Chapter 112: The Future of Industry
“This will require purchasing a large quantity of potatoes to serve as 'seed potatoes.'” Joseph absently traced the pattern on his teacup as he looked at Mirabeau. “Currently, the government treasury can only allocate 1 million livres, but we need a total of 5 million. I don't have that much money on hand right now, so I was hoping to borrow some from you.”
Joseph knew that after investing in the paper mill, Mirabeau likely didn't have much spare cash. However, his connections were extensive, and he was on good terms with many Capitalist Nobles, making him the ideal person to help contact them.
“Oh, of course, rest assured, I can use shares in the paper workshop or Paris Angel as collateral.”
Mirabeau said, “Your Highness, the only places domestically where potatoes can be purchased are provinces like Alsace and Lorraine. Are you suggesting we procure them from so far away?”
“That's right.”
Mirabeau first nodded. “Your Highness, I can help you with the funds.”
Since the Tax Bill incident, his interests had become intertwined with those of the Crown Prince, so he naturally felt compelled to assist His Highness.
However, he then frowned and said, “What I'm about to say might displease you, but I believe I have a duty to warn you.”
“Please, speak freely.”
Joseph froze at his words, thinking, 'I was too careless; I didn't account for the dreadful efficiency of the bureaucracy.'
He considered it, then nodded. “Thank you for the reminder, Count Mirabeau. Perhaps I'll have to make a trip to Lorraine myself.
“With me overseeing things, their progress will surely be much faster.
“Additionally, I'd like to take the opportunity to inspect Nancy, so I can establish an Industrial Development Zone there in the future.”
“You truly do so much for France.”
Mirabeau praised him, then suddenly recalled the new term he'd just heard and asked curiously, “Your Highness, what exactly is an 'Industrial Development Zone'?”
Joseph set down his teacup and explained, “It's an area designated by the government to provide support, attract people to establish workshops, and thereby promote industrial development.
“For example, workshops within an Industrial Development Zone could receive tax reductions, administrative officials would be forbidden from interfering with production, new technologies would be rewarded, and the guild system would be abolished, among other things.
“At the same time, the government would also build a host of supporting facilities within the development zone, such as banks, schools, hospitals, and even apartments.”
Mirabeau's eyes widened instantly. This was precisely the business environment he had always dreamed of! Aside from anything else, the tax reductions alone would draw countless people to establish factories.
And then there was that damned guild system.
Currently in France, no matter what kind of worker one wished to hire, approval from the relevant guild was required. What should have been simple tasks, performable by anyone, suddenly required a corresponding guild, which would collect membership fees from workers and, on the other hand, extort the workshops.
As for the exploitation and harassment by government officials, that too was a constant headache for the workshops.
If these detrimental influences could be eliminated, both the profits and efficiency of the workshops would see significant improvements.
He immediately exclaimed, “Your Highness, your idea is absolutely brilliant! An Industrial Development Zone—this is precisely what French industry needs most right now!”
He was suddenly moved. The French government had always focused solely on agriculture, while industrial enterprises faced all sorts of exploitation and neglect. Only the young Crown Prince genuinely desired to promote industrial development!
Mirabeau suddenly thought of something, looked at Joseph, and asked in surprise, “Your Highness, did you just say you plan to establish an Industrial Development Zone in Nancy? Forgive my presumption, but that area is remote and lacks any significant industry. Perhaps a development zone in Lyon would be more suitable.”
Joseph nodded. From Mirabeau's perspective, he was entirely correct. Although the Lorraine region possessed vast quantities of coal and iron ore, it was largely undeveloped at present. It wouldn't be until after the French Industrial Revolution in the 19th century that Nancy, the capital of Lorraine, would become one of France's heavy industry hubs.
“Count Mirabeau, what do you consider to be the foundation of industry?”
Mirabeau blurted out, “Textile manufacturing, I suppose. Mining and shipbuilding are also important, but none have as much growth potential as textiles.”
Seeing that the Crown Prince remained silent, he chuckled again. “Your Highness, it wouldn't be brewing, would it...?”
Joseph smiled in return, then raised his teacup and said, “If industry were a plant, then textiles and shipbuilding would be the stems and leaves above ground. Only coal and iron are the roots beneath the soil.”
He silently added in his mind, 'Of course, eventually it will be iron and oil, but that's still a long way off.'
“Coal? Iron?” Mirabeau blinked. “But the trade volume for those two isn't particularly high.”
Joseph smiled faintly. “Coal and iron, combined, create the steam engine. *That* is the true foundation of industry!”
Mirabeau chuckled as well. “Your Highness, you're quite the joker. Steam engines? Those things are hardly useful, incredibly expensive, and prone to breaking down.”
“No, technology is always progressing,” Joseph stated. “Back then, the Newcomen Steam Engine could only be used for pumping water, and its actual efficiency wasn't even as high as two diligent children.”
“But now, steam engines can pump water from mines 90 meters deep, something humans absolutely cannot do.
“I dare say, the performance of steam engines will continue to advance by leaps and bounds. In the future, whoever controls the steam engine will control the initiative in industry.”
“...” Mirabeau still seemed unconvinced.
Joseph continued, “You've heard of the new automatic loom invented by the British, haven't you?”
Mirabeau nodded. “Yes, Your Highness, but those are driven by waterwheels.”
“That's only temporary. The British are actually already researching replacing waterwheels with steam engines. Once they succeed, the efficiency of the textile industry will increase tenfold, or even dozens of times over.”
Mirabeau involuntarily straightened his posture, appearing somewhat tense.
Joseph, however, presented an even broader outlook for steam engine applications: “Beyond the textile industry, the improvements steam engines bring to forging and stamping are even more noteworthy.
“Steam-powered Stamping Machines are several times more powerful than current waterwheel-driven ones, and they'll become even more so in the future. Their speed will also be dozens of times faster. Most remarkably, their precision will see a tremendous leap.
“If we possess reliable steam-powered Stamping Machines, not to mention things like armor, bearings, or carriages, even just using them to produce chandeliers, farm tools, or even cutlery, would drastically reduce costs and multiply product quality. Though these items are small, their combined trade revenue would be astonishing.”
He then said gravely, “And if other nations are the first to master steam engine technology, we will face an extremely difficult situation.”
Historically, it was Britain that achieved the breakthrough in steam engine technology, initiating the Industrial Revolution and establishing the British Empire.
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