Life of Being a Crown Prince in France

Chapter 1125: Chapter 1031: The Blocked British Chemical Technology Tree

The gentlemen of the management committee are well aware of how well the steam paddle ships from France’s Brest Shipyard are selling.

Currently, thirty percent of the ships on the Rhine-Danube route are of this type—a result achieved in less than two years—while the remaining seventy percent of oar and sail ships have taken many decades to accumulate.

Steam paddle ships are also ubiquitous in the Mediterranean Sea; although their percentage is not as high as in river transport, the absolute number is larger due to the enormous trade volume there.

Under the pressure of steamships, freight prices for old-fashioned oar and sail ships are continuously dropping. It is foreseeable that, at most in a decade or so, the inland river shipping market will be entirely unified by steamships.

This huge market has already been seized by the French people, and England must catch up quickly.

Furthermore, what appeals most to the management committee is the promise from the Chat Han Shipyard to offer their steam paddle ships at a price 15% lower than their French counterparts within two years.

In other words, by then they will dominate the entire inland river industry market!

Even according to the most conservative estimate, there will be an annual profit of 200,000 British Pounds.

Of course, the promise of significantly lower costs than French goods within two years is something Frank strongly advocated for Hope to add—he guarantees that by then he can lower the price of steam engines supplied to the shipyard by 40%.

Well, this agent gentleman fully grasped the essence of “swindling” after presiding over the sales business of the Watt Steam Engine Company for a year and a half.

Anyway, in two years, he will surely return to his country, and whether Chat Han gets questioned is none of his business.

Soon after, Sir Malik loudly announced the voting results: “12 votes in favor, 2 votes against, application approved!”

The two committee members who voted against were only concerned that the investment was somewhat too high and hoped it could be split into two phases, each with 250,000 Pounds.

In the VIP seats on the second floor of the hall, Lord Star, the assistant chairman of the British Trade Committee, who came to attend, also nodded repeatedly and said to his assistant beside him: “This is the true industrial new star we need! From now on, report the progress of the Chat Han Shipyard to me monthly.”

He had always advocated that the “government investment fund” should completely emulate France and was very dismissive of the voting decision on investment direction.

But soon, when Malik placed the plan to invest 1.1 million British Pounds in coal and iron mining, 700,000 Pounds in iron smelting, and 500,000 Pounds in chemistry in front of him, he finally realized that this wouldn’t work.

The industrial situations of England and France are entirely different, the industries France invested in are already present in England, while the lacking aspects in England were not invested in by France.

The “assignments” are dissimilar, copying them will surely score zero.

However, when today’s voting began, Lord Star suddenly found that this mode seemed decent as well.

The officers of the management committee possess rich experience and precise judgment, and public voting can also prevent corruption.

Then, Malik’s assistant’s voice sounded again from the stage: “Next. London Garivelle Coal Company, applying to lay a coal gas street lamps project in the west of Chelmsford City, investment amount 200,000 British Pounds…”

The entire hall instantly fell into dead silence.

The gentlemen of the management committee quietly exchanged glances, their eyes full of tension and anxiety.

Yes, back then “Lightning Coal Company” went bankrupt, causing more than twenty British companies to go bankrupt, thousands of workers to lose their jobs, hundreds to commit suicide, and four members of Congress to step down in disgrace,

and even this incident was turned into a joke by the French people, who would mention it at every opportunity.

Thus, ever since, “coal gas street lamps” have practically become a taboo for the British people.

And this Garivelle Coal Company is one of the few survivors of the “coal gas street lamp incident,” investing tens of thousands of Pounds with gritted teeth to finally develop coal gasification technology, only to find no city in all of England willing to lay coal gas street lamps.

After the company put forth a substantial bribe, the mayor of Chelmsford reluctantly agreed to do the coal gas street lamp project, but to avoid risk, required the company to advance the funds, and after the street lamps in the west are laid, the city hall would sign a contract to pay.

200,000 Pounds is not a small sum, hence Garivelle Coal Company thought of the government investment fund.

Half a minute later, Malik loudly announced: “0 votes in favor, 14 votes against, application denied!”

The gentlemen of the management committee breathed a sigh of relief.

A few attendees whose relatives committed suicide due to the “Lightning Coal Company incident” slowly unclenched their fists.

Only Lord Star on the second floor frowned.

As an officer in charge of industry, he knew very well that England urgently needed coal gas street lamps.

The primary benefit would not be urban illumination but enabling large-scale coal gasification to start.

With coal gasification, there would be copious amounts of coal tar, from which cheap phenol, synthetic dyes, and even impetus for the development of the entire chemical industry could be extracted.

France is already earning millions of British Pounds yearly with these items, while England has shown no sign of action.

Especially synthetic dyes, which could later impact the textile industry.

Yet Star had no recourse.

If he dared to strongly advocate for coal gas street lamps, he might be dismissed the very next day.

He could proceed with coal gasification without the lamps and then develop chemical technology, but products would be dozens of times pricier than French goods.

France’s coal tar is considered “waste,” since the cost of coal gasification has already been paid by those using gas lamps, yielding extra profit from the products made later, a cost impossible to match.

Lord Star sighed and consoled himself: once the steam paddle ship industry turns a profit, funds can subsidize the chemical industry.

Ahead, the voice announcing investment application forms was heard: “Next. Leeds Miracle Textile Factory, applying for the steam automatic jacquard loom project…”

…

In the Versailles Palace Garden, Joseph basked in the warm sunlight, listening to Lavallette report on the events triggered by the test voyage of the British steam battleship.

“This Lieutenant Potier is indeed a talent in intelligence,” he nodded with a smile. “His plan is ingenious. So, what is the outcome?”

The Security Bureau chief hurriedly replied, “Very smoothly, Your Highness. Jervis terminated the investigation, and afterwards, the British Fund Management Committee approved the application of the Chatman Shipyard with 12 votes in favor and 2 against…”

“Wait a moment,” Joseph suddenly raised his hand, “Are you saying the British use voting to determine investment applications?”

“Indeed, Your Highness, at the beginning of this month, the British Parliament suddenly decided.”

Upon thoroughly understanding the latest operation mode of Britain’s “investment fund,” Joseph couldn’t help but smile: “Such a wonderful opportunity cannot be missed. Please notify Mr. Hart to immediately arrange for the Bolton-Watt Company to apply for government investment.

“The project title is ’cutting-edge 180-horsepower steam engine project,’ with an investment amount of 50,000, no, 80,000 British Pounds.”

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