The master of public opinion

Dupont nodded vigorously, his eyes full of approval. "Yes, Your Highness, this is indeed a disastrous treaty. ♡💣 ❻➈ 💙💝After the tariff reduction, a large number of textile workshops in Lyon have closed down, the steel industry is also in danger, and thousands of workers have lost their jobs."

He spoke for a while longer, and then officials from the Mathematical Society began to deliver concluding remarks on stage, announcing the end of the academic conference.

The attendees respectfully made way for His Crown Prince, whose status was the most esteemed.

Joseph bid farewell to Lagrange and the other scholars, then turned and walked towards the door.

DuPont hurried to catch up and said carefully, "Your Highness, actually, the United Kingdom had already agreed in principle to the ' Single Tax Plan ' during the negotiations. If we could continue the negotiations, we might be able to win more favorable terms for France."

He is one of the presidents of the French Chamber of Commerce, responsible for Northern France, and also a major capitalist. The reduction of Tariff industrial goods by France has a significant impact on him personally. Today, having met the Crown Prince, who is well-versed in the technology and industries of Britain and France, he naturally wants to seize the opportunity and do his best to promote the revision of the treaty, even if there is only a very small possibility.

DuPont had been involved in the entire Anglo-French Trade Negotiations. Joseph had learned from their conversation that the main people in charge of the trade negotiations were the Minister of Foreign Affairs Count of Vergennes, and the Minister of Finance, Viscount Calonne.

Now, one of these two men has passed away, and the other has been dismissed due to Tax Law, causing negotiations to break down, but a preliminary Eden Treaty has been signed.

Given the current situation, the United Kingdom have already gained enormous benefits and are certainly unwilling to amend the treaty. The only way forward is to quickly improve France's industrial strength and increase its competitiveness.

Of course, it should still be possible to squeeze out some small benefits from trade negotiations by using certain means.

He stopped and said to DuPont, "I will raise this issue at the Cabinet Meeting and try to get trade negotiations resumed as soon as possible."

DuPont was overjoyed and quickly bowed, saying, "Your Highness, you are the savior of countless industries in France! You are truly great!"

As Joseph emerged from Madame Josna's Villa, a young man attending an academic conference rushed past him with his head down, seemingly lost in thought.

Eman reacted quickly and stopped him.

The young man with the long face then realized he had offended His Crown Prince, and, looking flustered, clutched his chest and apologized, "Oh, Your Highness, I didn't mean to offend you."

But they were speaking English.

Joseph instinctively replied in English, "It's nothing, you didn't bump into me."

The long-faced young man smiled apologetically again, still speaking in English: "You see, I was born in Birmingham, and in my haste I started speaking my native tongue."

Joseph politely remarked, "Birmingham is a nice place."

The long-faced young man smiled broadly and said, "Thank you for your compliment. Oh, I just listened to your speech; you seem to have a very high opinion of the United Kingdom."

Joseph assumed the man was trying to ingratiate himself, so he casually praised his hometown, "Well, United Kingdom's industrial technology is progressing very rapidly." (This was true.)

"And he's extremely skilled in International Politics and diplomacy. (A natural troublemaker)"

"He also has a very innovative spirit when it comes to Cooking (especially when it comes to culinary disasters)."

"Furthermore, the United Kingdom are also very practical and frugal. (Old-fashioned and stingy)"

An excited glint flashed in the young man's eyes, and he was about to say something when Eman coughed dryly with a cold face.

The young man with the long face could only give an awkward smile and bow again, "I won't disturb Your Highness any longer. Have a safe journey."

He watched Joseph depart, then immediately boarded his Carriage and headed straight for the British Embassy in France.

"You mean, the Crown Prince of France has been communicating with you in English?" Hartley looked at his subordinate with some surprise.

"Yes, Mr. Hartley," the horse-faced young man said confidently, "His English is very fluent, and he speaks highly of the United Kingdom. At the academic conference just now, he also publicly refuted statements that denigrated United Kingdom."

He then repeated Joseph's words in detail.

Hartley suddenly fell into deep thought. The France were currently quite hostile towards the United Kingdom and had no interest in learning English. The Royal House, in particular, preferred Latin. Therefore, the Crown Prince spoke English, was quite exceptional.

Intelligence from all sides is increasingly pointing to one conclusion: the Crown Prince of France is likely very pro-British, or at least holds great goodwill toward the United Kingdom.

If Joseph knew his thoughts, he would laugh out loud—his English was a prerequisite for postgraduate entrance exams. As for his fondness for the United Kingdom? Don't be ridiculous. In his previous life, he utterly despised the troublemakers of Blue Star, and now he spends all his time figuring out how to deal with France's greatest enemy.

Hartley fumbled for the armrest of the chair, becoming increasingly determined to make contact with the Crown Prince of France as soon as possible. He then took out paper and pen, wrote a letter, and had his men deliver it to a Noblewoman at the Versailles Palace.

His subordinates left to carry out their orders, but Hartley remembered London's instructions to sow discord between Prussia and France. He immediately ordered his servants to prepare a carriage and headed towards the Royal Palace.

The Duke of Orléans frowned slightly as he looked at the newspaper the butler had just brought him.

The French Messenger newspaper devoted two entire pages to introducing the Taxation provisions in the Tax Law that had just been rejected by the High Court. From why this tax was levied, to who would pay it, and to what impact the tax would have on the country, everything was explained clearly in very simple language.

In addition, there was a special report by a journalist detailing the King's implementation of the New Tax Law, but it only mentioned that the Tax Law was proposed by the former Minister of Finance Calonne, and had been rejected for Registration twice by the High Court. Clearly, there is more to come.

He picked up another newspaper, which contained similar content.

"Archbishop Brienne has finally become wiser," the Duke of Orléans chuckled.

Since Calonne proposed the New Tax Law last year, the French Government has been trying to forcefully implement it. After encountering resistance, it has started to compromise, but has never realized that it needs to use public opinion to gain widespread support.

Only now has the Minister of Finance finally begun campaigning for the Tax Law in the newspapers.

To be honest, the new Tax Law hasn't affected the Lesser Nobility and commoners much, especially since this amendment almost entirely targets the greater Nobility. If publicized properly, it will undoubtedly gain widespread support in France.

The Duke of Orléans tossed the newspaper aside, his face full of disdain. He and the banking tycoon were plotting to use the court's rejection of the bill to push for Brienne's removal, so how could they allow him to create public opinion?

"To think you can use newspaper publicity to pressure the High Court, Brienne is being far too naive." He shook his head with a smile.

After years of investment and courting, he controlled nearly half of Paris's Newspaper Industry and Pamphlets industries. Combined with the Newspaper Office owned by the Nobility allied with him, he practically controlled the entire Publishing and Printing Industry in Paris.

Right now, his words are the wind in public opinion!

He is the master of public opinion!

Thanks to: The sin boss here and the book title Sail Boss for generously tipping this book! Tianhaishan is extremely grateful, wow!

(End of this chapter)