I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 1356 The Art of Selling
During the Paris World Cup, high-ranking officials from various European countries witnessed the incredible transport capacity of trains and thus deeply understood the immense value of building railways.

However, they soon learned from the French Ministry of Transport that, apart from one line in Baden connecting to Strasbourg, all of France's railway construction plans were for domestic routes. The reason, naturally, was the limited funding available to the French government.

While governments around the world were disappointed, they were not entirely surprised. After all, the cost of railways is calculated per kilometer, and a single line can require an investment of tens of millions of francs.

Some countries, such as Switzerland, coveted the enormous economic benefits of railways and decided to grit their teeth and raise the money themselves to have the French National Railway Company build them.

However, most countries are planning to wait and see. They will either try to get the French Ministry of Transport to plan a route to their country in a few years, or they will learn from the French model and encourage private investment in railways.

But at this moment, the high-ranking officials from various countries present realized that a new option had emerged—

If France makes its railway technology public, other countries can invest in building their own railways!
This is completely different from raising money to have the French railway company do the repairs.

If we hire a French company, then all the funds will have to be handed over to the French, and a large portion of our own finances will be "drained" instantly.

If they could acquire railway technology, they could establish their own railway company to build it, so even if they invested a lot of money, the money would mainly circulate within their own country.

The railway company's profits are subject to taxes. Besides taxes, most of the workers' wages are used to buy domestic goods or deposited in domestic banks.

Once the railway is completed, a significant portion of the invested funds will return to the government after a period of circulation, and this process will also promote the development of other industries.

In particular, countries like Hesse and Cologne, which possess coal and iron resources, will see a significant boost in their domestic coal and steelmaking industries.

Other countries can at least develop industries such as machining and timber.

Everyone's hearts burned with passion.

The Minister of the Interior of Hesse, standing at the very front, exclaimed excitedly, "Praise be to the great Son of God! He truly embodies God's love!"

"Mr. Wilfred, our country is very interested in railway-related technologies. How can we acquire them?"

Wilfred is the deputy director of the French Ministry of Transport's planning department who is giving a speech next to the train.

He smiled at the Minister of Hesse: "Sir, as you know, railway technology involves a large number of complex patents."

"The Ministry of Transport has obtained the agency authorization from the vast majority of patent holders, and the specific patent licensing fees will be announced here at noon tomorrow."

The people present immediately began to whisper excitedly to each other.

Paying patent fees is a matter of course, and no one is surprised.

It is already extremely valuable that France is willing to sell such cutting-edge technologies as railways and trains.

After the British invented the spinning jenny, they issued a series of laws to prevent the technology from leaving the country. At the time, all workers who had handled the spinning jenny were prohibited from leaving the country; they were even forbidden from buying ship tickets. Anyone who dared to take a model or blueprint of the machine out of the factory was a serious criminal. Foreigners simply couldn't enter the textile factories.

More than 20 years later, a textile apprentice named Samuel Slater, who had smuggled himself into the United States, replicated the Arkwright spinning machine from memory, an advanced version of the spinning jenny, and became known as the father of the American Industrial Revolution.

Now, the French have shared their train technology with all countries almost as soon as they developed it!

After the World Expo ended that day, officials from various countries immediately sent back information about the train technology using the Sharp signal machine.

However, when everyone gathered at the French exhibition area the next day and saw the details of the patent licensing fees listed on the huge wooden board, they were all instantly stunned.

[Railway steel smelting technology: Patent No. FNS0012310. Technical description…. Authorization standard—a one-time authorization of 120 million francs, or an annual authorization of 150 million francs.]

[Rail forging technology: Patent No. FNS0012571. Technical description…. Authorization standard—one-time authorization of 230 million francs.]

[Railway laying and fixing process: Patent No. FNS0012442. Technical description…. Authorization standard—one-time authorization of 180 million francs.]

[Rail quality monitoring technology...one-time license of 100 million francs.] [Sleeper and track foundation technology...one-time license of 160 million francs.]

[Track switch technology...a one-time license for 70 francs.]

[The technology for manufacturing human-powered railcars... a one-time license fee of 60 francs.]

[Railway signal control and standards...a one-time authorization of 90 francs.]

[Railway maintenance and upkeep processes...a one-time authorization of 100 million francs.]

【…】

[Technologies related to steam engines for trains... a total of 34 items, with a total licensing fee of 650 million francs.]

[Train mechanical transmission related technologies... a total of 11 items, with a total license value of 400 million francs.]

[Train suspension and braking technology... a total license of 330 million francs.]

[Train body connection technology...a total license fee of 80 francs.]

[Train carriage related technology...a total license of 240 million francs.]

【train……】

All things considered, even if only the railway is laid and all the trains are purchased from France, the licensing fee would still be as high as 1400 million francs!
If they want to produce their own trains, they will need to pay an additional 2100 million francs.

For a total of 3500 million francs, they brought home the complete railway system technology.

However, among those present, only Spain possessed such substantial wealth.

Spain is traditionally a big spender, and even with the huge income from the California gold mines, it can barely break even and simply can't come up with tens of millions.

However, no one present complained that it was too expensive.

Each of these items represents a complex set of technologies, and it's normal for patent licenses to cost hundreds of thousands of francs.

However, trains are a highly complex system with a large number of patents, which is overwhelming when combined.

Minister of Industry of Luca looked at Wilfred and said cautiously, "Mr. Wilfred, could you... offer a discount..."

He felt a little embarrassed after he finished speaking.

This is the most advanced railway technology available today, and they're actually haggling over the price of just over ten million francs?

Sure enough, Wilfred gave him a "regretful" gesture.

Officials from various countries were caught in a dilemma, with some rushing back to their residences to issue reports and discuss the matter with their countries of origin.

Three days later, most countries began to consider withdrawing, but the enthusiastic presentations by French officials at the exhibition about the promising future of the train made them reluctant to give up.

Just then, the assistant to the Baden Foreign Minister brought news that the French Crown Prince had just finished inspecting the Kellsbridge and was heading to Cologne, likely passing through Karlsruhe.

Officials from various countries were all intrigued and quickly prepared generous gifts before gathering on the main road in the south of the city.

(End of this chapter)