Make France Great Again-Chapter 623 - 614 Ironclad and the Greece Issue

Chapter 623: Chapter 614 Ironclad and the Greece Issue
However, Jerome Bonaparte reconsidered.
The achievements of the French Empire in ironclad warships seemed unlikely to maintain its advantage for long.
Ironclad warships, unlike nuclear weapons, are not something that can maintain a year’s advantage just because you built them a year earlier than your opponent.
Jerome Bonaparte had reason to believe that the Kingdom of Britain could produce ironclads with better performance than the "Friendship" within one to two years.
After all, the Kingdom of Britain’s shipbuilding industry far surpasses that of France, a fact that all naval forces, including Minister Deco, have to admit.
Rather than maintain an advantage for one or two years, it would be better to collaborate with the Kingdom of Britain on developing ironclads and absorb some of Britain’s shipbuilding techniques in the process.
Since France is providing the advanced technology of ironclads, Britain should at least offer some equivalent technology.
Moreover, as a continental power with its focus on the European Continent, France’s navy neither needs to nor is capable of challenging the Kingdom of Britain in the near term.
...
At this moment, Abdul Majid I was still unaware that Jerome Bonaparte had thought so much in such a short time.
He was still full of hope, waiting for Jerome Bonaparte’s reply.
"You also want ironclads?" Jerome Bonaparte asked Abdul Majid I with a smile as he came to.
"Yes!" Abdul Majid I nodded, "The Ottoman Empire lost too many ships in the last naval battle, so we must replenish new ships! Only in this way can the Ottoman Empire maintain a balance with the Russian Empire in the Black Sea."
"But do you really need ironclads for that?" Jerome Bonaparte shrugged and said, "The Russian Imperial Navy is almost defeated by us now!"
"The Russian Empire will continue to build more!" Abdul Majid I quickly said.
"Don’t worry, after this battle! I guarantee that all the shipyards of the Russian Empire in the Black Sea Region will be dismantled!" Jerome Bonaparte assured Abdul Majid I.
At this, Abdul Majid I seemed to have lost the reason to purchase ironclads from France.
"However, if you truly want them, that’s possible too!" Jerome Bonaparte pivoted his words towards Abdul Majid I, "But you’ll need to prepare a few things first!"
"What things?" Abdul Majid I’s eyes lit up, urgently asking Jerome Bonaparte.
"Ironclads are different from previous wooden warships; their internal structure is much more complex! You should know that the more complex a ship is, the harder it is to maintain! You can’t always bring your ships to France for repairs!" Jerome Bonaparte seemed to be considering Abdul Majid I’s perspective.
Abdul Majid I nodded subconsciously.
"So my suggestion is that you first set up a repair facility, then consider the matter of ironclads!" Jerome Bonaparte replied to Abdul Majid I.
"How should I set it up?" Abdul Majid I asked Jerome Bonaparte.
"I’ll have the Ministry of the Navy send you a list of items, and you can purchase according to that list!" Jerome Bonaparte told Abdul Majid I.
"And the ships..." Abdul Majid I inquired.
"How many do you intend to get?" Jerome Bonaparte asked Abdul Majid I.
"3... no! Better make it 5!" Abdul Majid I responded, holding up five fingers towards Jerome Bonaparte.
"5 ships? That’s quite a project! Let me calculate for you: currently, even with our shipyards running at full capacity, we can only manufacture one ship per year (in reality, it’s two per year), and you’re asking for 5 all at once. That’s equivalent to five years of shipyard work dedicated to your ships!"
At this moment, Jerome Bonaparte was like a calculating businessman, detailing to Abdul Majid I, "Moreover, the cost of building one ironclad is around over 2 million British Pounds, and I’m concerned about whether your finances can bear it..."
When Abdul Majid I heard the figures Jerome Bonaparte quoted, he couldn’t help but gasp, never expecting the cost of one ironclad to be so high.
"So I still suggest you purchase one ironclad, and complement it with a few of the latest designed wooden battleships!" Jerome Bonaparte advised Abdul Majid I, "With these, you’ll have nothing to fear from Russia! By then, you can also dispatch your navy to shell Odessa!"
Abdul Majid I nodded subconsciously, unaware that he was already falling into Jerome Bonaparte’s trap!
Although the era of ironclads hadn’t fully arrived, Jerome Bonaparte was seizing the opportunity to sell off his wooden battleships in installments (considering the fact that most countries, except for England and France, are quite poor, so Jerome Bonaparte implicitly accepted installment payments).
Once the era of ironclads fully arrives, the battleships in the hands of the French Empire would become mere ornamental toys.
The Ottoman Empire, as the gullible target, was naturally the best recipient for these sales.
Furthermore, Jerome Bonaparte even considered, after the war, asking Alexander II if he needed ships to maintain the security of the Baltic Sea. If needed, Russia would also be a suitable collaborator.
In the end, Abdul Majid I agreed with Jerome Bonaparte’s opinion, and the Ottoman Empire would order 5 battleships from the French Empire, including four sailing battleships and one ironclad.
Considering the Ottoman Empire’s financial constraints, Jerome Bonaparte also offered a loan with an annual interest rate of 5.2% to Abdul Majid I.
As to why it’s 5.2%, this is, of course, Jerome Bonaparte’s own twisted sense of humor.
Compared to the loans Britain provided to the Ottoman Empire, this interest rate was practically a benevolent price.
Of course, no matter how benevolent, it’s still a loan that needs to be repaid.
The entire populace of the Ottoman Empire would foot the bill for Abdul Majid I’s fleet ambitions.
Subsequently, Jerome Bonaparte and Abdul Majid I began discussions concerning the Balkan region.
Abdul Majid I subtly conveyed his dissatisfaction with the Kingdom of Greece to Jerome Bonaparte, informing him that the Black Mountain Duchy and Serbia were still in an undead state, backed by a nation, behind these scattered guerrillas. Moreover, during the cleanup, they repeatedly captured regular troops from the Kingdom of Greece, masquerading as guerrillas.
"You’re suggesting the Kingdom of Greece is supporting them from behind?" Jerome Bonaparte said, absent-mindedly stroking his cuff as he addressed Abdul Majid I with a casual tone.
"The likelihood has increased to the point where it can no longer be excluded as an influential factor in future judgments!" Abdul Majid I subtly replied.
The current Kingdom of Greece had attached itself to the French Empire, and Abdul Majid I was uncertain whether France would favor the Kingdom of Greece.
If the force behind the Kingdom of Greece wasn’t France, Abdul Majid I would have long ordered his troops to crush those "volunteers" of the Kingdom of Greece and then sent someone to demand accountability.
"If that is really the case, then it’s very troubling! However, I believe it’s just a misunderstanding!" Jerome Bonaparte considered and responded to Abdul Majid I.
If he remembered correctly, the current King of the Kingdom of Greece was Otto I of the Wittelsbach Dynasty.
This man was also an arrogant yet incompetent individual, as a king striving neither to unite his subjects nor but constantly clashing with them.
Despite the overwhelming presence of the Eastern Orthodox Church in Greece, Otto was unwilling to even pretend to convert.
That such a person could maintain his rule over Greece until 1862 surprised the populace.
If it were in France, Otto’s approach would likely have landed him with a reputation for fleeing by the second year.
In all of Europe, no nation is more difficult to govern than the Parisians.
Their rebellious spirit simultaneously earns Jerome Bonaparte’s admiration and makes him clench his teeth.
Facing these individuals who live out the value of united front work, what Jerome Bonaparte could do was to initiate reform and redistribution when society was on the brink of dissatisfaction!
Even though this path was a hundred times more challenging than simply being Emperor, he would grit his teeth and persevere!
Why? Because he had to deal with the Parisian populace!
Having said that, Jerome Bonaparte was also impossible to directly block the Kingdom of Greece, as that would only push them towards the Kingdom of Britain.
Moreover, Jerome Bonaparte himself also needed to make friendly gestures to the Wittelsbach Clan.
The Kingdom of Prussia was a major concern for France, whereas Bavaria served as France’s most suitable disruptor in Germany.
For a long time, the Kingdom of Bavaria had played the role of a qualified agitator in Germany.
Only when the waters of Germany were thoroughly muddied could Jerome Bonaparte fish in these turbid waters.
These are, of course, matters for the future.
Jerome Bonaparte planned to firstly send someone with a stern warning.
If the Kingdom of Greece truly remained stubborn, Jerome Bonaparte would tacitly agree that the Greeks appearing in the Balkan region were targets to be hanged.
Then he would have the Kingdom of Britain play the role of the villain, completely blockading the Kingdom of Greece’s coastline, forcing them to comply.
To Jerome Bonaparte, Otto desiring to expand at this time seemed somewhat insane, as if he believed everyone was like the Austrian Empire.
[PS: In fact, it was precisely because Otto I saw the Austrian Empire occupy the Danube Duchy with France’s backing that he harbored ulterior motives, intending to board the ship first and buy a ticket later.]
Following the conclusion of Jerome Bonaparte’s conversation with Abdul Majid I, the banquet commenced as dusk fell.