Life of Being a Crown Prince in France - Chapter 1552 - 1458: A Brother's Endless Love
Berlin.
A black “Gem VI” carriage turned sluggishly out of Leipzig Avenue.
The Prussian Queen sitting in the carriage furrowed her brow, glaring angrily at the buildings passing by the window, and growled: “Useless! A Prince of France can’t even deal with a minor clerk in the Ministry of Industry!”
Just half a month ago, Maréchal suddenly reported to her, saying the French Steel Technology Association was targeting the Alphonse-Boutin Company and had forcefully halted all coal shipments headed to Cologne.
Initially, Louise didn’t take it seriously, after all, she had Charles as her ace up her sleeve.
She then arranged a meeting with Charles, employing a bit of coquettishness, and the French Prince immediately vowed to resolve the issue soon.
However, during their latest encounter, Charles dejectedly informed her that, for some unknown reason, even the Industrial Development Fund and the Tax Bureau were involved, and the review process had to be completed.
And this so-called “process” might last as long as six months.
Currently, several of Prussia’s largest steel factories were beginning to experience coal shortages; half a month might not even pass before production stops.
It’s important to know that stopping a blast furnace in a steel factory entails significant losses, and restarting it incurs a period of quality decline.
This is undoubtedly a devastating blow to Prussia’s steel industry, which has just begun to take shape.
Indeed, it was on Joseph’s direct order that the French Steel Technology Association and the Tax Bureau began investigating the Alphonse-Boutin Steel Factory. So it wasn’t just Charles, even if the Imperial Prime Minister intervened, not a single basket of coal would be exported.
Of course, Joseph wasn’t trying to choke Prussia’s steel industry entirely.
For now, the Prussians have invested too few resources in this area; even if it fails, the losses would be minor. In a few years, they might gather another sum of money and continue to strive for the dream of becoming an industrial powerhouse.
What Joseph wants is a one-time solution.
Louise anxiously rubbed the folded fan in her hand: “But if even that kid can’t help, then still…”
The maid sitting across from her cautiously chimed in: “Your Majesty, do you think he might be doing it deliberately? After all, you haven’t yet granted him… well, his wish.”
“Deliberately?”
Louise was momentarily dazed, indeed, it made no sense for the French Prince to be unable to sway the Ministry of Industry.
So, is he using this to coerce me?
The more she thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.
Consider this, that boy has been mingling in the Palace of Versailles since childhood; how could he be lacking in “theories” about affairs?
She’s been stringing him along, he didn’t react once or twice, but after so long, he’s sure to start planning a “counterattack.”
Yes, that must be it.
At this thought, Louise immediately raised her hand to knock on the carriage, loudly commanding the coachman: “Detreier, turn around immediately!”
Not long after, still complaining in that exquisite small villa, Charles was surprised to see his Louise return.
The woman briskly entered the house, closed the door, and without hesitation, stumbled in her high heels and fell into his arms, her arms tightly wrapped around his neck, her whole body pressed against him, her slightly disheveled curls brushing against his neck, she spoke with a choking voice:
“I was wrong, I was all wrong, I shouldn’t have left. Without you, my so-called pride, my dignity, are worthless.
“My dearest knight, come, be with me!”
Charles was momentarily unprepared, but found that slender hands gradually pressed him down, pressed down, until his head was tucked under that lace hem.
This time Louise didn’t use her tactics but went straight for the vital point…
After who knows how long, Charles was still reveling in a charming dream, when he heard a soft whisper in his ear: “Darling, what you promised me, you must follow through.
“Every week we can be here, enjoy some happiness.”
Joseph never imagined that his arrangements would first help his brother obtain the longed-for object.
However, a week later, Prussia’s steel factories still hadn’t received the urgently needed coal.
Louise thought perhaps her “bargaining chip” wasn’t enough, so she enjoyed herself with Charles once more, only to receive the French Prince’s grievances:
“Those stubborn people are simply hateful! It’s just some lumps of coal, yet they’ve pulled out the ban issued by Robespierre! You know, he’s a very tricky one…”
Fortunately, Jesus seemed not to abandon Prussia, and the situation unexpectedly took a turn for the better.
It started when Maréchal was arrested for attempting to bribe an investigator from the French Steel Technology Association—this was executed by the Patent Protection Department, the anti-industrial espionage agency. Now the matter was extremely serious.
Maréchal’s family hurriedly used all their assets, seeking help everywhere, and finally, through a French diplomat stationed in Nassau, managed to contact a very influential figure.
After spending a full 50,000 francs, Maréchal finally regained his freedom.
He was an extremely quick thinker. Immediately he thought, since this prominent figure could “press down” the Steel Technology Association and the Patent Protection Department to release him, then surely they could assist the Alphonse-Boutin Company in escaping the investigation.
It’s merely a matter of how much they pay.
So Maréchal immediately brought rich gifts, went to the great man’s home, and proposed his idea.
…
City Palace.
In the Queen’s reading room, Louise frowned as she looked at her confidante: “1.2 million taels? If it can procure coal, then it’s not unacceptable.
“Are you sure that person has such great power?”
Maréchal nodded: “Your Majesty, I found out some information about him; behind him should be the French Governor Aisen.”
Louise couldn’t help but nod slightly.
Although Essen is a small place, it’s equivalent to France’s “office” in Northern Germany.
The Governor of Essen has a certain influence over the affairs of the North German Countries, and coincidentally, the coal mines in the Westphalia Region fall within this domain.
No wonder he managed to halt the French Steel Technology Association’s investigation into the “smuggled coal” affair. It’s likely he had the French companies established in Cologne, Nassau, and other countries each “claim” a portion of coal that ended up in Prussia, thereby balancing the accounts.
She was preparing to make the difficult decision to allocate 1.2 million taels to help the steel factories through their crisis when Maréchal added:
“However, the man said that the price of coal purchased by the Hebert Coking Plant would need to increase by 25%.”
Louise immediately frowned.
Taking out 1.2 million all at once was acceptable, but a 25% hike in coal prices would mean that the operating costs of all Prussian steel factories would significantly rise.
She pondered for a long time, then looked at Maréchal and said: “Tell him this matter involves a huge amount, I need to meet his boss personally.”
