Competing in industry
After that, Joseph barely listened to Fouche's report; he figured he could just read the documents later. ✊👊 ♟🐳
After Fouche left, Joseph looked out at the sunlight and stretched his back.
In retrospect, after a year of his efforts, he stabilized the debt, weathered the Famine, and improved the situation of the lower classes. The possibility of France launching Great Revolution is now extremely slim. The most pressing issue of survival has been initially resolved.
But the cost was that it encroached on the Cake of the Old Nobles, triggering new social problems.
However, the domestic Cake is only so big. If more is given to the peasant class, the Nobility will definitely get less.
Therefore, if we want the Noble Class to be firmly united around the Royal House and continue to contribute to France, we must make the Cake bigger and let them participate in the process of dividing the Cake.
Eman, who was standing nearby, was very perceptive and signaled to the Servant to bring fresh tea.
He couldn't help but think of Napoleon. At that time, France was also facing a serious problem of not having enough to Cake, and Napoleon's solution was to redirect internal pressure to the outside world—by taking other people's Cake and sharing them with the France.
Then he remembered something— Gas Lamp.
The latter thought for a moment and recalled:
"So, how do we make the Cake bigger?" Joseph pondered, picking up his teacup only to find the tea had gone cold.
I've got my eye on the United Kingdom's beard!
Subsequently, the booming Coal Tar industry led to rapid progress in the United Kingdom's processing industries, including disinfectants, dyes, fragrances, and even explosives, and in the process, it also promoted the great development of chemical industrial technology.
It's important to understand that in today's Textile- dominated world, dyes are the culmination of high technology.
This is not surprising. Not to mention that most of the Cabinet Minister are Joseph's people, France recently experienced large-scale riots due to food shortages. At present, increasing food production is the most politically correct thing to do, and no one will cause trouble on this matter.
He couldn't help but sigh. War was the dominant theme of this era; almost every year, multiple wars broke out simultaneously across the Europe continent. If you didn't fight others, they would fight you. Everyone was just trying to grab a bigger slice of the Cake from other countries.
"Your Highness, I remember reading a paper that mentioned this. The lamp seemed to burn a gas made from coal. The light was very bright."
"Huh? Streetlights?" Mirabeau clearly didn't understand the significance of Gas Streetlight.
"But the technology isn't mature enough yet," Joseph poured some cold water on his enthusiasm. "However, I know who's good at it. Now I need your help to create a plan for installing streetlights throughout Paris and to make a preliminary budget. Oh, and Versailles Palace should be included too."
Furthermore, Gas Lamp can promote the development of France's Coal Industry. In the future, the entire Gas Lamp project could be exported abroad, making it a symbol of France industry.
As Mirabeau was speaking, Louis XVI's Attendant approached and bowed to Joseph with his hand on his chest.
"Crown Prince Highness, His King invites you to his Workshop."
Because the process of distilling Coal Gas produces a large amount of Coal Tar, the United Kingdom, in dealing with this sticky and disgusting stuff, discovered that it was rich in many useful components, such as Aniline.
Joseph looked at the string of profits brought by the Gas Lamp and couldn't help but smile. Murdoch, the inventor of the Gas Lamp, was now in his hands, working on Steam Engine for France in Nancy.
The warm Black Tea brought Joseph a sense of peace.
In the early 19th century, the United Kingdom were the first to install Gas Streetlight in London, which greatly improved the London's convenience and image.
This can directly boost a country's GDP.
"Oh, no need, thank you." Joseph smiled and shook his head. "Your Cake 'quota' should be saved for when you visit Her Majesty the Queen."
"Yes, Your Highness, I will submit a report to you as soon as possible!"
"Yes, Your Highness, the factory can operate 24 hours a day, and the shops can stay open all night. It's simply wonderful!"
Joseph nodded to himself; the Gas Lamp project was definitely a good starting point.
What they didn't expect was that the Gas Streetlight project would greatly promote the development of the United Kingdom chemical industry.
This is simply not enough to support a Fertilizer industry that can supply the entire country.
"That's right," Joseph nodded. "I plan to install these lights on the streets of Paris. If all goes well, we can illuminate the entire Paris night at a very low cost."
"Your Highness, would you like a piece of Cake?"
Do you know anything about Gas Lamp?
To be fair, France is still an agricultural country, so increasing food production will obviously contribute the most to expanding the economic Cake and will also improve the quality of life for the lower classes the fastest.
However, the world's Chemical industry is not very advanced right now, and only Sulfuric Acid can be synthesized industrially with difficulty. The other four of the "three acids and two bases" that form the basis of Chemical can only be produced in small quantities in laboratories.
The next day.
Besides promoting the development of the Chemical, cheap and convenient Gas Lamp themselves can also bring huge benefits—illuminating cities and increasing the time available for commercial activities, turning nights that were previously unprofitable into profitable ones. In terms of industrial production, inexpensive lighting equipment can increase factory operating hours, making night shifts possible.
Everything is ready to proceed with the Gas Lamp project.
Of course, even when it comes to grabbing Cake, one absolutely cannot be as reckless as Napoleon, nor can one have such a large appetite, lest one incur the France of the entire Europe and ultimately be dragged down to its death.
Joseph drew a branch called "Chemical" under "Industry," recalling the development of the chemical industry during the Industrial Revolution.
Joseph then gave him a general explanation of the immense value of the Gas Lamp, which made Mirabeau's eyes widen in astonishment:
Joseph remembered the Gas Lamp plan and said to Mirabeau as they walked:
Joseph walked out of the Conference Hall with a pleased expression. At the Cabinet Meeting just now, the Grain Yield Decree had been passed. After Registration the High Court, it would soon be implemented nationwide.
The most direct way to increase grain production is to use Fertilizer. Currently, Phosphate Ore mined from Nauru and Tunisia —which are minerals formed from bird guano—can partially solve the problem, but transportation costs are still too high.
"I admire your frugality." Completely oblivious to the dangers of excessive sugar consumption, this was the only explanation Eman could come up with, and he retreated to the doorway with this compliment.
Only by developing purely industrially synthesized Fertilizer can a true agricultural revolution be brought about.
"We need to walk on two legs. Besides looking outward, we also need to expand the domestic Cake." Joseph put down his teacup, picked up a pen, and wrote down the words "industry," "agriculture," and "trade" on a piece of paper.
"Okay, I'll go right away." Joseph nodded, then said to Mirabeau, "We'll discuss the details later."
A short while later, in the Royal Workshop, Louis XVI, facing a wooden machine nearly three meters wide and about two people high, equipped with numerous cylinders, gestured with little interest to Joseph:
"This is it, the Power Loom you wanted."