Chapter 112 The Future of Industry

"This requires the purchase of a large number of potatoes as 'seeds.' Joseph rubbed the pattern on the tea cup and looked at Mirabeau, "The current government finance can only provide 1 million livres, and a total of 5 million is needed. I don't have that much money at the moment, so I want to borrow some from you. "

Joseph knew that after Mirabeau invested in the paper mill, he might not have much money left, but he had a wide network of connections and had good friends with many capital aristocrats, so he could help contact them.

"Oh, of course, don't worry, I can use the shares of the papermaking workshop or Paris Angel as collateral."

Mirabeau said: "Your Highness, the only places in the country where you can buy potatoes are Alsace, Lorraine and a few other provinces. Do you mean to buy them from such a far away place?"

"Is such that."

Mirabeau nodded first: "Your Highness, I can help you find a way to make money."

Since the tax bill incident, he and the Crown Prince have been tied up in interests, so they naturally have to contribute to His Highness.

But then he frowned and said: "However, what I say next may make you unhappy, but I think I still have an obligation to remind you."

"Please feel free to say so."

"There is only one month left before wheat sowing, and with the efficiency of those in the government... you should know that it will take them at least three weeks to buy a huge amount of potatoes worth millions of livres. The remaining time is basically Not enough to transport and sow.”

Joseph was startled when he heard this, thinking that he was still careless and did not take into account the poor efficiency of the bureaucracy.

He thought for a while and nodded: "Thank you for the reminder, Count Mirabeau. Maybe I have to go to Lorraine myself.

"With me watching, they will definitely move much faster.

"In addition, I also want to visit Nancy by the way so that I can set up an industrial development zone there in the future."

"You have done so much for France."

Mirabeau praised it, then remembered the new term he just heard, and asked curiously: "Your Highness, what is the 'industrial development zone' you are talking about?"

Joseph put down the tea cup and explained to him: "It means to designate a place and provide support from the government to attract people to come and build workshops to promote industrial development.

"Oh, for example, workshops in industrial development zones can reduce taxes, prohibit administrative officials from interfering with production, reward new technologies, cancel the guild system, etc.

"At the same time, the government will also build a large number of supporting facilities in the development zone. For example: banks, schools, hospitals, and even apartments."

Mirabeau's eyes suddenly widened. This was simply the business environment he had dreamed of! Not to mention anything else, tax cuts alone can make countless people run to build factories.

And that damn guild system.

Currently in France, no matter what kind of workers are recruited, they must first obtain the consent of the relevant guild. It was originally a very simple job that anyone could do, but a corresponding guild had to pop up to collect membership fees from the workers, and on the other hand, it threatened the workshops.

As for the exploitation and harassment by government officials, it also causes headaches for various workshops.

If these adverse effects can be eliminated, the profit and efficiency of the workshop will be greatly improved.

He immediately said excitedly: "Your Highness, your idea is really great! The industrial development zone is simply what the French industry needs most right now!"

He was suddenly moved. The French government had always only valued agriculture, while exploiting and ignoring the industrial industry. Only the young Crown Prince sincerely wanted to promote industrial development!

Mirabeau suddenly thought of something, looked at Joseph, and said in surprise: "Your Highness, you just said that you want to build an industrial development zone in Nancy? Forgive me, it is a remote place and there is no decent industry. Maybe the development zone will be built in Nancy." It would be more suitable in Lyon."

Joseph nodded. From Mirabeau's point of view, what he said was absolutely correct. Although the Lorraine area has a large amount of coal and iron ore, it has not been developed much yet. It was not until the French Industrial Revolution in the 19th century that Nancy, the capital of Lorraine, became one of the cores of France's heavy industry.

"Count Mirabeau, what do you think is the foundation of industry?"

Mirabeau blurted out: "It should be the textile industry. Mining and shipbuilding are also important, but they are not as big as the textile industry."

Seeing that the crown prince remained silent, he smiled again and said: "Your Highness, it can't be the wine industry..."

Joseph smiled, then picked up the teacup and said: "If industry is a plant, then whether it is textiles or shipbuilding, these are the stems and leaves on the surface, while only coal and iron are the roots underground."

He silently added in his mind, of course, in the future it will be iron and oil, but that is still early.

"Coal? Iron?" Mirabeau blinked, "But the trade volume of these two is not much."

Joseph smiled and said: "Coal and iron together are steam engines. This is the foundation of industry!"

Mirabeau also smiled: "Your Highness, you really know how to joke. A steam engine? That thing is useless, expensive, and easy to break."

"No, technology will always improve." Joseph said, "The Newcomen steam engine back then could only be used to pump water, and its actual efficiency was not as high as that of two diligent children.

“Now, steam engines can pump water out of 90-meter-deep mines, which is absolutely impossible for humans.

"I dare to say that the performance of steam engines will continue to advance by leaps and bounds. Whoever masters the steam engine will master the industrial initiative in the future."

"..." Mirabeau still seemed unconcerned.

Joseph continued: "Have you heard of the new automatic loom invented by the British?"

Mirabeau nodded: "Yes, Your Highness, but it is driven by a waterwheel."

"That's only temporary. In fact, the British are already studying replacing waterwheels with steam engines. Once they succeed, the efficiency of the textile industry will increase tenfold or even dozens of times."

Mirabeau couldn't help but sit up straight, looking a little nervous.

However, Joseph gave him a prospect of broader application prospects of steam engines: "In addition to the textile industry, the improvements brought by steam engines in forging and stamping are even more worthy of attention.

"The stamping machine driven by the steam engine is several times more powerful than the current waterwheel stamping machine. It will be even larger in the future, and the speed will be dozens of times faster. The most rare thing is that the accuracy has been greatly improved.

"If we have a reliable steam-powered stamping machine, not to mention armor, bearings, carriages, etc., just use it to produce chandeliers, farm tools, and even knives and forks, the cost will be greatly reduced, and the product quality will be doubled. Although these things are small , but it also adds up to amazing trade income.”

He added solemnly: "And if other countries take the lead in mastering steam engine technology, we will face a very difficult situation."

Historically, it was Britain that broke through the steam engine, started the Industrial Revolution, and established the empire on which the sun never sets.