Descending On France 1780
Chapter 314 - 307 This is an investment! Military spending must not be cut!

Chapter 314: 307 This is an investment! Military spending must not be cut!

Josephine Boarne looked at Balas with bewilderment: "How much?"

Balas stretched out five fingers.

"Five Gold Bars? Well, that’s not too bad..." Josephine breathed a sigh of relief, "even a simple clerk’s position in Paris requires a few Gold Louis, of course Frost is worth five Gold Bars..."

Balas shook his head: "No, it’s not that cheap."

Josephine gasped: "Fifty Gold Bars? That really is a very high cost..."

Balas: "It’s five hundred ounces, I promised to invest five hundred ounces in his so-called steam revolution, only then did I gain his support."

Josephine’s complexion changed: "Five hundred ounces? I didn’t know you had that much gold! I mean, I can’t believe you would spend so much!"

"I don’t, actually," said Balas resentfully, "all the profits I’ve made this past year are gone, Frost is even harsher than me. When he told me, he really acted like a sage who is earnestly pushing for future progress, as if there really is a steam revolution!"

Josephine Boarne, indignant, commented: "That’s where he’s smarter than you, he’s making money just the same, but he has set up a noble reason for himself, for France, for the steam revolution.

"All these people are cut from the same cloth, Robespierre is the same, doing outright robber-like deeds while claiming it’s all for the revolution!

"I see it clearly now, every single Jacobin is a hypocrite, not nearly as genuine a speculator as you."

Balas covered Josephine’s mouth: "Watch what you say! This is Frost’s stronghold, if someone hears us, my five hundred ounces of Gold would be wasted!"

After a few seconds, Balas let go of Josephine, who heaved a sigh: "Louis XVI had a bunch of ministers and Nobles restraining him, and now that the ministers and Nobles are gone, Frost, much like the King, is unchecked."

Balas shook his head: "Enough, let’s get going."

Thus Josephine knocked on the front glass of the carriage and the Coachman whipped the horses to start moving.

The carriage thus left the front of the Royal Palace.

**

After Balas left, Christina entered Anning’s study through a side door.

"I saw Vanni had even prepared the poisoned wine, just waiting for your order to share a drink with Balas," said Christina, "yet you didn’t make a move."

Anning: "Because Mr. Balas showed his Gold Coin."

Christina: "How much?"

"Five hundred ounces of gold."

Christina gasped: "That much? That’s almost as much as what you seized from the Church’s property in Conte, no?"

"No no, there’s no comparison with the tribute from the Church, but it’s still a lot. As long as we deposit this five hundred ounces of Gold in our newly established bank, other people who are hoarding gold at home will come to deposit it, and we will quickly acquire a large sum of money.

"Then we can use this money to invest in the steam engine industry and machine tool industry. We’ve already fallen far behind the UK in terms of steam engines; the British created the steam-powered spinning machine in 1785. Now, machine-made fabric is being sold all over France, completely wiping out our local handloom workshops.

"We need to quickly establish our own steam-powered spinning machine factory, and at the very least regain half of the fabric market."

Anning spoke enthusiastically, then noticed Christina smiling at him and asked, "What’s the matter? Is there something on my face?"

"No, but when you talk about these things, your expression becomes quite radiant. Honestly, I really like you when you talk like this."

Anning, slightly embarrassed by his fiancée’s sudden display of affection, scratched his head: "Is that so."

"Yes, if you don’t believe me, ask Vanni." Christina said with a smile.

Vanni pushed the door open: "Did you call me?"

"Come on, Vanni, tell us, when Andy speaks animatedly about the steam revolution, isn’t that when he’s at his most charming?"

"Yes." Vanni stated decisively.

Anning: "Thank you then."

But Christina’s tone shifted: "However, accepting the 500 ounces of Gold from Balas so directly isn’t very appropriate. Soon all of Paris will say that Andy Frost is a greedy fellow, and your good reputation will be affected."

Anning: "Who cares, as long as it can help develop industry, I don’t really mind. Rather, it would be a great thing for France if these speculators could stash their ill-gotten wealth into my bank over these years!"

Christina looked at Anning and weighed her words before asking, "I’m not saying you’re wrong, but if we put ourselves in their shoes, imagine one day Robespierre decides he should centralize power and execute those he deems enemies of France without trial, what would you think then?

"That would definitely be Robespierre’s way of thinking what’s best for France."

Anning fell silent.

Because he knew that in history the real Robespierre did indeed become like that.

Before being overthrown, the last time Robespierre had a secret conversation with Saint Just in his study, he spoke about establishing a new mechanism that could send people to the guillotine without a trial to defend France.

Once such a mechanism was established, Robespierre could "send all those cunning speculators to the guillotine to purify France."

At that time Anning had seen this scene in a movie, and at that moment, he developed a complex feeling about Robespierre: You’d say he was bad, but he really had France’s best interest at heart, yet modern people all know what would happen once things developed in that way.

If you don’t believe it, ask the comrade with the distinctive mustache smoking a pipe.

Anning: "So, did I just appear that paranoid?"

"Actually, not really. I just think you should consider the impact. But it’s not all negative impact, the honest folks in Paris who curse you under their breath as no different from those speculators, the astute ones in Paris will see you as someone they can flatter.

"They are numerous and very influential in Paris, so in this sense you’ve helped me out," Christina said.

"But I still hope you maintain the image of a noble guardian of the revolution. That’s just my little personal wish."

Anning thought for a moment and replied: "I’ll release a news piece in the newspapers stating that Paul Balas, in support of the steam revolution’s ideals, has deposited 500 ounces of Gold in the newly opened bank, which he can withdraw at any time."

Christina: "Even if you say that, Balas wouldn’t dare to take it out."

Anning clicked his tongue, then responded: "Then, at the end of this year, based on the proportion of these 500 ounces in our total share capital, give him a dividend.

"In this way, everyone will believe that the 500 ounces are an investment, not a bribe."

Anning said this with a pang of pain in his heart; his steam engine factory was losing money since France currently did not need so many steam engines, but his steam spinning mill was profitable and could make up for the steam engine factory’s losses.

It hurt a little to make such a cut for Balas.

But in order to not solidify the reputation of bribery, it was necessary.

Christina: "I will also try my best to explain to everyone that this is an investment, not a bribe."

"Sure, please do that." Anning paused for a moment, then switched to a smile, "Now, why don’t we talk about the wedding? How are the preparations coming along?"

Christina also smiled, her face full of happiness: "Everything is going smoothly, and if all goes well, we should be able to get married in August."