Chapter 282 Expansion of Paris
Chapter 283 Expansion of Paris
Joseph's carriage was still three or four kilometers away from the Palace of Versailles, and he found that there was already a sea of people nearby.
Emang glanced out the window and explained: "Your Highness, it will take two more days for the official start of the game. These people should have come from other places to watch the game."
Normally, there is a strict dress code to enter the Palace of Versailles, but during the French Stars game, you can enter and exit the Palace Square at will, just like before on the King's birthday.
As a result, a large number of ordinary people came to camp outside the square, waiting for the game to start.
However, they will not feel bored because due to the huge influence of the Star of France, vendors from all walks of life have already prepared stalls here.
From snacks to fruits, from toys to shoes and hats, from painters to shoe repairmen, the open spaces on both sides of the road are densely packed and stretch for seven or eight kilometers. The sounds of hawking, music and the chatter of passers-by are endless, forming an impressive atmosphere. A huge open-air commercial street.
Some business-minded people even set up hundreds of tents under the shade of trees to serve as temporary hotels.
Brian was worried that too many people would cause trouble, so he sent palace guards to patrol the "commercial street", giving it a downtown feel.
Joseph looked at the bustling scene outside the car and couldn't help but feel something in his heart.
Why not take advantage of the situation and build a commercial street or something here?
As France continues to develop, the population of Paris is bound to increase. Especially after the Fashion Week and the Metrology Standardization Conference, not only more French petty nobles poured into Paris, but the number of foreigners settling here also continued to increase.
Today, the permanent foreign population in Paris is close to a thousand, most of which are concentrated near the real estate projects supporting the fashion week, and tens of thousands of people come to live in Paris.
What followed was a surge in demand for the expansion of Paris.
The Palace of Versailles is isolated outside of Paris, which is very detrimental to the issuance of government orders and the royal family's image among the people.
Joseph had long wanted to integrate Paris and Versailles, but now he saw a good opportunity.
Especially with the completion of the wooden track from the Palace of Versailles to Paris, the basic conditions for integration are already in place, and this matter should be put on the agenda as soon as possible.
The carriage stopped in the Marble Courtyard, and Joseph found that Queen Mary was not among the crowd who came to welcome him.
Emang leaned close to his ear and whispered: "Your Highness, Her Majesty the Queen is probably angry with you."
Sure enough, the queen's maid, Debeninac, pushed through the crowd and came quickly, saluting him: "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince, Her Majesty the Queen asked you to go to her as soon as you come back."
After she finished speaking, she looked around again and warned in a low voice: "Your Highness, you are really too willful this time and ran to North Africa privately. I'm afraid you don't know that His Majesty is so worried that he can't sleep every day."
"Uh..." Joseph rubbed his forehead helplessly - why does it feel like a parent is scorning a child who ran out to play all night?
He had no choice but to follow Countess de Berninac to the Petit Trianon. When he entered the front hall, he saw Queen Mary standing in the room with her back to him.
Joseph hurriedly stepped forward to salute and said with an earnest smile: "Mother, I'm back..."
"Humph!" Queen Mary raised her head at a forty-five-degree angle, not looking at him at all, "You still know how to come back?"
"Of course!" Joseph hurriedly leaned forward with a bright smile, "Ah, the most beautiful, smartest, and kindest mother in the world, I haven't seen you for almost a month. I miss you so much!"
"Really?" The queen still raised her head and deliberately said with a straight face, "How dare you go to such a dangerous place privately? And you still coaxed me to say it was in China!"
"Isn't Tunisia considered domestic now?" Joseph turned to Queen Mary, took her hands, and rubbed her face. "Look, didn't I come back safely?" he said. Then he turned around and gave Emang a wink.
The latter immediately directed his men to move in several exquisite boxes and then opened them one by one.
Joseph introduced with a smile: "Look, this is a Tunisian-style skirt that I asked you, the best tailor in Tunisia, to design.
"This is a necklace made of pearls, a specialty of North Africa. I specially selected it for you..."
"This scarf is..."
Seeing that Queen Mary remained unmoved with a straight face, Joseph sighed softly and had no choice but to take out his trump card.
"Mother, guess who I got back for you?"
"Who?" The queen glanced at her son, "It's useless, even if you ask for intercession, it won't work!"
"Jeanne."
"Huh, no matter who intercedes," the queen suddenly stopped mid-sentence, widened her eyes, and said in shock, "Who are you talking about?!"
"Jeanne de Valois-Saint-Rémy." Joseph smiled. "That liar."
Queen Mary immediately grabbed her son's arm and widened her eyes: "Are you serious? How did you find her?"
"Well, actually, this is what I went to Tunisia for." Joseph immediately told the story of catching the British spy in a more embellished way. However, in his story, he was originally aiming to exchange the spy for Jeanne. of.
"Ah, my sweetheart! Good boy, thank you so much!" Queen Mary burst into tears when she heard that her son was in danger in order to get back the liar who had humiliated her from the British. Live, "But, you really shouldn't take such a big risk! There is even a war in Tripoli...Joseph, your life is more important than everything else I have! That damn female liar is not worth the risk! Ah, I am so sad I’m so touched that my son has grown up and is like a heroic knight, washing away my humiliation. I’m still blaming you, oh, I really shouldn’t have done it…”
Joseph blushed a little, and hurriedly broke away from the queen's arms. He motioned to the maid to bring some cakes, puddings, etc., and then took out the red Tunisian dress inlaid with gold pieces and decorated with a lot of curves and blocked it in front of the queen. : "Mom, you must try this. It's very beautiful. It will definitely suit you very well..."
An hour later, Joseph, who had finally coaxed his mother, walked out of the Little Trianon Palace exhausted, and went straight to the office of the Minister of Commerce Bailly, preparing to discuss with him the development of the area between Paris and the Palace of Versailles into a commercial center and Things about the new scientific research area.
However, he had gained something from Queen Mary's place just now. The queen promised him that as long as he brought the Swiss Guards with him and said hello to her, he could go abroad at any time.
After explaining the Paris expansion plan to Bailly, Joseph went to the office building of the General Staff without stopping.
Due to the special nature of the General Staff Headquarters, the office is located in a two-story building next to the Royal Ordnance Factory.
Although the area is not large, it is extremely busy. Dozens of civilian officers carrying various materials were constantly shuttling between offices with different functions. From time to time, urging shouts came from the room, which was very different from the lazy scene in the traditional officer's office.
When Berthier learned that the Crown Prince was coming, he hurriedly greeted him with several officers.
Before they could salute, Joseph asked the question he was most concerned about: "Has the officer named Napoleon come to report?"
The Chief of General Staff obviously did not expect the Crown Prince to care so much about the young captain - who had just been promoted. He was stunned for a moment before nodding and said: "Yes, Your Highness, he came to report the day before yesterday. He is now affiliated with 1st Artillery Regiment, Royal Guards."
