Inspection

"That is indeed a spectacle," Joseph shook his head, "But this spectacle doesn't make money! In this day and age, a spectacle that doesn't make money is a spectacle that harms the country. Besides, you think my paintings of women are bad? You people really have no taste at all. Pauline especially likes them. Just two days ago, she even asked me to paint a portrait of her with big eyes."

Napoleon, upon hearing this, couldn't help but shake his head and say, "Joseph, why don't you boast about something else? If you boast about your mathematical abilities, and say, 'I have an opinion on this problem,' all of Europe will listen to you obediently and quietly. Even if you say the sum of the interior angles of a triangle is less than 180 degrees, people will think for at least several days before daring to refute you. If you boast about your scientific abilities, and say that Newton's three laws are wrong, people will think for a long time before daring to ask you for evidence. Even if you boast about your military achievements, few people besides me will dare to refute you. But you boast about your painting? Do you think painting is just about ruler and compass constructions? Pauline said you were good at painting? Pauline said that because you're the older brother; she just wanted to make you happy!"

At this point, Napoleon paused, then suddenly exclaimed with a puzzled look, "No, no, this is completely wrong!"

"What's wrong?" Joseph asked.

"Why would Pauline say your painting is good? She's not a sycophant like Lucien. No, something's not right. That troublemaker Pauline must have gotten into trouble again, which is why she's flattering you like this. Hmm, you're not wary of her enough. Maybe this idea was even Lucien's. They're always in cahoots... Hmm, Joseph, what do you think this troublemaker has done this time?"

"Look at what you're saying! Does praising me necessarily mean I'm flattering you? Does it necessarily mean I have ulterior motives? I think you're the one with ulterior motives!" Joseph said, initially quite displeased. But then he added, "However, as for Pauline specifically, that's not necessarily true. Napoleon, have someone investigate her quickly and see what trouble she's caused this time. Don't let Lucien investigate..."

"I'm not stupid, why would I let Lucien investigate?" Napoleon said. "Speaking of which, Pauline isn't young anymore, and she's always acting so recklessly—well, you've spoiled her rotten—I say, as her older brother, shouldn't you consider finding her a husband?"

"Me? How could I be the one who spoiled him? Don't try to pin everything on me. I think you bear just as much responsibility in this matter!" Joseph first severely criticized Napoleon for trying to evade responsibility and for his mistaken attempt to shift the blame onto him. Then he scratched his head, sighed, and said:

"Napoleon, what you said later makes sense, but among my students, there really aren't any suitable candidates. Hmm, I'm wondering if any of your old subordinates are suitable?"

Napoleon could understand this quite well. Most of Joseph's students were scientists, and Napoleon himself thought it was better not to harm such people as Pauline.

"My old subordinates? Hmm, which of my old subordinates doesn't know the 'Toulon Saintess'?" Napoleon said. "However, perhaps some of my old subordinates do appreciate her. After all, Pauline is quite pretty, just a bit eccentric, but she's still very cheerful... Sigh, Joseph, why are these brats all so troublesome?"

Joseph stared at Napoleon, speechless for a moment.

It took the two three days to reach the Bonaparte - Watt Company's testing grounds, where Watt and his team were already waiting for them.

Although he had been in the carriage for several days, Napoleon was in high spirits and not affected by fatigue at all. As soon as he got out of the carriage, he clamored to go to the site to see for himself. Joseph was actually a little tired, but he did not want to spoil Napoleon's mood, so he went with him, along with a group of attendants and Watt and others, to the testing site.

The testing ground was on a large flat area, where a six-kilometer-long section of steel rails was laid. The method of laying these rails was essentially a complete copy of later methods. Hmm, that does sound rather strange, like the later Red Hare Kingdom copying 5G technology from the Lighthouse Country, which didn't even exist yet. Perhaps the later Red Hare Kingdom also had time travelers?

There are some differences between this railway and those of later generations. For example, in later generations, the sleepers under the rails are usually made of reinforced concrete. But back then, wood was cheap, so the sleepers under this railway were indeed made of high-quality solid wood.

Beneath the solid wood sleepers lies a thick layer of gravel, and beneath that gravel lies a roadbed paved with even larger stones.

Napoleon walked to the edge of the tracks, bent down, tapped the rails with his knuckles, and asked, "How much rails were used for this experimental section of the track?"

"20 kilograms per meter, you can do the math yourself," Joseph said. "However, if the experiment is successful, our first priority is to build a railway from the Saar Coal Mine to the steel plant. This experimental route can be directly used as part of that railway. So although the experimental route is a bit long, it's not really a waste."

"It seems you are very confident in the success of the experiment," Napoleon said. "Where is the locomotive?"

"Over there, Your Excellency the First Consul," William Murdoch said. "The locomotive is in that factory over there, but the testing was originally scheduled for tomorrow, so..."

Not far away, there is a cluster of tall factory buildings from which the railway extends.

Napoleon glanced in that direction and chuckled. "Ah, I understand. I just wanted to see what it looked like and touch it. As for the experiment, it should proceed according to the planned schedule. Changing plans arbitrarily is not a good habit."

So everyone followed Napoleon into the factory.

Upon entering the factory, two enormous machines were seen parked on the railway tracks—the two steam locomotives. A group of workers were conducting final pre-experiment checks on the locomotives. The guards approached and said a few words, and the workers stopped and stood aside to wait.

"Ah, let them continue, we shouldn't disturb them," Napoleon said, and the guards went to convey this message again. But the workers didn't immediately return to work; instead, someone shouted, "Is Bonaparte in power?"

"What? You know me?" Napoleon was delighted to hear the workers' shouts.

"It really is Bonaparte in power!" someone shouted.

"Long live Bonaparte!" someone shouted.

Napoleon was overjoyed. He went up to the workers and shook hands with each of them.

"You've worked hard. How's it working here?"

"Your Excellency, you are right, it is indeed hard work here, but these days, who isn't working hard except for farmers who own land?" one worker said. "Fortunately, the Bonaparte Company pays us a good wage. In a while, I will be able to save up some money, and then I can go to Louisiana to become a farmer."

"Your Excellency, they say that as long as you can speak French and are willing to swear allegiance to France, even a foreigner can get a piece of land in Louisiana and become a farmer?" someone asked in broken French.

"Of course. Anyone who can speak the simplest French and is willing to pledge allegiance to France is welcome," Napoleon replied.

Then another round of cheers erupted from the surrounding area.

Because the situation in rural France is now quite good, there are many more foreign workers in France factories, especially those from the Germany states. To be honest, Joseph doesn't pay them much, but compared to their hometowns, it's quite good. More importantly, once they save enough money, they can go to Louisiana and acquire a large piece of land.

Of course, this approach would inevitably lead to a situation where the number of German immigrants to Louisiana would significantly exceed that of French immigrants. However, Joseph didn't think this would be a major problem. Because in later generations, after acquiring Louisiana, the Lighthouse Country also imported immigrants from Europe on a large scale, and among these immigrants, the largest group was still of German descent. Until Joseph's time travel, Germans remained the largest ethnic group in the Lighthouse Country, but this didn't change the characteristics of Lighthouse Country -Saxon culture. If the Lighthouse Country could do it, there was no reason why France couldn't. It was simply a matter of brainwashing and education. In fact, considering the fervor of converts, making a German love France culture was, in some ways, even easier than making a France love France culture. For example, in later generations, those who loved the Lighthouse Country the most were often not necessarily from the Lighthouse Country.

After shaking hands with Napoleon and expressing Napoleon admiration and gratitude, the workers gradually returned to their posts. Then, the technicians who had accompanied Napoleon began to explain the two locomotives to Napoleon.

"Your Excellency the First Consul," Watt, the chief designer of the train, introduced to Napoleon, "the one closer to us is the 'Progress Type 1,' and the one behind it is the 'Progress Type 2.'"

Napoleon nodded. He knew that the difference between the so-called "Progress Type 1" and "Progress Type 2" was actually just the result of the old man's argument with someone else. The "Progress Type 2" was the model Joseph was aiming for.

"What a behemoth. If some foolish Americas saw it running, they might even worship it as a god," Napoleon laughed. He walked over to the Progress Type 1, grabbed the steel handrail of the ladder, and turned back to ask, "May I go up and take a look?"

"Of course," Watt said. "The driver's cab is up there; you can go up and take a look."