Chapter 87: Who Are Our Friends?
The carriage rattled for a long time before finally coming to a stop inside a large workshop in Saint-Antoine Town.
As Mirabeau stepped out, he was immediately struck by a pungent chemical smell.
He looked up to see a row of "boiling vats," larger than millstones, spewing yellowish-white vapor that enveloped half the workshop.
Further ahead, beneath a shed, was a huge square pool with several wooden poles suspended over it, crisscrossed by connecting wooden strips.
More than a dozen workers, their arms red and swollen from the chemicals, were cooperatively lifting something out of the pool. They carefully placed it on a wooden frame taller than a man, then returned to the pool to stir its contents.
Mirabeau wrinkled his nose, shielding it with a hand. 'What was the Crown Prince thinking? To arrange a meeting in a paper-making workshop...'
He was still grumbling inwardly when a middle-aged man with a prominent nose, dressed in a black short jacket, approached him. The man greeted him warmly with a hand to his chest. "Ah, Count Mirabeau, it's a pleasure to see you here. Although the smell is unpleasant, I believe you'll come to like this place soon enough."
Mirabeau smiled brightly, tipping his hat in return. "I'm delighted to see you too, Mr. Dupont."
He took a few steps closer, lowering his voice. "And where is he?"
Only then did Mirabeau spot a youth standing on the man-high wooden frame, his attire strikingly different from those around him.
He pursed his lips and hurried over on his stout legs, bowing to the youth. "It is an honor to meet you, Your Royal Highness, the Crown Prince."
Dupont hastily introduced him. "Your Royal Highness, this is Count Mirabeau."
Joseph turned to look at Mirabeau—one of the creators of the National Assembly during the French Revolution, a pivotal politician in the current Assembly of Notables, and a leading figure among the Capitalist Nobility. He was also the key to Joseph's strategy against the High Court.
He leaped down from the wooden frame and tipped his hat to Mirabeau.
"Ah, excellent, you've finally arrived, Count Mirabeau."
The surrounding workers, separated by plainclothes guards, did not overhear their conversation.
Mirabeau asked curiously, "Your Royal Highness, what are you doing here?"
"Studying paper-making," Joseph replied with a smile. "Would you care to join me?"
Mirabeau threw up his hands. "Oh, you made me ride in a carriage for half the day to this remote place, just to study paper-making?"
"Indeed, that is one of the topics we need to discuss."
"You see, I have no interest in paper-making," Mirabeau chuckled, then added, "Why don't you tell me directly: are you representing Archbishop Brienne?"
"Certainly not; he doesn't know I'm seeking you out," Joseph stated earnestly. "I've come to be your friend."
Mirabeau quickly nodded. "Yes, Your Royal Highness, you are my most esteemed friend."
Then he changed his tone. "Of course, the Duke of Orleans and the Duke of Seville are also my friends, so I cannot..."
"No, I think you're mistaken. They are your enemies."
"Huh?" Mirabeau was taken aback. 'His recruitment tactic is truly crude,' he thought, quickly shaking his head. "No, no, we have a very good relationship."
Joseph calmly continued, "They are the Old Nobility. You, however, are the Capitalist Nobility. You are natural enemies!"
"What? Capitalist Nobility?"
Joseph explained to him, "The so-called Old Nobility are those who own vast tracts of land and estates, deriving their main income from crops and land rents.
The Capitalist Nobility, on the other hand, are like you—their wealth is mostly invested in industry or trade, and their income comes from profits."
Mirabeau nodded. He had heard similar theories before. "But we are still friends."
"Your conflict centers on labor and the demands of the environment!" Joseph declared. "The Old Nobility needs all labor to work the land; they wish for estates everywhere, with only a few cities for their enjoyment.
The Capitalist Nobility, however, needs labor to enter workshops or operate merchant ships. They wish for as many cities as possible, with only a few estates to produce enough food.
Your contradictions are irreconcilable. The Old Nobility obstructs your development, while you seek to dismantle their paradise!"
Mirabeau was stunned again, instinctively shaking his head. "No..."
Joseph smiled. "I know you are currently allied, seeking to gain more power."
Mirabeau jumped, frantically waving his hands. "No, that's not it!"
Joseph chuckled, cutting him off. "Let's assume you could overthrow the monarchy—though that's impossible. But just for a moment, let's assume it. What do you think would happen next?"
"What?"
"A fight to the death between the new and old nobility. A relentless struggle!"
Joseph mused, 'I've read history. After the French Revolution, you wiped out the old nobility completely.'
Mirabeau fell silent. He carefully considered the implications in his mind and realized that, indeed, as the Crown Prince said—without a king, both factions would undoubtedly descend into bloodshed until one side was utterly vanquished and stripped of all power.
Noticing the change in Mirabeau's expression, Joseph began to push his own agenda. "The monarchy will always need the nobility to help manage the nation. From the Crown's perspective, the new and old nobilities merely represent different approaches to development."
Mirabeau murmured with a touch of alarm, "I truly don't understand what you're saying."
Joseph continued, "The obstacles faced by the Capitalist Nobility can only be cleared by the Crown!"
Joseph thought, 'Of course, you could also clear these obstacles through a Bourgeois Revolution, but can I tell you that?'
"Oh?"
"For instance, the Crown could introduce Company Law.
Including defining who represents a company—that is, who can exercise the company's powers on its behalf.
How companies are established, divided, merged...
And how company shares are issued, allocated, and transferred...
The scope and liability of company debts..."
A series of modern corporate concepts left Mirabeau wide-eyed. These were common knowledge in later eras but, at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, they represented invaluable, advanced experience.
As a representative of the Capitalist Nobility, Mirabeau greatly valued industrial development and was keenly aware of the issues France faced in this regard. One could say that if such a law existed now, the efficiency of workshops across all of France would increase significantly!
Joseph scanned his expression and continued, "And Patent Law.
For example, you design an efficient machine or a popular fashion. Before you can even profit much, someone else copies it.
Gradually, everyone becomes unwilling to innovate, instead frantically cutting costs in old industries, ultimately leading to no one making any money.
But with Patent Law, once you've applied for a patent for an invention, others can only use it by paying you, otherwise they face heavy penalties..."
Mirabeau's eyes immediately lit up; this was exactly what he needed!
He had greatly desired to invest in improving the technology of his own workshops but had always held back, fearing he would simply benefit others.
If Patent Law existed, he could rapidly enhance his competitiveness, perhaps even surpassing those accursed British!
Joseph continued to dangle bait. "Also, there's Financial Law, Contract Law, and so on..."
After explaining the meaning of these various laws, he looked at Mirabeau and asked, "Do you think the Old Nobility would support the introduction of these laws?"
Without waiting for Mirabeau's reply, he preempted, "No!
Only with the Crown's impetus can these laws quickly take shape and help French industry develop rapidly!"
Comments