With the blessing of soybeans, coupled with Napoleon’s “on-the-spot resupply” mode, the French Army’s logistical capability would crush any European opponent.
There has always been a saying about war, “Amateurs talk strategy, professionals talk logistics.”
Logistics is always the most important link in warfare, which is why everyone from the Spring and Autumn period to the Three Kingdoms era loved to burn the enemy’s supply of grain at every opportunity.
The logistical advantage brought by soybeans is even more important than new-style firearms.
Joseph continued, “When there is no war, we can purchase a large amount of soybeans from the farmers and store them in the strategic reserve grain silos.”
What he didn’t say was that in the event of a severe famine, these could also be mixed into bread as rations.
Venio just made notes of everything as he followed Joseph.
By the time dinner arrived, he looked at the thick stack of work arrangements in front of him and couldn’t help feeling overwhelmed.
He originally thought his role as the Minister of Agriculture would involve leisurely urging the planting of potatoes as in the past, but he didn’t expect the Crown Prince to have so many tasks for him.
It seemed that his promise to Lady Lacroix to take her on a trip to Spain was going to fall through…
Two days later, the caravan arrived in Nancy.
Venio busied himself with the purchase of potatoes. Nowadays, the northeast of France had almost become a “potato breeding base,” and as the Minister of Agriculture, he had to give it special attention.
Meanwhile, Joseph went straight to the industrial development park.
This was the purpose of his trip. To grow the domestic economy, vigorously promoting industrial development was fundamental. Merely a portion of the Industrial Revolution’s dividends could feed the grumbling noble class. That’s exactly what the British did historically.
From a great distance, Joseph could see thick plumes of black smoke rolling up into the sky.
In later ages, this would certainly incur heavy fines from environmental agencies, but at present, it was a symbol of advancement and civilization.
This time, Joseph had not notified the industrial park in advance, giving only an hour’s notice to the park’s manager, Ramo, before his arrival.
Therefore, only Ramo, William Murdoch, Sandler, and about a dozen others were at the gate to welcome him.
Joseph joined them in a hand-cranked trolley running on wooden rails, speeding towards the depths of the park. Since this stretch was downhill, the car moved swiftly even with only two people cranking the lever.
Joseph looked around and saw that nearly one-third of the park had been built up with factories. Compared to the sparse buildings from his visit last year, it was now brimming with vibrancy.
Ramo wiped the black soot from his face with a handkerchief—God as his witness, he had washed his face before leaving, and this was all from the coal smoke along the way—and then eagerly introduced to the Crown Prince, “Your Highness, now over half of the factories in the development zone have achieved production standardization, and the production efficiency has increased several times over compared to before.
“The remaining factories, oh, they can now only be considered workshops, and many are newly built, but they are also spreading standardized production.
“Our goal is to have over 80% of the factories reach production standardization by the end of this year.”
The attitudes of these factory owners had changed greatly compared to last year—they had seen with their own eyes the terrifying efficiency after other factories implemented standardized production.
Efficiency can reduce costs and increase output, and that means glittering livres!
For capitalists, nobody can stop them from doing something that makes money. Consequently, Jean Sone’s previously founded ‘Production Management Consultancy Company’ is now thriving, and the cost of implementing standardization reforms continues to rise. Employees are working till dark every day before they can leave work.
Ramo stood up and pointed towards a large complex of buildings to the west, “Your Highness, look, that is Viscount Olivier’s ironworks. Oh, he later made investments twice, and now he owns three blast furnaces and four reverberatory furnaces.
In the first three months of this year, he has already produced nearly 24 million pounds of iron ingots, and he expects to produce over 98 million pounds this year.
“Moreover, his steel mill has employed quite a few British technicians, and the quality of the steel produced now has basically reached the level of those in Birmingham.”
He added in a lower voice, “It’s just that the cost is still a bit high…”
Joseph nodded, France’s steel industry has always been decades behind England, and given the scarcity of iron ore, it is difficult to match British costs.
He remembered that last year when he came here, the total pig iron production of the entire development zone was only 7,000 tons. Now, just Viscount Olivier’s firm alone has reached 98 million pounds, which is nearly 50,000 tons. This rate of progress was truly astounding.
Bear in mind, last year the entire country of France produced only 120,000 tons of pig iron.
With the policy support in the industrial park and the added boost of production standardization, this single ironworks has produced nearly half of the previous year’s national output.
Ramo, the manager, continued, “Adding the Gregoire brothers’ ironworks and several other smaller ones, the total iron ingot production of the development zone this year should exceed 200 million pounds.”
200 million pounds is almost 100,000 tons.
The Nancy development zone has basically reached the past pig iron production of All of France.
Joseph couldn’t help but smile. If you add the ironworks of Saint-Etienne and Lille, France’s pig iron production this year will very likely surpass England by a considerable amount!
Although the cost may also be higher than England’s, only with steel production is an industrial revolution possible.
This is a very good start indeed.
He then asked Ramo, “What about the sales situation?”
“Your Highness, recently a lot of wooden railways have been laid out in our country, consuming over 60% of the iron ingots. Most of the remainder is sold in Paris and the southern provinces, and some are sold nearby to Bavaria and Wurttemberg.”
Although wooden railways are mainly made of wood, a layer of iron sheet is still covered on top to prevent wear and tear; in addition, iron is also used in parts like rivets and connectors.
So if it weren’t for the substantial increase in iron production here in Nancy, even the twenty to thirty kilometres of wooden railways around Paris might not have been laid down.
In the future, if we want to lay down steel rails, the consumption of iron and steel will be astronomical.
Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire
Joseph suddenly remembered the “blast furnace ironmaking” technology. He might not be clear on the details, but having seen some documentaries, he understood the principles.
This could be a major boon for increasing pig iron production and could also be achieved by modifying existing blast furnaces, without the need for new ones.
He immediately ordered Ramo, “Please arrange for several ironworks owners, oh, and their core technicians, to come see me tomorrow morning. It’s a matter of great importance.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
As the rail cart made its way around the expansive ironworks district, Eman began to wipe the soot off Joseph’s face with a handkerchief.
Murdock, who had finally found an opportunity to speak, pointed eagerly towards a factory not far ahead, as if to take credit, “Your Highness, your United Steam Engine Company has tripled in size in this nearly one year.”