Facing Jerome Bonaparte’s "unwarranted worries" comment, Achille Fuld internally disagreed.

After all, in the eyes of most French people, the political system of the United States of America is not as fickle as that of France, and their citizens are not as prone to overthrowing the government by force as the populace of Paris.

Speaking solely in terms of political stability, the United States of America is far more stable than the French Empire.

Even though the political parties in the United States of America are slowly falling into division, he believes that this political division will be properly resolved before the election.

Instead of worrying about major upheavals happening in the United States of America, it is better to think about how to gain more support from the French populace.

"Your Majesty, the economic crisis will pass sooner or later! Cotton prices in the United States of America will gradually return to their original levels over time!

The Empire just needs to smoothly get through this period!" Achille Fuld tried to use comforting words to dispel Jerome Bonaparte’s concerns.

"If... I say if..."

Although Jerome Bonaparte began with "if," his serious expression revealed that he was certain that the "if" would indeed happen.

"If the United States of America falls into civil war in the near future, where will the Empire get its cotton from!"

Jerome Bonaparte’s words were like a bomb, leaving the three present feeling an unprecedented shock.

To be fair, Achille Fuld does not believe that the United States of America would fall into civil war due to political division.

"Your Majesty, the United States of America should not fall to the point of civil war!" Achille Fuld said to Jerome Bonaparte.

"My dear Minister Fuld, I just said if!" Jerome Bonaparte deliberately emphasized, with a meaningful smile on his lips.

"If the United States of America really experiences civil war, then in the short term, the Empire will indeed find no country that can replace it!"

Achille Fuld candidly acknowledged the awkward situation faced by the French textile industry.

However, this awkward situation is not solely a problem for the French Empire.

The Kingdom of Britain, and indeed all of Europe’s cotton, also depends on United States of America’s cotton.

Frankly speaking, the United States of America now monopolizes the entire European cotton industry, and no country or region can refuse the use of the United States of America’s high-quality cotton, opting for their own inferior home-grown cotton instead.

Unless they no longer wish to profit from cotton textiles.

Of course, in a few years when the United States of America indeed experiences civil war, those countries, who claim they will never use cotton from other regions, will reluctantly choose cotton from India, Egypt, and similar countries.

Though this cotton is somewhat inferior, having some is better than none!

People certainly can’t be suffocated by holding it in.

"Mr. Fuld, I remember a saying from the distant East: never put all your eggs in one basket!

Unless you want the chickens to fly and the eggs to break!" Jerome Bonaparte declared forcefully to Achille Fuld, "I believe the Empire cannot place its hopes in others!

The Empire has a textile industry second only to the Kingdom of Britain, with nearly 6 million textile machines working day and night.

There are more than 500,000 people working in the industry surrounding this massive textile industry!

If one day the United States of America experiences an unexpected event and we cannot find cotton raw materials in the short term, then our textile mills will face massive bankruptcies in a short time.

The workers relying on the textile industry would likely face unemployment, and even if only half of them were unemployed, it would still be a massive group!"

[In the original historical timeline, due to the United States of America’s civil war, the Alliance Country’s cotton could not be shipped, resulting in severe damage to the French textile industry!

Nearly 250,000 workers were forced to leave their jobs, and these unemployed workers, incited by the lurking Republican and Church Factions, began to harbor resentment towards the Empire.]

"However, Your Majesty!

Expanding cotton plantations requires land, time, manpower, and significant investment!

Moreover, France does not have excess land for crops unless we clear all existing land crops completely, and then plant anew.

This would also be a considerable expense!"

Even though Achille Fuld is aware of the potential risks of being caught in such a situation, the risk is only a possibility. He does not wish to waste the Empire’s land, manpower, and resources for a "nebulous" possibility.

Unless Jerome Bonaparte could provide enough reason to persuade him.

"Fuld, we can plant cotton outside of the French Mainland!

I remember that the climate in Algeria and Morocco is also suitable for cotton planting, correct?" Jerome Bonaparte sought Achille Fuld’s opinion in a consulting tone.

The coastal areas of Algeria and Morocco have a typical Mediterranean climate, which is especially suitable for the cotton planting industry.

Achille Fuld pondered carefully for a moment before looking up to speak to Jerome Bonaparte again, "The farmlands near the coast in Algeria and Morocco are indeed quite suitable for growing cotton!

However, most of the farmland there is used to grow wheat and other fruits and vegetables!

Forcibly using administrative orders to mandate cotton planting might provoke resistance!"

"We can temporarily leave the land already allocated to locals and immigrants untouched and implement a cotton planting policy on land belonging to the Empire!" Jerome Bonaparte proposed a solution to Achille Fuld. "Once the cotton planting industry succeeds, those locals and immigrants will naturally join our ranks!

By then, we will be able to achieve our goals without spending a single cent!!"

Achille Fuld suddenly remembered that the Empire still had nearly 118,000 hectares of state-owned land on the Mitija Plain in Algeria.

These lands could be considered the essence of all Algeria.

If these lands could be utilized...

Achille Fuld, without even realizing it, began to follow Jerome Bonaparte’s thought process.

Although he still did not understand why Jerome Bonaparte firmly believed that the United States of America was bound to have a civil war, he had to admit that the Emperor’s foresight did have some reasoning.

Moreover, implementing a cotton policy on state-owned land in Algeria wouldn’t cost much money.

Even if the planting failed, at most, it would just incur the hatred of some land freedmen.

No matter how much those people hate, they wouldn’t be able to cross the Mediterranean to attack him.

Oh well! Let’s just consider it a way to satisfy the Emperor’s little whims!

Achille Fuld comforted himself with a thought, and the determination to refuse had no choice but to concede now!

"Your Majesty, I understand your intention! I will discuss it with the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce soon!" Achille Fuld said to Jerome Bonaparte.

"That’s more like it!" Jerome Bonaparte responded with a smile to Achille Fuld, "The cotton industry is the lifeline of the textile industry, and we cannot let France’s lifeline be held in the hands of others!

Moreover, I have a suggestion, would you be willing to listen?"

"Please speak, Your Majesty!" Achille Fuld assumed an attentive stance.

"I think the Ministry of Finance could establish a special fund for cotton planting in the colonies to specifically support the cotton planting industry!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Achille Fuld.

Achille Fuld gently told Jerome Bonaparte that the Ministry of Finance did not have extra money to set up such an organization.

"The Ministry of Finance doesn’t need to allocate funds for this special fund!" Jerome Bonaparte shrugged, making a casual gesture.

"No allocation?" Achille Fuld’s expression was slightly puzzled; he couldn’t understand what Jerome Bonaparte was implying.

"Mr. Fuld, you seem to have forgotten! In our country, there are enthusiastic entrepreneurs who care about cotton planting even more than we do!" Jerome Bonaparte looked meaningfully at Achille Fuld.

Achille Fuld immediately understood Jerome Bonaparte’s implication. He clapped lightly and replied with a smile, "Your Majesty, you are right!

France indeed has many entrepreneurs who care more about the cotton issue than we do!"

"Since these entrepreneurs care so much about cotton, why not let them have this valuable opportunity!

Let them contribute their part in this great cause!"

Although Jerome Bonaparte’s words were tactful enough, they still couldn’t hide the underlying materialistic tone.

"Your Majesty, I hope to establish several honorary advisors and directors within the cotton special fund!

Only in this way will more people be willing to serve this great cause!" Achille Fuld responded in an insightful manner.

"Wouldn’t that give the impression of selling titles? The Empire is not the Bourbon Kingdom; we must assign limited positions to capable talents." Jerome Bonaparte inquired reservedly to Achille Fuld.

"Of course not!" Achille Fuld said with a serious face, "In France, are there really individuals more capable than entrepreneurs?" 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"Ahem... ahem," Jerome Bonaparte cleared his throat.

Then, a unique slyness appeared in Achille Fuld’s eyes, "Your Majesty, what you said is indeed correct!

However, the special fund is only a semi-official organization, and the advisors and directors within the organization are merely honorary titles!

Its purpose is merely to inspire more people to contribute to France.

Rather than calling it selling titles, it’s better to say it’s the Empire’s reward for the loyal!"

"Minister Fuld, you have articulated this well! The loyal should indeed receive their due rewards!

If loyalty receives no reward, then who would continue to be loyal!"

Jerome Bonaparte made the final summary.