes that when Wilkinson takes action, you can send troops from the Louisiana Colony to contain the Americans from the west.

"Of course, we will completely resolve the issues in Florida, but as you know, gathering troops from Mexico takes several months...

"Additionally, an uprising in New Granada is erupting, and the Governor’s Palace in Bogota believes this is also related to the Americans. Mexico also needs to allocate troops to reinforce New Granada.

"So, the troops will likely only reach Florida by the end of the year. Until then, whether this place can be held depends entirely on your generous assistance."

Only then did Joseph understand why Charles IV mentioned their friendship as deep as the Pyrenees in his letter—it was because both Florida and New Granada had problems simultaneously.

Actually, Florida was almost insignificant to Spain in the past—there were less than 8,000 Spaniards here, along with a similar number of black slaves, plus Seminole natives and runaway slaves, the total population was at most about 35,000.

But in the past two years, with the rapid development of Louisiana, Florida has relied on trade with the French Colony, with fiscal revenue increasing annually, and Madrid has becoming increasingly attentive to it.

It is absolutely impossible for the Americans to buy Florida for 5 million dollars, as they had historically.

Joseph nodded: "Please convey to His Majesty that I will try my best to provide support, he can rest assured."

Controlling American expansion is his basic strategy in America, let alone helping his Bourbon family.

Count Florida Blanca was overjoyed and expressed his gratitude at length, finally adding: "If the war cannot be concluded within half a year, His Majesty will send an expeditionary force from the homeland to Florida."

He meant to ensure that France would not be dragged into a prolonged war.

Although Spain has improved considerably in finances and military under Joseph’s guidance compared to its historical state, they are used to spending lavishly; they spend as much gold coin as they have, thus, the funds for the expedition to North America are rather tight.

Moreover, they have just acquired Portugal and Gibraltar, requiring a substantial number of soldiers to maintain stability in these places, so dispatching an expeditionary force within half a year is considered fast.

Joseph responded: "I’ll have the General Staff devise a plan to contain the Americans. In fact, the Count of Baton Rouge began assembling troops half a year ago."

Indeed, the Security Bureau had reported the unrest in North America to him previously, and since then, Napoleon had been ordered to prepare for war.

Speaking of Napoleon, Joseph suddenly thought of something.

Logically, after Napoleon led less than 5,000 soldiers and fought his way to Richmond last time, the Americans should greatly fear him.

And France and Spain are both members of the Mediterranean Security Organization, and the royal family has close relations, so how could the Americans not realize that if they attack Florida, the "God of Killing" Napoleon would surely lead his army to appear on the east bank of the Mississippi River?

But why do they still seem poised for a large-scale invasion of Florida?

Joseph certainly wouldn’t think the Americans were foolish. At any time, before thinking the opponent is being foolish, you should consider whether you’re being deceived instead.

He carefully sorted through the current situation in North America and quickly noticed a suspicion, so he looked at Count Florida Blanca and asked: "You mentioned earlier that the riots in New Granada are related to the Americans?"

New Granada is today’s Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, etc. Under the Spanish government’s poor governance, society was severely fractured, taxes were excessively high, and corruption rampant, leading all classes to be filled with resentment.

Therefore, from the late 18th century, various uprisings broke out here continuously, and the troops of the Bogota Governor were either suppressing rebellions or on the way to suppress them.

Count Florida Blanca nodded: "Initially, ’Bread Riots’ broke out in places like Bogota, Socorro, and Cartagena, followed by deliberate incitement of the Creoles, and weapons were provided to them, eventually developing into riots."

Joseph squinted his eyes: "What if the enemy’s target has never been Florida from the beginning?"

"Ah? Then where?"

"For instance, New Granada, Mexico, or any of your colonies in South America."

"How could this be possible?!"

Joseph pondered for a moment, then said: "Maybe, I need to accompany you to Madrid."

...

July 27, 1801.

London.

The fog lay heavy like a water-soaked shroud, resting over rooftops and streets, making breathing feel oppressively sluggish.

George Stock, Secretary-General of the British West Indian Plantation Owners and Merchants Association, irritably closed the carriage window, then immediately felt more suffocated, so he pulled open the window again.

A crooked, rusted metal rod passed by his view, and the broken glass cover at the top of the metal rod stared at him like a blind eye, vacant and clueless.

It was an abandoned gas streetlight, left undismantled due to insufficient funds.

Stock immediately thought of the 6,000 pounds he had been conned out of, and his heart twitched—back then, he heard that this latest technology could offer multiple returns, so he invested more than half his fortune without hesitation.

The result was the bankruptcy of the "Lightning Coal Company," countless companies going bust, and his total financial loss.