Queen Mary observed her son with curiosity and smiled, "No wonder he proposed you today to be the assistant to the Finance Minister, how exactly did you 'persuade' him?"
Seeing that Joseph remained silent with a smile, she didn't press further, pondered for a moment, and named two individuals: "Besancon, who has served as a trade coordinator in several provinces and led the Mounted Police to eliminate smugglers, is quite capable in coordination and management.
"Frient, formerly a company commander in the Flander Regiment who has been my guard, is now responsible for the recruitment of new infantry soldiers, and is adept at training and drafting regulations."
She added, "I can assure their loyalty, as for who to use, it's up to you."
Joseph nodded, "Alright, I will make contact with them and decide thereafter."
He wasn't familiar with either of them, but being new to the political scene and without his own team, he had no choice but to seek the Queen's help.
He suddenly thought, with control over the police system, he could indeed invest in establishing a police academy, recruiting students from the common populace. On one hand, it would train professional police officers, reducing the influence of the nobility over the police force. On the other, it could offer subjects like management, commerce, journalism, law, etc., from which to select outstanding talents and cultivate his own "legitimate line."
An image suddenly appeared in his mind—sometime in the near future, a group of high government officials saluting him, warmly calling him "Principal"...
Well, politically speaking, the Whampoa model is quite successful.
The sound of a door opening with a "creak" came from ahead, and Joseph looked up to see they had arrived at the dining room's entrance, the vast dining room already packed with nobles who came to observe.
Yes, since Louis XV, all activities of the French Royal Family, including eating, sleeping, entertainment, and even childbirth, were open for anyone to watch.
Joseph felt overwhelmed as the Queen pulled him to sit at the spacious and luxurious dining table. The Ceremonial Officer struck the ground forcefully with his cane, then a melodious trumpet blast followed—this was the fixed ritual for serving dishes: music had to be played for each dish, passed through several hands, followed by a whole lot of flamboyant motions, before one could eat it.
Suddenly recalling something, Joseph leaned in and whispered to the Queen: "Right, if the Navy Minister comes to you about cutting the shipbuilding program, just send him to me, I'll persuade him."
Queen Mary looked at her son in surprise; truth be told, she was just troubled by this exact issue. Castri was stubborn and passionate, and having his budget cut might lead him to pester her for an entire month.
She nodded with pleasure; her son was able to relieve her of her worries—thanks be to God!
Meanwhile, on the staircase at the western side of the Palace of Versailles, the Justice Minister whispered to the Duke of Orleans, "Judging by the Crown Prince's actions, does he intend to side with England?"
The latter narrowed his eyes: "Perhaps it's the Austrian mother's idea. If the reduction of the fleet incites an adjustment in British policy towards France, it would be quite disadvantageous to us..."
On the square two leagues away, Mono and the Civil Registrar Nico Herve walked side by side in the sunlight.
"At the very least, the Crown Prince appears to be firmly anti-Prussia," said the Minister of the Interior.
"Anti-Prussia and anti-British, that's the hardliners. Neither anti-Prussia nor anti-British means the peace faction." Nico heaved a sigh, "What I'm most afraid of is being anti-Prussian but pro-British... Let me be frank—if France gets a ruler like Peter III, it would be a disaster."
He was referring to the previous Tsar of Russia, who had an adoration for Frederick II, the King of Prussia, from an early age, and even when Russia had the upper hand in the war against Prussia, he forcibly ordered the Russian Army to retreat and signed a treaty with Frederick II that was extremely disadvantageous to Russia.
After today's Cabinet meeting, everyone was worried that the Crown Prince was a British enthusiast.
Mono shook his head slightly, "I've interacted with His Highness, and he is an extremely intelligent person. Advocating the reduction of the navy might simply be because warships are too expensive, rather than trying to please the British."
"Let's hope that's the case."
The general situation of the Cabinet meeting quickly reached the office of the British ambassador to France.
Upon hearing that the French Crown Prince advocated halting the construction of all warships and taking a tough stance against Prussia, Ambassador Harriet pondered for a full three minutes before summoning a trusted aide and giving careful instructions.
After his subordinate left, Harriet seriously wrote a report on the matter and sent it back to England.
...
Lunch, where each bite had to follow strict rules, at last came to an end. Louis XVI, brimming with enthusiasm, took Joseph to visit his workshop to see his latest masterpiece and gave him a brass safe he had made himself before letting him leave.
By the time Joseph returned to his chamber, Doctor Lamark was already there, consulting with Perna about the recent health condition of the Crown Prince. Although Joseph had his own personal physician, Perna still insisted on checking on the Crown Prince's illness every day.
When Joseph came back, Lamark hurried forward to greet him, "It is inspiring to hear that Your Highness's condition is under control. I believe this must be thanks to the miraculous effects of Salicin."
Joseph returned the greeting with a smile, "And Doctor Perna's care, too."
Perna spoke softly from the side, "I have not yet obtained a medical license."
"Perna's skills are better than those of most physicians," Lamark praised his assistant, then took out a small glass vial, eagerly looking at Joseph, "Your Highness, Mr. Laseny and I have produced several batches of Salicin, and its purity is getting higher and higher."
Joseph took the glass vial and admired the beige powder inside, "You are indeed Europe's finest biologist and pharmacologist, the purity is already quite high."
"No, no, I haven't done much, the purification process was all instructed by you," Lamark humbly replied and continued with excitement, "I've been distributing Salicin for free in the New Bridge area, and its effectiveness is very good. I've found that it's not only pneumonia; this medicine is effective against fevers from many illnesses. It has saved seven or eight people's lives in just a few days!"
He paused, slightly uncertain, "Your Highness, Mr. Laseny and I discussed raising some money to produce Salicin on a large scale. This medicine could save countless people's lives! I wonder what you think? Of course, half of the profits from the medicine would belong to you."
He added in a mutter, "But, as you know, most people tormented by disease can't afford to pay much..."
"Raise money for pharmaceutical production?" Joseph shook his head, "In that case, the production and sale of the medicines would be influenced by investors."
Lamark looked puzzled, "What do you mean?"
"I will fund it, build a pharmaceutical factory, and produce Salicin," Joseph recalled the homeless person he had seen collapsing in a corner in the Saint Antoine District, "Keep the profit margin within 3%, and even consider exchanging Willow Bark for the medicine."
Both Lamark and Perna looked at him with admiration in their eyes, "Your Highness, you are truly compassionate, may God bless you!"