The Fox of France

"Calculating the timing, there should have been some progress on their end." Joseph wasn't overly surprised by this news. He knew the initial breakthrough in steel refining was actually achieved by the British. Even though historically it seemed to have occurred a bit later, since the French had succeeded earlier, inspired by their success—though Lorraine Steel had kept their techniques strictly guarded—the French could swiftly and massively produce steel using certain methods. This fact couldn't be concealed. It would undoubtedly stimulate the British to invest more resources into their research. Consequently, a breakthrough was inevitable.

Moreover, no matter how strict the secrecy around technological matters, as long as products continued to sell in the market and the technology was applied in production, some information leakage was inevitable. Considering the high mobility of Lorraine Steel's workers, predominantly German speakers, upon entering the company, their primary aim was to earn enough money quickly to immigrate to Louisiana.

Of course, the British would attempt to acquire related technology by buying these workers. Even though these workers might not have had the opportunity to access the core secrets, they could at least observe the appearance of the steel refining furnaces. By talking to a few people, they could roughly understand some of the production processes. Although the most critical aspects remained undisclosed, even this knowledge could offer significant insights to the British. Hence, it was natural for the British to make advancements in steel refining given these circumstances.

"Now, which plan do we execute?" inquired Lucien.

Given the probable British breakthrough in steel refining, response strategies had been prepared long before, and not just one. Each plan underwent meticulous research and deliberation, each carrying its own set of advantages and drawbacks. Therefore, the critical decision was which plan to choose at this juncture.

"Obviously, we observe the subsequent actions of the British. If they concede in the recent trade disputes, we lower our steel and even pig iron prices for export to Britain. Leveraging our cost advantage, we crush them, showing them the consequence of 'making is inferior to buying,'" Joseph replied.

"What do you think their choice will be?" Lucien asked again.

"I'm not British; how would I know? And even if I were, it's not guaranteed."

"But Joseph, if we take certain actions now, we can influence their direction. For instance, if we slightly relax our trade policies, I believe it could encourage them to continue bilateral trade," Lucien suggested.

"But if we no longer demand the repeal of the Navigation Acts, under their protection, they can sell their steel products in their colonies, gaining funds to further develop their steel industry," Napoleon interjected.

"In the short term, the British colonies won't have significant demand for steel," Joseph remarked.

Joseph's assessment was based on the fact that the demand for steel primarily arose from industrial needs, and one of Britain's consistent policies was to prevent substantial industries in its colonies. Once established, these industries could alter the balance of power between the colonies and Britain, leading to strong independence tendencies.

Napoleon nodded, adding, "In that case, they'll probably rely on military support for survival. However, we can entirely sell military-grade steel to them."

Due to the recent technological advancements in his army, Napoleon had unparalleled confidence in it and wasn't hesitant to sell higher-end items to the British.

"If only the British were willing to buy our weapons in large quantities directly," Lucien remarked.

"That would indeed be beneficial," Napoleon agreed. "However, it must be based on accurate intelligence in our hands. Lucien, that's your task. The more precise the information your people gather, the stronger our responses will be."

At this point, Napoleon paused, then continued, "However, this time, the British have succeeded in steel refining, and yet we've learned about it from the newspapers. Lucien, your performance this time is truly disappointing."

"Napoleon, you can't say that," Lucien retorted as soon as Napoleon accused him. "I provided you a report a month ago mentioning the imminent breakthrough in British metallurgical technology."

"Damn it! You provided similar intelligence two months ago and even five months ago. These reports are almost interchangeable, just altering dates. Damn it, who knows how fast 'imminent' is in your reports—days, months, or years? Spending vast amounts of money, allocations, and receiving such intelligence. I reckon, if I handed this task to Fouché, he'd handle it better than you!"

"That's because Fouché's scope of business is limited; he can focus all his energy here. I have too much to oversee..." Lucien couldn't bear the comparison with Fouché.

"Alright, no more excuses," Napoleon intervened. "Focus on this matter for now. I need your people to provide us with the latest, most reliable, and valuable intelligence for decision-making."

"I'll keep my eyes on this," Lucien promised.

Meanwhile, in England, at the Sixth Army Investigation Department, Executive Deputy Director Ainsley Stanton was assigning tasks to his subordinates.

"Lately, news about the successful collaboration between the military, Cambridge University, and the Lorraine Steel Factory in the steel refining furnace project has become widespread. The French will undoubtedly try to gather our secrets. During this time, our trade representatives are about to negotiate with the French on trade issues. The success of the steel factory will be one of our most crucial bargaining chips. Therefore, any information concerning this matter is of utmost importance. We've received orders to station ourselves at the Lorraine Steel Factory and assist them in reinforcing comprehensive secrecy measures.

Regarding this operation, I want to make one thing clear: the secrets we protect encompass not only our advancements but also our setbacks. Secrecy means safeguarding backwardness! What we know, we cannot let the French know; what we don't know, we certainly cannot let them know. Understand?"

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