The Fox of France

Chapter 307: Inspection

"That truly is a sight," Joseph shook his head. "But this sight, it doesn't make money, does it? Nowadays, spectacles that don't bring in profits are just misguided wonders. Also, you think my depiction of women is inadequate? None of you have any taste. Pauline actually adores it. Just two days ago, she specifically asked me to paint her a portrait with big eyes."

Napoleon couldn't help but shake his head. "Joseph, what nonsense are you spouting? You boast about your prowess in mathematics. You utter a phrase like 'I have a viewpoint on this issue,' and all of Europe obediently listens, even if you claim the sum of angles in a triangle is less than 180 degrees. They'll ponder for days before daring to argue. You boast about your prowess in science; say Newton's laws are all wrong, and they'd hesitate to challenge you without evidence. Even if you bluster about military matters, besides me, few would dare contradict you. But when it comes to your painting? Do you think it's all about rules and compasses? Pauline praises your work? She says so because you're the elder brother, she just wants to please you!"

At this point, Napoleon paused, then suddenly looked puzzled. "Wait, wait, this doesn't add up!"

"What's wrong?" Joseph asked.

"How could Pauline praise your painting? She's not a flatterer like Lucien. No, this doesn't make sense. That troublemaker Pauline must have stirred something up again, hence the flattery towards you. Hmm, you're not vigilant enough with her. Maybe this idea came from Lucien; they always conspire together... Joseph, what mischief has this troublemaker caused this time?"

"The way you speak, does praising me mean they're definitely flattering or have ulterior motives? I think you're the one with ulterior motives!" Joseph first expressed his dissatisfaction, but then added, "But specifically regarding Pauline, that's uncertain. Napoleon, quickly have someone investigate to see what trouble she's caused now. Don't let Lucien do it..."

"I'm not a fool, why would I let Lucien investigate?" Napoleon said. "Anyway, Pauline isn't a child anymore, causing a ruckus every day—hmph, that's all because of your indulgence—listen, as the elder brother, shouldn't you also consider helping her find a husband?"

"How am I the one indulging her? Don't throw all the blame at me. I think, in this matter, your responsibility is just as significant!" Joseph first harshly criticized Napoleon's attempt to evade responsibility and shift the blame. Then he scratched his head, sighed, and said, "Napoleon, what you said does make sense. But among my students, there really isn't anyone suitable. Hmm, I wonder among your old subordinates, is there anyone appropriate?"

Napoleon understood this well; most of Joseph's students were scientists, unlike troublemakers like Pauline. Napoleon himself thought it wouldn't be wise to involve them.

"My old subordinates? Hmm, who among my old subordinates doesn't know about 'The Saint of Toulon,'" Napoleon said. "But, perhaps among my old subordinates, there might be someone who can appreciate her. After all, Pauline's quite attractive, just a bit temperamental, but she's very cheerful... Ah, Joseph, why are these troublemakers so worrisome?"

Joseph gazed at Napoleon, momentarily speechless.

After three days, the two arrived at the "Bonaparte-Watt Company's" test site, where Watt and his team had been awaiting their arrival.

Despite several days of carriage travel, Napoleon's enthusiasm remained high, unaffected by fatigue. Immediately upon arrival, he insisted on visiting the site. Joseph, though a bit tired, didn't want to dampen Napoleon's spirits, so he accompanied him along with a retinue and Watt's team to the test site.

The test site was on a large flat expanse, with a six-kilometer stretch of steel rails laid out. The way these rails were laid closely resembled practices from future times. Hmm, saying this felt a bit peculiar, akin to a future country imitating 5G technology from a country yet to have it, like the Red Hare Country copying the Lighthouse Country. Perhaps the Red Hare Country also had time travelers?

There were differences from the railways of the future. In later times, the sleepers beneath the rails were usually made of reinforced concrete. However, wood was still inexpensive at this time, so the sleepers beneath this railway were indeed high-quality solid wood.

Beneath the solid wood sleepers were layers of thick gravel, and beneath the gravel were larger stones forming the base.

Napoleon walked to the edge of the track, bent down, and tapped the steel rail with his knuckle, asking, "How much steel was used for this experimental track?"

"20 kilograms per meter. You do the math," Joseph replied. "But if the experiment succeeds, we'll be constructing a railway from the Saar coal mine to the steel factory. This test track can directly become a part of that route. So, though the test track seems a bit long, it's not actually wasteful."

"It seems you have confidence in the experiment's success," Napoleon said. "Where's the locomotive?"

"It's over there, Your Excellency," William Murdoch said. "The locomotive is in the workshop over there, but the original plan was to conduct the test tomorrow, so..."

Not far away stood a large workshop, from which the railway extended.

Napoleon glanced in that direction and smiled. "Ah, I understand. I just wanted to take a look at it and feel it. As for the experiment, it should follow the scheduled plan. Changing plans isn't a good habit."

So, they all followed Napoleon into the workshop.

Once inside, they saw two colossal machines parked on the tracks, the two steam locomotives. A group of workers was giving the final checks before the experiment. The guards approached and said a few words; the workers stopped and waited.

"Let them continue; we shouldn't disturb them," Napoleon said. The guards conveyed the message. However, the workers didn't immediately resume work. Instead, someone called out, "Is that First Consul Bonaparte?"

"What's this? Do you recognize me?" Napoleon was pleased to hear the workers' shouts.

"It's really First Consul Bonaparte!"

"Long live First Consul Bonaparte!" Someone else followed.

Napoleon was thrilled. He walked up and shook hands with the workers one by one.

"You work hard here. How does it feel working here?"

"Your Excellency, you're right; it's indeed hard here, but nowadays, apart from land-owning farmers, who isn't toiling? Thankfully, Bonaparte Company pays us decently. In a little while, I'll have saved enough money, and then I can become a farmer in Louisiana."

"Your Excellency, they're saying, as long as one can speak French and pledge allegiance to France, even foreigners can get land to be farmers in Louisiana?" another person asked in hesitant French.

"Of course. As long as one can speak the simplest French and is willing to pledge allegiance to France, anyone can," Napoleon replied.

Cheers resounded around them.

Given the good

conditions in French rural areas, there were now many foreign workers in French factories, especially from the Germanic states. Honestly, Joseph didn't pay them very high wages, but compared to their hometowns, the pay was decent. Moreover, once they saved enough, they could go to Louisiana and acquire a substantial piece of land.

Of course, this practice would inevitably lead to a result: among those migrating to Louisiana, the number of German immigrants would significantly surpass the French. However, Joseph thought it wouldn't become a major problem. In future times, after acquiring Louisiana, the Lighthouse Country also massively imported immigrants from Europe, and among them, the largest group were also Germans. Until Joseph's time travel, the Germanic people remained the largest ethnic group in the Lighthouse Country, but this hadn't altered the Lighthouse Country's cultural characteristics. If the Lighthouse Country could do it, there was no reason France couldn't. It was just a matter of indoctrination plus education. In fact, considering the fervor of converts, making a Germanic person love French culture, in a way, might be easier than making a French person love French culture. For instance, in later times, the ones most devoted to the Lighthouse Country were often not its own people.

After shaking hands with Napoleon and expressing their admiration and gratitude, the workers gradually returned to their posts. Napoleon's technical team then began introducing the two locomotives to him.

"Your Excellency," as the chief designer of the locomotives, Watt introduced, "the closer one to us is the 'Progress Type 1,' and the one behind is the 'Progress Type 2.'"

Napoleon nodded; he knew that the difference between the so-called "Progress Type 1" and "Progress Type 2" was essentially the result of the elder gentleman in front of him being at odds with someone else. The "Progress Type 2" was the model Joseph truly aspired to.

"It's quite a massive thing. If some foolish Native Americans were to see this running, they might even worship it as a deity," Napoleon laughed. He walked to the side of the "Progress Type 1," grabbed the steel handrail of the ladder, and turned back to ask, "Can I climb up and take a look?"

"Of course, Your Excellency," Watt said. "The cabin is up there, you can go take a look."