Chapter 349: The Spoils of War
Although Luxembourg was still technically Austrian territory, this didn't stop French merchants from conducting "normal" trade there. The Austrian officials in Luxembourg had already caught wind that Emperor Joseph II planned to cede Luxembourg to France as a reward for their assistance against Prussia. Consequently, they didn't interfere with these "commercial activities."
Moreover, with 20,000 French troops stationed in this tiny territory, which was less than a quarter the size of Corsica, any objections they had were only expressed in private conversations at salons.
In the Place d'Armes of Luxembourg City, the secretary-general of the French Steel Technology Association smiled as he handed signed agreements to the local mine owners seated across from him.
The mine owners eagerly grabbed their pens, quickly signing and sealing the agreements as if afraid the French would change their minds.
Once the contracts were signed and the notary and lawyer declared them valid, the mine owners relaxed, whispering among themselves:
"Finally, we don't have to worry about the war destroying everything."
"I never thought the French would be willing to take over these iron mines..."
"Yes, 30,000 livres isn't much, but it's enough to live comfortably in Vienna."
"Oh, I'm planning to move to Brussels—once the rebellion there is put down, of course..."
Indeed, Luxembourg was shrouded in the shadow of war. After witnessing the poor discipline of Prussian soldiers, local merchants were understandably anxious.
There were widespread rumors that the Prussian and Hanoverian armies would face off against the French in Luxembourg. Such a small area couldn't possibly withstand the devastation of 70,000 to 80,000 troops clashing. The aftermath would likely be scorched earth.
As a result, Luxembourgers were desperate to sell their assets. High-quality open-pit iron mines, which previously fetched hundreds of thousands of livres, were now selling for a fraction of that amount, with sellers practically begging buyers to take them.
Sitting in the center of the VIP section, Joseph had a satisfied smile on his face. He had acquired over a dozen of Europe's finest iron mines for less than 800,000 livres—a true bargain.
It was well-known that in the future, Luxembourg's steel production would meet the needs of all Western Europe. These iron mines would provide a strong foundation for France's industrial revolution.
Once Europe's industrial revolution gained momentum and demand for coal and iron skyrocketed, these mines could be worth over 100 million livres!
As for the war, Joseph was determined to protect Luxembourg from any conflict, even if it meant relocating half of France's military to the area.
Confident in the region's stability, Joseph had also taken advantage of the selling frenzy to purchase several workshops and prime real estate. The former would provide skilled workers for smelting and mining, while the latter would be used to build ironworks.
In fact, several of France's fastest-growing steel companies, including Grégoire Brothers Steel and Hilke Steel, had already arrived in Luxembourg City, ready to expand their operations.
These companies had long been frustrated with France's low-yield, mediocre-quality iron mines, forcing them to rely heavily on imported Russian iron ore or buy raw iron from Luxembourg at high costs.
Now, they could build smelters directly next to the iron mines, with ore prices significantly reduced. This would greatly improve the cost, quality, and production capacity of their steel.
Furthermore, they had recently received Joseph's "hot blast iron smelting" technology from the French Steel Technology Association. After several months of experimentation, they had mastered the technique and completed small-scale production trials in France. Now, they could use this new technology to set up factories in Luxembourg, producing refined iron and steel to be sold locally to German states, generating substantial profits.
For Joseph, as long as he controlled the core resource—the iron mines—he had no worries about losing control over private capital.
To develop France's coal and iron industries, royal investments alone wouldn't suffice; private enterprise needed to be encouraged to participate as much as possible. Joseph could provide these companies with advanced technology and strategies and use state power to help them open markets, ensuring that every livre invested would yield a handsome return.
As these private companies flourished, they would contribute significantly to the tax revenue needed to support the French treasury, ultimately boosting national strength.
This acquisition in Luxembourg marked the first wave of spoils from France's victory in the region. Luxembourg, being a small area adjacent to France, would not attract too much attention from other great powers until its industries were fully developed. This made it an ideal candidate for France to expand its influence abroad.
After the signing ceremony, Joseph delivered a brief speech and then invited everyone to the celebratory banquet. Meanwhile, he was already thinking ahead—if France could one day acquire the coal-rich Walloon region of Southern Netherlands, how could he best combine its resources with Luxembourg's iron to create a coal and steel hub for French industrial development?
However, Joseph soon frowned at the thought of securing this area.
The Walloon region and Luxembourg were both on the outskirts of France. If war were to break out, these areas could easily become targets, with devastating consequences for France's coal and steel core.
"The best solution would be to turn the Walloon region and Luxembourg into inland provinces, giving them some strategic depth…" Joseph mused as he climbed into his carriage, watching the joyful Luxembourg and French businessmen head to the banquet. He sighed inwardly, "Everyone else gets to enjoy the fruits, while I have to worry about the future of all of France."
...
Paris.
Eden Amusement Park.
"Wow, it's like flying in the sky!"
With a joyful cry, a little girl riding a carousel waved one hand in the air as if it were a whip while gripping the handle tightly with the other. Her yellow dress and long braided hair fluttered in the wind, her large, blue eyes sparkling with excitement.
As the carousel made another round, she turned her chubby face toward the bored-looking man standing outside the fence and called out:
"Uncle Alexei, can you make it go faster?"
"Oh, Grand Duchess Alexandra," Alexei replied in a lowered voice, putting on a disapproving expression, "I told you not to call me that here; there are people around."
But he still motioned to a nearby guard, who quickly went to consult with an amusement park employee and then returned to whisper a few words to him.
(End of Chapter)
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