I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 626 Please experience the "future"!
An hour later, Joseph walked out of the reception room with a relaxed look.

Just now, Beaumont has agreed to sign a "contract agreement" to hand over 4 hectares of church land to the Minister of Agriculture for management. The fee will be increased by 6% based on the current tenant farmers' rent, but the specific land will be selected by the Minister of Agriculture.

Although Beaumont could not command the archbishops of other regions, as long as he thought it was feasible, other archbishops would basically accept it.

Joseph got into the carriage and hurried to the Palace of Versailles.

Spring wheat and spring barley in France are usually planted in March. He had to finalize the "contract" of the church's land with Vergniaud as soon as possible so that the farmers could switch to planting beets before they planted.

In fact, Joseph also wanted to use this "contracting" to gain control of a corner of the church's land.

If the church can continue to control the land in the form of contracting, the tenant system of these lands can be gradually abolished. After a decade or so of implementation, it will become a customary practice and the church will not be able to change it back.

Later, they found an excuse to reduce the contract fees and finally achieved the goal of taking back the church land.

However, the French Church owns more than 200 million hectares of land, and it would be a very long process to contract all of it.

However, the church's land, even shares, bonds and other assets, must be gradually recovered. The church must not be allowed to become a stumbling block on the road to the French Industrial Revolution. It would be best if it could be resolved peacefully. As a last resort, implementing religious reforms is also acceptable.

However, all this can only be done after French society at all levels becomes more stable.

……

Bavaria.

Munich.

There was no clanging sound from the "Old Brandt Iron Works" as before. The owner, Walter Brandt, stood in front of the door, looking at the crowded crowd across the street with a gloomy face.

There was cheerful music being played there, and from time to time colorful ribbons were floating over people's heads, making it seem very lively.

Brandt knew that the opening ceremony of Munich's first "French Department Store" was being held there.

"Damn the French! Bah!"

He cursed bitterly and spat hard on the ground.

Since a year ago, the opposite side of the street has become a centralized sales place for French caravans. Almost every two weeks, a French caravan would bring a large amount of French goods and set up a stall there to sell.

Every time that happened, both nobles and commoners in Munich would flock to the store and buy up the goods as if they were free.

Berlant admitted that those French goods, whether they were ironware, wine, mechanical products, furniture, cosmetics or paper, were all of high quality and cheap. Even the shouting of the vendors was unique, which could stimulate people's desire to spend money.

However, ever since those French caravans began to appear regularly, business at his workshop had been declining.

The farm tools, kitchen utensils, knives and scissors, shelves and other items he made were sold to almost all French caravans. Moreover, the quality of iron used in French goods was much better than that bought from the Bavarian ironworks, and the price was also cheaper.

This led to the fact that, except for some urgently needed items, people would choose to wait for the French caravan to arrive before buying them. In fact, even Berlant's own home was already filled with all kinds of French goods - French plywood furniture, French soap, French wine...

But his workshop was already on the verge of collapse. He had just laid off two apprentices last week and was barely able to break even. However, soon a more serious situation arose - the French Department Store across the street was built.

He had seen the French Department Store when he had been to Vienna before. It had neatly arranged counters, and behind each counter there were two pretty saleswomen and a male cashier.

Behind the glass of the counter are various French products with prices clearly marked.

The salesperson will introduce the products to the customers in a pleasant voice. After the customers choose what they want to buy, they will pack it in exquisite paper boxes.

The cashier next to you will provide a sales receipt after collecting the money. If there is a problem with the product within the warranty period, the mall will repair it free of charge.

Brandt heard that even the beautiful packaging boxes had become collectibles among the citizens of Vienna.

Every Sunday, there is a long queue outside the department store, and it takes a long time to get in. Even though the goods there are slightly more expensive, people are more willing to buy there.

Berlant knew that a shopping mall like this already existed across the street from him.

His workshop will be even less visited in the future, and he might face bankruptcy...

The department store was naturally copied by Joseph according to the model of later generations. He originally planned to open a supermarket, but considering the moral level of people at that time, he finally chose the shopping mall model. Anyway, the wages of workers were low, especially female salespeople, who could be hired at half the wages of men, so the cost did not increase much.

This novel business model originally appeared in the mature stage of the Industrial Revolution, around 184x. Joseph made it appear in front of people half a century ahead of schedule.

Compared to the single-business stores and inconspicuous grocery stores that were common in this era, the Department Store of France was first and foremost beautifully decorated and spacious. Even if you didn't buy anything, it was nice to just come in and stroll around - in cities of this era, apart from parks, pubs, and cafes, there wasn't really much else to go to.

At the same time, the department store also has a wide range of goods, mostly high-quality French goods, as well as some goods from other countries, ranging from luxury goods to daily necessities. And thanks to the low tariffs set by the Rhine-Seine Treaty, the prices of these goods are very affordable.

Coupled with the friendly and enthusiastic service attitude of the sales staff and after-sales guarantee, the Department Store of France can quickly occupy the local retail market wherever it appears.

In addition, these department stores even have food areas and children's play areas, which are simply unforgettable.

Over the past year and a half, department stores have been built in most major cities in southern Germany. Caravans are used to replenish stocks and continuously sell French goods to all parts of Germany.

The music across the street stopped, and after a burst of rapid drumbeats, the crowd of onlookers began to rush into the department store frantically - it was officially opened.

Bertrand was staring coldly at the panic buying scene through the glass window of the mall when suddenly a carriage stopped beside him.

The square-faced man in the car leaned out of the window and waved to him:
"Walter, hurry up and gather at Wisgen Street. The action will begin in an hour. Oh, and remember to bring the scarecrow and the slogan."

Bertrand nodded vigorously, turned around to call his two sons, picked up the things he had prepared, and headed towards Wisgen Street without saying a word.

(End of this chapter)