Chapter 1330: As Long As the Mindset Changes
Chapter 1330: As Long As the Mindset Changes
In fact, France had previously raised a large sum of money from the "National Debt for Prussian and Austrian Reparations" issued in Germany. After paying soldier pensions and other expenses, approximately 40 million Francs remained.
Additionally, with the publicity surrounding railways during the World Cup, the French Railway Company raised nearly 80 million Francs from the public.
However, this money first had to be invested in railway construction within France, especially the line connecting Paris to the industrial hub of Lyon. This railway's importance, in determining whether French textiles could defeat British goods, was self-evident.
If it weren't for external railways being linked to French diplomacy, the Ministry of Finance wouldn't even have wanted to spare 20 million Francs.
"In terms of importance, the central line still has the highest priority..." Joseph muttered to himself, furrowing his brow as he leafed through the railway investment plan.
Beside him, Theresa hesitated over another matter.
After a good while, he recalled the pleading look of his distant brother-in-law and his wife's endless nagging throughout the nights. Finally, he steeled himself and took a small step forward, carefully saying:
"Your Highness, also... Mr. Oberholzer has requested the construction of a railway to Bern. They are willing to provide 4 million Francs... Of course, this is nowhere near enough, but they will only invest the money and not ask for any shares..."
The Minister of Transport quickly explained, "He is the Speaker of Switzerland, Your Highness."
Joseph almost burst out laughing. "Switzerland wants to build a railway too? How far is Bern?"
Switzerland had only 1.7 million people in total. Even the wealthiest city, Geneva, was comparable to the mountainous regions of Southern France. Yet, they too were joining the railway craze.
Theresa said awkwardly, "It's 160 kilometers from Lyon, Your Highness."
Joseph did a quick mental calculation. The entire project would cost 28 million Francs.
He glanced at Theresa, saying curtly, "How about this? I won't take any shares; let the Swiss fund it."
Theresa bowed his head, thinking to himself, 'I shouldn't have brought this up.' He could only offer a fawning smile:
"Your Highness, you know, they're not like the Milanese. They definitely can't afford that much money..."
Joseph was about to continue pondering which line to choose when, upon hearing this, an idea suddenly sparked in his mind. He looked up at the Minister of Transport: "Are you saying that Milan can afford the money to build the railway from Nice to Milan?"
"Well," Theresa had just said that offhandedly, so he hastily added, "the nobles of Northern Italy are very wealthy. They should be able to raise several tens of millions of Francs. It's just that they're likely unwilling to pay for railways that we control..."
Joseph shot to his feet, clapping him on the arm excitedly. "Then give them all the shares!"
Joseph had previously been stuck in a fixed way of thinking, always wanting to gain control of the railways.
He had just suddenly realized: what was the point of France having control over these foreign railways?
Would Italy prohibit French vehicles from passing through? Or would Nassau and Hesse not allow French military trains to enter their territory?
Completely impossible!
The planned railway lines weren't being built in colonies; they primarily connected France's "backyard." Would it matter who operated them?
For France, the most important thing was that industrial goods could be sold across various regions via these railways. And under the framework of the Iberian-Apennine Common Market Agreement and the Stuttgart Trade Agreement, this was simply not an issue.
"Not only do we not need to invest, but we should also collect some patent fees."
Theresa paused. "Fees?"
"Exactly. And we'll make them compete to pay," Joseph declared, feeling that 'an entirely new world opened up with this change of perspective.' "Right, the Karlsruhe World Expo is about to open early next year. You can showcase the 'latest railway construction solutions' there and publicly announce that any country can purchase a complete set of railway technology. Our country will provide technical support and patent licensing.
"As for where they want to build the railways, let them decide for themselves, as long as their lines connect to our railway network.
"Hmm, the French Railway Company's construction teams also need to expand their scale as soon as possible."
There was no need to keep railway construction technology a secret; it could be given to the countries in France's "backyard" for free. Nations that received French technology would undoubtedly adhere to French technical standards, thus ensuring the interoperability of the European railway network.
At the same time, with its steelmaking technology and advanced forging machines, France's cost and quality in producing iron rails would be unrivaled. Exporting iron rails, bolts, signal lights, and the like in the future would also bring in huge profits.
Once other countries' railways were built, they would also need to purchase trains from France, providing another source of income.
No, even the patent technology for trains could be transferred, as long as the price was right.
No matter who built a train assembly plant, the lion's share of profits would still go to the French United Steam Engine Company.
This would also promote continuous improvement and upgrades in French train technology.
'What if a country gets the blueprints but doesn't have enough skilled laborers for construction?'
The French Railway Company would provide an all-inclusive, "turnkey" service.
Joseph then summoned Mirabeau and the senior management of the French Railway Company, giving detailed instructions on how to create the concept of a "complete solution package."
As dinner approached, the few men departed one after another.
Joseph was about to head to the banquet hall with Alexandra when Berthier quickly approached, saluting him and saying, "Your Highness, according to news received yesterday afternoon, two Polish army groups and one infantry division, a total of 65,000 soldiers, crossed the Piaty River and recaptured Brest.
"Marshal Kościuszko plans to launch an attack on the Russian forces in Pinsk five days from now."
Joseph merely nodded calmly. The Poles' plan of action had, in fact, been formulated by the French General Staff.
Currently, the Russian forces in eastern Poland mainly consisted of Miloradovich's Corps with over 17,000 soldiers, and Kutuzov's Corps with 30,000 soldiers, which had been resting in Kyiv.
With the Polish army's current level of weaponry and equipment, their accumulated experience from fighting alongside the French army in Austria, and the support of various resistance forces within Poland, they were more than capable of defeating these Russian forces.
In truth, Kutuzov had long anticipated a possible Polish offensive and had twice requested reinforcements from Saint Petersburg. However, the Russian military's slow and inefficient ways meant that no reinforcements had arrived even by this point.
And now, even if Alexander I wanted to reinforce Poland, he couldn't.
Berthier continued, "If all goes as planned, Ali Shah's Corps in Persia should currently be attacking Zanjan with nearly 40,000 soldiers.
"The Ottoman forces are slightly slower and are currently still marching through Zangezur."
Although the Ottomans were slow, they had dispatched a 70,000-strong army.
Once this force reached the south of Tabriz, there would be no Russian army left to stop them.
In other words, Russia was being fiercely attacked from both the west and south by an army exceeding 170,000 soldiers!
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