Planning production for war has never been an unusual matter. Even during the feudal dynasties, they followed vague principles of planned production to determine the quantity of weapons and provisions needed for war.

However, organized and large-scale planned production for military needs truly materialized only during the decades of the Great Revolution.

When the revolutionary government issued mobilization orders to Paris and all of France, all factories, scientists, and workers in Paris followed the revolutionary government's orders for large-scale production. In just a few days, the entire Paris transformed into a large arsenal, providing the revolutionary army with a huge amount of weapons and equipment, enabling them, who initially had bare hands, to stand against the anti-feudal coalition.

Of course, the war mobilization by the revolutionary government was just the dawn in the history of planned mobilization.

The real event that brought planned warfare onto the stage was the American Civil War seven years later, which can be considered a prelude to World War I. Both sides exerted all their strength just to completely annihilate the other's living forces.

Under the leadership of the Northern Federation, the war committee composed of directors from various federal bureaus consolidated all resources related to the military and military-related matters into the central government, with Major General Kirk, the personal advisor designated by President Lincoln, serving as the chairman of the committee, allowing large-scale planned mobilization to be realized.

However, after the Civil War and before World War I, the United States no longer capitalized on the advantage of industrial mobilization, and the war committee was subsequently abolished.

The War Planning Commission that Jerome Bonaparte spoke of was slightly more centralized than the federal government's committee, as it not only concerned military matters but also addressed certain economic issues during the war, to prevent significant domestic economic fluctuations caused by the war.

This method is groundbreaking not only in France but in the entire world.

Therefore, when the merchants present heard Jerome Bonaparte mentioning topics like "indicators" and "plans," they instinctively thought of the various measures taken during the Great Revolution, rather than the Civil War a decade later.

A portion of the imaginative merchants even thought of the revolutionary era when, to control the soaring prices, the revolutionary government hanged some unscrupulous merchants, along with the more radical ideas and policies of Marla and Robespierre.

The merchants with imagination turned pale instantly, and their legs trembled involuntarily. Fear spread like a plague to all the merchants present (except Eugène Schneider and Bashirio), causing them to indulge in wild thoughts.

The most frightened was François Wender beside Jerome Bonaparte, who turned ashen-faced and tremblingly pleaded with Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Maj...esty, I am willing to give all my factories and properties..."

Before François Wender could finish speaking, Jerome Bonaparte interrupted him, "What do I want your factories and property for?"

Then, looking around, Jerome Bonaparte saw the fear in everyone's eyes and laughed in anger, "Do you still think I'm trying to plunder you by force?"

The merchants instinctively shivered when they heard Jerome Bonaparte's question and vehemently denied, "No!"

"Rest assured! I am not resorting to such circuitous methods to seize your property!" Jerome Bonaparte reassured the merchants present.

Merchants immediately realized this, and their anxious hearts finally found some peace.

The aura of panic slowly dissipated visibly, and Jerome Bonaparte said, "The government will not confiscate your properties. On the contrary, we will give you some encouragement. All your contributions exceeding expectations during the war can turn into cash, reducing your enterprise's taxes!"

When the merchants heard about the tax cuts, the fear in their hearts vanished without a trace.

Seeing that many were no longer fearful of the War Planning Commission, Jerome Bonaparte began to explain its specific work, including how to issue instructions, how to produce according to instructions... and many other issues.

All the merchants present immediately understood Jerome Bonaparte's point after listening to his explanation.

"If the Planning Commission is the brain, then the committee you join now is the body. Previously, these committees were attached to the Army and Navy departments. Now I want to consolidate all these powers into the government departments. The supplies needed by the Army and Navy will, after being reported to the Planning Commission, be conveyed to you by the Planning Commission as indicators! You only need to complete the production within the timeframe given by the Planning Commission!" Jerome Bonaparte explained the situation to the merchants in simple and clear terms.

Then, Jerome Bonaparte asked the merchants present about their thoughts in a consultative tone.

The merchants, after only a brief hesitation, agreed with Jerome Bonaparte's approach.

As a certain Chinese literati named Zhou once said: The temperament of the Chinese is always one of compromise and mediation. For example, if you say this room is too dark and needs a window here, everyone will definitely not allow it. However, if you propose to remove the roof, they will mediate and agree to open a window.

This statement equally applies to the French.

"Excellent!" Jerome Bonaparte revealed a satisfied smile; these guys were even easier to submit than he had imagined.

Subsequently, after a round of verbal encouragement to all the physical merchants present, the government and capitalists' negotiations were considered as reached.

The physical merchants, having no heart for wandering around, bid farewell to Jerome Bonaparte one after another. Jerome Bonaparte shook hands with each of them in turn, said a couple of encouraging words, then let them leave.

In the end, only Eugène Schneider was left standing there. It was when he shook hands with Jerome Bonaparte that he heard Jerome Bonaparte asked him to stay, so he had to stay.

"Mr. Schneider, let's go!" Jerome Bonaparte invited Eugène Schneider to continue strolling in the industrial park. During the stroll, he inquired about Eugène Schneider's situation in Lorraine and the Leclerc Company.

When Jerome Bonaparte and Eugène Schneider reached the entrance of a place called the Rifle Research Institute in the industrial park, Jerome Bonaparte paused and asked Eugène Schneider: "Mr. Schneider, I wonder if you, as an inventor, would be interested in engaging in politically related work?"

Upon hearing Jerome Bonaparte's inquiry, Eugène Schneider was first taken aback, then showed a bewildered expression. Jerome Bonaparte's sudden inquiry threw the originally calm Eugène Schneider into disarray.

"I..." Eugène Schneider seemed to want to say something, but couldn't bring himself to say it.

"What's the matter? If you're not willing, there's no need to force it!" Jerome Bonaparte empathetically said.

Although Eugène Schneider historically held the position of Speaker of the Legislative Corps, that was seventeen years later. The current Eugène Schneider was probably far less seasoned than he was seventeen years later.

Of course, Jerome Bonaparte didn't need an especially seasoned politician; a technical inventor would be more practical in that position than a purely political figure.

"Your Majesty, please excuse my boldness!" Eugène Schneider first apologized to Jerome Bonaparte, then asked: "If I accept Your request, what position will I hold?"

"If you're willing to engage in political work, I'm prepared to hand you the position of Chairman of the Planning Commission!" Jerome Bonaparte straightforwardly told Eugène Schneider, "This department will be directly under my leadership, and the person leading this commission will be equivalent to a minister in administrative rank!"

Hearing Jerome Bonaparte's response, Eugène Schneider couldn't help but feel a bit moved. He asked again, "Your Majesty, why did you choose me?"

"For me, the person in this position only needs to be someone sensitive to numbers! At the very least, they just need to not be overshadowed by academic bureaucrats under them." Jerome Bonaparte replied to Eugène Schneider with a calm tone, as if stating a trivial matter.

This made Eugène Schneider, who thought he had some political potential to be discovered by the Emperor, feel somewhat disheartened.

However, Jerome Bonaparte's next words brought some solace to Eugène Schneider's heart: "Eugène Schneider, you are a person with a very strong sensitivity to numbers, and you're also among the ones who have followed me for quite some time, so I am more willing to entrust this position to someone I trust! What do you think?"

"I am willing to try taking on this position!" Eugène Schneider immediately replied to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Very good!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded slightly, then patted Eugène Schneider's shoulder solemnly, saying: "I will only give you one week, you need to use this one week... no, four days, you only have four days to finish all your current assignments, and then devote yourself entirely to the formation of the Planning Commission.

Our war with Russia has already begun, you must seize the time! Do you understand?"

Recognizing the urgency in Jerome Bonaparte's words, Eugène Schneider immediately responded: "Understood."

"Good! You may go back and prepare!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Eugène Schneider.

After bowing to Jerome Bonaparte, Eugène Schneider left the industrial park, while Jerome Bonaparte walked straight towards the Rifle Research Institute along the cement-paved path.

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