The Crown Prince of France - Chapter 147

Chapter 147: Preparing for War

The leaf spring was a well-established technology, and Joseph merely asked the craftsmen to apply it in a different way, so technical matters were quickly sorted out with them.

Joseph left the carriage workshop and instructed the newly appointed workshop manager: “Mr. Raspeena, your most important task moving forward is to recruit skilled craftsmen as soon as possible. Feel free to spend more money and poach from other workshops if necessary.”

“Understood, Your Highness, I will do as instructed,” the manager, who hailed from Parma, responded with a respectful nod.

Joseph continued, “Once the new leaf spring shock absorber is completed, our workshop will focus solely on producing chassis. The carriage bodies will be custom-made at other carriage workshops, using the most luxurious materials and accessories.”

Raspeena cautiously replied, “Your Highness, this will be very costly…”

“Do not worry about the costs, we will have ample profits,” Joseph reassured him.

Joseph smiled and then gave further instructions: “Remember, all carriage bodies must bear the ‘Royal Certification’ engraving, and the rear should be marked ‘Matching Chassis of the Imperial Carriage.’ Make the word ‘chassis’ a bit smaller.”

Getting a “Royal Certification” was simple for Joseph, as he could just have a word with his mother. However, the “Matching Imperial Carriage” label would require him to send one of his own carriages to his father and have him take a few rides in it. Of course, only the chassis would be identical; if the body were exactly the same, court officials would surely raise objections.

“Next, we need to increase advertising investment. I will make arrangements with Le Journal de Paris and secure the best advertisement slots for you. Paris Fashion Week is coming soon, and you must seize this opportunity to make our carriages the trend among the nobility.”

Joseph was quite confident about the sales prospects of the carriages.

The shock absorber structure he had copied from the later models of small cargo carts could provide the same comfort as modern spring suspension, but at only a tenth of the cost. This allowed him to spend more on making the carriage bodies more luxurious. Even with these added features, the overall cost would still be much lower than using spring suspension, meaning the price could be considerably lower.

Currently, only the wealthiest could afford carriages with spring suspension, and they were considered the epitome of luxury—equivalent to the later models of Maybach or Porsche.

Joseph planned to price the new carriages at around 60% of the cost of spring suspension models, roughly aligning with the price range of Mercedes or BMW in later times. The nobles who couldn’t afford the “ultra-luxury” carriages would surely flock to buy the “Royal Certified” carriages, which looked even more luxurious than the “ultra-luxury” models but offered the same comfort.

The only thing Joseph worried about was the workshop’s production capacity.

If demand outstripped supply, he could consider opening the patent to other workshops for a fee. This was not like the wine-making technique, where he only charged a 3% patent fee—back then, he was trying to encourage plantation owners to grow potatoes. The carriage business, however, was purely commercial, and the patent fee would have to be at least 30%.

...

The next day, at the East Hall of Versailles Palace, the cabinet meeting was proceeding in an orderly manner.

“Is this satisfactory?” Queen Marie handed back the document appointing Talleyrand as Senior Diplomatic Advisor to Briand, who had already signed it with her name.

Briand nodded respectfully. “Yes, thank you, Your Majesty.”

The ministers in attendance were not particularly concerned about the appointment of a clergyman, and since the position of diplomatic advisor was not significant, Briand’s proposal was quickly approved.

Briand, the Archbishop, collected the commission document and signaled his assistant to distribute copies of the letter from Catherine the Great to the others in the room.

Although it was officially a letter, its contents were essentially diplomatic correspondence and did not require confidentiality.

Briand said, “The origin of the Russo-Turkish War is the Ottoman Empire’s demand for Russia to return Crimea and its attack on a Russian frigate.

“As of now, the Ottoman forces have launched several attacks on the port of Kinburn but have been repelled by the Russian military. Notably, at the end of last year, the Ottoman main force was nearly destroyed by the Suvorov Corps, and their offensive has temporarily stopped. Meanwhile, Russia is gathering its corps and warships.”

The foreign minister who had just returned from Russia, Viren, added, “From what I heard in Saint Petersburg, Empress Catherine is determined to capture Ochakov in one decisive blow.”

Ochakov was a strategic stronghold between Russia and the Ottoman Empire; anyone wishing to attack the other would have to pass through it. It was also an important naval base overlooking the Black Sea.

Briand continued, “At present, it seems that Austria will likely support Russia and send troops to attack the Ottoman Empire, while Sweden is mobilizing its forces and seems to be preparing to support the Ottomans from the northern front to attack Russia.”

Queen Marie furrowed her brow slightly, as if thinking aloud: “So what does this mean?”

“Your Majesty, although Sultan Hamid I has carried out military reforms and made ample preparations, based on past conflicts, Russia still holds the advantage,” Briand quickly analyzed. “Furthermore, Saint Petersburg is eager for us to join the fight against the Ottomans, and they should be willing to offer us some incentives.”

Hamid I was the current Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.

Briand and Joseph exchanged a glance and continued, “If we are to intervene in the Russo-Turkish war, now is a good time.”

The queen appeared puzzled. “But our army would have to cross Austria and march four thousand miles to reach Crimea.”

Joseph interjected, “Your Majesty, we do not need to go to Crimea. Sweden can support its ally to the north of Russia, and we can take action on the western side of the Ottomans.”

“His Highness the Crown Prince is absolutely right,” Briand said. “As long as we demonstrate our strength in the Mediterranean, it will significantly disrupt the Ottoman’s strategic deployment.”

The navy minister, hearing that action was planned for the Mediterranean, immediately became interested. “I agree with Archbishop Briand’s view. If we merely make a detour to the Gulf of Surt and receive Russia’s gratitude, this would be a highly cost-effective strategic move.”

Joseph sighed inwardly. What are you thinking? There’s no way we have the military funds to flex our muscles around the Ottomans. Wouldn’t it be more practical to gain some benefits closer, in the Barbary Sea?

The Gulf of Surt was located in the southeast of the Mediterranean, near the southern shores of the Ottoman Empire. Although it posed a significant threat to the Ottomans, it was far from France. It was not feasible for France to go all the way to the Ottoman heartland and fight; this would simply make them Russia’s pawn.

On the other hand, the Barbary Sea was located in the western Mediterranean, close to France’s southern shore and linked to North Africa. That was where France’s interests truly lay.

He quickly said, “Marquis Castelli, our operation’s goal should be to target the Ottoman naval forces in the western Mediterranean.”

“The Ottoman navy in the western Mediterranean…” The navy minister took a full two seconds to realize, “Are you referring to the Barbary pirates?”

“Yes,” Joseph nodded. “Including their naval bases.”

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