CHAPTER 619: CHAPTER 610: OPEN SOURCE AND THROTTLE & INDUSTRIAL UPGRADE

Under the meticulous guidance of Jerome Bonaparte, Minister Dico finally saw the light.

Soon after Jerome Bonaparte left, Minister Dico contacted the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, hoping the Ministry could assist the navy in selling a batch of "obsolete" warships.

These so-called obsolete warships were nominally outdated, but in reality, they were only one generation behind the ironclads.

Once any country equipped itself with this battleship, its naval combat capability could be significantly enhanced.

To ensure the successful sale of the warships, Minister Dico also "bundled" some navy officers with the fleet for sale, even coming up with "packages."

At the same time, he spent a substantial amount of money in many countries promoting the idea that warships were a symbol of national prestige, that large meant beautiful, and such rhetoric indeed fooled many countries into the pitfall of purchasing warships.

As a result, many nations were willing to take loans to buy a warship for the sake of face, and the high naval budget was barely kept from massive "losses" due to the continuous sale of warships by the French Navy.

Future French citizens would place titles like "Father of the Ironclad" and "Creator of the New Navy" collectively on Minister Jean Dikko.

However, no one knew that Minister Jean Dikko’s approach was all thanks to Emperor Jerome Bonaparte.

Of course, these are all future matters.

At present, Minister Dico was still playing the role of a qualified listener, not understanding why His Majesty the Emperor had so many strange and novel ideas, ideas he had never heard of before.

But the more he thought about these methods, the more feasible they seemed.

"Your Majesty, I understand what you mean!" Minister Dico hurriedly said to Jerome Bonaparte, "You intend to use the method of selling warships and earning loan differences to indirectly subsidize domestic enterprises!"

Jerome Bonaparte’s face showed an expression of "you can be taught," and he nodded to Minister Dico, "Exactly! We must seize the opportunity while our economy has not yet slipped into decline to create a new source of income! Only in this way can we mitigate the impact of the cessation of war on the entire society! Do you understand what I mean?"

"Understood!" Minister Dico slightly nodded in response to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Of course, this method is just to give us a little breather; the core of the Empire lies in industrial upgrading and taxation!" Jerome Bonaparte casually mentioned.

"Your Majesty, what is industrial upgrading?" Minister Dico, hearing this term for the first time, curiously asked Jerome Bonaparte.

"Is there any difference between the looms of the early century and the looms now? What differences do they have?" Jerome Bonaparte inquired of Minister Dico.

"The amount of fabric produced by early-century looms is not as much as what is produced now!" Minister Dico answered decisively.

"You see, that’s industrial upgrading!" Jerome Bonaparte stated to Minister Dico, "With the progress of time, the speed at which we can manufacture things is also continuously accelerating. When old technology can no longer satisfy current society, new technology will emerge to replace them. Just like how the railway replaced the carriage and the telegraph replaced the postal station!

I dare to bet with you; within ten years, an entirely new era will arrive! And the first product of this new era will be the alternative to kerosene lamps!"

The confident look and speech of Jerome Bonaparte made Minister Dico start to believe in his words.

Perhaps His Majesty Bonaparte was like the current Emperor back then! Minister Dico thought to himself.

After finishing his explanation, Jerome Bonaparte chatted casually with Dico for a while before Dico left the study.

...

As the first ray of dawn pierced the darkness over the sea, the crowing of roosters echoed, and the mist rising over the sea began to gradually dissipate.

Once again, the dockworkers, dragging their weary bodies, became busy, transporting boxes of strategic materials to the cargo ships, which then set sail under the escort of warships departing from the dock to the Crimea Peninsula.

And today was precisely when Jerome Bonaparte and Richard Metternich were leaving Toulon for Constantinople.

Jerome Bonaparte, who had gotten up early, was escorted by Minister Dico to the pier, where Richard Metternich had already been waiting on the gangway for some time.

Seeing Jerome Bonaparte, Richard Metternich’s serious expression broke into a smile.

"Mr. Richard, let’s go!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Richard Metternich.

The two of them proceeded along the way and soon arrived in front of the ironclad "Friendship."

The captain in charge of reception, upon seeing Jerome Bonaparte arrive at the naval port, rushed to personally greet him.

"Thank you for your hard work!" Jerome Bonaparte said with a smile to the captain.

"No! It’s no trouble!" The captain shook his head in response.

Jerome Bonaparte and Richard Metternich boarded the small boat, which carried them to the "Friendship" ironclad ship.

As soon as they boarded the ironclad ship, they were immediately surrounded by the sailors inside (especially Jerome Bonaparte), with many sailors eager to shake hands with him. If the captain hadn’t shouted angrily for them to return to their posts, the sailors probably wouldn’t have stopped encircling Jerome Bonaparte.

"Your Majesty, I..." The captain showed a look of shame on his face.

"Isn’t this quite nice!" Jerome Bonaparte smiled and replied to the captain unhurriedly, "I see in them their loyalty to the Bonaparte Clan. Such loyalty is worth cherishing!"

"Thank you for your magnanimity!" The captain said excitedly to Jerome Bonaparte.

"By the way, how long until we can depart?" Jerome Bonaparte inquired about the departure time of the warship.

The captain informed Jerome Bonaparte that the ironclad ship needed to wait for all the cargo to be loaded before it could leave.

Of course, if Jerome Bonaparte insisted on leaving now, the entire crew of the ironclad ship would resolutely carry out his orders.

"Let’s wait a little longer!" Jerome Bonaparte shook his head in refusal, "I cannot disrupt the entire transportation plan!"

...

Nearly two hours passed, and the sun in the sky gradually moved from east to south.

"Your Majesty, all the ammunition, cannons, and supplies destined for the Crimea Peninsula have been loaded! We can set sail!" The captain reported to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Very well! Then let’s depart!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded in response to the captain.

...

As the ironclad ship began to leave the naval port under the dual power of the steam engine and the sail, the figures on the shore became increasingly blurred. Jerome Bonaparte withdrew his gaze and looked at Richard Metternich inside the deck.

At this moment, Richard Metternich was no longer as composed and calm as before. His face turned an ashen white along with the continuous movement of the ironclad ship, and he looked extremely pained.

Seeing Richard Metternich’s expression, Jerome Bonaparte instinctively thought of seasickness and quickly approached Richard Metternich to ask, "How are you? Can you hold on?"

"Your Majesty, I’m not... not well!" Richard Metternich showed a face more unsightly than crying and stammered, "I might be somewhat unaccustomed to being far from land; this is my first time away from land..."

Seeing Richard Metternich look nearly lifeless, Jerome Bonaparte had to order the captain to have someone help Richard Metternich inside the warship, then commanded the captain to summon the ship’s doctor for treatment while he himself stood on the deck, gazing into the distance.

After a while, the captain came up to Jerome Bonaparte and reported on Richard Metternich’s situation: "Your Majesty, Ambassador Richard has taken the medicine provided by the doctor and is now sleeping."

"Is he seasick, or is there another illness..." Jerome Bonaparte inquired to the captain.

"Based on the current situation, Mr. Richard Metternich is likely seasick for the first time, causing dizziness! Many first-time sailors have experienced similar symptoms! It only takes a few days to pass!" The captain answered Jerome Bonaparte.

The captain’s words relieved Jerome Bonaparte; he certainly didn’t want Richard Metternich to die on the ship.

For someone like Richard Metternich from the Pro-French Faction, it would be best if he lives to a ripe old age.

"Alright! As long as he’s fine!" Jerome Bonaparte said indifferently, "For the next few days, serve Richard with slightly lighter meals!"

During the subsequent period at sea, Richard Metternich almost ate exclusively the light meals Jerome Bonaparte specifically instructed, and gradually, his complexion became rosy again.

Meanwhile, the ironclad ship advanced quickly and soon reached the vicinity of Constantinople.

"Your Majesty, we will drop you and Ambassador Richard Metternich at the appropriate harbor of Constantinople! At that time, members of the French Embassy will be there to greet you!" The captain reported to Jerome Bonaparte?

"Who said I was going to disembark at Constantinople?" Jerome Bonaparte retorted.

"Didn’t you say you wanted to go to Constantinople..." The captain asked in confusion.

"That was what I thought a few days ago; now I have only one thought!" Jerome Bonaparte pointed in the direction of the Crimea Peninsula and responded to the captain, "That’s to head to the Crimea Peninsula!"

"The Crimea Peninsula?" Upon hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s words, the captain shook his head vehemently in refusal, "Your Majesty, for the sake of your safety! I must stop the ship at Constantinople!"