The Fox of France

Chapter 305: Rothschild

This was a decision beyond François's capacity. He had to inform Louis of the situation and reach out to the investors behind him. Louis nodded understandingly, setting a time for their next discussion before François took his leave.

Exiting "Bonaparte Armaments," François boarded a carriage waiting outside and headed straight for the Austrian embassy. Inside, he briefed Metternich on his talk with Louis, asking, "Your Excellency, what do you make of the French's proposal?"

Metternich pondered before responding, "François, overall, the Bonaparte family has shown goodwill. As they've mentioned, they aren't lacking in avenues for funds. If they require capital, I believe banks across Europe, including those in England, would be eager to collaborate. Offering us a portion of their shares in this scenario is already remarkable. As for the preferred shares, it's an uncommon provision. However, these terms aren't unfavourable. Our goal shouldn't involve vying for control over 'Bonaparte Armaments,' correct?"

"At least not in the short term," François shook his head. "The Bonaparte family's dominion in France has been steadily solidifying. Initially, it was challenging, but they've succeeded. Napoleon's rule was established as a war hero turned ruler. This position is precarious. While initially praised for his conquests, his great deeds will fade in time."

"Their previous support stemmed from the spoils he brought, depleting the nobles' wealth, plundering us, the Italians, the Prussians. Sharing a fraction of these spoils with the populace made them grateful. However, stolen riches eventually run out. The people, accustomed to easy gains through theft, find it hard to live modestly. If General Bonaparte desires continued support and love, he must ensure their relative comfort. Sustaining this is challenging; initially, we thought it impossible. We believed his only capability was constant military raids. But that's a temporary fix; it would only make France an enemy to all of Europe, inevitably leading to his downfall."

"Yet, we underestimated General Napoleon and the Bonaparte family behind him. Not only do they possess a military genius, but they've paved a new path for the French – a path unforeseen by us. Through commerce and science, they now acquire more wealth than through wars. So, for the foreseeable future, General Napoleon's rule in France is secure. Unfortunately, he lacks royal lineage; otherwise, France could easily become a kingdom."

"Given their stability for the immediate future, we can't vie for their core interests. The rise of France is unstoppable, it seems God stands by the Bonapartes. We must temporarily shelve other thoughts and obey the will of God. Ambassador, I understand your concerns. My hesitation lies in the fact that preferred shares can't be easily transferred. Joining the French venture may tie us in knots, making it hard to disentangle."

"François, if you've approached me for this issue, you've sought the wrong person. You know, I'm not adept in these matters. But I have a friend, a Jew, well-versed in economics. Perhaps seeking his counsel would be beneficial."

"Thank you for your assistance," François replied. "May I ask the name of your friend?"

"Meyer Rothschild — a banker in Frankfurt. He's quite astute in trade, and he's groomed his sons well in the same. He has five sons, all adept in business. Presently, his son Nathan Mayer Rothschild operates a successful bank in Paris. Perhaps seeking his advice could aid you."

Nathan Mayer Rothschild was a pivotal figure during the inception of the renowned Rothschild family in history. He was the third son of the senior Rothschild and the most capable among his five sons. In the original historical timeline, by late 1798, he'd arrived in London with startup capital, already an esteemed figure in the British capital's financial market.

However, in this timeline, for unknown reasons, in 1798, Nathan didn't venture to London as he did historically but found himself in Paris instead. During the Battle of Valmy, while Joseph's false injury report nearly deceived everyone, Nathan, relying on various prior information, deduced that even if the report were true, the Allied forces couldn't breach Valmy's defenses and were doomed to fail. Consequently, when French government bonds plummeted to a mere twentieth of their value due to rampant rumors, Nathan decisively invested a significant portion of his wealth ahead of the Baring Bank, purchasing substantial amounts of French government bonds. This bold move reaped enormous profits and earned him both Baring's ire and admiration.

It's said that when educating his son, Baring often used Nathan Mayer Rothschild as an exemplary figure. This practice greatly motivated young Baring to study diligently. However, it also instilled in him a strong aversion toward the Rothschilds and even Jews.

Since then, Nathan Mayer Rothschild sought to infiltrate France's military-industrial complex. However, both Baring's strong opposition and Joseph's apparent distrust of the surname "Rothschild" hindered his efforts.

This was reasonable. After all, even in his previous life, Joseph had read "The Currency Wars." Though he knew it was a novel, he was aware that the Rothschild family wasn't as formidable as portrayed. He knew that since missing out on the United States, the Rothschilds suffered significant losses during both World Wars, no longer the most powerful financial conglomerate.

Yet, this didn't mean Joseph could let his guard down, especially against someone named "Nathan Mayer Rothschild." In the original timeline, this individual almost controlled Britain's entire monetary policy.

Monetary policy was crucial sovereignty. This couldn't fall into any conglomerate's hands apart from the Bonaparte consortium; otherwise, the interests of the French populace would be jeopardized, turning them into slaves.

Similar to the beacon nation of the future, where monetary sovereignty landed in a private institution's hands, having several months' warning during a pandemic, possessing the world's most abundant medical resources and expertise, and a president touted as all-knowing, yet opting to protect the economy over lives, turning a global superpower into what seemed like a third-world country. Such an occurrence couldn't be allowed in magnificent France. How could monetary sovereignty fall into the hands of the Jews?

The people of France wouldn't consent to such a scenario. Apart from the "Bonaparte consortium," they recognized no other authority!

Due to this vigilance, Nathan Mayer Rothschild, though profitable in France, faced difficulty infiltrating the "military-industrial complex."

Armed with Metternich's letter of introduction, François met the banker in Nathan Mayer Rothschild's opulent home. François explained his purpose to Nathan.

Nathan intertwined his fingers, contemplated on the sofa, and spoke, "I understand your apprehension. You see this deal as highly lucrative — so do I. You intend to invest as much cash as possible — something I'd also consider. But you worry that once this money becomes preferred shares, it won't be as liquid as standard stocks in the market. If you invest too much cash, you might encounter trouble when urgently needing it; if not all cash is invested, it might feel like passing up a lucrative opportunity. Am I correct?"

François nodded. "Mr. Rothschild, you're spot on. That's precisely

my concern."

"François," Nathan Mayer Rothschild placed his palms on the table, "I have a solution that ensures both your peace of mind investing and maintains adequate liquidity. We can establish an investment company first, inject funds into this entity, and then use it to acquire 'Bonaparte Armaments' preferred shares. While these preferred shares can't be traded on the open market, the company's ownership can freely circulate. How does this plan sound to you?"

"Mr. Rothschild, I'm immensely grateful. How can I express my gratitude?" François inquired.

"Ah, François, if you genuinely wish to show gratitude, I'd be honored if you'd allow me to invest in your new company," Nathan Mayer Rothschild smiled.

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