Joseph gestured grandly with a sweep of his hand, "Start by guiding the farmers on how to cultivate more efficiently."
"Provide them with livestock, seeds, farm tools, and fertilizers. You can imagine just how many farmers there are across the nation, and how large a business this will be."
"At the same time, the company can organize craftsmen to build water conservancy for farmers and lease irrigation machinery. Don't worry about the money, the Agricultural Bank will gather a large number of farmers and sign collective loan agreements with them."
"When the harvest is abundant, the company will then buy the surplus grain from the farmers and transport it on a large scale to more profitable markets. The enormous volume of transportation will greatly reduce transport costs. Nowadays, many large cities have built wooden railways, which will make transportation even cheaper."
"I call it—the Agricultural Service Consultancy Company."
"Compared to taking the reluctant tribute from farmers, such a company will earn much larger profits!"
The nobles present obviously hadn't thought of operating in this manner and immediately began discussing it among themselves. Capitalist Nobility members, previously planted in the crowd by Mirabeau, immediately took on the role of explainer, convincing the surrounding Old Nobility to nod in agreement.
However, it wasn't long before someone voiced a concern: "Your Highness, although the prospects for the type of company you describe are excellent, the required investment will also be very significant. It's simply beyond what we can afford."
"You are absolutely right," Joseph spoke up, "which is why His Majesty the King has established a 'Royal Fund' in partnership with the Bank of French Agriculture, specifically investing in the Agricultural Service Consultancy Company."
He spread his arms before the nobles present: "And you only need to invest a little money to subscribe to the fund, and then you can enjoy an endless stream of dividends. Of course, you can also gather your own funds to establish a company independently."
"As for the cultivation technology, and the promotion to farmers, the Church will provide support to each company."
The Archbishop Beaumont immediately gestured towards Joseph with a hand over his chest: "The Church will fully cooperate."
Joseph continued, "In terms of water conservancy, the Royal Fund will sign a large-scale purchase agreement with the Steam Engine Company to get the pumping machines, mill driving machines, and other equipment at the lowest prices."
"As for sales, the strategic granaries will sign a supply agreement with the Royal Fund and may even pay part of the freight in advance."
"I can assure everyone that the income will be significantly more than the little annual tribute you get—several times or even tens of times richer!"
The nobles in front of the Petit Trianon Palace immediately brightened at the prospect. This was definitely a good business! Previously, one could collect only the tenant farmers' tribute, but the Agricultural Service Consultancy Company could make money from the owner-farmers as well."
Moreover, with the Royal Fund and the Church managing the company, they could continue to live at the Palace of Versailles just as before, doing nothing and simply collecting dividends each year.
Immediately, servants who had been prepared with stacks of fund subscription applications began distributing them to the nobles present.
Joseph went on, "Besides reaping generous dividends, you will no longer have to endure the sneers of the farmers or be called 'vampires' behind your backs. There will no longer be Liberals pointing fingers at your lifestyle, talking about 'extravagance' or 'degeneracy'—your money will be earned through business, and you can spend every penny with your head held high!"
Even more nobles were moved by this.
Although these nobles clung to their feudal privileges for the sake of profit, in an era influenced by Enlightenment thinking across Europe, deep down they also felt like "parasites," "remnants of a historical error."
Right now, if there truly were an opportunity to continue living lavishly through "business", they would naturally be delighted to participate.
As they lowered their heads to look at the Royal Fund subscription form in their hands, they saw that the minimum subscription was only 200 livres, instantly easing their minds—many of these nobles were not wealthy, and maintaining their noble status required considerable expenditure. Many worried that a minimum purchase in the thousands of livres would be simply unaffordable.
After carefully reading the "Operation Explanation of the Agricultural Service Consultancy" that was distributed with the application, many nobles immediately wrote down their subscription amounts and then affixed their private seals on the spot.
Joseph watched as people continuously gathered towards the Fund's staff, a slight smile curving on his lips.
Who said that benefits must be delivered to the nobility in order for them to accept the land redemption plan? He would not only refrain from offering benefits but would also collect a sum of money for agricultural reform start-up funds from the nobility!
As for the possibility of agricultural service companies hurting the interests of the farmers once they grow large?
Such a thing did not exist. Not to mention that most nobles were merely waiting for dividends and wouldn't be involved in the company operations, essentially resulting in all agricultural service companies being Royal Family-controlled. Even if some nobles raised their own funds to establish companies, they would have to operate within the framework of the Royal Fund.
Whether it's the Church delaying your compost and breeding enterprises by a few weeks or the strategic grain reserves refusing your grains, both can make private companies immediately compliant.
Even in the worst-case scenario, Joseph could employ legislative measures to set maximum and minimum purchase prices to ensure the basic livelihood of the farmers.
Of course, the sum invested by these Old Nobility into the Royal Fund was nowhere near sufficient to initiate nationwide agricultural reform.
Joseph subtly glanced over at Mirabeau and others; several of the most influential Capitalist Nobility immediately bowed respectfully in response.
The bulk of the Royal Fund was amassed by nearly a hundred Capitalist Nobility, with an additional supplement from the Agricultural Bank. Even without the Old Nobility's subscription, there was no shortfall of funds.
A noble next to Mirabeau turned his head with a look of joy and whispered, "Honore, how large of an estate do you plan to build this time? 1,000 acres?"
"Heh, not that much," Mirabeau laughed and waved his hand, "And you? My dear Francis?"
"Roughly 1,000 acres. That's all the money I have on hand can afford. I heard that Viscount Drasco plans to buy 5,000 acres, for which he's mortgaged his own tannery."
"That's indeed a big move," Mirabeau nodded, "But investing in estates right now is cost-effective. The Crown Prince's agricultural reforms are about to start, and this sector has a broad prospect."
This was the reason why Capitalist Nobility were willing to invest massively in the Royal Fund.
In the land redemption plan established by Joseph, the rule that charged a high processing fee for individual land purchases over 100 acres and required a one-time payment of half the fee was essentially the most significant boon to the Capital Group.
The steep fees essentially quelled the enthusiasm of ordinary people to buy large tracts of land through loans. The Old Nobility, having lost their feudal taxes, also dare not invest heavily at will. The only ones left capable of swallowing pieces of land in the hundreds of acres were the Capitalist Nobility.
Joseph was very clear that in the unique era at the turn of the 18th century, large-scale land consolidation was beneficial for industrial development.
And this could well serve as a bargaining chip to exchange for the investment enthusiasm of the Capitalist Nobility.