Chapter 1505: Arbiter of Europe
"Your Highness," Baudelocque quickly explained, "inhaling too much ether can easily lead to uterine atony and even cause the mother to fall into a coma, both of which are extremely dangerous during childbirth. Therefore, unless the pain becomes completely unbearable for the mother, we try our best to avoid using anesthesia."
What he did not say was that ether is highly flammable and explosive. There had already been two fire incidents caused by ether, which was another reason physicians avoided using it whenever possible.
Joseph narrowed his eyes. "How do you judge whether the mother can bear the pain?"
"Usually by listening to her screams, checking how much she is sweating, and observing her complexion..." Baudelocque said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Joseph frowned. "So, you rely on experience?"
He had originally wanted to say "guesswork," but to save face for this French master of obstetrics, he settled on "experience."
"Indeed, Your Highness."
"You also mentioned just now that inhaling too much ether is dangerous. How do you control the dosage?"
"My method is to let the mother inhale a small amount first, observe her reaction, then add a little more, and observe again. We repeat this until her reaction to the severe pain is significantly reduced."
He immediately recalled that in the future, anesthesia was an incredibly complex field. During a surgery, the anesthesiologist played a role just as vital as the lead surgeon.
He looked at the Director of Medical and Health Services and said, "Monsieur Corvisart, regarding the methods of anesthesia and drug dosages, we must conduct extensive testing and establish detailed operational standards."
"Furthermore, we must establish a specialized department for anesthesiology in all major medical colleges. In the future, anesthesia procedures should be handled exclusively by professional anesthesiologists."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Joseph then instructed Corvisart to combine techniques like anesthesia and suturing to develop more surgical applications.
In any era, medicine was one of the most lucrative high-tech industries. Moreover, it was a technological advancement that the public could most directly feel in their daily lives, making it well worth any amount of investment.
By the time Monsieur Corvisart and Baudelocque departed, Alexandra had finished her exercises long ago. Just as Joseph was about to go and share the good news with her—that childbirth had just become a bit safer—Eman walked into the drawing room, leading Baron de Nico.
"Your Highness, did you send for me?"
Joseph had no choice but to sit back down in his chair and address the business at hand first. "Monsieur Director, Archbishop Talleyrand will soon broker a truce between Poland and Russia, followed by another truce between the Basel Militia and Austria. I need you to launch a massive propaganda campaign regarding these events."
De Nico was no longer just the editor-in-chief of the *Paris Business Journal*. He also served as the director of the newly established Paris News Agency—a state news agency Joseph had modeled after future agencies like AFP and Reuters. It employed a large number of professional journalists to gather news worldwide and sell it to domestic and foreign newspapers.
Such a dedicated news-gathering organization was far more powerful than the scattered, independent newspapers of other countries, allowing it to exert immense influence over the news content throughout Europe.
At the same time, the French Cultural Propaganda Association coordinated its work with the Paris News Agency to a certain extent. This effectively consolidated all of France's promotional resources.
De Nico quickly pulled out a pen and paper and began taking notes diligently. "Your Highness, should the core focus of our propaganda be our nation's immense influence over Poland, Russia, Austria, and the others?"
Joseph shook his head. "No, that is merely secondary. Your primary focus must be on framing our country as the 'Arbiter of Europe.'"
"Our nation brings peace and order to Europe. We are the mediator of all conflicts, saving millions of lives from the devastation of war."
De Nico caught on immediately. "You also pushed for the establishment of the International Maritime Convention Organization and brokered the Stuttgart Declaration. These are all the very cornerstones of European order."
"Very good." Joseph gave him an appreciative look before continuing. "Furthermore, on the foundation of this news campaign, once the armistice in northern Switzerland is finalized, we will organize the first European Peace Forum in Basel. We will invite influential scholars, social activists, and journalists from various nations."
"Make sure it is a grand affair. Aside from the formal speeches and discussions, we should organize banquets, sightseeing tours, and hand out gifts to all attendees. If necessary, you can enlist the assistance of the Paris Fashion Week Organizing Committee."
De Nico asked, somewhat puzzled, "Your Highness, the banquets and gifts... is all that truly necessary?"
Joseph smiled. "Never underestimate the power of these scholars and activists. Sometimes, a single brilliant article, or even just a well-timed phrase, can influence the people of an entire nation."
"Of course, we must categorize the gifts into different tiers based on the attendees' influence and potential. The most valuable tier should be budgeted at two thousand francs, and even the lowest tier should be worth at least one hundred francs."
"The European Peace Forum will be an annual event from now on. I hope you will make full use of this opportunity to project our nation's image."
He had stopped just short of uttering the term "soft power" to the director.
De Nico quickly bowed. "I certainly will not disappoint you, Your Highness."
Joseph recalled something else and instructed, "By the way, Russia will be sending troops to Austria to help the Habsburgs deal with their 'troubles.'"
"You can start preparing in advance to paint Russia and Austria as the public enemies of all who yearn for liberty and equality. Russia in particular should be branded as 'Europe's Secret Police.'"
Historically, people often referred to Russia as the "Gendarme of Europe," which was actually due to an inaccurate translation. The term "gendarme" primarily originated from the Special Corps of Gendarmes under the Russian Tsar's Third Section.
Yet this "corps of gendarmes" was by no means a military police force in the usual sense. Instead, they were secret police who conducted political surveillance and suppressed liberals. It was a highly negative designation.
Therefore, Joseph simply decided to dub them "Europe's Secret Police" for the Russians, making the propaganda campaign much more straightforward.
By the time they finished discussing external propaganda, it was already close to dinner.
Joseph stretched tiredly and shook his head with a sigh. He had originally intended to exercise with his family, but the day had slipped away in the blink of an eye.
It seemed he would only be able to join them for dinner.
However, just as he stepped out of the drawing room, an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs approached and bowed to him. "Your Highness, the Spanish Chief Minister, the Count of Floridablanca, will arrive in Paris the day after tomorrow and requests an audience with you. Furthermore, he brings a personal letter from His Majesty King Carlos IV."
Joseph frowned. "Do you know what this is about?"
The foreign ministry official replied quickly, "It seems to be regarding the Florida colony, Your Highness. Earlier, the Americans submitted a formal representation to the colonial government demanding the immediate return of all fugitive slaves, and the deadline has already passed."
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