Chapter 1304: The Most Grand World Cup
Joseph headed towards the changing room, then turned and gestured to Mirabeau. "Come with me later, if you would. We can continue discussing industrial planning on the way."
"As you command, Your Highness."
Soon after, Joseph, clad in a deep blue formal suit, and Mirabeau exited the Palace of Versailles. Just as they were about to board their carriage, Charles suddenly darted out from the side, bowing dramatically. "Brother, I heard you're going to preside over the World Cup draw ceremony?"
"Indeed, that's right." Joseph smiled, stepping forward to put an arm around his brother's shoulder. "But what about Monsieur Lagrange's lesson...?"
"It finished early," Charles replied. "He said I already know this material well."
"And your fencing lesson this afternoon?"
"Baron de Perceval called in sick."
"Alright then." Joseph patted him. "You can help preside over the draw too."
"Fantastic! Thank you!" Charles cheered, pumping his fist excitedly. He was completely obsessed with football and even sponsored a professional team in Paris.
Nowadays, nobles from Versailles almost always transferred to a Steam Railcar here. It was far faster than a carriage; they could go shopping in downtown Paris in the morning and return by four or five in the afternoon, without missing any evening banquets or balls.
Their immense purchasing power further fueled Paris's prosperity. Take the Paris Angel Specialty Store, for example: ever since Steam Railcars began operating within the city, its sales had soared by 1.7 times!
As Joseph was about to board the royal Steam Railcar, he heard boisterous shouts from a nearby plaza. "Come to the Gregoire Paper Mill! You can start working during your skills training, with a monthly wage of 29 francs!"
"Lambert Ironworks offers easy work, 30 francs a month. If you're a respected veteran, you get an extra 3 francs!"
"Paul-Garrick Engraving Factory, 26 francs a month. Even if you have a leg injury, you can still work here..."
Joseph looked at Mirabeau in surprise. "Aren't the soldiers here celebrating the promulgation of the Veteran's Decree?"
Mirabeau shook his head, equally perplexed.
Eman gestured for an attendant to investigate. The attendant soon returned, bowing to Joseph. "Your Highness, the soldiers were indeed celebrating in the plaza. However, upon learning that hiring veterans brings tax reductions, factory owners rushed here to recruit workers, leading to the current scene."
Mirabeau suddenly understood. "Your Highness, factories have received a large number of foreign orders recently, and they must be desperate to increase their workforce."
Joseph nodded. He had just heard that some factory owners were starting to offer additional wages to attract veterans.
Charles, however, interjected a reminder. "Brother, I recall Monsieur Say mentioning in class that rapid production expansion can be very dangerous."
Jean-Baptiste Say was his economic management instructor.
"He's not wrong," Joseph conceded. "However, whether the scale of production is appropriate depends on raw material supply and market capacity."
"Currently, our nation has abundant raw material sources and has gained vast new markets in Germany and Eastern Europe. Thus, it is precisely the right time to rapidly expand our production capacity and seize these markets."
"I see," Charles said, a sudden smile spreading across his face. "It seems my 'Iroquois Treasures Company' should also see rapid development!"
Joseph puzzled. "Iroquois Treasures Company?"
Eman quickly whispered, "Your Highness, Prince Charles has invested in a factory that produces Native American hand axes, pipes, and headwear."
Joseph looked at his younger brother in surprise. "Your business acumen is quite remarkable."
France had recently won a decisive victory in North America alongside the Native American tribes, and Joseph was confident that an "Indian craze" would soon sweep France. The company was sure to be profitable.
'Yes, Charles was, in fact, trying to emulate his elder brother in every way. When Joseph was his age, Paris Angel's annual turnover had already exceeded ten million francs, so Charles was contemplating starting his own company.'
Charles's face lit up with delight at his brother's praise. "When I was in Bavaria, a collector showed me his Shawnee hat—the kind made with silver pieces and feathers woven into a ring, intricately patterned. It was absolutely beautiful. I thought someone in Paris would surely appreciate something so unique."
Joseph, however, paused, then nodded at Charles. "Unique indeed. You've given me an idea."
"We shouldn't just limit ourselves to expanding existing industries; we must also create new economic growth points so as not to waste this rare market opportunity."
'A flood of new inventions that current technology could potentially produce instantly sprang to his mind: iron wire, kerosene lamps, rubber. Any one of these, if successfully developed, could become an industry worth tens of millions of francs.'
'And then there were electricity-related industries; that was an even vaster blue ocean. Volta had submitted a report a few days prior, stating that he had completed the entire manufacturing process for the Voltaic Pile Battery, which could discharge steadily for over 40 minutes.'
'He had been too busy lately to attend to the battery matter, but it seemed after the World Cup draw, he would need to make a trip to the French Academy of Sciences as soon as possible.'
Joseph then briefly outlined his plans to invest in and develop new industries to Mirabeau, who grimaced, stating that it would require substantial funding.
The Steam Railcar travelled both steadily and swiftly. As the two men conversed, the carriage came to a halt in front of the Tuileries Palace.
The palace was already festooned with ribbons, and the flags of over 40 participating teams fluttered on either side of the road leading to the main entrance. Numerous officials and journalists peered eagerly, awaiting the Crown Prince's arrival.
As Joseph disembarked, joyful music immediately struck up around him. There were even animal trainers with two elephants and several bears performing nearby to add to the festive atmosphere.
France's international influence was currently at its zenith. For a mere draw ceremony, diplomats from various nations had traveled thousands of kilometers to attend.
Joseph, leading Charles, walked through the crowd and ascended the podium that had been set up in the Tuileries Palace square.
With his younger brother eagerly volunteering to do the "heavy lifting," Joseph was glad to take it easy, handing over all matters from giving the address to conducting the draw to Charles.
Charles, for his part, relished the task. After a series of formalities, under the gaze of thousands, he drew four small metal balls from a wooden box and handed them to the master of ceremonies.
The latter extracted the slips of paper from the balls, unfolded them, and announced loudly, "Central and Eastern European Zone, Group One — Poland, Prussia, Mecklenburg, and Wiltz!"
Upon hearing this, Count Potocki, the Polish Foreign Minister, and the team captain, both in the audience, simultaneously cast icy glances at the Prussian representatives not far away.
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