Planning a Police Academy (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Queen Mary studied her son curiously and smiled. "No wonder he proposed making you Assistant Minister of Finance today. Just how did you persuade him?"

Seeing Joseph merely smile without answering, she did not press him further. After thinking for a moment, she gave him two names. "Besançon once served as a trade coordinator in several provinces and led Mounted Police in clearing out Smugglers. He is quite capable in coordination and management.

"Friant used to be a Company Commander in the Flanders Brigade. He served as my guard and is now responsible for Infantry recruitment. He is very skilled at training and drafting regulations."

She added, "I can guarantee their loyalty. As for which one to use, that is up to you."

Joseph nodded. "All right. I'll speak with them before making a decision."

He did not know either of them at all, but having only just entered politics and lacking his own circle, he could only seek the Queen's help.

Then an idea struck him. With the opportunity to take control of the police system, he could invest in building a Police Academy and recruit students from among the commoners. First, it could train professional Police and reduce the nobility's influence over policing. Second, it could offer subjects such as administration, commerce, journalism, and law, allowing him to select outstanding talent and cultivate his own loyal core.

A scene suddenly appeared in his mind: in the near future, a group of government *** saluting him and warmly calling him Principal...

Well, in terms of political strategy, the Whampoa Model had been very successful.

The creak of a door opening came from ahead. Joseph looked up and saw that they had arrived at the dining hall. The vast room was already crammed with nobles who had come to observe.

Yes, ever since Louis XV, every activity of the French Royal Family—including eating, sleeping, entertaining, and even having children—could be watched by anyone.

Joseph's head throbbed. The Queen pulled him to a seat before the spacious, lavish dining table. The Master of Ceremonies struck the floor heavily with his cane, and a melodious Bugle Call immediately sounded. This was the fixed ritual for serving food—music had to be played for every dish, which had to be passed through several people and subjected to a heap of flashy, unnecessary procedures before it could reach one's mouth.

Joseph suddenly remembered something and hurriedly leaned close to the Queen's ear. "Right, if the Minister of the Navy comes to speak with you about cutting the shipbuilding plan, send him to me. I'll persuade him."

Queen Mary looked at her son in surprise. To be honest, this matter had just been troubling her. Castries was an obstinate, fanatical fellow. If his budget were cut, he might pester her over it for an entire month.

She nodded gladly. Her son could finally help ease her burdens. Thank God!

Meanwhile, on the stairs west of Versailles Palace, the Minister of Justice turned to the Duke of Orléans and said, "Judging from the Crown Prince's performance, is he leaning toward England?"

The latter narrowed his eyes. "Perhaps it is that Austrian Bitch's intention. If reducing the fleet causes the English to adjust their policy toward France, it will be extremely disadvantageous to us..."

In the square two Lieues away, Mono and Minister of Census Nicoé walked side by side beneath the sunlight.

"At the very least, the Crown Prince should be firmly anti-Prussia," said the Minister of the Interior.

"Anti-Prussia and anti-England makes one part of the Hardline Faction. Opposing neither makes one part of the Anti-War Faction." Nicoé sighed. "What we fear most is being anti-Prussia while favoring England... To put it bluntly, if France produces a monarch like Peter III, it will be an absolute disaster."

He was referring to the previous Tsar of Tsarist Russia, who had worshipped Prussian King Frederick II since childhood. Even when Russia held every advantage in its war against Prussia, he had forcibly ordered the Russian Army to withdraw and signed a treaty with Frederick II that was extremely unfavorable to Russia.

After today's Cabinet Meeting, everyone was worried that the Crown Prince was an England fanatic.

Mono shook his head slightly. "I have dealt with His Highness. He is an exceptionally wise man. Perhaps he advocates cutting the Navy simply because warships cost too much, not because he wishes to curry favor with the English."

"Let us hope so."

The general details of the Cabinet Meeting soon reached the office of the British Ambassador to France.

After Ambassador Harriet heard that the Crown Prince of France had advocated halting the construction of all warships and taking a hard line against Prussia, he pondered for a full three minutes before summoning a trusted subordinate and giving him careful instructions.

After his man left, Harriet solemnly wrote up a report on the matter and sent it back to England.

The lunch, in which even the first bite had to follow strict rules, finally came to an end. Louis XVI eagerly dragged Joseph to the workshop to view his latest creation, then gave him a brass safe he had made himself before finally allowing him to leave.

By the time Joseph returned to his chambers, Dr. Lamark was already waiting there, asking Perna about the Crown Prince's recent health. Although Joseph had his own personal physician, Perna still insisted on coming every day to check on the Crown Prince's condition.

When he saw Joseph return, Lamark hurried forward and bowed. "I heard that Your Highness's illness has been brought under control. It is truly encouraging. I believe it must be the effect of that miraculous Salicin."

Joseph returned the bow with a smile. "And Doctor Perna's care as well."

Perna spoke from the side, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz. "I haven't obtained a medical license yet."

"Perna's skills are better than those of most doctors." Lamarck praised his assistant, then took out a small glass bottle and looked eagerly at Joseph. "Your Highness, Mr. Lasenne and I have made several batches of Salicin. The degree of purification has grown higher and higher."

Joseph accepted the glass bottle and looked at the pale yellow powder inside. "You truly deserve to be Europe's finest biologist and medical scholar. This purity is already quite high."

"No, no, I did very little. You were the one who told me the entire purification process." Lamarck was modest for a moment, then continued excitedly, "I distributed Salicin for free around Pont Neuf, and its effects were excellent. I discovered that it works not only on Pneumonia, but also on fevers caused by many illnesses. In just these few days, it has saved seven or eight lives!"

He paused, then said uncertainly, "Your Highness, Mr. Lasenne and I discussed raising some money to produce Salicin on a large scale. This medicine will save countless ordinary people's lives! What do you think? Naturally, half of the Medicine profits would belong to you."

He added in a low, hesitant voice, "But, as you know, most poor people tormented by illness cannot afford much money..."

"Raise money to manufacture medicine?" Joseph shook his head. "If you do that, both the production and sale of the Medicine will be controlled by the investors."

Lamarck looked at him in surprise. "Then what do you mean?"

"I will provide the funds and build a Pharmaceutical Factory to produce Salicin." Joseph recalled the homeless people he had seen collapsed in corners of the Saint-Antoine District. "Profits will be kept within 3%. We can even allow people to exchange willow bark for medicine."

Lamarck and Perna both looked at him with reverence in their eyes. "Your Highness, you are far too benevolent. May God bless you!"