Alexei pondered for a mont, then hesitated, "Your Highness, I must admit, your proposal is very sound."
"However, there are already quite a few people engaged in such trade between France and Russia, and I don't think we can be more competitive than them."
Joseph smiled and nodded; Alexei was indeed a smart man, not the frivolous young man he appeared to be. It seed that partnering with him would not be disappointing.
"First of all, the current volu of Franco-Russian trade is far from sufficient."
"If I rember correctly, there are over three hundred rchant ships sailing from England to Riga every year. Yet only a tenth of that number sail from Lyon to the Black Sea."
"I tell you, France is going to start industrial reforms, and the demand for Russian goods will increase substantially, especially for flax. In that case, the existing rchant ships will be far from adequate."
Alexei nodded slightly, realizing the Crown Prince of France had insider information. With this in mind, the business indeed seed viable.
Joseph leaned forward, lowering his voice, "Furthermore, I can offer you tariff advantages. I guarantee they will not be insignificant."
"Are you serious?"
"Of course."
Joseph had ample confidence to secure those tariff advantages in the Cabinet. He didn't even need to lower the tariffs; rely turning a blind eye to his trading firm would suffice.
Doing so would not only draw in the Russians but also reduce the cost of raw materials for the French textile industry, increasing its competitiveness.
At the sa ti, it would reduce trade ties between England and Russia, raising the cost of linen products for the British.
He continued, "Additionally, you can use your connections in Russia to secure cheaper commodities like flax and oils. By reducing costs at both ends, how could there not be a profit?"
Alexei was elated; if he could export to France with low tariffs, it would greatly reduce Russia's trade dependency on England. This had been a great task that the Empress had wanted to achieve for more than a decade without success! If he could credit his brother with this achievent, it would surely change the way his mother viewed his brother!
He clasped his hands together excitedly, "Your Highness, I find your proposal very feasible. I will do my best to lower the cost of goods."
Joseph smiled and bowed, "I am delighted to cooperate with you, Earl Bobrinsky."
The dishes Alexei ordered at the dinner table had long gone cold, yet he hadn't thought about eating them.
Joseph had a fresh hot dish brought up, signaling to the illegitimate son, "I think you should enjoy your dinner now."
After Alexei had finished eating, the two discussed so details of the trading company, effectively finalizing their partnership.
The reason Joseph bypassed the Russian governnt to establish a trading company was primarily to avoid lengthy trade negotiations. Negotiating efficiency in this era was very low, especially given the distance between France and Russia. If the negotiating representatives had differing opinions, consulting their respective governnts could easily take more than two months.
So, he adopted this private approach to kick-start trade between the two countries. Once the trade volu grew and both sides developed market dependency, negotiating a trade agreent would be much easier.
Besides, this also indirectly allowed him to control so raw material imports, making the Capitalists sowhat more obedient.
Late at night, after ten o'clock, Alexei took his leave from Joseph but stood there gazing at his departing figure, a sense of unreality welling up in his heart.
What kind of a young man was this, who suddenly appeared before him, solved his dilemma with a trading company, and also presented Russia with a great gift?
He had not quite believed those rumors about the Crown Prince of France, such as overseeing police reforms that greatly improved security in Paris or planning the grand fashion week. He assud officials handled everything and rely attributed their achievents to the Crown Prince.
But after eting him tonight, Alexei was convinced that the rumors about the Crown Prince were true and that his eloquence and wisdom were even more remarkable than the tales suggested.
Alexei suddenly felt regret. If his brother Paul had this wisdom, he wouldn't have had to spend so many years away from ho, numbing himself with alcohol and won, presenting himself as a useless dandy.
...
While Joseph and Alexei discussed the trading company, an auction was taking place in the grand hall of the fashion week.
The attendees were dignitaries from various countries, and many mbers of the Royal Family. Queen Mary, who had given a brief speech for fashion week, was also dragged by her niece to sit in the balcony on the second floor.
The auction items were mainly expensive dresses and luxury goods.
None of these could catch the Queen's eye; her mind was filled with the conversation she had with Louis XVI at noon.
It was after lunch when she casually ntioned her son's fiancée to her husband.
She had fully expected that her niece had won over the Crown Prince, but the King told her that after speaking with his son, neither Clentine nor Maria would satisfy him as a fiancée.
She looked at her lively and charming niece with so distress. Oh, God, how could Joseph not like her?
For a mont, she truly wanted to be like other kings and queens and simply inform her son that Clentine was to be his future bride. But she could not bear to see her son look disheartened or unhappy.
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