A political team

The salon's participants were primarily newly Capitalist Aristocrat, with a few enlightened Old Nobles and business owners as well.

Lady Able warmly instructed her Servant to greet the guests, but her eyes remained fixed on Mirabeau, who was giving a passionate speech.

This event, though called a salon, was practically Mirabeau's lecture—his speech was based on the industrial development ideas Joseph had told him yesterday. He spent the entire afternoon preparing it and then memorized it overnight, all for the purpose of presenting it to everyone today.

No one argued with him about the right to speak; if he paused even slightly, someone would immediately urge him to continue.

Mirabeau, with his characteristically calm, dignified, and infectious speaking style, presented the audience with Joseph's vision of a bright future for France industry.

Around him, some people listened with fervor, clenching their fists tightly.

Some people seemed to be deep in thought, nodding occasionally.

Many others stared intently at him, their eyes gleaming with excitement.

By dusk, Mirabeau's voice was hoarse, and the crowd finally let him go, beginning to discuss the matter in small groups:

"There will be many opportunities in Nancy in the future, and I definitely want to open a Workshop there."

Do you think that His Crown Prince's proposal to reduce taxes will be implemented?

"Once His King the King signs the bill, we will do everything in our power to ensure its passage by the High Court!"

"If all of Your Highness's suggestions can be realized, France will surely usher in a new and glorious chapter!"

"I heard the Eden Treaty is going to be revised; this is really a great investment opportunity."

Mirabeau drank several glasses of Wine, and his throat finally felt a little better. He then casually mentioned that the Crown Prince wanted to promote Potato cultivation, but the funds were insufficient.

Immediately, a middle-aged Nobility stood up and said, "Earl Mirabeau, I can lend His Crown Prince 100,000 Livre, interest-free. Please convey this to His Highness."

Once someone takes the lead, others follow suit:

"I'm relatively well-off financially lately, and I can lend out 200,000 yuan."

"I need to invest in Nancy, but I can only lend Your Highness Livre."

"Me too..."

Although these people were all quite wealthy, tens or hundreds of Livre were still a considerable sum for them.

After listening to Mirabeau's speech, they all regarded the Crown Prince as the hope for France industry and even policy adjustments, and naturally gave him their full support. Moreover, Mirabeau said that the Crown Prince used the Paris Angel Company as collateral, so there would be no risk in lending the money.

Before long, this group of wealthy Capitalist Aristocrat, including Mirabeau, had raised 1.8 Livre. At the same time, several others indicated that they had resources at their disposal to help purchase or transport Potato.

After this brief interlude, everyone began to discuss Industrial Development Zone or Industrial Chain with great enthusiasm, and they didn't disperse until late at night, still feeling that the conversation was far from over.

Joseph had no idea that this salon marked the beginning of the formation of his future political team.

Paris Police Academy.

On the east side of the dust-covered Playground, two people stood on Reviewing Stand taller than a person. One was wearing the blue uniform of the Paris Police, and the other was in a white Military Uniform, but judging from their collar insignia, they were both Major.

The man in the white Military Uniform was about thirty years old, with a high nose bridge and a hint of melancholy in his light blue eyes.

He looked at the group of the Police Academy cadets practicing shuttle runs in the dust, and asked the officer beside him with some confusion, "François, what's the point of them running back and forth like this?"

The latter, Diboa, was recruited directly from the commendation ceremony to the Police Academy by Joseph after distinguishing himself in the first Netherlands World War I.

Diboa chuckled, "Alexander, this is called a shuttle run. It's a standard training exercise in the Police Academy curriculum, designed to improve soldiers'... cough, I mean, officers' stamina and reaction time."

Alexander asked skeptically, "Will this be useful? Shouldn't we be focusing on drill practice?"

"Drill training is just the most basic. Shuttle runs can significantly improve the speed of officers' charges and turns." Diboa pointed to the other end of the Playground, "Oh, look over there. That's called pull-ups. Every officer does dozens of them every day to improve their arm strength. You know, on the battlefield, you often have to hold a gun for hours. This exercise helps them maintain a stable shooting posture."

"And that one..."

As he was speaking, a group of police officers, shouting slogans, ran in from the entrance of the Playground in neat formation, instantly stirring up even more dust.

Diboa immediately wore a smug expression and gestured towards the group of officers. "Aha, you know what? Those officers just went through the most 'brutal' training exercise—a Lieue -armed cross-country run."

Alexander said, "You mean they just ran a Lieue?!"

Diboa nodded. "That's right, and it has to be completed within 15 minutes."

Alexander's eyes widened in surprise.

One Lieue is 4 kilometers! Even the most elite soldiers couldn't run that distance in 15 minutes!

However, Diboa continued to "push" him. "Each person only carries 18 pounds of weight."

He looked dissatisfied. "His Crown Prince requires at least 25 pounds, but these guys, well, they're not quite there yet. They need more training."

Alexander tried to appear calm. "You mean, these training sessions were requested by His Crown Prince?"

"That's right, as I mentioned in my letter. Your Highness has invented many novel Military Theory, and the same applies to training. To be honest, at first I didn't understand why we needed to train this way."

Diboa then revealed a smug look. "But soon I realized that the police officers trained according to His Highness's requirements showed significant improvement in both their formation and stability."

Soldiers of this era placed great emphasis on drill training, but often neglected physical training.

In reality, only those with excellent physical fitness can more easily execute various formations and transitions. With the development of Military Theory to the modern era, no army dares to neglect physical training.

Joseph naturally instilled the correct ideas directly into his team.

Alexander watched as the police officers in blue uniforms picked up their Wood guns again and practiced line formation on the Playground ground, and couldn't help but wonder, "François, aren't they Police? Why are they practicing this? Do they need Infantry Line formations to deal with the gangs in Paris?"

Diboa gave a strange smile, "Well, actually, only the students with the worst grades are assigned to be Police."

"Oh? What about the others?"

Diboa quickly changed the subject and glossed over the matter. Police Academy regulations stipulated that the fact that elite cadets were trained according to officer standards must not be disclosed to anyone.

(End of this chapter)