Bordeaux, as France's most important export location for grape wine, is the soul of the city with its wine trade.
The Royal Square, which adjoins Bordeaux's core transportation waterway—the Garonne River, was once the residence of Louis XV, but now the King no longer comes here. Consequently, the vast square and the adjacent palace have become a trading place for wine merchants and cellar owners.
So people prefer to call it Exchange Square.
Here, massive amounts of wine are traded every day, then sent all over Europe and even across to the Americas.
At this moment, in the grand palace's main conference hall in front of Exchange Square, there were gathered fifty to sixty noblemen or their representatives.
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These noblemen all share another identity, that of grape plantation owners.
They own the vast majority of vineyards in the Bordeaux region and also operate winemaking workshops, controlling nearly sixty percent of France's grape wine production industry.
Three days ago, they received an invitation from Count Montsorro, the Governor. In the invitation, the Governor mentioned that the real convenor of the meeting was His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
Out of respect for these two prominent figures, all invitees set out early and converged on Exchange Square.
Three o'clock in the afternoon.
A melodious tune came from outside the main conference hall of the Exchange Palace, drawing the plantation owners' gaze toward the main door. They saw Governor Montsorro respectfully following a young man in a dark blue coat, entering the hall one after another.
Everyone knew it must be His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, so they all rose respectfully, bowing their heads in salute to the young man.
After the Governor formally introduced the Crown Prince and delivered a brief opening speech, Joseph, seated in front of the hall, raised his hand to signal to the plantation owners and said loudly, "Thank you all for attending this meeting."
First following convention, he talked of Bordeaux's "long history and abundance of products," then got straight to the point, "The main reason we are here today is to talk about potato cultivation."
Whispers immediately filled the room:
"I knew it; it has to do with those damn potatoes."
"They've been rushing us to plant this stuff for half a month, who knows if it will lose money."
"Exactly, planting grains is risk-free..."
"Let them talk. As for me, I won't plant a single potato unless they reduce the land tax."
"Even the Austrian lady is sending the Crown Prince; she must really care about this."
"So, this is a good opportunity. We must stand together and get him to lower the land tax..."
"No! It's about abolishing the land tax altogether..."
Most of these men spoke in low voices, but a few deliberately spoke loudly enough for the Crown Prince to hear.
Joseph smiled slightly and ignored them, continuing, "In recent years, droughts have often occurred, and everyone's harvests have been very bad. Potatoes yield a high output and could quickly alleviate the shortage of food caused by disasters."
He looked around the room and said, "Therefore, I hope you will heed His Majesty the King's call and plant more potatoes during spring sowing. Oh, the potatoes for 'seed' should arrive in Bordeaux in about ten days."
As land aristocrats, these grape plantation owners also controlled a large amount of arable land in the Bordeaux region. As long as they cooperated, potatoes could be easily cultivated on a large scale.
Below, a nobleman with a peculiar upturned nose tentatively called out, "Your Highness, could you consider reducing the land tax a little?"
Immediately someone responded, "Count Ledney is right; planting potatoes might lose money, it would be best to reduce the land tax as compensation."
"Please promise to lower the land tax first."
"That's a separate issue." Joseph said indifferently, "If you have opinions on the land tax, you may propose them to the Finance Minister and submit them for review by the High Court. Today, I am only talking about potatoes."
The noblemen all showed signs of dissatisfaction upon hearing this, and the room fell into silence.
Joseph calmly went on to enumerate the various benefits of planting potatoes, speaking for over half an hour. Finally, he said, "Alright, I understand that switching to a crop you're unfamiliar with is a difficult decision.
"You may all return and consider it. Tomorrow morning at nine, we will meet here again, and I hope to receive a positive reply from you."
After Joseph finished speaking, he prepared to leave. Governor Montsorro hurried to the center of the hall, inviting the estate owners to a banquet with a cheerful smile, in an attempt to ease the somewhat awkward atmosphere.
Joseph was well aware that he could have easily presented the "Pasteurization Technique" trump card at the beginning, and likely many estate owners would have chosen to cooperate.
However, doing so would make the land aristocracy feel that they forced the Royal Family into granting these benefits by using "not planting potatoes" as leverage.
Therefore, on his way to Bordeaux, Joseph had already planned to turn passivity into initiative, making the plantation owners realize that cooperating with the Crown Prince is beneficial, and that opposition would only lead to disadvantages.
After a dreary banquet, Montsorro invited Joseph and the nobility to a dance party at his residence.
Fortunately, Bordeaux's noble young ladies had some awe for the unfamiliar Crown Prince, so Joseph was not "besieged" at the dance party, but instead had the chance to genuinely enjoy some authentic Bordeaux wines.
Just as he managed to get through the party and was stepping out of the dance hall, a middle-aged man hurriedly followed him from behind.
Eman immediately intercepted the man with vigilance.
The man hurriedly made a chest-touching salute from a distance to Joseph, "May God be with you, Your Royal Highness Crown Prince. I am Pierre Victiniang Venio, serving at the Bordeaux High Court. May I have the honor of speaking with you for a moment?"
Joseph felt the name was somewhat familiar. Venio? He suddenly remembered—wasn't this the famed orator of the Girondin Party?
Indeed, the name of the Girondin Party originated because several of its main leaders were from the Gironde province, and Venio was one of them. Of course, the Gironde province was only delineated after the Great Commandment; presently, it was still only Bordeaux or the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.
Joseph remembered that Venio was one of the few in the Girondin Party who advocated for cooperation with the Royal Family, but he had no idea what he wanted with him.
So, he signaled to Eman, "Please let Mr. Venio come over."
Eman nodded and stepped aside.
Quickly advancing a few steps, Venio once again gave a respectful bow, "Thank you, Your Royal Highness."
Joseph smiled, "May I ask what can I do for you?"
Looking around and seeing no other nobles nearby, Venio spoke earnestly, "Your Royal Highness, please forgive my presumption. In truth, you really shouldn't have come to Bordeaux this time."
"Oh? And why is that?"
"Your Highness, the noble lords just recently refused to plant potatoes, and then you arrived immediately. You may wish to resolve this matter before spring planting, but this will make the nobles feel that you need them and thus bargain with you even more stubbornly."
Joseph blinked in surprise, wondering why this Mr. Venio seemed even more concerned about the potato planting than himself.
Venio continued, "Your Highness, I've heard news from Paris that this year there might be a serious drought.𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
"And those great nobles will not care about it. They are wealthy and even a poor harvest won't affect them. Some of them worry that the profits from potatoes won't be as high as grains, but more are seeking to use this as an opportunity to lower the land tax!
"But as you know, disasters have been frequent in recent years and the farmers of Bordeaux are impoverished, unable to endure another drought.
"I have been to Prussia; the people there rely on potatoes to fight off famine. At the moment, we need potatoes too, the farmers in Bordeaux need potatoes!"
Joseph was moved, not expecting that this lawyer would be so concerned with the suffering of the common people and willing to toil for the improvement of their lives.
He nodded, "Yes, I came to persuade everyone to plant potatoes."
Venio's expression showed great urgency, "Your Highness, the plantation owners have formed an alliance. Oh, I also run a small vineyard. They approached me too. They say if you do not reduce the land tax, they will absolutely not plant potatoes."
"Are you here to persuade me to lower taxes?"
"No, Your Highness, the land tax must not be lowered," stated Venio, "the nobles must bear their obligations to the nation!"
Joseph looked at him with interest, "Oh? And what do you suggest we do?"
Venio's expression was somber, "The only option now is for the government to provide a sum of money as a subsidy for planting potatoes. Under the drive of benefits, there will certainly be those willing to plant."
Joseph thought to himself, You indeed possess the Girondin's spirit of compromise.
He smiled and shook his head, "Mr. Venio, you should be aware of France's financial situation—there's simply not that much money available. Moreover, it's unnecessary. In just ten more days, everyone will be competing to plant potatoes."
Venio smiled awkwardly, "Your Highness, you jest. Unless you reduce the land tax, they will never..."
Joseph immediately interjected, "How about we make a bet?"
"A bet?"
"If within ten days, more than half of the plantation owners have not volunteered to plant potatoes, I will do as you say and provide a sum of money for potato subsidies."
What about the other way round?" inquired Venio.
"Then you'll have to do something for me."
Joseph knew that Venio was skilled at oration and capable in handling affairs. By enlisting this "sturdy man," he would be able to save himself a lot of trouble.
After only half a second of hesitation, Venio extended his hand, "Very well, Your Highness. As you say."
Joseph clasped his hand, struck the deal, and then took his leave.
Perhaps because of the wine he had drunk the night before, Joseph immediately fell into a deep sleep upon returning to his bedroom.
When he arrived at the palace conference hall of the exchange the next morning, he found that seven or eight people were absent compared to the day before. Naturally, these absent nobles had all made various excuses, seeking leave from Montsorro.
Joseph was not troubled by this, and he got straight to the point, "So, who is willing to sign a contract to plant potatoes now?"
There was another moment of silence below; the mere attendance today was out of respect for the Crown Prince, and yet he was still thinking about the potatoes?
Venio immediately stood up, "Your Highness, I am willing to plant five hectares."
He was but a lawyer with some family assets, and that was all the arable land he had.
Several plantation owners who were on good terms with Venio responded, "Your Highness, I can also sign for eight hectares."
"I can plant six hectares."
Joseph nodded with satisfaction and looked around the room once more, "Anyone else?"
The plantation owners glanced dissatisfiedly at Venio and others, but under the Crown Prince's persistent inquiry, they still needed to offer a token gesture, so as not to offend the Crown Prince's dignity.
Someone hesitantly muttered in a low voice, "I'll plant 40 mu."
A hectare being 100 French acres meant that this was less than half a hectare.
The other nobles followed suit, "Then I'll also plant 50 mu."
"I'll plant 40 mu."
"I have 30 acres..."
Joseph smiled as he watched these people respond to him, then suddenly raised his voice, "Oh, right, I've been so preoccupied with potatoes that I completely forgot about another matter."
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He gestured to Eman, who immediately had documents distributed to the nobles present.
Joseph continued, "This is the 'French Brewing Technology Association' I'm planning, to facilitate the exchange of brewing techniques. Listed here are some of the new technologies the association possesses."
The estate owners below were instantly filled with question marks—why had the topic suddenly shifted to winemaking, and what was this technology association?
However, as they began to peruse the document in hand, their eyes grew wider and wider.
Someone couldn't help but exclaim aloud, "New technology that reduces the failure rate of brewing to a negligible extent? How is that possible?"
Another person said, "And this technology, it can make the wine taste less acidic, improving the quality manifold!"
"Good Lord, and it also extends the preservation time of wine by more than tenfold!"
The plantation owners immediately began to discuss among themselves, their voices growing louder and louder.
Even Venio was extremely shocked as he also owned a winemaking industry and was quite familiar with the matter.
Firstly, winemaking was something that always had some failure rate. To keep the failure rate below 10% was the mark of the top winemaking masters. Typically, if 30% of wine production failed, that was considered acceptable.
What was even more unbelievable was the technology claimed to eliminate the acidic taste of wine.
You must understand that the presence of an acidic taste is an important criterion of wine quality.
Ordinary wines usually have a hint of acidity, affecting the taste. Only the more high-end wines can nearly eliminate the acidic taste.
Which means, this technology could make all the wines produced of high-end quality!
And the price difference between ordinary and high-quality wines can be more than tenfold!
Someone immediately stood up excitedly, holding the document in hand and asked Joseph, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, are these technologies real?"
Joseph nodded with a smile, "Of course they're real. They have already been applied for patents at the Paris Patent Office and should be registered soon."
An older plantation owner expressed his skepticism, "Your Highness, forgive my frankness. I have been in winemaking for decades and have never heard of such technology. Couldn't this be..."
Joseph looked at the eager nobles and immediately stood up, "Who has a wine cellar near here? I can give a demonstration on the spot."
...
In the northern suburbs of Bordeaux, Yalsen Cellar.
Although it was already winter, the cellar still had grapes specially smoked and dried for long-term storage, which could be used for winemaking.
It wasn't long before craftsmen arranged several barrels of completed grape pulp and brewing water in front of Joseph.
He also asked for a heating stove and a large bucket among other things, then signaled the watching plantation owners to leave first.
As soon as Kesode had "escorted" everyone out, Joseph immediately had Eman help fill a large pot with water and place it on the stove to boil.
When the water came to a boil, he mixed the hot water with cold water in a large wooden barrel and took out the thermometer he had brought to measure the temperature until it was exactly 65 degrees Celsius.
He then placed the small barrel containing the grape pulp into the large wooden barrel, started timing, and continued to measure the temperature. Whenever the temperature dropped, he immediately added hot water to keep the grape pulp above 60 degrees Celsius.