Life of Being a Crown Prince in France

Chapter 1149: Chapter 1055: The Sugar War

London.

Ten Downing Street.

“…So, this year, a total of 400,000 tons of sugar cane were produced across India.” The British East India Company trade representative Harry Odell glanced at the report in his hand and concluded, “The price of this batch of sugar is over 70% lower than Paris’ prices, which will lower the sugar prices in our domestic market by nearly 20%.”

He was referring to British tons, approximately 21,000 tons.

Smiles of surprise immediately appeared on the faces of Grenville and several senior cabinet members, who nodded to one another in congratulations.

Finance Minister Henry Petty even took the lead in applauding.

Currently, England consumes about 2 million tons of sugar annually, equivalent to 105,000 tons, requiring a government subsidy of 2.4 million British Pounds.

This year’s sugarcane harvest from India directly meets one-fifth of domestic sugar consumption, potentially reducing the annual sugar subsidy by nearly 500,000 British Pounds!

No, Petty suddenly realized, with so much sugar being put on the market, it will significantly alleviate the domestic sugar shortage. This means that the sugar subsidy rate can be readjusted downward.

This is simply excellent news for him, overwhelmed by fiscal deficits.

Petty immediately looked at Grenville: “Prime Minister, given the increase in sugar supply, I suggest that we reduce sugar subsidies to 1.5 million British Pounds.”

Upon hearing this, the ministers all expressed their agreement. Saving 900,000 pounds from the subsidy, other departments’ budgets could increase considerably.

Just as Lord Grenville was about to nod, the Prime Minister’s advisor William Pitt Junior stood up, raised his hand, and said, “I believe that it’s best to store all this sugar in warehouses rather than putting it on the market.”

Everyone immediately looked at him in surprise.

Grenville slightly frowned, “Please explain your reasoning.”

William Pitt Junior took a deep breath and spoke loudly, “Rather than cutting just a bit of subsidy, what’s crucial for us now is breaking France’s monopoly over sugar and regaining control over its pricing!”

Petty spread his hands, “I understand your sentiments, Mr. Pitt, but frankly, that seems impossible. You know, Paris controls at least 1.55 million tons of sugar production, and we simply don’t have enough leverage…”

This year’s sugar production in France is 750,000 tons.

Additionally, France obtained a priority purchase right for Egyptian cane sugar from the Ottoman Empire, approximately 200,000 tons.

There’s also the production from the Caribbean Sea Region, which is at least 600,000 tons. As social order continues to be restored in the Caribbean Region, this figure is rapidly increasing.

You must understand, the peak sugar production in the Caribbean was 3.5 million tons. Now, most countries in the Caribbean are essentially France’s “underlings.”

Using a mere 400,000 tons from the Indian colonies to move the 1.55 million tons of pricing authority is completely a fool’s dream.

The British dare to invest this small amount of sugar at a low price into the market, and the British merchants would dare to buy it all, load it onto ships bound for Paris, sell it at French prices, and pocket the difference.

“You all seem to be forgetting Prussia.” William Pitt Junior was nonetheless confident, “Not long ago, we obtained 37,000 tons of sugar from Prussia. The price was only half of the market rate.”

The British officials in the room still shook their heads silently. A production of fewer than 40,000 tons has virtually no impact on the sugar trade landscape in Europe.

William Pitt Junior seemed to have anticipated this reaction, smiled, and continued, “The Prussians have acquired a large number of high-yield beet seeds from France. They decided to greatly increase the planting area of beetroot, potentially reaching five times this year.

“If this happens, even the most conservative estimates suggest that Prussia’s sugar production next year will be 300,000 tons. Considering their farmers are more familiar with beet cultivation, it might even reach 400,000 tons!”

The room instantly fell silent, with everyone silently calculating in their minds.

According to William Pitt Junior’s statement, by storing all the 400,000 tons of sugar harvested from India this year, plus next year’s production of 400,000 from India, and 400,000 tons from Prussia, that would total 1.2 million tons.

It is entirely possible to compete with the French 1.55 million tons.

Even if regaining control over sugar pricing isn’t feasible, at least we can become an important force in determining sugar price trends.

By then, sugar prices might return to the levels before social unrest erupted in the Caribbean Region!

William Pitt Junior surveyed the excited expressions of everyone and continued detailing his plan:

“Not only that. The Americans have basically controlled the plantations in the Bahamas, oh, and some of these have our shares.

“This means that the Bahamas can provide us with over 100,000 tons of sugar next year, while the French will see a decrease of 100,000 tons.”

This even got Lord Grenville excited. England already holds the same sugar chips as France!

William Pitt Junior, however, seemed still unsatisfied: “Moreover, we can use the ’little trick’ the French used against us on them.”

Grenville quickly asked, “You’re referring to?”

“Creating chaos in the Caribbean Region.” William Pitt Junior looked west, “According to the information we have, those blacks simply can’t manage the government. Right now, whether it’s Jamaica or Barbados, finances are on the verge of collapse.

“With just a gentle push from us, countless hungry blacks will join the riots.

“This could further reduce the sugar France gets from the Caribbean Region by about 400,000 tons.

“The sugar we control will exceed that of the French by 40%.

“If we handle it properly, the sugar trading center in Europe will surely return to London!”

Grenville, after a brief contemplation, nodded, “I believe your plan is very much worth trying. Please submit a detailed report to me as soon as possible.”

As he was speaking, he saw Foreign Minister Fox’s assistant walking in quickly, whispering a few words in his ear.

Fox immediately frowned and said to Grenville, “Prime Minister, the Russians occupied Tabriz half a month ago. They’re likely advancing on the Zanjan fortress now.”

The British Prime Minister hesitated for a second, taking three or four seconds to recall where Tabriz and Zanjan were.

He then frowned as well, “It seems that Sir Gracey’s concerns were correct.”

Minister of the Interior Earl Spencer, somewhat puzzled, whispered to Petty next to him, “Who is Sir Gracey?”

“He’s the officer who submitted the ’Great Game’ report.” The latter glanced at him, “You haven’t read it yet, have you?”

“I put it in my drawer. You know, there have been so many new factories recently, I really haven’t had the time.”

Petty had to briefly explain it to him.

Only then did Earl Spencer realize that Gracey was an officer who had served for many years in northern India and had substantial research on the situations in Afghanistan, Persia, and Central Asia.

Last month, he submitted the ’Great Game’ report, suggesting that the British government should increase investment in Persia and Afghanistan to guard against the Russians expanding into these areas and thereby occupying the Khyber Pass.

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