Chapter 1094: A Powerful Alliance
Joseph nodded slightly as Philippe spoke.
It was essentially the difference between using a kitchen knife and a precision utility blade to cut paper. No matter how careful you were with the former, there would always be jagged edges, while the latter could achieve a perfectly smooth cut with ease.
He then turned his gaze toward Jacques Lenoir. "What is this hard material you discovered? And tell me, do you have your own laboratory?"
Jacques waved his hands dismissively. "No, no, Your Highness. I am merely a technician at the Namur Royal Ironworks. I work in the laboratory of Monsieur Vendel."
"During an experiment with alloy steel, some impurities were mixed in—specifically, trace amounts of silicon. I noticed that the resulting waste material possessed extraordinary hardness, and that made me think of Philippe's milling machine. In fact, he is using a patent license from the Royal Ironworks."
Joseph nodded, feeling a sense of deep satisfaction. He had poured an immense amount of energy and funding into technological research and development, combined with aggressive efforts to attract foreign talent. Now, finally, the harvest season was arriving.
An accidental breakthrough in the materials lab had led to the development of a high-precision milling machine.
And that milling machine would, in turn, facilitate a massive leap in the power of steam engines.
Once that happened, steam power would drive everything, completely igniting the French Industrial Revolution!
This was proof enough that France's high-tech research had entered the fast lane.
The next step was to convert this technology into national strength as quickly as possible.
Philippe Lenoir asked tentatively, "Monsieur Depardieu, might I ask if my equipment won the bid?"
"My apologies, I cannot reveal that just yet, but your prospects are very bright..."
Joseph looked at the two brothers, who were barely containing their excitement. He felt a brief pang of regret for the previous five-axis machine; its design was brilliant, but its precision was simply too poor.
Wait. A thought suddenly occurred to him. The Lenoir brothers' milling machine relied heavily on clever material advantages to achieve its high precision.
Meanwhile, the five-axis design possessed an incredibly sophisticated mechanical structure.
If the strengths of both were combined, they would create a literal monster in the field of industrial machining!
After a moment of reflection, Joseph looked at Philippe Lenoir and said, "Actually, yes, you have won the bid. Only your machine met the precision requirements."
He made a calming gesture, signaling for the brothers to remain composed. "Now, I am giving you two choices."
"First, you can proceed with mass production according to the standard bidding process and supply the United Steam Engine Company."
"Second, you can work with the designer of the previous milling machine..."
Depardieu whispered a quick reminder, "It is Whitney, Your Highness. Eli Whitney."
Joseph nodded. "You can join the Royal Precision Equipment Company alongside Monsieur Whitney."
The Lenoir brothers exchanged a confused look. "The Royal Precision Equipment Company?"
"I don't believe I've heard of that one..."
"That is because it is still in the planning stages," Joseph replied with a smile.
Half an hour later, in a conference hall within the Nancy Industrial Zone, Joseph addressed the Lenoir brothers and Whitney. "That is the gist of it. The French Engineering Design Institute and the Industrial Development Fund will also take stakes, so there will be no shortage of capital."
"In the future, the company's products will go far beyond processing steam engine parts. They will play a massive role in the production of textile machinery, carriages, ships, and even rifles and cannons."
"The orders from the Royal Armory alone will exceed 300,000 francs per year."
Philippe Lenoir felt his heart hammering against his ribs, nearly leaping out of his throat.
The Crown Prince had just mentioned that the investment for the newly established Royal Precision Equipment Company would exceed 1.8 million francs. Once the Lenoir family's small workshop was merged into the company, he would receive a fifteen percent stake.
That meant his family's 70,000-franc workshop would instantly be worth nearly 300,000!
At the same time, the Bryce Steel Company would also be merged into the new entity, bringing with it a complete suite of steel smelting and equipment production capabilities. The scale of production would be dozens of times larger than his family's small plant.
Looking back, his decision to bet his entire livelihood on developing a precision milling machine had been absolutely correct!
Joseph turned to the designers from both sides. "I will have the Ministry of Industry send officials to handle the merger. In the meantime, you may use the laboratories of the United Steam Engine Company to begin the design work for the new milling machine as soon as possible."
The men bowed in unison. "We shall follow your commands, Your Highness."
Whitney asked cautiously, "Your Highness, about my status as a 'temporary talent'... what do you think?"
Joseph turned to Eman. "Please write a letter to the Talent Committee on my behalf. Have Monsieur Whitney's status upgraded to Class D talent."
Whitney was instantly overcome with joy. "Thank you so much, Your Highness!"
Joseph smiled. "By the way, regarding that cotton gin of yours, I guarantee it will be protected under French Patent Law."
He had only just remembered after Depardieu mentioned the cotton gin that this was the man known as the Father of American Technology.
In history, Whitney was responsible for major inventions like the cotton gin, the horizontal crankshaft milling machine, and the model for standardized industrial production. His contribution to the start of American industrialization was irreplaceable.
For such a genius, providing a few policy incentives was absolutely necessary.
Whitney was moved to the point of tears, swearing repeatedly that he would work as fast as possible to complete the new milling machine.
By four o'clock in the afternoon, Joseph had finished the general arrangements for the Royal Precision Equipment Company. The specific logistical work would be handled by the Industrial Development Fund and the Ministry of Industry.
He checked his pocket watch, intending to take a tour of the coal crushing plant, when a local official hurried over and handed a standardized document from a Chappe signal tower to Eman.
Since it was an unencrypted message, Eman read it immediately and then whispered to Joseph, "Your Highness, the Russian Tsarina passed away ten days ago."
Joseph couldn't help but frown. He had repeatedly sent word to Catherine II, advising her to drink less, avoid fatty meats, and exercise more, yet her lifespan hadn't been extended by much. It seemed she hadn't listened to a word of it.
Joseph knew that with Catherine the Great gone, there was no one left who could suppress the various interest groups within Russia. The empire's numerous internal problems would soon erupt.
More importantly, her successor, Paul I, was a bit of a fool—well, he felt bad calling his father-in-law that—but the man truly was prone to making a mess of internal affairs, the military, and diplomacy, which would only accelerate Russia's descent into chaos.
His primary concern now was when Paul I would withdraw the troops invading Persia. That would allow Britain to free itself from its entanglements in the Middle East.
Joseph immediately instructed Eman, "We are returning to Paris at once."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Several days later.
Just as Joseph returned to the Palace of Versailles, he saw Alexandra waiting for him with her maids. She curtsied as he approached.
The young girl looked incredibly gaunt and weary; clearly, the news of her grandmother's passing had been a heavy blow.
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