Make France Great Again-Chapter 739 - 730: The West Africa Expedition Concept
"Your Majesty, you flatter me! This is just an initial design, far from meeting your requirements!"
Old Mauser showed a shy smile and modestly replied to Jerome Bonaparte.
"By the way! If I were to equip this rifle into the army in advance, could the improved version be directly made on this rifle?" Jerome Bonaparte continued to inquire of Old Mauser.
Old Mauser paused for a moment and then tactfully replied to Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, I’m not sure how to answer that! There is always a gap between the initial design and the final product of any firearm.
If the difference is not much, then it’s easy to make improvements!
If the difference is considerable, there may be certain difficulties in improvement!"
Old Mauser’s words reminded Jerome Bonaparte of the historically untimely Chassepot Rifle, which, after only a few wars, was directly shelved.
The subsequent Gras Rifle, although modified based on the Chassepot Rifle, incurred quite a cost for the improvements.
Nevertheless, its performance was still inferior to the Mauser Rifle of the same period.
"Then... let’s wait a bit longer!" Jerome Bonaparte abandoned the idea of mass equipment and then asked Old Mauser about the possibility of small-scale production of the rifle.
Old Mauser told Jerome Bonaparte that as long as the factories in the industrial park were willing to cooperate, small-scale production wouldn’t be a problem.
"I will have the factories in the park cooperate with you as much as possible!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Old Mauser, "You only need to produce over 1,000 rifles in the first batch!"
Jerome Bonaparte planned to use these over 1,000 rifles to arm an expedition team and then, under the guise of scientific research, infiltrate the regions of West Africa and Central Africa.
This would not only satisfy the testing of the new weapons’ performance but also legitimize the colonization of Central and West Africa.
He believed that with the rear-loading rifles and quinine, France would surely conquer the lands of Central and West Africa as history had.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Old Mauser nodded and responded to Jerome Bonaparte.
"Moreover, there must not be any slack with the rifles and metal cartridges, I will have Bashirio continue to increase investment for you!" Jerome Bonaparte reminded once more and then added, "And in view of your performance this time, I will award you the Fourth-class Legion of Honor (equivalent to being knighted), hoping you will continue to strive!"
Upon hearing he was ennobled, Old Mauser immediately beamed with joy, not expecting to become a member of the nobility so soon.
Though the Knight rank in France wasn’t particularly valuable, it was still a symbol of honor.
As long as he continued to strive, there was a possibility of being granted the rank of Baron.
Afterward, Jerome Bonaparte and Old Mauser returned to the rifle manufacturing company.
On the way back, Jerome Bonaparte asked Old Mauser if he would be willing to give him the rifle numbered 0001.
Old Mauser, being tactful, expressed that if Jerome Bonaparte liked it, he could take the rifle away.
"Then I’ll take it!" Jerome Bonaparte said unreservedly to Old Mauser, then inquired about Mr. Xiasibo’s progress on the multi-barrel machine gun.
"During this period, Mr. Xiasibo has been following me in designing rifles, so the multi-barrel machine gun is still in the design phase!" Old Mauser hastily covered for Xiasibo.
"No wonder!" Jerome Bonaparte muttered quietly, wondering why there was still rubber on the Mauser Rear-loading Rifle—it turned out to be Xiasibo’s idea!
"Your Majesty, shall I call him over for you?" Old Mauser asked Jerome Bonaparte.
"That’s not necessary!" Jerome Bonaparte shook his head, refusing Old Mauser’s suggestion, then took out a pocket watch to check the time.
By this time, it was around 11:30 a.m., and unknowingly, two and a half hours had passed since he got off the train.
"Valerovsky, Vilnius, we should go!" Jerome Bonaparte hurriedly called for Valerovsky and Vilnius to leave.
If he didn’t leave soon, he feared he would have to go back to face Augusta’s "scolding".
"Your Majesty, let me see you off!" Old Mauser escorted Jerome Bonaparte to the crossroads.
The trio of Jerome Bonaparte headed towards Bashirio’s office.
And Bashirio, who had been waiting in the office for some time, immediately went to greet Jerome Bonaparte upon learning of his arrival.
Jerome Bonaparte quickly gave Bashirio instructions: "1. Immediately set up a dyestuff company within the park and grant William Pakin’s Research Institute in the Protective Umbrella Research Institute 150,000 francs plus 17% shares! Also, draft a patent contract, which isn’t a single patent but covers all of William Pakin’s patents over the next 30 years. 2. Award 150,000 francs each to the Protective Umbrella Research Institute and Old Mauser Rifle Company... Do you understand?"
"Yes! Your Majesty! I will execute it immediately!" Bashirio quickly responded to Jerome Bonaparte, "By the way, Your Majesty, that William Pakin..."
"William Pakin has created an artificially synthesized purple dye in the lab, which can be applied to silk." Jerome Bonaparte said to Bashirio.
Bashirio instantly smelled the scent of money, "If this dye is launched in the market, it will definitely sell well!"
"Exactly!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded, "Once the contract is completed, head to Britain and Germany to apply for patents as soon as possible! If the application is delayed, I fear there might be some mishaps."
The mishaps Jerome Bonaparte referred to were about the possibility that someone else might also develop the same dye during this time.
After all, there have been too many bloody fights over patents on the European Continent.
As for the current Steel Refining Method, Northern Industrial Group is currently in a legal battle with William Kelly in Britain over this issue.
William Kelly has always claimed that the Steel Refining Method was his original creation and demanded that the new Steel Refining Method be stopped from profiting in Britain.
Although Jerome Bonaparte viewed William Kelly as merely a pawn pushed out by some steel tycoons in Britain to compete, he couldn’t easily snuff him out using official channels.
People like William Kelly, although they cannot harm your interests, will annoy you like a persistent fly.
Jerome Bonaparte did not hope for too many people like William Kelly to appear.
"Your Majesty, should we also apply for a patent in the United States of America?" Bashirio inquired again.
"Apply! Why not apply!" Jerome Bonaparte gritted his teeth and said to Bashirio, "Inform our legal team in the United States of America, if anyone dares to use the technology without the company’s permission! We don’t care who they are, no matter how small, we will sue them! Keep suing them until they go bankrupt!"
"Your Majesty, if we sue one company after another, I fear all our interests in the United States of America will be tied up in prolonged litigation!" Bashirio reminded Jerome Bonaparte.
The United States of America, known for starting off with piracy, still had various small factories at this time, showing no fear of patent laws and engaging in piracy without restraint.
Taking down all these guys is not particularly easy!
"No matter how much we invest, it’s worth it!" Jerome Bonaparte declared resolutely, "Only by resolutely eradicating piracy can we earn more profit!"
Bashirio finally complied with Jerome Bonaparte’s advice.
"Alright, that’s all I have to say!" Jerome Bonaparte shrugged and said to Bashirio, "Now you can find a carriage to take me back!"
Bashirio quickly arranged a carriage for Jerome Bonaparte and even assigned a few retired veterans to escort him back.
"Forget it!" Jerome Bonaparte shook his head and said to Bashirio, "Sending too many people will make it obvious that someone important is in the carriage. Aren’t you basically increasing my risk!"
"My apologies for the oversight!" Bashirio hurriedly apologized to Jerome Bonaparte and withdrew the soldiers meant to escort him back.
And so, Jerome Bonaparte and Vilnius took the carriage back to the Tuileries Palace, while Valerovsky took another carriage back to Ossai Pier.
When Jerome Bonaparte’s carriage arrived at the Tuileries Palace Garden, the patrolling guards immediately stopped the carriage from proceeding.
"Please show your invitation!"
"I don’t have an invitation!"
"Then I’m sorry! You cannot enter!"
Seated within the carriage, Jerome Bonaparte overheard the conversation between the driver and the patrol guards. He pulled open the curtains and leaned his head against the window sill, half-jokingly saying, "Can this face allow me to enter?"
Upon hearing the voice, the guards immediately looked into the carriage. Seeing Jerome Bonaparte’s face, their expressions changed drastically, and they saluted to Jerome Bonaparte in the carriage, "Your Majesty!"
"Alright, make way!" Jerome Bonaparte in the carriage waved to the patrol guards.
The patrol guards quickly cleared a path for the carriage, which then drove to the entrance of the Tuileries Palace.
Jerome Bonaparte pushed open the carriage door and directly entered the courtyard of the Tuileries Palace. Mokar, who was instructing the servants on the first floor, beamed with joy upon seeing Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty!"
"Mokar, where is my beloved son Friedrich now? Take me to him quickly!" Jerome Bonaparte asked Mokar straightforwardly.
"Please follow me!"
