Life of Being a Crown Prince in France

Joseph was also well aware that this model of breeding through specialized institutions was very costly, and once the planting scale reached a certain level, the supply of seeds would also struggle to meet demand.

Moreover, with the relentless efforts of industrial spies from various countries, the parent plants used to produce the triploid beet seeds would sooner or later be leaked — after all, there are a thousand days for a thief, not a thousand days to guard against a thief, and no one can guarantee there would be no slip-ups — and then they’d cultivate the seeds themselves.

Even other countries might have a genius appear who independently cultivates high-sugar beet.

However, Joseph was not worried about this in the slightest.

Because before these situations occurred, he had ample time to firmly bind beet sugar and the franc together.

Commercial trade revolves around a channel.

Once a channel is fixed, changing it becomes exceedingly difficult. Especially in the immense arena of international trade, where diplomatic issues are involved, changes are even less likely to happen casually.

By utilizing the triploid beet seeds, he aimed to channel all sugar trades through the Paris Futures Exchange, so that in the future, any country’s sugar production would have to trade here according to market habits.

Just like in later generations with Brazil, which, despite producing a quarter of the world’s mung beans, still had to trade them on the CBOT (Chicago Futures Exchange).

If everything progressed smoothly, Joseph even planned to capitalize on the influence of sugar to gradually transform the Paris Futures Exchange into the international trading center for wheat, oats, cotton, tobacco, and other agricultural products.

And for the settlement currency during goods delivery, it would definitely have to be the franc. At the very least, other countries would also have to use the franc for quotations.

Three days later, according to his itinerary, Joseph proceeded to Cologne to attend the opening ceremony of the World Cup final stage.

To his surprise, as his convoy reached the Konigswinter Village northwest of Koblenz, he saw vast expanses of beet fields in the village, the tender green leaves trembling slightly in the wind, stretching as far as the eye could see.

It’s worth noting that beet planting had not yet been promoted in the Rhineland. And here, it was already by the Rhine River, across the river was Nassau and Hesse.

Judging by the growth of these beets, they must have been planted quite some time ago.

Joseph gestured to Eman: “Find someone to inquire about these beets.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Eman made a round through a few nearby farmhouses and returned quickly, bowing to Joseph:

“Your Highness, the seeds planted here should have been smuggled from Lorraine. They started planting them last year.”

Joseph sighed: “With such a large scale, there must be local officials involved in smuggling. Have the Police Headquarters investigate it.

“But don’t implicate the farmers planting these beets. Oh, just have Venio directly promote beet planting in the Rhineland.”

After some thought, he asked: “Where are the beets grown here sent to?”

“Transported through Nassau to Brunswick, where Prussia has built a sugar refinery.”

Joseph, upon hearing this, couldn’t help but admire the speed of the Prussians. In just over a year, they had indeed formed an industry chain.

The profits of beet sugar were indeed too tempting.

However, he also believed that without someone like Achard, and lacking steam engines, the techniques and efficiency of Prussia’s sugar refineries would certainly not compare to those of France.

Hmm, it seemed that even before the triploid beet was cultivated, he could already start to exert influence over Prussia’s sugar industry.

Joseph ordered to continue moving forward, instructing Eman to take notes: “Construct new beet sugar refineries in Kemuxi and Amberg, using the latest technology, with a monthly output of over two thousand tons.

“These two factories should accept beets from any source, and the purchasing price should be higher than that of Prussia’s domestic sugar refineries.”

Kemuxi, located near Koblenz, could cover most of the Rhineland’s beet production. And Amberg in northern Bavaria was not far from Prussia and Saxony.

With the technological and cost advantages of French sugar refineries, they could easily outcompete Prussia’s factories, after which Prussia would have no choice but to opt for cooperation with France —

France would help Prussia refine the beets into sugar, and all sugar produced by Prussia would be traded through contracts at the Paris Futures Exchange.

Joseph suddenly realized that France had already formed a full-industry-chain technology monopoly in the field of beet sugar, and its advantages would only continue to expand.

Hmm, once fertilizers are developed, Prussia and other countries would have to seek out France once again.

…

The capital of Denmark, Copenhagen.

The Christiansborg Palace.

Denmark’s Chief Minister Burnstov closed the report in front of him and bowed to Crown Prince Frederick: “Your Highness the Regent, the rapid surrender of Austria indeed took us all by surprise.

“This has resulted in a… significant deviation in our diplomatic relations with England.”

The current Regent of Denmark, Frederick, nodded solemnly: “France is gradually becoming the core of the European Continent, and we must quickly make adjustments for this.”

Indeed, although Denmark previously claimed neutrality, its diplomacy was heavily inclined towards England. This was inevitable; as a country primarily consisting of peninsulas and islands, England’s powerful navy was something they had to take seriously.

However, now the international situation had undergone a drastic change.

Holland, Prussia, and Austria had successively surrendered — what Prussia calls “withdrawing from the war” is seen by the Danes as surrender.

As for smaller nations like Sardinia and Bavaria, they had directly turned to embrace France.

In such a situation, Denmark found it could no longer only focus on maritime powers; the French army didn’t seem too distant either.

“Fortunately, we did not assist England in the war against France, which leaves us room to improve relations with France.” Finance Minister Count Schulenburg paused and continued, “Moreover, I believe the result of this war has presented us with an opportunity.”

Frederick looked over: “What opportunity are you referring to?”

“The Armed Neutral Alliance,” Schulenburg said, “The British Navy has focused much of its strength on blockading France and even faced some setbacks in the Mediterranean.

“They can no longer act as they did over a decade ago, ignoring the reputation of the Armed Neutral Alliance and controlling all maritime trade.”

The Armed Neutral Alliance, led by Russia and involving Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, and even Prussia, is an organization aimed at protecting neutral countries’ ships so they can trade freely at belligerent ports. During wartime, belligerents are prohibited from seizing or confiscating goods on neutral countries’ ships, except for contraband like weapons and ammunition.

It was essentially aimed against the British maritime dominance — other nations were rarely brazen enough to carry out maritime blockades and seize merchant ships.

In the first decade or so of the Alliance’s establishment, Britain, deterred by the number of participating nations, indeed showed some restraint.

But soon, the British realized that this so-called alliance was actually a loose coalition, and thus began their counteractions.

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