Annual expenditures exceeded income by 20.7 million livres.
Compared to last year’s deficit of 130 million, this indeed represented a significant reduction, yet it was still an extremely terrifying figure!
Especially since next year there was the prospect of exhausting food reserves, necessitating the expenditure of a great deal of money to purchase food. Should anything go awry, the recently improved financial situation could quickly deteriorate.
Historically, France nearly doubled its national debt from 1787 to 1789 over the course of three years in order to deal with famine and riots!
And Joseph knew that the drought would continue until the second half of next year before any relief could be expected, so he could not afford to take it lightly before then.
To deal with the food crisis, one first needed money in hand.
Whether it was to purchase food or, in a last-resort scenario, to seize it, substantial capital was required for support.
Currently, France’s primary sources of revenue were twofold:
One was its recently revived industry. Although papermaking, brewing, and carriage manufacturing were developing quite well, contributing more than eight million livres to France’s revenue, they still represented but a drop in the bucket in terms of sustaining the national finances.
As for other fields, they only earned marginal sums. Particularly in pillar industries such as steam engines, textiles, and steel, more money had to be invested, and there was still some distance to reach profitability.
The other source of increased income was North Africa.
Tunisia was itself a very wealthy trade hub with several important trading ports. Furthermore, almost the entire region of Tunisia comprised fertile land suitable for cultivation, which, if developed on a large scale, could resolve France’s food crisis to a great extent.
In extreme cases, it was even possible to send famished people there to cultivate the land and provide for themselves by growing their own food.
One could say that in Joseph’s strategic plan, Tunisia was the key to ensuring France’s stability.
Just at that moment, Eman gently knocked on the door, saying: Your journey continues on empire
“Your Highness, Baron Joann is here, along with that person.”
Joseph was instantly invigorated and instructed:
“Please, let them in.”
Ever since he had received a report about North Africa from the Intelligence Department a few days ago, he had been waiting for this person. Today they had finally arrived.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Soon, the tall, tanned, and slender Baron Joann entered the office with two people in tow.
Seeing the Crown Prince looking their way, he hurriedly touched his chest and bowed:
“I am honored to meet you, Your Royal Highness! I am Berna Arnault de Joann, the consul stationed in Tunisia.”
The woman beside him, who wore a broad-brimmed hat with a veil and was dressed in a modern, form-fitting gown, appeared quite surprised by Joseph’s youth. She inquired softly and somewhat impolitely to Joann, who, after giving her an affirmative response, then removed her hat and curtsied to Joseph, speaking rapidly in Arabic.
Joann quickly motioned to the woman and translated for the Crown Prince:
“Ah, Your Highness, this is Ms. Aisha Rabiya, the eldest daughter of Pasha Eunice. Many of Mr. Eunice’s businesses are managed by her, and on this occasion, she is also acting as the full representative of Pasha Eunice.
“She just now expressed admiration for Your Highness’s demeanor and reputation, and she extends her most sincere greetings and wishes for your long and prosperous life.”
Joseph smiled and returned the courtesy to Rabiya, who had an exotic countenance: “Welcome to Paris, having traveled from afar.” He then gestured to the sofas laid with fine wool carpets, “Please take a seat, and let’s talk.”
Rabiya gestured towards the door, rattling off something in her language, which Isaac promptly translated for Joseph:
“Your Highness, she says she has brought some gifts on behalf of her father, hoping you will like them.”
He lowered his voice slightly:
“Ah, some of them are just outside, mainly jewelry. Others have been left at the Port of Marseille—slaves, about fifty or sixty persons… all purchased by her, mainly Frenchmen and a few Italians.”
Joseph’s eyes narrowed slightly; he knew these were the so-called “white slaves”—Europeans who had been captured by Barbary pirates and sold into slavery in North Africa. It seemed Eunice intended to curry favor by returning French citizens to their homeland.
He turned to Rabiya and said with a slight smile:
“Convey my thanks to Mr. Eunice. This will mark the beginning of our good cooperation.”
Rabiya promptly bowed in response:
“My father and I are both greatly honored, Your Highness.”
Baron Joann was busy providing synchronous translation.
Joseph nodded at Joann and then addressed Rabiya:
“I believe Baron Joann has already conveyed my thoughts to Mr. Eunice. So, what is his response?”
There was a sudden flash of ferocity in Rabiya’s eyes as she exclaimed:
“Respected Your Highness, my father greatly appreciates your proposal!
“Those despicable men, Muhammad and Ali, have stolen Tunisia for over twenty years; it is time to return it to its rightful owner.
“If you can help my father return to Ksar Hellal Palace, he will surely express his gratitude to you to the fullest extent possible!”
She was referring to Ksar Hellal Palace, the royal residence of the Hafsid dynasty in Tunisia and subsequently the dwelling of successive Beys.
Joseph nodded at her words with satisfaction.
He had anticipated that a hawkish figure like Eunice, who once held military power in Tunisia and had even turned against his own father, would not be content to live out his days in solitude in Algiers.
Therefore, he had instructed the Police Affairs Department to coordinate with the Tunisian consulate to make contact with Eunice. Shortly afterward, the department sent back a report stating that Eunice was very interested in reclaiming the Bey’s throne and that he had numerous supporters in Tunisia.