The Fox of France

Chapter 286: Science Knows No Borders

"Some things are just bound to spread," Joseph said with a thoughtful tone. "Take, for example, the recent incident with underwater mines. We use electrical fuses for our mines, but what do the British use?"

"I haven't acquired that intelligence yet," Lucien replied. He added, "I don't think it's that important. Knowing that won't help us much. Joseph, do we really need this information?"

"We don't," Joseph replied, a sly smile on his face. "I'm not inquiring about the specifics; I'm testing your knowledge of physics."

"What?" Lucien was taken aback and hurriedly said, "Joseph, I'm extremely busy with work right now, and such matters should be left to the experts."

"Nonsense! Are you implying that you're busier than me? I could—" Napoleon interjected.

"Napoleon, don't pretend. Do you think I don't know who the real primary author of that recent paper was? You shamelessly put your name ahead of Laplace's," Lucien retorted.

"Me? You couldn't even understand that paper! While Laplace contributed somewhat, the majority of it was my work," Napoleon began defending his position as the first author.

"That's because I'm naturally gifted, and I'm only a tad behind Joseph, Laplace, and Lagrange in mathematics," Napoleon proudly declared. "If it were you, Laplace would have died and not because of helping you solve problems but from frustration while trying to make you understand the solution! Let's not even talk about it, Lucien. Joseph's question was straightforward, and yet you managed to complicate it. It's embarrassing!"

"So, what's the fuse used in British mines?" Lucien asked.

"The same electrical fuse as ours," Napoleon answered without hesitation. "You can deduce that from the shape of the contact points."

"That was Joseph's deduction."

"Alright, you two, stop bickering over such trivial matters," Joseph scolded.

The two brothers fell into silence.

"Some technologies are impossible to keep secret for long, even without espionage. Take the example of the screw propeller. Developing such technology is as simple as scratching your head," Joseph continued. "But Lucien, you're the exception. So, Napoleon, if you want to pat someone on the back for their work, pat yourself. Don't reach out to pat Lucien."

Napoleon withdrew his outstretched hand.

"Joseph is right; patting you is a waste of time."

"Besides a few truly core technologies, the kind so complex that you can't even understand them, excessive secrecy doesn't seem to serve much purpose anymore," Joseph went on. "Apart from technology, I want to talk to you about the issue of scientific secrecy.

You know, we've hidden numerous scientific discoveries, particularly in electricity, such as knowledge about generators and electric motors. It has served a purpose, but it's brought its own set of problems."

"What problems?" Napoleon inquired.

"The issue of training engineers," Joseph explained. "Because the most fundamental scientific knowledge is kept highly confidential during their education, even top graduates from the University of Paris need substantial training when they come here, whether in laboratories or factories. It's a costly process. Even worse, these individuals, having learned these secrets, essentially have a guaranteed job. No, it's not just a job; it's a golden ticket. Every one of them knows how valuable this knowledge is. They know they can sell it and make enough money to feed their grandchildren truffles and caviar every day. So, at this point, not only do we pay them salaries, but we also have to pay them hush money to keep their secrets. We pass on knowledge to them and end up paying them for it. Can you imagine how absurd that is?

What's more, even with these measures, their loyalty is still not guaranteed. We need to control their families, employ tracking and monitoring methods – all of which are costly. So, while secrecy has given us a lead for some time, the cost of maintaining it is increasing, and it's becoming harder to sustain."

"Besides, we shouldn't underestimate the research capabilities of other countries," Joseph continued. "Some of our products will inevitably be sold abroad. Just look at the British and their electric detonators. Where did they get that technology? Most likely, they obtained samples during their conflicts with the Irish and then reverse-engineered it."

"Not long ago, the British even attempted to steal information about electric motors. Though the operation was thwarted by the Ministry of Public Security—Fouché did an exceptional job, I must say—when it comes to these matters, I don't think there's anyone in all of Europe stronger than him. Lucien, you should learn a thing or two from him," Joseph pointed out.

Lucien nodded immediately. "Fouché is undoubtedly strong in this area, but it's due to a combination of talent and hard work. I find it difficult to immerse myself completely in a single event. But he is genuinely dedicated to learning."

"Fouché can succeed once, but not indefinitely. Electric motors are everywhere, and obtaining one and reverse-engineering it is only a matter of time," Joseph continued. "With a sample, even the British, given their scientific prowess, could easily deduce something from it. So, the cost of maintaining scientific secrecy is increasing. I believe there are certain scientific areas where we should no longer keep things under wraps."

Napoleon and Lucien remained silent. After a moment, Napoleon spoke up, "That's a valid point. But will openly sharing this information boost their research significantly? Can we still maintain our lead?"

"It will undoubtedly accelerate scientific progress in Europe, including the likes of Britain. However, you should remember that this includes our own country. First, we can save a considerable amount of unnecessary costs, and these savings can be redirected toward scientific research.

Furthermore, even if we disclose these scientific findings, only our universities, for a certain period, will be equipped to teach and practically apply this knowledge. Any advancement in knowledge is tied to practice; theory must go hand in hand with real-world application to remain relevant. Other countries, given their less favorable conditions, won't be able to compete with us. So, even if we don't disclose these findings, sooner or later, they will catch up," Joseph explained.

"That makes sense," Napoleon conceded. "However, we shouldn't release everything all at once. We should proceed step by step, with plans and justifications in place. We can't simply decide on a whim; we need a well-thought-out approach."

With that, he glanced at Joseph and continued, "Joseph, your time is precious, and you have many responsibilities. You can't afford to waste your time on administrative matters like this. Lucien, why don't you take care of this, and Joseph can review it when he gets a chance?"

"Is my time really that free?" Lucien was slightly indignant.

"Among the few of us, you're relatively less busy," Napoleon said. "Do you think I don't know that for the past two weeks, you've been partying at the Moulin Rouge every night till dawn?"

"Nonsense! Is that what Fouché said? He's just envious; it's slander! The Moulin Rouge is a renowned entertainment establishment in Paris, and the entertainment industry is an essential part of the Ministry of Truth's jurisdiction. Under my leadership, the entertainment industry in France has flourished. In these past few months, a significant number of wealthy individuals from other countries have been attracted to Paris to spend their money. And, as you know, the entertainment industry is heavily taxed. Just one business, the Moulin Rouge, pays over a hundred thousand francs in taxes to your government every month. The entire Montmartre entertainment district contributes over a million in tax revenue each month.

Moreover, the Montmartre entertainment district sets the tone for the entire European fashion industry. Any luxury brand that doesn't make an appearance in Montmartre won't make it big. How much revenue has this brought to our various industries? Napoleon, I'm not bragging, but the current prosperity of France, the smiles on the faces of the people of Paris, and the people of France—it's all thanks to my hard work.

Why have I done so well? Because I know that without thorough on-site investigations, I can't come up with effective measures. Without hands-on experience, there's no correct understanding, and without the right understanding, there's no proper decision-making. You think I'm out for pleasure? I'm working, working tirelessly! Just now, I mentioned how hard-working Minister Fouché is. But among all the ministers in France, who works the hardest? That would be me! Don't say I'm not working hard, and don't slander me like this; it truly saddens me..."

Napoleon widened his eyes, looking at Lucien, then said after a pause, "Lucien, I never expected you to work so hard."

"Well, among us, you're all..."

"How about this, Lucien? I'll establish a department to handle entertainment affairs, allowing you to take a break," Napoleon suggested. "But they should take over your work gradually, which will require time and... in any case, it's hard work. Though it may be challenging, I'm willing to endure it for the sake of France and our family."