The man hurriedly made a chest-touching salute from a distance to Joseph, “May God be with you, Your Royal Highness Crown Prince. I am Pierre Victiniang Venio, serving at the Bordeaux High Court. May I have the honor of speaking with you for a moment?”
Joseph felt the name was somewhat familiar. Venio? He suddenly remembered—wasn’t this the famed orator of the Girondin Party?
Indeed, the name of the Girondin Party originated because several of its main leaders were from the Gironde province, and Venio was one of them. Of course, the Gironde province was only delineated after the Great Commandment; presently, it was still only Bordeaux or the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.
Joseph remembered that Venio was one of the few in the Girondin Party who advocated for cooperation with the Royal Family, but he had no idea what he wanted with him.
So, he signaled to Eman, “Please let Mr. Venio come over.”
Eman nodded and stepped aside.
Quickly advancing a few steps, Venio once again gave a respectful bow, “Thank you, Your Royal Highness.”
Joseph smiled, “May I ask what can I do for you?”
Looking around and seeing no other nobles nearby, Venio spoke earnestly, “Your Royal Highness, please forgive my presumption. In truth, you really shouldn’t have come to Bordeaux this time.”
“Oh? And why is that?”
“Your Highness, the noble lords just recently refused to plant potatoes, and then you arrived immediately. You may wish to resolve this matter before spring planting, but this will make the nobles feel that you need them and thus bargain with you even more stubbornly.”
Joseph blinked in surprise, wondering why this Mr. Venio seemed even more concerned about the potato planting than himself.
Venio continued, “Your Highness, I’ve heard news from Paris that this year there might be a serious drought.
“And those great nobles will not care about it. They are wealthy and even a poor harvest won’t affect them. Some of them worry that the profits from potatoes won’t be as high as grains, but more are seeking to use this as an opportunity to lower the land tax!
“But as you know, disasters have been frequent in recent years and the farmers of Bordeaux are impoverished, unable to endure another drought.
“I have been to Prussia; the people there rely on potatoes to fight off famine. At the moment, we need potatoes too, the farmers in Bordeaux need potatoes!”
Joseph was moved, not expecting that this lawyer would be so concerned with the suffering of the common people and willing to toil for the improvement of their lives.
He nodded, “Yes, I came to persuade everyone to plant potatoes.”
Venio’s expression showed great urgency, “Your Highness, the plantation owners have formed an alliance. Oh, I also run a small vineyard. They approached me too. They say if you do not reduce the land tax, they will absolutely not plant potatoes.”
“Are you here to persuade me to lower taxes?”
“No, Your Highness, the land tax must not be lowered,” stated Venio, “the nobles must bear their obligations to the nation!”
Joseph looked at him with interest, “Oh? And what do you suggest we do?”
Venio’s expression was somber, “The only option now is for the government to provide a sum of money as a subsidy for planting potatoes. Under the drive of benefits, there will certainly be those willing to plant.”
Joseph thought to himself, You indeed possess the Girondin’s spirit of compromise.
He smiled and shook his head, “Mr. Venio, you should be aware of France’s financial situation—there’s simply not that much money available. Moreover, it’s unnecessary. In just ten more days, everyone will be competing to plant potatoes.”
Venio smiled awkwardly, “Your Highness, you jest. Unless you reduce the land tax, they will never…”
Joseph immediately interjected, “How about we make a bet?”
“A bet?”
“If within ten days, more than half of the plantation owners have not volunteered to plant potatoes, I will do as you say and provide a sum of money for potato subsidies.”
What about the other way round?” inquired Venio.
“Then you’ll have to do something for me.”
Joseph knew that Venio was skilled at oration and capable in handling affairs. By enlisting this “sturdy man,” he would be able to save himself a lot of trouble.
After only half a second of hesitation, Venio extended his hand, “Very well, Your Highness. As you say.”
Joseph clasped his hand, struck the deal, and then took his leave.
Perhaps because of the wine he had drunk the night before, Joseph immediately fell into a deep sleep upon returning to his bedroom.
When he arrived at the palace conference hall of the exchange the next morning, he found that seven or eight people were absent compared to the day before. Naturally, these absent nobles had all made various excuses, seeking leave from Montsorro.
Joseph was not troubled by this, and he got straight to the point, “So, who is willing to sign a contract to plant potatoes now?”
There was another moment of silence below; the mere attendance today was out of respect for the Crown Prince, and yet he was still thinking about the potatoes?
Venio immediately stood up, “Your Highness, I am willing to plant five hectares.”
He was but a lawyer with some family assets, and that was all the arable land he had.
Several plantation owners who were on good terms with Venio responded, “Your Highness, I can also sign for eight hectares.”
“I can plant six hectares.”
Joseph nodded with satisfaction and looked around the room once more, “Anyone else?”
The plantation owners glanced dissatisfiedly at Venio and others, but under the Crown Prince’s persistent inquiry, they still needed to offer a token gesture, so as not to offend the Crown Prince’s dignity.
Someone hesitantly muttered in a low voice, “I’ll plant 40 mu.”
A hectare being 100 French acres meant that this was less than half a hectare.
The other nobles followed suit, “Then I’ll also plant 50 mu.”
“I’ll plant 40 mu.”