Once Brienne and the others had carefully recorded the industrial development layout for Rhineland, Joseph continued, "As for the Wooden Railway, just build a few sections inside the cities."
"The main mining areas of Rhineland are all near the Rhine River. We can load the goods onto ships first and transport them to Baden and Strasbourg, then use the Wooden Railways already built there to carry them back into the country."
If Karl Friedrich had been here, he would probably have been so excited he kissed Joseph's boots.
This was equivalent to turning Baden into the commodity distribution hub of the entire Rhineland. The income from passing merchant caravans alone would be enough to stuff Baden until it burst.
That small country by the Strait of Malacca in later generations did not have to do a thing. Just by skimming the fat from passing merchant ships, it could eat itself straight into the ranks of developed nations.
Brienne and Mirabeau discussed in low voices for a while, then turned to Joseph and said, "Your Highness, according to the method you just described, a rough estimate is that the Industrial Development Fund will need to invest thirty-five to forty million francs."
Mirabeau added, "Once those coal mines are in full operation, we will probably have to invest another thirty million or more."
Although Joseph felt that this figure should not be far off, the instant he heard it, he still sucked in a cold breath inwardly.
Seventy million francs! And it was pure investment.
However, he also knew that this was an investment necessary for development, so he nodded and said:
"Archbishop Brienne, please draw up a detailed fundraising plan and submit it to me as soon as possible. Oh, set the total amount at fifty million francs."
"Yes, Your Highness."