Chapter 1655: The Slacker Emperor

At this time, in Europe.

France.

In the Trianon Palace, a long time had already passed since the assassination attempt on Louis XV.

At this moment, in Louis XV's room, a stove purchased at a high price from Longyan had been set up.

This kind of item was something every household in Longyan possessed.

But in France, such an ordinary stove was sold for a sky-high price.

Many merchants from Longyan had made a fortune relying on these stoves.

Although France still had a backward Absolute Monarchy system, influenced by the Industrial Revolution, it had established many factories and still saw the emergence of a great number of technological talents.

Otherwise, France would not be so powerful.

However, the backward Absolute Monarchy system was destined to lead this powerful French Empire onto a path of decline.

This was an unavoidable decline.

But even so, France's industry was still quite developed.

Manufacturing an identical Longyan stove was not too difficult for them.

However, the stoves they manufactured could never be compared to those from Longyan.

It was unknown for what reason, but the stoves they manufactured either failed to keep warm or leaked smoke everywhere, making them completely unusable.

Furthermore, the coal they used to burn in the stoves all had to be purchased from the hands of Longyan.

Because of the stove's uniqueness, and because the coal from Longyan burned with white smoke and lacked the choking smell of their own charcoal, it was favored by Louis XV.

Even though the price of Longyan coal was artificially high, Louis XV still spent a large sum of money every year to import fire-coal and stoves from Longyan.

The maid serving Louis XV felt the room temperature drop by a degree and added a few more pieces of precious fire-coal into the stove.

She let the flames burn more vigorously.

Feeling the slowly rising temperature, she felt hot even though she was wearing a thin layer of light gauze clothing.

Louis XV stretched comfortably and sighed, "Although Longyan is hateful, the things they produce are indeed quite good."

And at that time, in the slums that Louis XV could not notice at all.

Those poor people were currently desperately trying to make the clothes on their bodies thicker.

At least, that was how it appeared.

It was just that beneath layers of coarse cloth, they were wearing either shredded cotton batting, withered grass, or even other unknown things.

But even if such clothes were wrapped as thickly as possible, they did not feel a single bit of warmth.

This year in Europe was exceptionally cold.

These poor people numbly entered the factories.

Those lucky enough to enter the Textile Machine Factory found that the operation of the textile machines relied on the Steam Engine.

The water vapor there was thick; although it was a cold winter, the Textile Machine Factory was exceptionally warm.

Of course, such job positions were not available to everyone.

As for the other poor people, the number of factories they could enter was always pitifully small.

France was an Absolute Monarchy country; the construction of any factory required the approval of Louis XV.

But Louis XV had long ignored state affairs; many factory buildings were only half-built because they were forced to stop due to the lack of Louis XV's approval.

The streets of France in winter had many more refugees.

Many people also froze to death.

But no one asked about any of this; people were even so cold-blooded as to consider it a common occurrence.

A boy from a noble family once asked, "Aren't they cold outside? Why don't they go home and light a stove?"

Regarding this question, those refugees had no way to explain it to him, and his parents had no way to explain to him why.

This was already the norm in France.

And the King of France,

Louis XV, after saying, "After me, the deluge," remained immersed in extravagant pleasure.

Once, Louis XV was still affectionately called by the French people the most popular person.

But because of his policy of appeasement toward Europe, as well as his own indecisiveness and neglect of state affairs, the French people completely lost confidence in him.

The so-called policy of appeasement was essentially a method of avoiding the outbreak of war by making concessions and handing over material goods and interests.

Under this cowardly policy, France, in its battles against Britain, especially on the European continent itself.

Retreated again and again, never achieving any military success.

All of this had to be blamed on this indecisive Emperor, Louis XV.

It was not that Louis XV was unaware; otherwise, he would not have predicted his own future after being assassinated.

But even so, Louis XV did not make any changes.

Such a policy still existed.

In fact, it was more that he had deeply realized that France could not escape its fate of decline at all.

He was now merely the Emperor of the French Empire in name, a great king, only in name.

Now, the three classes of France had long since become dominated by theocracy.

Those nobles were merely in name only; they possessed massive wealth but had not the slightest bit of power.

His power as the King of France had long been hollowed out by the current Pope.

That Holy Cross Army that went on the eastern expedition was a good example.

Without even needing his consent, Douglas and Prince Soubise could lead troops to attack.

This time, he was assassinated.

It is said that the person who assassinated him was someone who worked as a laborer in a Noble's household.

He came from the common people, not from the enemies of Louis XV, simply because Louis XV, as king, had made life miserable for the people of France.

Regarding the condemnation of this assassin, Louis XV did not offer the slightest rebuttal.

That is correct, he did implement a policy of appeasement.

But for Louis XV, that was a Method born of having no other Method.

The tide of the Industrial Revolution swept across all of Europe, but it began in Britain.

That is correct, this most powerful opponent and mortal enemy that France has faced for over two hundred years: Britain!

After the Industrial Revolution, Britain's strength advanced by leaps and bounds.

Although France had cooperated with Britain to cripple the former Empire on which the sun never sets, Spain.

But it was precisely at that time that France realized just how terrifying this former opponent had become.

It was also at that time that Louis XV decided to adopt a policy of appeasement to develop France's industry in private.

To avoid launching a direct conflict with Britain while it was powerful.

Thereby stabilizing the situation.

But this policy brought a negative effect: France was already considering how much war indemnity to pay to Britain before a war had even begun, in order to make Britain abandon the idea of attacking France.

These costs would naturally end up being distributed among the commoners of France to repay.

It would certainly incite the dissatisfaction of the populace.

But for Louis XV, this was a choice with no other choice.

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