Chapter 1438: Agricultural Nation, or Industrial Nation
Chapter 1438: Agricultural Nation, or Industrial Nation
The Queen of Prussia wrapped her arms tightly around Charles's neck, then leaned down to kiss him deeply.
The young man's mind went blank. He eagerly sought Louise's lips in response, but the experienced woman subtly pulled back, her eyes hazy as she gazed at him, her voice saccharine:
"My dearest knight," she cooed, "the moment I touched you, the world stood still. Nothing exists but you, and my love for you. You are now the sole reason I live..."
Charles's expression grew serious. Just as he was about to utter a vow of love, Louise gently took his hand and guided it downward...
The young man's breathing quickened, and he mumbled, '"I... I need you, truly... I'm burning up, please, don't just watch me suffer like this..."'
Louise provocatively swayed her hips, continually guiding him.
However, at the most crucial moment, her maid's voice came from outside the door: "Madame, I apologize for the interruption, but it's already past eight-thirty, and we must depart."
Louise was well-versed in handling "children" like Charles; she knew she couldn't let him get everything he desired, but she couldn't let him get nothing at all either.
The maid's words made her flinch like a bird startled by a snake. She immediately broke free from Charles's embrace and began to frantically straighten her clothes. "My dear," she said, "as much as I hate to leave this wonderful time, if I don't go back now, he'll find out. You know, the ball starts in half an hour, and I must be there."
Charles knew that "he" referred to William III.
Reluctantly, he helped his beloved arrange her hair, walked her to the door, and then took out the diamond earrings, pressing them into her hand. "So," he murmured, "shall we meet here again tomorrow? My visit is scheduled for three days."
Upon hearing this, Louise hesitated. According to her original plan, it wasn't yet time to advance to the second step, but the current atmosphere and feeling were excellent. Perhaps moving forward early would be a good choice.
She immediately put on an act of struggle and hesitation, finally shaking her head with difficulty. "Though I truly want to come, my dear, I swear," she said, "tomorrow I have to guarantee a loan for Madame Gerhard. You know, she's my best friend, the only one in Berlin I can confide in. And tomorrow is the final deadline for her factory's debt repayment."
Charles eagerly asked, "Has she run into some trouble? Perhaps I can help."
'"No, no, it's her family business; I can handle it,"'
Louise said this, but her voice was laced with hesitation and timidity.
As expected, Charles puffed out his chest and declared, "I'm just a little curious. Please, tell me, what happened to her factory?"
'"All right, then, consider it a story," Louise said, walking "hurriedly" towards her carriage, though her pace wasn't very quick. "Madame Gerhard's husband left her an ironworks, and for years she has struggled to manage the factory while raising three children.
'"But as you know, coal has become increasingly expensive, and she's been operating at a loss..."
'"In fact, tomorrow is the creditors' last extension for repayment, and even with my guarantee, it won't be enough."'
Charles acutely picked up on the keyword. "Guarantee?" he questioned. "Does that mean if her factory collapses, you'll be burdened with debt too?"
Louise sighed softly, her delicate appearance stirring a protective instinct in all men. "I don't know," she murmured, "it's likely."
Charles urgently pressed, "How much money does her factory need? I could invest some."
'"It's no use," Louise said, shaking her head. "Without affordable coal, any amount of money would only postpone the factory's collapse."'
Charles flashed a triumphant smile. "That's not a problem at all," he said. "I own shares in the Alphonse-Boutin Ironworks, and they have two significant coal mines in Nassau. Tomorrow, I'll write a letter to their manager, asking him to allocate some coal to your friend."
Louise was ecstatic. She hadn't expected the French Prince to suggest it without any prompting from her.
In the plans of Prince Heinrich and Baron Stein, for Prussia to regain its status as a first-rate power, it first needed to develop an advanced military industry.
Therefore, they intended to stimulate the rapid expansion of a number of steel companies through government procurement.
Steelmaking primarily required large quantities of coal, followed by technology.
Although Prussia possessed some coal and iron mines in Silesia, previous wars with Austria over the region had severely damaged the mining facilities there, keeping output consistently at very low levels.
Restoring the mines would require an investment of at least ten million Thaler. Berlin simply didn't have that kind of money right now.
Meanwhile, over the past few years, the development of numerous richly stocked coal mines in the Westphalian region had driven coal prices lower and lower. Thus, even if Prussia gritted its teeth and poured money into mining coal and smelting steel in Silesia, it would ultimately lose money on every unit produced.
Indeed, thanks to Joseph's foresight, over 90% of the coal mines in Westphalia, Germany's largest coal-producing region, were now operated by French companies.
The coal produced there primarily flowed to Wallonia and the Rhineland; Prussia couldn't acquire it even if it offered money.
According to Joseph's plan, Prussia's future was as an agricultural nation. What would it need so much coal for?
Louise feigned surprise, then immediately frowned and said:
'"I'm concerned this might draw scrutiny from the Ministry of Industry," she explained. "I've heard that coal mines in places like Nassau and Cologne are subject to high 'technology licensing fees' when exporting to countries outside their origin."'
Charles was also stunned. It seemed the Steel Technology Association did have similar regulations.
Louise, not waiting for her "dearest knight" to come up with a solution, had to offer one herself. "Look," she began, "I can't let Madame Gerhard simply receive your help for free.
'"How about this: I'll have her gather some money and buy shares in your factory, without expecting any dividends.
'"That way, some coal can be transported from Cologne to her factory each month as an 'internal company transfer.' Rest assured, the pricing will ensure your factory doesn't incur any losses.""
Charles was now completely consumed by the satisfaction of helping the woman he loved, not thinking of anything else. He nodded at once. "Hmm, if it makes you happy, then let's do it."
The shares in the ironworks had originally been sold to him at an extremely low price by the factory owner, Boutin, who sought a strong patron, so Charles felt no particular attachment to them.
Louise embraced him tightly. '"You've truly done so much for me, my dear..."'
After a moment of sweet nothings, she changed the subject. "However, this might require you to write a letter to the factory. Oh, and by the way, the shareholder should ideally be listed as Baron Maréchal. He's Madame Gerhard's butler, and you know, it's generally more convenient for a man to handle external affairs."
Maréchal was from Mainz, and he gained French citizenship after France acquired the Rhineland.
With this arrangement, even if the French Ministry of Industry investigated the coal mine's ownership, they wouldn't notice any foreign shareholding.
Furthermore, Maréchal would register a French coking plant, setting up facilities in Cologne, which would essentially be a shell company. Afterwards, this coking plant would purchase coal from the Alphonse-Boutin Company, which would further avert suspicion.
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