He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 278

(278) Eugene Goes to Russia with Marie

Of course, there are more than a few people around Eugene who are about to get a rude awakening.

“Patron! This means all business decisions will be completely suspended again!”

Antoine Damas, the general manager, exclaimed in the Boarneh Cartel’s office.

From Damas’s perspective, this was only natural.

The era was barely entering the 19th century.

Long-distance communication was almost impossible.

In the meantime, the funds consumed by the Egyptian expedition amounted to tens of millions of francs.

In addition, too many new businesses had been started to handle them all.

Only after Eugene returned was he barely managing to deal with the financial problems and business reorganization.

But now Eugene, the ultimate decision-maker, was leaving for Russia again?

He had no choice but to strongly oppose it.

However, Eugene replied with a very nonchalant attitude.

“It’s better than me becoming a Russian prince and being trapped in Moscow, Antoine.”

“This is no joke! With the establishment of the Banque de France [Bank of France], a complete readjustment of our banking business is required. Cooperation with the central bank, reorganization of profitable businesses, and even linking with the Italian bank!”

“I’ve already instructed Colaud on the plan for that.”

Eugene handed over the planning document he had stayed up all night writing by candlelight.

“General Manager Damas, what you need to do is something else. There’s an issue you need to collaborate on with Jacob, Elie.”

Damas snatched the document, and his eyes widened.

The content of the planning document was simple.

It was about how the Boarneh Cartel would transform into a financial conglomerate during the upcoming period of financial reorganization.

It was the path taken by the Baring and Rothschild families in the original timeline.

However, to Damas, who was unaware of this process, it was a series of truly astonishing plans.

“If this plan is to proceed, a central stock exchange needs to be established. In Italy?”

“There’s one in Paris, isn’t there? We just need to decide whether to set it up in Milan or Genoa.”

“Solving the capital shortage problem by revitalizing stock issuance—what a brilliant idea! To think you could solve the financial crunch like this!”

Watching Damas, who was constantly marveling at the plan, Eugene shook his head and pointed to another part of the document.

“That’s not a big deal. Look at the next page.”

“Huh? Talent recruitment? Who is this?”

“Rochejaquelein? Would you explain it for me?”

Then Rochejaquelein, who was standing beside Eugene, opened his mouth.

“Marc Isambard Brunel. He’s an engineer.”

In later history, he is considered one of Britain’s greatest engineers.

That person is Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

He designed the first suspension bridge, devised the modern railway, and built the transatlantic steamship.

However, unfortunately, Isambard Kingdom has not yet been born.

That’s because he was born in 1806.

However, his father, Marc Isambard, is alive and well and actively working.

Born in 1769, the same year as Napoleon, he is an outstanding engineer who developed tunnel boring technology.

But this Marc Isambard is actually French, not British.

Like most expatriate French people of this era, he is living in exile in America and England to escape the whirlwind of the revolution.

Eugene had Rochejaquelein use Surte’s intelligence to find him, barely.

Of course, Damas blinked at the name he was hearing for the first time.

“If it’s a technician, there’s Dupont, and Pouilly too, isn’t there?”

“Dupont is a chemical businessman. Pouilly is a construction master. Both are excellent, but there’s the problem of relying on manpower to work.”

“Yes? How do you make things without people working?”

Eugene shook his head.

“England is making them with machines, especially machine tools. Already.”

In fact, what is famous in the so-called Industrial Revolution is, of course, the steam engine and the spinning machine.

However, the part where innovation actually occurred in terms of technology is rather the machine tool lathe.

In particular, numerous innovations occurred as it became possible to make things with machines, in a situation where tools were made by hand, one by one.

For example, the quality of firearms becomes uniform and standardized.

At that time, Rochejaquelein opened his mouth.

“My lord, but there is a problem.”

“What is it? Is Brunel dead?”

“It’s not that, but in England, this machine is causing a great commotion. Craftsmen are complaining about the machines, and there’s a fuss in the coal mines too.”

Rochejaquelein spoke about the problem he learned about while searching for Brunel this time.

“Do we really need to introduce such dangerous things?”

Eugene wore a bitter smile.

The famous Luddite movement is exactly in 1811.

A social problem that is only about 10 years away.

If Napoleon had focused on strike operations rather than the Continental System [a large-scale embargo against British trade] in the original timeline, it might have been more effective.

Nevertheless, the Industrial Revolution is an unavoidable task.

“Firstly, mechanization is essential. To grow our business tenfold. Secondly, technology always follows people. Especially groups of experts. So we need Brunel and his team. Lastly, thirdly.”

Eugene looked at Rochejaquelein and Damas and asserted.

“Without steam engines and machine tools, we cannot beat England. Absolutely.”

Of course, Marc himself was already working as the chief engineer of New York at this time, building factories and armories, but he is not an expert in machine tools.

However, he has connections with pioneers of machine tools, including Henry Maudslay.

In other words, he has a team.

That team is essential to Eugene.

Damas shrugged.

“I understand. I will definitely bring Brunel. How much can you spend?”

“An annual salary of 100,000 francs, up to one million francs in a lump sum.”

“You know that’s more than my salary, right?”

Eugene chuckled and patted Damas on the shoulder.

“I’ll pay bonuses with Suez Canal stock. Have it done by the time I get back from Russia.”

Damas, the always faithful general manager, smiled.

“You’ll have to give me more than a million francs.”

With this, on the eve of Eugene’s trip to Russia, the seeds for the Industrial Revolution were also sown.

***

Unsurprisingly, there are no secrets in Paris.

“In the end, Eugene is going to Russia, did you hear?”

The Cafe family’s mansion.

Still staying in the suburbs, but now in a considerably larger house, an uninvited guest has arrived.

Lorre, a girl who loves gossip, is Fermont.

Now 16 years old, Lorre, a charming girl who can no longer be called a child, made Marie jump up in surprise with her words.