The Qing Dynasty is about to end

Chapter 846 Comrades, let us prepare for world war and world revolution!
In the late autumn of 1868, the morning in red Paris was a little chilly.

The dock workers on the Seine River had already started to work, the roar of steam cranes and the whistles of barges were intertwined. There were several patrol boats with red flags floating on the river, and the sailors were watching the ships coming and going vigilantly - since the Supreme Revolutionary Committee took over the power, every port in Paris has become a military control zone.

On the buildings on both sides of the street, bright red flags fluttered in the wind. In the shop windows, there was a dazzling array of goods, but a closer look revealed that the light industrial products on the shelves were not abundant - cotton cloth, soap, glassware and other daily necessities were in short supply, and many goods required coupons to purchase.

"Each person is limited to purchasing two pounds of soap. Please present your worker ID to collect it." A clerk wearing a red armband stood at the door of the grocery store and shouted to the women in line.

"Why is there a purchase limit again?" a female worker complained.

"We can't help it. The coal supply is insufficient and the soap factory's output has been halved." The clerk spread his hands helplessly, "The fuel is given priority to the arsenal and the railway."

Not far away, there was a long line in front of the bakery. Although the revolutionary government confiscated the land of the nobility and the church and distributed it to the landless peasants, the shortage of guano fertilizer made this year's harvest not ideal.

"Two pounds of bread per person, and children can get an extra half pound of milk." In a bakery, the clerk repeated mechanically, and the shelves behind him were empty, leaving only the most basic baguettes and milk.

Despite this, workers in Paris are still living better than before. The eight-hour workday gives them more time to rest, compulsory education allows their children to go to school, and the minimum wage means they don't have to worry about tomorrow's food money. But everyone knows that this life is not stable.

In a cafe on the corner, several well-dressed gentlemen were talking in low voices, their eyes occasionally glancing at the patrol on the street.

"I heard that many factory owners in Lyon fled to Switzerland last month..."

"Shh, keep your voice down, the Security Committee is everywhere."

The bourgeoisie in Paris still existed, and most of them no longer openly opposed the revolutionary regime - at least on the surface. But in private, many capitalists were quietly transferring their property and even secretly funding the royalists in exile in Corsica.

The People's Palace is the original Tuileries Palace. This former royal palace has now become the highest power center of Red France.

Inside the hall, both sides of the long table were filled with members of the Supreme Revolutionary Committee. On the wall hung a huge world map with two major military blocs marked in red and blue: NATO and the Warsaw Pact.

Foreign Affairs Commissioner Karl Moore stood up and said in a deep and firm voice: "Comrades!"

After Moore's analysis, the commissioners took the floor.

First, Blanqui, the chairman of the Supreme Revolutionary Committee, slammed the table and stood up: "Comrades, we can no longer hesitate, we must go all out to develop the military industry! If NATO wins, we will be the next target! If the Warsaw Pact wins, we will ignite the spark of revolution in Europe! For the happiness of all mankind, the working people of France must make certain sacrifices!"

Security Commissioner Rigo added coldly: "To be kind to the enemy is to be cruel to ourselves. We must not only prepare to fight imperialism, but also suppress all counter-revolutionaries in the country to ensure the stability of Red France."

Dabrovsky nodded: "Comrades, our revolutionary regime has not even unified France! Our army needs more cannons, machine guns, and ironclad ships to recapture Corsica and the Algerian overseas province!"

But Economic Commissioner Varlan frowned: "Comrades, our revolution is to let the working people live a good life! If we sacrifice the welfare of the people excessively in order to develop the military industry, what is the difference between us and the old government? Besides, the supply of materials in France is already very tight now."

Labor Commissioner Duval echoed: "We should make Red France a beacon of Europe and use our happy life to attract workers from all over the world to spontaneously revolutionize, rather than exporting revolution through war!" Michelle, the only woman in the Supreme Revolutionary Committee and the Education and Social Commissioner, stood up. Her voice was gentle but firm: "We have promised to give women and children a better life. We will also promote seven years of compulsory education throughout the country. This is related to the future of Red France."

The debate in the conference room became more and more intense until Friedrich slowly spoke:
"Comrades, we don't have to choose between the two."

Everyone turned their attention to him. "We can export technology to the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom in exchange for the funds and resources needed for development."

Moore immediately nodded in support: "This is a good proposal. By exporting technology, we can also export our ideas! It can also divide the imperialist group and win a better living environment for France. I propose the establishment of a 'National Defense Industry Committee', led by Comrade Friedrich, to unify the leadership of military production and foreign technical cooperation."

His proposal was quickly passed.

As night fell, the streets of Paris became quiet. In Moore's study, the light of the kerosene lamp shone on three serious faces.

Hu Wansheng took out a list from his briefcase and handed it to Friedrich.

"The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom is willing to bear the R&D costs and pay additional compensation - in the form of saltpeter, guano, rubber, and silk." He paused, "The condition is that Red France finds a way to arrange for some European scientists to go to the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's research institute to participate in related research, and at the same time, Red French universities can accept more international students from the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom."

Friedrich and Moore looked at each other and nodded at the same time.

"Tell Comrade Luo Yaoguo..." Friedrich folded the list and put it in the drawer, "It's a pleasure to work with you."

The morning sun shines through the stained glass windows into the dining room of the True Covenant Cathedral in San Francisco. Luo Yaoguo, who has returned to San Francisco and is preparing to return to the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, is having breakfast with Hong Daquan and Xu Yuegui. On the table are freshly baked bread, fried eggs, milk, and a pot of steaming coffee.

"Your Highness, this is the telegram I just received." Nanmu Gaozi walked into the restaurant quietly and handed an urgent telegram to Luo Yaoguo. She was wearing a simple white kimono today, and her long black hair was tied up with a red rope, which made her look particularly capable.

Luo Yaoguo took the telegram and quickly scanned the message sent by Hu Wansheng from Paris. Then he smiled with satisfaction and handed the telegram to Hong Daquan on the other side: "Progress in Paris is going very smoothly. The French have agreed to full technical cooperation."

Hong Daquan read the telegram carefully and laughed, "Great! With the technical support of France, our military industry development can be accelerated by at least five years."

Luo Yaoguo took a sip of coffee and said with some pride: "Daquan, California must also take action. I suggest that you secretly set up a 'National Defense Industry Committee' and focus on two things."

Xu Yuegui immediately took out a notebook to record. Luo Yaoguo continued, "First, we need to find a way to obtain technology from the eastern United States, especially technology and experts in mechanical manufacturing and chemical engineering. We can ask Stanford University and Caltech to set up relevant laboratories and hire them at a high price. Oh, I'll give you a list, and you ask O'Connor and Stanford to do it. Second, we need to establish a basic military-industrial system to ensure that we can maintain self-sufficiency for a period of time when we are blocked."

Hong Daquan nodded thoughtfully: "I understand, don't worry. The San Francisco shipyard can continue to expand, the coal mine, saltpeter mine, and copper mine can increase production, and a nitration plant and an electrolytic copper plant can be opened. In addition, iron ore and coal mines have been discovered in Denver, so we can build a small steel plant."

"There is also oil!" Luo Yaoguo said with a smile, "California has oil! Go to Pico Canyon, the Los Angeles Basin, the San Joaquin Valley and Signal Mountain to look for it, and you will definitely find something!" He paused, "Oil will determine the outcome of the First World War!"

(End of this chapter)