Chapter 50: Chapter 50 All Come into My Bowl
Especially Dibowa, who was somewhat older, knew deeply that organization, management, training, and logistics were fundamental to improving the combat effectiveness of the army. He had already taken out paper and a pen, quietly repeating the military reform content that the Crown Prince had just mentioned and swiftly copying it down.
“Establish a conscription system for all of France, a comprehensive conscription and compensation regulations, forming laws…
“Establish a French Ministry of Military Affairs, gradually eliminate local garrisons, unify the selection, assessment, and promotion systems of the French Army…
“Elevate the status of meritorious soldiers, let supreme honor become the highest pursuit of the army…
“Construct national-level military armament production and equipment systems, encourage the research of new weapons, and accelerate the adoption of new weapons…
“Set up military hospitals…”
The more he wrote, the more excited he became. If these measures could be implemented, France would surely have an invincible army capable of defeating all enemies. The humiliation of being forced to sign the Treaty of Paris would be completely washed away, and France would take back everything it had lost!
His father died on the battlefield at Legnica during the Seven Years’ War when he was only eight years old.
He only remembered that France was defeated, and the whole country was shrouded in gloom. His father’s death did not bring him any honor, instead, there were those who mocked the incompetence of French soldiers to his face.
He also knew that, as a mere Major, he could not influence the military reform of France, but he could pass these precious ideas to experts like Bertier for further in-depth research!
Joseph, out of the corner of his eye, saw Dibowa’s earnest and excited expression as he transcribed, feeling that the timing was nearly ripe, and thus he revealed a sly, fox-like grin, “It seems that the Major finds this military reform plan quite agreeable. I wonder if you would be interested in assisting me in advancing this work?”
“I am willing to serve Your Highness…” Dibowa began, then hesitated, “Only, I am not very skilled in this area and am afraid I might disappoint Your Highness.”
Joseph thought to himself that this was the time to find someone who is skilled, like the Chief of General Staff, but he still smiled and said, “You have rich combat experience, which is exactly what we need to perfect the military reform plan. To be frank, I am organizing staff to carry out research in the field of military theory and hope you can help me.”
Dibowa immediately stood at attention and said proudly, “Following Your Highness is my lifelong honor!”
Joseph nodded in satisfaction and then turned to Andre with a warm tone, “Lieutenant, why did you not continue with your forebears’ glory and serve in the Imperial Guard?”
A flash of frustration and sadness passed through Andre’s eyes, “Your Highness, my heart has always harbored a great flame called love. Back then, because of the pursuit and persistence of this flame, I hurt some people… Eventually, I went to the Soissons Cavalry Camp.”
Joseph asked, “Would you be willing to serve under me then?”
“Of course!” Andre could hardly hide his surprise and delight as he exclaimed, “The Dawu family’s title was conferred by His Majesty the old King; loyalty to the Royal Family is the Dawu family’s oath! I will become Your Highness’s most loyal soldier!”
Joseph also looked at the two men before him with considerable joy, knowing that sooner or later Bertier and Dawu, these two heavyweights, would come to his fold.
…
Lately, the talk of all Parisians has been about the new stores of Paris Angel Company.
They couldn’t help but pay attention to it – the simultaneous preparation of three new stores was like three whirlpools on the sea surface, incessantly pulling in wood, glass, paint, and copperware from all over Paris.
The top craftsmen of Paris were also concentrated in the stores of Paris Angel Company, each exhausted to the bone, but their faces were filled with feverish excitement.
Over the past week, they made more money than they usually did in three months!
Every day, the stewards of Paris Angel made sure to prepare four meals a day, delivering them on time, attentively waiting on the workers to finish, then politely asking them to resume work.
As for the meals, there were fried meats, buttered corn, white bread, tomato vegetable soup, all rich and tempting—eat as much as they wished.
Not a single craftsman complained of fatigue, nor did anyone want to rest—whoever brought up rest at that time would be cursed without hesitation—it was quadruple the pay! To stop even for a second was a sacrilege to their wallets!
Come evening, a great number of oil lamps would be lit inside and outside the storefront, illuminating the area as bright as day, as the second shift of workers took over to continue the work.
Even those in fine fettle set a record: working continuously for three days and two nights, earning a whopping 28 livres in “overtime pay.”
Oh, to think there was extra “pay” for overtime! It was simply unbelievable! When the craftsmen learned this was at the Crown Prince’s behest, they prayed for him several times a day.
Some later generations always love to say that Westerners value freedom and the good life and have traditionally disliked working overtime. In fact, 18th-century France was highly competitive, and it was normal to work 14 hours a day in the factories. With the right pay, 20 hours of work was nothing.
What Joseph initially hadn’t anticipated was that, in rushing the progress of the franchise store openings, it brought an unexpected boon—the Parisians with nothing much to do started treating the construction of the new store as a form of leisure and entertainment, which continuously hiked up the popularity of Paris Angel. If this era had trending searches, Paris Angel would dominate the top ten.
It’s no wonder, really, since there were so few entertainment options during this era. A luxury storefront undergoing 24-hour renovations was truly a novelty.
The little boy who used to beg in the alley behind the Paris Angel Exclusive Store, now bustling with joy as he managed a group of six children, including his sister and four other street kids, was busy renting out a stack of chairs amidst the crowd.
He took Joseph’s suggestion and started a business renting out chairs, making a fair number of silver coins during this time, with his team growing to six people.
He now rented a room, and he and his sister no longer had to go hungry. He was even planning to save up more money so that he could spend a few hours a day learning to read and write.
Time flew by swiftly.
Brent, the general manager of Paris Angel Company, stood on Saint-Denis Boulevard, looking at the new Paris Angel store in front of him, luxurious and elegant, a great pride and sense of accomplishment welling up within him.
In just seven days, merely seven days, the new exclusive store was completely renovated. It was a miracle he had created with the company’s workers and countless craftsmen!
Of course, the 20,000 livres in renovation costs also played an indispensable part.
In the west and north of Paris, there were two more exclusive stores like this one, both of which would be finished by the end of the day.
Meanwhile, in Reims, 30 miles away, another franchise store was awaiting its opening. However, due to some unforeseen circumstances, the newly opened exclusive store there would need two more days to complete.
This meant that Paris Angel now had five exclusive stores ready for business. Even the stores in Marseille and Bordeaux, according to the reports sent back by his subordinates yesterday, should be finished with renovations by the end of the month at the latest.
At the same time, in front of Paris City Hall, the crowd was buzzing with about four or five hundred people craning their necks, anxiously awaiting the moment when Paris Angel Company’s stocks would officially go on sale.
Hmm, due to the influence of “The Bubble Act,” this was the temporary stock exchange Joseph had chosen.