Chapter 891
Already, with the international situation growing tense, food prices in France had surged sharply. The announcement issued by the Paris Government at this moment only poured fuel on the flames.
Everyone knew there was a problem with France's food supply. Although the French Government repeatedly assured the public that domestic food supplies would not be affected, a wave of grain-hoarding panic still erupted among the people.
In pursuit of exorbitant profits, capitalists deliberately exaggerated the food crisis, and for a time, all manner of rumors filled the air.
Stabilizing grain prices could not be done with mere words. Other things could be glossed over, but the steadily declining flow of grain into France was an indisputable fact.
Affected by the fluctuations in grain prices, Raphael's days became difficult. To calm domestic grain prices, Napoleon IV ordered the state-owned farms to begin shipping grain back to the homeland immediately after the autumn harvest.
As the person in charge of the farm plan, Raphael knew the operating conditions of the overseas farms very well. The yields on paper and the farms' actual yields were two entirely different concepts.
Because of natural conditions and bureaucratic management, the cost of producing grain on overseas farms remained high, far exceeding international grain prices.
Due to tariff barriers, imported grain had to bear heavy duties, so grain prices in France itself had always remained at a high level.
Importing grain earned more than growing it themselves. Bureaucrats would not turn their backs on money, so naturally they knew which choice to make.
Napoleon IV had carried out one cleanup before, but it had only added a few more face-saving projects. The vast majority of farms were still mere impostors making up the numbers.
Even putting on a show required doing the whole set. The