Chapter 671: The Catfish Plan
It was destined to be a busy day.
After seeing off the Director of the Intelligence Bureau, Joseph glanced at the deepening twilight outside his window. Just as he was about to head for dinner, Eman hurried in, bowing slightly and whispering, "Your Highness, Mr. Steller has returned."
"Steller?" Joseph paused for a moment before realizing. 'Isn't that the general manager of the Lightning Company?'
Unlike Mesmer, who always operated in the shadows with a false identity, Steller was the overt contractor for the London Gas Streetlights project, his identity repeatedly verified by the British.
So, after the Lightning Company's collapse, he was immediately hunted by the British government, forced to lie low in the Balkans.
Only after more than half a year had passed did he dare to quietly return to France to report.
"Please, show him in quickly." Joseph nodded. Steller was a true hero; he had even abandoned his original family business to sabotage the London Gas Streetlights project.
Steller followed Eman inside, removed the low-brimmed Phrygian cap from his head, and bowed with a hand to his chest before the Crown Prince. "I am truly sorry to disturb Your Esteemed Highness at such a late hour. However, there are many British spies in Paris, so I could only venture out after dark."
Joseph gestured towards the sofa. "Please, sit. You have made immense contributions to France, Mr. Steller."
"Your efforts are appreciated," Joseph said, nodding with emotion. "I have recommended to His Majesty the King that you be granted the title of Baron of Memark, and His Majesty has already agreed."
Steller's eyes widened. He quickly stood up, bowing deeply with a hand to his chest, very earnestly. "I truly do not know how to express the gratitude in my heart, Your Highness! May God bless you always!"
No wonder he was so emotional; this was a peerage with a territorial designation, far superior to titles bought with money. His family's social standing would elevate from this day forward!
"This is a well-deserved honor," Joseph said with a smile. "However, you may have to remain abroad for a few more years, after which you can resume your original surname and return to Paris."
He knew very well that, under Britain's Continental Balance policy, war between Britain and France was inevitable. At that time, who would care about a British government's wanted list?
In fact, the Lightning Company affair would even be turned into a joke to spite the British.
Steller stood up and bowed again. "Thank you so much, Your Highness. In that case, I will return to Greece and conduct business for a few more years."
He said, a confident smile on his face, "My furniture business there has already established a foothold."
Hearing this, Joseph's heart stirred. 'You mean, Greece?'
"Yes, Your Highness," Steller nodded. "I purchase composite boards from Marseille, then hire Corinthian craftsmen to process them into furniture styles favored by Anatolians. They are now being sold throughout the Levant."
At present, Greece was Ottoman territory, separated from Constantinople by only the Aegean Sea.
Joseph said, "I am planning to establish a trading company in the Ottoman Empire, and it seems you would be perfectly suited to serve as its general manager."
Steller immediately bowed. "I would be honored to serve you, Your Highness."
"This will be no ordinary company. It will possess a large fleet of the latest steam paddleboats, and you are to use it to monopolize trade in the Mediterranean Sea, even extending north into the Black Sea."
Joseph then explained the steamship to him, before continuing:
"Furthermore, you will be responsible for procuring large quantities of cotton and sugarcane from Syria, Egypt, and other regions. Oh, and the Ottoman Sultan has already promised our nation 70% preferential purchasing rights for these goods."
Steller had beamed with delight at the mention of steamships, but now he frowned. "Your Highness, with all due respect, such a promise is likely not very binding."
"Indeed, the Egyptians might not even obey Salem III's orders."
Steller pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Your Highness, I will endeavor to purchase as much of the desired goods as possible and bring them back home."
"Do you have a plan?"
"Well... you know, wooing, bribery, alliances, and so on. At the heart of business, it's always these things."
"Excellent," Joseph said, smiling. "In this process, you must endeavor to infiltrate Egypt, paying particular attention to a high-ranking Ottoman officer named Muhammad Ali.
"Oh, and war will soon erupt there, so you must prepare in advance."
"Yes, Your Highness, I will not disappoint you."
Shortly after, the new general manager of the Eastern Mediterranean Trading Company stood up and took his leave.
Joseph had intended to invite him to a banquet, but considering his clandestine identity, he had to forgo the idea, seeing him instead to the gates of Versailles Palace.
Steller bowed and stepped back, but just as he was about to turn, he suddenly remembered something and stopped. "Your Highness, I've always had a question: why did you name that company 'Lightning'?"
Back then, he had proposed several very elegant names, but the Crown Prince had insisted on using the peculiar word "Lightning."
Joseph smiled. "Because Lightning is slow, you see. I wanted the London Gas Streetlights project to be as slow as Lightning."
'Ah? Shouldn't lightning be fast?'
"No, it's very slow."
'Why?'
"Because Lightning is a sloth."
'??'
...
Western Poland.
Krakow, Tarnowskie Góry.
In front of the office building of the Umijan Silver Mining Company, which held 80% of the silver mine exploitation rights here, the company's second manager, Depeau, quickly exited the main door, boarded a carriage, and hastened towards the nearby town of Czepinia.
Half an hour later, in a small building used by the silver mine's steam engine technicians for rest, Depeau shook his head at a middle-aged man dressed as a technician. "Captain Ribelet..."
"Ahem!" The "technician" stopped him with a stern gaze. "It's Mr. Ferry."
"Oh, yes, I apologize, Mr. Ferry." Depeau quickly nodded apologetically and continued, "As you expected, the board of directors simply doesn't believe the Austrians will attack here. Therefore, they also rejected the proposal for the miners to undergo military training twice a week."
Captain Ribelet, dispatched by the Intelligence Bureau to oversee Krakow's defense plan, frowned. "I understand, but don't worry; the operations department has already drawn up a contingency plan for this situation."
Indeed, Joseph had anticipated that the Poles might not be wary of the Austrians, so he had specially formulated a "Catfish Plan" for this very scenario.
Depeau asked, "Do you need me to do anything?"
Captain Ribelet nodded. "Yes, you are crucial. You might be kidnapped once."
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