When Jerome Bonaparte returned once more to the Northern Industrial Company workshop, he was greeted by a group of industrial capitalists including Bashirio, Eugène Schneider, and François Wender (the fourth-largest steel tycoon in France. Currently, the undisputed first is the Paris Northern Industrial Company, with countless subsidiaries and affiliated companies. The second largest steel company is Eugène Schneider Company, which, thanks to Jerome Bonaparte's support, has been rapidly expanding its steel business in Le Clerc and Lorraine Region).

Observing this group of people trembling at his feet, ready to be manipulated at will, Jerome Bonaparte couldn't help but feel a bit smug. Among them were family businessmen with histories spanning centuries, yet they too had succumbed under his cannons.

Nonetheless, alongside his satisfaction, Jerome Bonaparte couldn't help but remind himself not to be deceived by appearances. This group was nothing more than a band of opportunists who would support whoever was winning; today's servants could become tomorrow's regicides.

With this in mind, Jerome Bonaparte gave another stern look at these corporate merchants.

Every merchant who felt Jerome Bonaparte's gaze instinctively bowed their head, not daring to meet his eyes.

Among them, François Wender subconsciously took a step back. Branded with the orthodox faction's mark, François Wender truly did not want to endure further unjust "persecution." He wished to follow in his father's footsteps to build his own steel empire.

However, this dream became an elusive fantasy after the collapse of the orthodox dynasty post-Restoration. François Wender's company suffered under the oppression of the Orléans faction. Local bureaucrats, once docile, began to oppress them even more severely under the Orléans faction's indication.

His father succumbed due to the unbearable oppression, and when François Wender took over the company, he had no choice but to pledge allegiance to Paris's Louis Philippe, thus earning a reprieve and in turn becoming a traitor to the orthodox faction.

With the mark of a betrayer, François Wender took eighteen years to transform the steel company, which was on the verge of bankruptcy, into what was then the second-largest steel tycoon in France.

However, the good times did not last long. The fall of the July Monarchy and the counteroffensive of the orthodox faction almost shattered the steel empire François Wender had built once more.

Afterward, as François Wender licked his wounds, he witnessed the formidable rise of the Eugène Schneider Steel Company and the Paris Northern Industrial Company, becoming envious of these trusts established through privilege, constantly cursing for their downfall.

Of course, as a realist, François Wender aside from cursing, also actively sought opportunities to break the impasse. When the Steel Committee was established, he was the first to respond and join.

When the navy was short on steel, it was François Wender who provided the navy with qualified steel at extremely low prices.

It was due to François Wender's relentless efforts that he became a part of the navy supplier system and was invited to attend such conferences.

Upon arrival, François Wender began to fear that his orthodox faction mark would be the Emperor's target, leading to another downfall from grace.

With such a contradictory mindset, François Wender took a subconscious step back under Jerome Bonaparte's intense gaze.

It was precisely because of this backward movement that Jerome Bonaparte noticed him.

Jerome Bonaparte extended his index finger towards François Wender, "You there, come over!"

For a moment, all eyes turned to François Wender.

Being pointed out by Jerome Bonaparte, François Wender was initially stunned, then in a slightly trembling voice asked, "Your Majesty... were you speaking to me?"

"Yes, you!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded, signaling François Wender to come over.

"Yes!" François Wender pushed through the crowd, stumbling with each step, till he stood before Jerome Bonaparte.

Seeing the anxious eyes of this industrial capitalist before him, Jerome Bonaparte gently inquired, "What is your name? What is your occupation?"

"François Wender, currently... running a... steel company, involved in... supplying steel plates... to the navy!" François Wender stammered a reply to Jerome Bonaparte, with sweat involuntarily streaming down his forehead.

"No need to be nervous! No need to be nervous!" Jerome Bonaparte lightly patted François Wender's shoulder, feeling the severe tremor of this steel giant's shoulder upon contact. "I'm not a monster that eats people! François Wender, right! As far as I recall, your company ranks among the top in all of France's steel companies!"

"Yes!" François Wender nodded in response.

"Running such a company must be difficult!" Jerome Bonaparte continued with a kind smile, asking François Wender.

"Not difficult! Not difficult!" François Wender shook his head, flattering him, "Without Your Majesty tirelessly working for France, we wouldn't have our current prosperity! You work much harder than we do!"

"Yes! Without Your Majesty's tireless work, we would not have the prosperity we enjoy today!"

"Absolutely right! Your Majesty, you are the one who works the hardest!"

...

The industrial capitalists took every opportunity to express their loyalty to the Empire towards Jerome Bonaparte.

Of course, they had their reasons to say so. Without Jerome Bonaparte's massive infrastructure expansion in France, their prosperity wouldn't exist.

Especially now, the war between France and Russia has stimulated the entire supply chain within France, allowing these industrial capitalists to reap the benefits brought by war.

To say they are ungrateful to Jerome Bonaparte would be pure nonsense.

"I will regard these as your sincere words!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded to the group of industrial capitalists and then cut to the chase: "I assume you and the others have visited this factory. Do you have anything to say?"

"Every step and procedure in the factory is so standardized, and the movements are so coordinated..." François Wender racked his brain to praise the Paris Northern Industry.

"To be honest, the company adopts a strict militarized management and semi-assembly line system, which has significantly improved the company's efficiency..." Jerome Bonaparte was also pleased with the giant he built himself and then said to François Wender and others: "Since you all think it's great, I hope each of your companies can work more systematically according to this template!"

As soon as these words were spoken, a look of panic appeared on the faces of the physical businessmen present.

None of the businessmen present were not afraid that Jerome Bonaparte would aggressively merge their companies.

Mergers of this kind were frequent during the Restoration of Bourbon and Orleans period.

Of course, they also knew that they could not possibly counter the strong government departments on their own.

"Your Majesty, I don't understand what you mean! We have already cooperated according to your wishes!" François Wender gritted his teeth and asked, feeling as if he was walking on the edge of death.

François Wender's resistance was something Jerome Bonaparte had anticipated.

After all, no one likes others meddling in their territory, let alone being completely annexed by bureaucrats like a leviathan if you're not careful.

Although Jerome Bonaparte had repeatedly demanded industrial mobilization before the official war, from the current situation, the existing mobilization efforts were far from the large-scale industrial mobilization he envisioned.

So Jerome Bonaparte chose to take further action.

"Rest assured! The government does not intend to annex you nor meddle excessively in your affairs!" Jerome Bonaparte first clarified his stance.

Everyone present breathed a sigh of relief; the fact that the government wouldn't merge their companies was great news for them.

"However, I am very dissatisfied with your current efficiency!" Jerome Bonaparte said angrily to everyone present: "You are all like small independent kingdoms, and I don't see any sense of coordination! Are you dissatisfied with the government's work?"

Except for Eugène Schneider, all the physical businessmen once again showed faces of panic.

"No! Not at all!" François Wender trembled as he spoke again.

"It is said that governing a country is like managing a family; each part must perform its function so that the country can be more efficient! A lax working style is the source of evil. Our army is already fighting in the wilderness, where there are no resources to support their battles. Everything depends on France behind them! We must adopt more standardized and professional means to support their fight!" Jerome Bonaparte said in a high-pitched tone.

"Your Majesty, what should we do?" François Wender asked on behalf of all the industrial businessmen present.

"To achieve this goal, I will redesign an overall controlling committee above all committees, which I will name the Planning Committee!" Jerome Bonaparte decided to resurrect the "Planning Committee."

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