Life of Being a Crown Prince in France

Shevenemang allowed everyone ample time to digest the discussion before adding:

“This investment will exceed ten million francs.

“However, if the Walloon Region remains outside of France, the French Government, for risk considerations, will most likely not approve these funds.”

A Chamber of Commerce member in his fifties stood up uncontrollably: “Do you know how long it will take for the investment to materialize?”

Shevenemang replied: “Count Mirabeau’s assistant arrived last week, accompanied by the Northwest regional manager of the Bank of France Reserve. If the annexation of the Walloon Region into France is finalized, they will immediately sign an agreement with the newly established Namuon Government Hall.

“As you know, the surveying and planning work has already been done, and full-scale operations can start around October.”

The crowd immediately began excitedly discussing how each party could benefit from such a large opportunity.

It’s important to note that, with a government direct investment of 10 million francs, it will drive financial flows exceeding 30 million along the entire industrial chain!

If anyone secures even a small slice of this, their fortune will instantly leap to a new level.

And for Joseph, this investment is not a loss in the least.

Apart from fully developing the Walloon Region’s vast coal and iron resources, merely calculating by the Industrial Development Fund’s shareholdings in the Walloon Region means at least one-quarter of the funds will return to the pockets of the French Government.

Adding future rail transport revenues to the equation, it will take roughly five to six years to break even.

Soon after, several Chamber members began advocating for annexation into France—mostly prominent coal and iron capital representatives—their numbers quickly exceeded 40.

Combined with the representatives from military backgrounds previously committed, they now constituted more than two-thirds of the Chamber’s total members.

In other words, even if Shevenemang called for an immediate vote, the resolution for annexation into France would pass.

But instead, he merely exchanged a glance with the Chamber administrative advisor, Eckye.

The latter hurried onto the platform, signaled for quiet, and unfolded a piece of paper, proclaiming:

“This is news sent from Paris a few days ago. In essence, it states that after integrating into France, the Walloon Region will be divided into three provinces—Hengnei High, Liege, and Southern Brabant.

“The nominations for Governors and Municipal Commissioners will be proposed by the Chamber…”

Someone immediately noticed something unusual and asked:

“Mr. Eckye, did you say Southern Brabant Province? Shouldn’t it be Namuon Province?”

Southern Brabant is a relatively large geographic term. From north to south, it includes Antwerp, Brussels, and Namuon. Among these, only Namuon belongs to the Walloon Region.

Eckye adjusted his glasses, looked at the document, and stated:

“It says here that the Southern Brabant Province encompasses both Brussels and Namuon.”

The Chamber members erupted in exclamation, “What? Brussels?”

“How can Brussels be included?”

“Did the gentlemen at the Palace of Versailles forget that the Flemish dominate there…”

Eckye lifted the document: “The Crown Prince’s army advanced into Brussels three days ago.

“Perhaps very soon, it won’t belong to the Flemish anymore.”

Shevenemang followed up:

“The Austrian Army has already fled to Leuven, and currently Brussels is guarded only by some Dutch forces.”

This made even the previously hesitant Chamber members brighten their eyes.

Brussels is the core of the Southern Netherlands!

If it can be integrated into the Walloon Region, it will provide tremendous impetus to overall economic development.

It’s no exaggeration to say that Brussels’ vast market could expand the businesses of everyone present by 20 to 30 percent in a short time.

The next morning, the Walloon Chamber of Commerce began voting on the annexation into France.

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