The Fox of France - Chapter 337: Propaganda

For the second Paris Trade Fair, France constructed a railway from the Place du Dieu de la Guerre in the heart of Paris to the Palace of Liberty. This marked the world’s first passenger railway and stood as a pivotal move by Napoleon to inspire the people while cultivating a sense of personal idolization.

During the last trade fair, the spectacle of the Palace of Liberty had profoundly impressed foreigners, swelling the national pride of the locals. However, compared to the railway, the impact of the Palace of Liberty was somewhat lacking. In many ways, the train, especially the steam locomotive billowing smoke and steam, epitomized the industrial era. Even in the age of high-speed trains, the raw power of the old-style steam engine remained irreplaceable, gathering countless steam train enthusiasts across eras.

Now that the railway was mostly laid, the trade fair was set to commence in a month. The Bonaparte siblings gathered to discuss the most effective ways to stage their show.

Originally, Napoleon planned to inaugurate the train service during the opening of the second trade fair, an idea swiftly mocked by Lucien.

“Napoleon, you fool!” Lucien took a chance to mock his younger brother, feeling rather pleased. “It’s like flogging a criminal and decreeing twenty lashes. Should you pause after every two lashes to let the criminal catch their breath or should you just flog continuously until the end?”

Napoleon paused, then grasped Lucien’s point. Continuously lashing twenty times would often result in the recipient fainting after three or four lashes, rendering the rest unfelt. Lucien’s implication was clear: coupling the inauguration of the train with the opening of the trade fair would overstimulate the public, potentially numbing their excitement and wasting a great opportunity.

Though Napoleon understood Lucien’s point, seeing his smug face made Napoleon irate. He wanted to test Lucien, to see if continuous lashes truly led to overstimulation.

Noticing Napoleon’s expression, Lucien instinctively distanced himself and suggested, “Napoleon, perhaps we should create some distance between these events to prevent overstimulation.”

Lucien’s words effectively diverted Napoleon’s attention. But in reality, Napoleon might not have wanted to provoke a scene and risk Joseph mocking his incompetence.

“Lucien, your considerations are valid,” Napoleon said. “But you overlook a crucial principle: the most captivating acts should not debut first. If the best act is revealed initially, no one will pay attention to the subsequent ones.”

“Absolutely!” Lucien agreed. “Just like in the ‘The Moulin Rouge,’ the most renowned lady always appears last. Undoubtedly, the train is our show’s star attraction this time. Introducing it right at the start might lead to the exact concerns you’ve raised. However, ‘The Moulin Rouge’ sometimes adopts a different approach. Have you seen our musical ‘Cinderella’?”

“No,” Napoleon replied. “I don’t live and work in the ‘The Moulin Rouge’ like you.”

Lucien then outlined the basic plot of their adaptation of ‘Cinderella’ to Napoleon.

“Ah, this story sounds familiar, a tale by Charles Perrault, right? You’ve just tweaked it a bit,” Napoleon remarked, cutting to the point.

“In our play, Nicole from the ‘The Moulin Rouge’ plays ‘Cinderella,’ a breathtaking beauty. She makes her entrance in the first act, but through makeup and attire, we deliberately downplay her appearance initially. It’s not until the pumpkin carriage arrives that, through costume and makeup changes, we suddenly highlight Nicole, dazzling the audience.”

“We can employ a similar strategy with the train. Initially, we’ll run freight trains without ceremony. They’re impressive, but you can’t board them, just watch from afar. Yet, even this will stir excitement. Then, gradually leak news about passenger trains, fueling discussions and expectations in newspapers. Ticket sales for the inaugural passenger trip will elevate anticipation. And then…”

“That’s good, but how do you plan to sell these tickets, Lucien?” Joseph, who had been quietly reading students’ research reports, suddenly asked.

“Through an auction,” Lucien said. “The first passenger coach will be the most luxurious, akin to a small villa. We’ll auction each coach’s tickets. We’ll orchestrate a hype, ensuring a hefty sum, grabbing everyone’s attention.”

Joseph shook his head, questioning Lucien. “Our newspapers extensively covered recent strikes by British workers. What’s the purpose of such coverage?”

“It’s to make our people realize how fortunate they are,” Lucien replied. “As you’ve said, everyone’s like Faust, never content. No matter how capable we are, we can’t satisfy them fully. Unsatisfied, they seek change, which isn’t in our interest.”

“You’ve mentioned that happiness is relative. Why do you think the world’s most revered dramas are mostly tragedies? It’s because people find satisfaction and happiness in witnessing the downfall of those seemingly stronger than themselves. It’s not about envy or hatred, just feeling content about one’s situation, especially compared to those heroes.”

Joseph concurred, highlighting the importance of comparative happiness. He noted that the recent plague, initially, the citizens of the Red Rabbit country weren’t satisfied with their nation’s responses. However, seeing the operations in Europe, notably in Italy and Austria, the citizens appreciated their nation’s efforts.

“France today is similar,” Joseph added. “Despite ongoing class oppression and the average Frenchman’s struggles, when compared to the British plight, our workers naturally cherish France’s situation. They’re exceedingly grateful to First Consul Napoleon.”

“By conducting such auctions and emphasizing these news reports, aren’t you intentionally accentuating France’s wealth gap? Displaying opulence, where the rich frivolously spend, might leave the poor feeling hopeless. It highlights the despair of inequality and breeds resentment, reducing smiles. So, your actions could be stirring up trouble for ourselves,” Joseph bluntly stated.

If it were Napoleon criticizing himself, Lucien might have attempted a rebuttal, even if forcefully. However, under Joseph’s scrutiny, Lucien dared not speak up. It was odd, as Joseph no longer randomly brought out test papers to challenge him. Nonetheless, Lucien couldn’t help but feel a bit intimidated by his elder brother.

“How would you suggest handling this, Joseph?” Lucien earnestly inquired, surprising Napoleon, who found this level of compliance rather unusual.

“An auction, of course,” Joseph replied.

“What?” Lucien uttered.

“First, publicize that the proceeds from this auction will fund the establishment of a charity hospital in the Saint-Antoine district, aiding the poor in Paris. Appeal to the wealthy for donations. Then, think about it?” Joseph suggested.

After a moment of contemplation, Lucien nodded in admiration. “Indeed, it’s Joseph! One side gains excitement through bidding, while the workers won’t see the rich enjoying extravagances they can never afford. They might even feel that our wealthy in France are superior to the British, making money yet still giving back to society. This way, we generate excitement, stability, and more smiles. Killing two birds with one stone! Brilliant!”