Lamark hesitated for a moment before saying to Joseph, "Your Highness, I feel it's my duty to remind you that this pharmaceutical workshop will likely require an investment of fifty or sixty thousand livres, and if you aim to make only a 3% profit, I'm afraid it will take you a very long time to recoup the costs."
Joseph smiled and shook his head, "This 3% is intended as a contingency fund, I have no plans to make money off this medicine."
He wasn't trying to play the saint, tossing his money away. Instead, he had a mature commercial plan.
As a medicine, salicin could save many lives, and selling it at a low price could still be considered doing good.
But this substance was not just for reducing fever; it was also an effective cosmetic product! Even in the 21st century, acne and skin softening products would still contain salicylic acid, which is an oxidized form of salicin.
There's a saying in the future--who's money is the easiest to earn?
Of course, it's women and children!
Provided the packaging and marketing are done well, salicin skincare products could easily sell for more than ten livres a bottle, and those noblewomen would buy them like crazy.
Lamark said, "You are truly great, I thank you on behalf of the countless ordinary Parisians!"
Joseph waved his hand, "It's nothing."
Eager to spread this miracle drug throughout Paris, Lamark immediately suggested, "Your Highness, I know of a very suitable location to build the workshop, take a look..."
Joseph pondered for a moment, then said, "The purification of salicin doesn't require very complicated equipment. Building a workshop from scratch is too inefficient. It's better to directly acquire an existing pharmaceutical or chemical reagent production company."
Suddenly, the attendant Eman said, "Your Highness, may I interject?"
"I remember that among the Royal Family's properties, there is a perfumery that has been losing money for a long time and is about to be sold, which might meet your requirements."
"You've been a great help!" Joseph nodded, "Do you remember how much they are asking for it?"
"I believe it's twenty-six thousand..."
Joseph didn't wait for him to finish and suddenly slapped his forehead, saying, "Since it's a Royal Family property, why pay for it? I will just ask Queen Mary for it."
Queen Mary, upon hearing that her son wanted to produce affordable medicine to help the common people, immediately nodded and had her lawyer handle the formalities. In less than half an hour, the perfumery was transferred to the Crown Prince's name.
Joseph intended to see the place himself but was interrupted when a servant came to announce that the Marquis of Castries was seeking an audience.
Regrettably, Joseph had no choice but to leave the matter of the drug factory to Lamark and went to the drawing room to meet the Navy Minister.
In the spacious drawing room, Castri respectfully bowed, then went straight to the point, "Your Highness, Her Majesty the Queen has sent me to discuss with you the construction of new warships, I believe we should not cut back..."
Joseph smiled and interrupted him, "Marquis Lastri, I want to ask you first, why do you want to build such a large number of warships?"
"Of course, to deal with the British!" the Navy Minister's tone was as hard as steel, "To defeat their proud fleet, to take back our colonies that were stolen, and to deeply humiliate them, just like they once humiliated my grandfather!"
Joseph nodded, "So, do you think, even if the treasury fully supports your shipbuilding, that you have a chance to defeat the British?"
Castri had prepared for this, "If we join forces with Spain and use reasonable tactics, there is a chance!"
"The chance is very small." Joseph responded bluntly, "Besides, in terms of naval tactics, the British are stronger than us."
Castri's expression dimmed slightly, but he still persisted, "How do we know without trying?"
Joseph gestured for him to have some tea, his expression very calm, "If we had warships equipped with a speed exceeding 20 knots, carrying twenty-five 42-pound cannons, thirty 24-pound cannons, and wrapped in iron hulls.
"With the addition of the existing warships, do you think it would be possible to defeat the British fleet?"
"That is an unrealistic fantasy," Lastri said with a smile, "If we had such warships, I could make the British wet their pants."