The Fox of France

Chapter 241: Steel and Economic Warfare

Chapter 241: Steel and Economic Warfare

Lucien's defense found some understanding and support from Joseph, but it couldn't shield him from the consequences Napoleon and Joseph had in store for him. The reason? Disregard for authority.

"So, you think you can pull something of this magnitude without discussing it with us first? Tell me, are you simply audacious, or are you so self-assured that you've lost your sense of judgment? Well, you can pick one of these judgments yourself..."

"Joseph, I..." Lucien's face turned pale.

"Joseph, Monsieur Lavasie had something sent over." Just then, Fanny pushed the door open and walked in. 458

Joseph furrowed his brow but temporarily set aside the matter with Lucien. After all, if Lavasie was sending something over, it had to be important. "Could it be...?" Joseph's heart raced.

"What is it?" Joseph inquired.

"Right here, take a look for yourself." Fanny revealed the shiny little ingot she had concealed behind her back, placing it in front of Joseph.

Joseph took the small ingot and examined it closely. He even used a paper knife from the desk to make a slight cut to confirm it was indeed steel and not wrought iron. His excitement intensified.

"You're lucky today," Joseph turned to Lucien. "I have other matters to attend to, and I can't be bothered with you right now. Go find Napoleon yourself."

In truth, ever since his brothers had become influential figures in their own right, Joseph had rarely resorted to imposing 'family discipline.'

With Lucien dispatched, Joseph immediately arranged for a carriage and set off for Lorraine.

Three months earlier, Lavasie had completed an experiment in the outskirts of Paris, using hot air blown into a blast furnace. He successfully produced a batch of steel. Though the quality of this steel wasn't ideal, particularly at low temperatures, it was still superior to copper and iron by all means.

Joseph knew the issue lied in the phosphorus and sulfur content in the steel, specifically from the iron mines in Lorraine. The phosphorus content was too high, and even with a basic refractory lining in the furnace, it couldn't be completely eliminated. Of course, with more time, more experiments, adjustments to slag-making materials and process, the quality of the steel could be improved further, but...

"We can't afford to wait any longer. We've already expended too much capital, and we need a product that can bring in returns quickly. Besides, as long as it's not used in extreme conditions, the steel we have right now is sufficient," Joseph declared after receiving news of the initial success of the experiment. He immediately stopped further funding for experiments and instead pushed for the immediate commercialization of the existing technology, urging the rapid establishment of a fully functional steelworks.

Lavasie agreed wholeheartedly with this decision, as it meant the project was finally profitable, and he could claim his own estate. Thus, when it came to swiftly industrializing the steelmaking process, he was even more eager than Joseph.

So Lavasie personally went to Lorraine to supervise the construction of the first modern steelworks.

Clearly, the sooner the steelworks were constructed and put into operation, the greater the benefits for the military-industrial complex. To meet the deadlines, many things were overlooked, leading to a series of problems. During the first run of the steelmaking furnace, a major accident occurred, with the furnace collapsing due to construction defects, triggering a fire.

The military-industrial complex suffered substantial losses in this fire. It claimed the lives of hundreds of workers and more than ten engineers. If Lavasie hadn't coincidentally felt unwell and gone to the restroom, he might have been caught in the flames. Of course, a few worker casualties and some of Lavasie's assistants weren't considered a significant loss.

However, the fire destroyed most of the steelworks' facilities. This resulted in a delay of nearly a month, and from the perspective of the high-profile individuals within the military-industrial complex, this was the real disaster.

Due to the reconstruction's delay, the steelworks only began trial operations recently. Before that, the iron-smelting blast furnaces had been operational for a few months, while the associated factories were left idle, waiting for steel. Every minute of waiting equated to substantial waste.

Joseph arrived in Lorraine four days later. As soon as he arrived, he sought out Lavasie.

"What's the situation now? How much are we producing each day?" Joseph inquired.

"About as expected," Lavasie replied, "If everything goes smoothly, we can produce approximately ten tons per day, which amounts to 3,650 tons of steel per year. But you know this isn't entirely feasible, as there will be downtimes for maintenance. Nevertheless, even with those interruptions, the factory should be able to produce around 3,000 tons of steel in a year."

"It's still not enough, far from it," In contrast to Lavasie's perspective, in Joseph's eyes, a factory with an annual output of just around 3,000 tons of steel was insufficient. Considering his past life... and the numerous applications for steel now, it was too little.

Joseph's visit wasn't for the purpose of witnessing molten steel being poured from the steelmaking furnace. After the fire incident, he had no intention of going near the steelworks, not only due to the fire hazard but also because of the high temperatures, noise, and air pollution that posed significant health risks.

In this era, people were unaware of the health hazards posed by these factors, but Joseph was well-informed. However, even with this knowledge, he hadn't taken significant measures to address them. Some of these issues were technical in nature, such as waste gas and water treatment. In this era, there was no technology for such treatments, and even the scientific theories required for developing these technologies were nonexistent.

Fortunately, in this era, there were no theories suggesting that various types of pollution could harm human health, and the foundations for such theories, be they in sociology or natural sciences, hadn't been established. So, Joseph could act as if he didn't know, without any concerns for the consequences of polluting the environment.

There were some safety measures that were feasible even with the technology of this era, such as dust masks and earplugs for protecting workers. However, implementing these measures increased costs. It made sense for highly skilled technical workers who had the potential to damage valuable machinery. But for general laborers who could be found on the street and shifted between jobs regularly, equipping them with such gear was economically unjustifiable. Of course, masks and earplugs could be sold near the factories for those who chose to buy them.

Safety training was another necessity. Without it, workers could damage valuable machinery due to poor handling. However, excessive training would also add to costs. So, it was primarily provided to more skilled, stable workers in the factories, with an emphasis on safeguarding machinery.

As for general laborers, like those operating hand-drawn carts, there were many risks in their work. But considering their status as entirely independent workers, moving from one factory to another as it suited them, training them extensively wouldn't be cost-effective. So, these workers didn't receive safety training.

Joseph's visit had two main goals: to ensure the factory's efficient operation and the production of high-quality products, and then, following his plan, to distribute the steel where it was urgently needed.

Machinery was the most pressing need for steel. Many machines used cast iron for moving parts, such as the crankshafts in steam engines, and the transmission components of textile looms and water pumps. The strength of cast iron was significantly lower than that of steel. This meant that parts made from it, if not adequately robust, would often fracture, while parts that were robust enough would become overly heavy, reducing the efficiency of the machinery. Replacing them with steel parts would greatly enhance reliability and efficiency.

However, steel production was quite limited, so Joseph decided to prioritize its use for steam engines and ore crushers. Afterward, they would allocate it to farm implements and other profitable civilian uses. As for the steel cannons and rifles Joseph had promised to Napoleon, a couple of cannons and a handful of rifles would be produced, then a military technology expo would be organized. This would serve to intimidate foreign governments, primarily those that posed no direct threat to France, and help secure enough funding.

"The British, with their steam engines and textiles, are about to lose their easy money-making days in Europe," Joseph told Napoleon after confirming that steel production had reached a level for mass production. "Now is the time to prepare for an economic counterattack against the British."

"Then how do you plan to counter the British?" Napoleon asked. "Once we gain the upper hand in steam engines and textiles, the British will immediately tear up the contracts. And you, reluctant to deploy the latest technology in the military, how do you plan to counter the British then?"

"Ah, Napoleon, you still have much to learn about economics," Joseph scoffed. "Let me ask you this: in a period when business is booming, what sort of social situation arises?"

"Don't take me for a fool; I've read Adam Smith's 'The Wealth of Nations.' If such a situation occurs, more resources will naturally flow into the industry. The steam engine manufacturers and textile factories will multiply, with more people investing in the industry. As supply increases, prices will naturally fall, and the industry won't be as profitable. Capital will gradually shift away from this industry..."

"Why all this talk?" Joseph interrupted, "You've said so much without getting to the point."

"Then go on," Napoleon replied.

"We'll initially surrender steam engine manufacturing and textiles to them," Joseph explained, "making these industries their primary income sources. Then, we'll gradually undermine their other industries. This way, we'll gain an advantage in other sectors, and if they don't want to suffer a major trade deficit, they'll have to rely more on steam engine manufacturing and textiles.

In such a scenario, their situation will evolve into a point where they're entirely dependent on these two industries. During this period, wise men in Britain will undoubtedly recognize the danger. They'll raise their voices and attempt to prevent this situation. These people will try to sabotage our trade agreements. However, the people who have been profiting significantly from steam engines and textiles will respond, and how will they react?"

Napoleon chuckled, "Joseph, this is a cunning and shameless plot that reeks of your style. Those profiting significantly from these industries won't tolerate others jeopardizing their fortunes. As Machiavelli said, a person can easily forget who killed their parents, but they will never forget who deprived them of their wealth. To put it in your words: 'Blocking the path to others' wealth generates more hatred than killing their parents.'"

"Those who can make a fortune with these two industries are bound to be influential and powerful. Their financial path isn't easy to block, and trying to do so will cause internal issues in Britain. But if we don't block them and they become entirely reliant on these two industries, when that happens, any disturbance in their relations with us will be fatal to their economy."

"Joseph, we must tear up the agreements then," Napoleon argued. "We won't gain an advantage in other industries if we wait too long, and we might risk their technological leapfrogging."

"Of course, we can occasionally threaten to tear up the agreements," Joseph said. "Besides, do you know why I decided to leave textiles and steam engine manufacturing to them?"

Napoleon pondered and replied, "Textiles employ many workers, so a crisis in the industry would lead to widespread social unrest. As for steam engines, as long as we protect the steelmaking secrets, they'll have to depend on our raw materials. Any disturbance in our relationship, in that context, will be fatal for them."

"Correct, Napoleon," Joseph said. "We don't need to tear up the agreements. We only need to occasionally threaten to do so. Besides, I have another idea. We will emphasize our superior quality products and create brand recognition. Even if other countries can produce steel, it will be of lower quality compared to ours. This strategy will enable us to maintain good relations while being the dominant supplier."

Napoleon smiled, "Well, Joseph, it seems you have this all planned out."

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