The Crown Prince of France - Chapter 23

Chapter 23: The Dream Battleship

Dr. Lamarck hesitated for a moment and then said to Joseph, “Your Highness, I feel obligated to remind you that this pharmaceutical workshop will likely require an investment of fifty to sixty thousand livres. If you only aim for a 3% profit, it may take you a very long time to recoup your costs.”

Joseph smiled and shook his head. “That 3% is just a contingency reserve for unexpected situations. I never intended to profit from this medicine.”

He wasn’t acting out of pure charity or throwing money away; rather, he had a mature business plan in mind.

As a medicine, salicin could save many lives. Selling it at a low price would indeed be a good deed.

However, this substance wasn’t limited to fever reduction—it was also a highly effective cosmetic ingredient! Even in the 21st century, salicylic acid, an oxidized derivative of salicin, was still widely used in acne treatment and skin rejuvenation products.

A famous saying from the future came to mind: Whose money is the easiest to earn?

Naturally, that of women and children!

As long as the packaging and promotion were done well, skincare products containing salicin could easily sell for more than ten livres per bottle. Noblewomen would scramble to buy them like mad.

Dr. Lamarck said earnestly, “You are truly admirable, Your Highness. On behalf of countless ordinary citizens of Paris, I thank you!”

Joseph waved dismissively. “This is nothing.”

Eager to promote this miraculous drug throughout Paris, Dr. Lamarck immediately suggested, “Your Highness, I know a perfect location for establishing the workshop. What do you think…”

Joseph thought for a moment and replied, “Extracting salicin doesn’t require overly complicated equipment. Building a workshop from scratch would be too inefficient. It’s better to directly acquire an existing pharmaceutical or chemical reagent production company.”

At that moment, Joseph’s attendant, Eymond, interjected, “Your Highness, may I make a suggestion?”

“Please go ahead.”

“I recall that one of the royal properties includes a perfume workshop that has been operating at a loss for quite some time and is slated for sale. It might meet your requirements.”

“You’ve been a great help!” Joseph nodded. “Do you remember how much they are asking for it?”

“It’s about twenty-six thousand—”

Before Eymond could finish, Joseph suddenly slapped his forehead and said, “Why should I pay for it if it’s a royal property? I’ll simply ask the Queen to grant it to me.”

When Queen Marie Antoinette heard that her son intended to produce affordable medicine to aid ordinary people, she immediately approved and instructed her lawyers to handle the necessary paperwork. In less than half an hour, the perfume workshop was transferred to the Crown Prince’s name.

Joseph originally planned to inspect the workshop in person, but a servant came to inform him that the Marquis de Castries had requested an audience.

Reluctantly, Joseph entrusted the management of the pharmaceutical enterprise to Dr. Lamarck and went to the reception hall to meet the Minister of the Navy.

In the spacious reception hall, the Marquis de Castries greeted Joseph respectfully before getting straight to the point. “Your Highness, the Queen has asked me to discuss the construction of new warships with you. I firmly believe that reducing the naval budget is not an option…”

Joseph interrupted him with a calm smile. “Marquis de Castries, may I first ask why you insist on building more warships?”

“Of course, to deal with the British!” The Minister of the Navy’s voice was as firm as steel. “To defeat their vaunted fleet, reclaim the colonies they stole from us, and humiliate them just as they once humiliated my grandfather!”

Joseph nodded. “Do you believe that even with full financial support for shipbuilding, you could defeat the British?”

The Marquis, prepared for such a question, replied, “If we ally with Spain and employ sound tactics, it is possible!”

“The odds are slim,” Joseph said bluntly. “In naval tactics alone, the British are superior to us.”

The Marquis’s expression darkened briefly but remained defiant. “How would we know unless we try?”

Joseph gestured for him to drink tea and spoke with a serene expression. “If the navy were equipped with ships capable of speeds exceeding twenty knots, armed with twenty-five 42-pound cannons and thirty 24-pound cannons, and reinforced with ironclad hulls...

“Combined with our existing fleet, do you think you could defeat the British?”

“This is a fanciful dream,” the Marquis said with a faint smile. “If such ships existed, I could send the British running in terror.”

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