Joseph returned to the office while his mind was still buzzing and, recalling the “persuasive” PPTs his mentor had made in his previous life for clients, began to write on paper:
Title — Planning Document for Paris Fashion Week.
Contents —
1. Prospects and Feasibility.
2. Business Operation Methods.
3. Detailed Project Planning.
…
6. Profit Model.
…
The next morning, Eman had someone fetch the architectural layout plans of the Tuileries Palace from the city hall.
Joseph, rubbing his sore eyes — he had been busy until after 2 a.m. and had slept for less than six hours — spread out several blueprints and, as if he had found a treasure, began to divide up the venue.
“The Eastern Hall faces the palace gate and also has several very spacious halls, making it most suitable as the main venue.
“Select spacious rooms on the first floor of the Southern Hall for dining and entertainment venues; by then we can assign some Imperial Chefs there…
“The first floor of the Northern Hall can sell jewelry and luxury goods. Hmm, we must reserve a good spot for the Angel of Paris…
“The second floor will be set up as high-class hotels. The service and reception staff need to be recruited and trained in advance…”
Two middle-aged men knocked and entered, bowing to Joseph. Seeing him busy, they tentatively asked, “Your Highness, do you need our help?”
They were two assistant directors of the Industrial Planning Bureau, newly appointed by Joseph, essentially the second and third in command.
One of them was previously an orator. The other was an academic with business experience, very familiar with the industrial situation in France, and had been recommended by Brian.
Joseph nodded and handed over the notebook with his plans to the taller man, “Good timing, Viscount Valerna, please help me to keep a record.
“Mr. Sylvan, please help me hold down the blueprints.”
The tall man looked at the blueprints and voiced his surprise, “Your Highness, this appears to be the Tuileries Palace?”
“Yes,” Joseph affirmed.
“What are you planning to do?”
“To rescue Lyon’s textile industry,” Joseph said, pointing at the square in the center of the palace on the blueprints, “We’ll set up a large T-stage here, at least 50 meters in length, with dense lighting, and shows taking place every three hours.”
Valerna had just written a few words when he stopped, his face showing difficulty as he looked at the Crown Prince, “Your Highness, this T-stage and the shows are…”
“A T-stage refers to…”
Again, hours passed in the blink of an eye, and after arranging the venue, Joseph was modifying the recently drafted planning document when Eman glanced at his watch and approached him, “Your Highness, those three individuals you requested will arrive soon.”
“Oh, have them come here directly,” Joseph responded, feeling as busy as a machine running at full capacity.
Before long, three men of various heights and sizes arrived at the office and respectfully greeted Joseph.
Joseph nodded in return and then entrusted the fashion week plans to the two assistants, “Please tidy this up as soon as possible and make two copies.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” the two men bowed and left the office.
Joseph then turned to the three newcomers, smiling, “May I ask how long you have all served the Royal Family?”
The three exchanged glances and hurriedly replied, “Fifteen years, Your Highness.”
“Thirteen years.”
“Over twenty years.”
“`
They were all originally in charge of managing the Royal Family’s industries.
Joseph was very clear, if he or the government were to purchase grain, it would quickly draw the attention of unscrupulous merchants, causing the price of grain to skyrocket.
Therefore, he needed someone to act as a “white glove”, to purchase discreetly and in multiple small batches. Thus, he had Eman select three individuals with rich commercial experience and proven loyalty to come.
Joseph nodded to them with a smile, “Gentlemen, please take a seat. I must remind you, the task you are about to undertake must be kept in absolute secrecy, understood?”
The three men were just about to sit down when they heard this and immediately stood back up, “Yes, Your Highness, please trust our loyalty!”
Joseph nodded, trusting in Eman’s judgment of character. He invited the three men to sit down again, then instructed them, “From now on, you are the owners of six grain shops. Each of you will be responsible for two shops. You will select the shop’s location and staff yourselves.
“After that, you only need to do one thing, and that is to buy as much grain as possible.”
“Buy grain?” An older man asked, “Your Highness, when you say to purchase as much as possible, roughly how much are you talking about?”
Joseph replied, “As long as the funds I provide you have not been exhausted, and as long as it does not cause market price fluctuations, continue buying.”
The three men exchanged surprised glances, and the older man added, “Your Highness, we don’t need to sell any?”
“You may sell a little, so as not to arouse suspicion.”
Although the men did not understand the reason, they still bowed and said, “Yes, Your Highness, we will follow your orders precisely.”
“Begin by preparing the storefronts and warehouses. The initial capital will be around 300,000 livres per person, and someone will bring it to you in a few days.”
All three men inhaled sharply at this, 300,000 per person, that’s a total of 900,000!
What does the Crown Prince want with so much grain?
But what they didn’t know was that the 900,000 livres were just the beginning. According to Joseph’s plan, they were going to buy several tens of millions of livres’ worth of grain within half a year.
“I must stress this once again.” Joseph looked around at the three of them, speaking sternly, “Try not to attract any attention, and absolutely do not cause market fluctuations. The task you are undertaking is extremely important, and you shall report to me on the grain purchasing situation weekly.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
After carefully explaining the details of the grain purchase, the three men took their leave. Joseph walked to the window, opened it, and stretched his aching back in the winter breeze, immediately catching the smell of excrement wafting from the street.
He looked up just in time to see someone defecating in a corner across the street, and his brow furrowed at once.
In the past, Paris’s filth and disorder were at most an annoyance, but with the start of fashion week, it could affect the economy!
The city’s appearance must be properly managed.
This was going to be a huge project… He sighed, thought it through carefully, and decided to start with public urination and defecation.
Joseph summoned Eman and gave his instructions, “Please have someone go to the city hall and call for the business association…”
He had intended to put the president of the business association, effectively the mayor, in charge of this matter, but thinking it over, he worried that the man’s execution might not be sufficient, so he changed his mind, “Let’s call for Viscount Besancon instead; I have important matters that require his attention.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
More than an hour later, the Director of Police Services was sitting opposite Joseph.
“Your Highness, are you saying you want the police to monitor those who urinate and defecate in public?”
“Yes, only the police can handle this.”
“But where do you suggest those people go… ahem, to relieve themselves?”
Truth be told, even Besancon himself often resorted to the streets, so the problem was not unfamiliar.
“Build public toilets.”
“Public toilets? What is that…?”
Joseph massaged his forehead, no wonder Paris was so dirty and smelly. He explained, “These are toilets built on the side of the street that anyone can use, so they need not relieve themselves on the street, cough.”
Besancon’s eyes widened in amazement, exclaiming, “Right! How did I not think of that before? Your Highness, you truly are the embodiment of wisdom!”
“`