Chapter 170 Guests of the Louvre (First update, please subscribe)
A carriage escorted by a team of Guards Cavalry rushed straight along the Champs-Elysees that runs through the center of Paris to the Louvre. Although the Palace of Fontainebleau is nominally the royal palace of France, Napoleon III has been living in the Louvre since he restored the monarchy with the votes of the peasants.
The breath of the horse flowed like white mist in the cold air. The blue, white and red flag of the Second French Empire fluttered in the wind. The difference between this flag and the Second French Empire was that the chicken on the tricolor was replaced by Bonaparte's eagle.
Surrounding the carriages were cuirassiers wearing shining breastplates, with the metal decorations on the cavalry caps and the tops of their lances gleaming silver in the sun. But the most shining thing was the breastplates on the cuirassiers' bodies - all made of "Derville silver".
Such a gorgeous and expensive breastplate is unique in the world.
Pedestrians on the roadside stopped to watch the procession, whispering to each other.
"That's His Majesty the Emperor..."
"He is just a despicable usurper..."
The Emperor of the Second French Empire, His Majesty Napoleon III, in the carriage was wearing a neat suit. He looked out of the window with his eyes. He seemed to be troubled by something, and his expression was serious, even a little stiff.
On the roadside, two gentlemen in suits who had just walked out of the hotel also stopped and stared at the carriage passing by.
"Buffett, that's the emperor's motorcade."
Field told Buffett.
"Do you think he will agree to our terms?"
"No, it's not that he will agree to us, but will we agree to his conditions?"
Buffett smiled.
"Don't forget, that person is the Emperor. We don't even need to make any conditions!"
Buffett said, looking at the carriage team going away.
"You've also heard Steven's evaluation of him - he is sinister, ambitious, good at inciting public opinion and political manipulation, going against the tide of history, without that kind of bright personality charm, he can't be called a hero; he is talented, although he is a politician and conspirator, a man who usurps the Republic and the orthodox royalists at the same time, but his ambition is no less than those heroic figures, such as Napoleon. He is also an extremely self-centered and extremely patriotic person. He has the same ambition and sense of responsibility as his uncle, "I am France", so this also destined him to be willing to buy the Atlantic Cable Company!"
It was Zhu Xianhai who made the evaluation of Napoleon III. It was precisely because of his understanding of his character that he made the judgment that he would acquire the company.
"That's it... Isn't he worried about arousing Britain's dissatisfaction?"
Field was surprised.
"The British attach great importance to this telegraph line. The reason why I was able to build it was entirely because of the support of the United Kingdom. The British Treasury still holds 10% of the shares. Even after our first test failed, they did not sell all the shares..."
“But the Americans sold it!”
Looking back at Field, Buffett smiled.
"This guy sent troops to Mexico, and in order to demonstrate to the United States, he sent warships to the South to buy cotton. He will definitely buy the Atlantic Telegraph Company."
Last year, Mexican President Benito Juárez stopped paying interest on foreign loans, angering Mexico's biggest lenders: Spain, Britain, and France. The leader of this action was French Emperor Napoleon III. Earlier this year, British, Spanish, and French fleets arrived in Veracruz, intending to put pressure on Mexico to pay its debts. France then began to attack the interior of Mexico. When Spain and Britain realized that France intended to conquer Mexico, the two countries withdrew their fleets and troops.
The United States, which regarded America as its own backyard, was of course not happy and immediately protested. The French emperor's way of dealing with the protest was very simple. He directly sent warships to escort merchant ships to break through the blockade of the federal navy and bought large quantities of cotton from the South.
This move made Washington's face slap loudly. What about Washington?
I can only bear it.
It was not because of the traditional friendship between the United States and France, but because their strength did not allow it. After buying back the cotton, Napoleon III even held a ball in the palace to celebrate. Of course, there was a ball there every week.
"Okay, let's get ready and go negotiate with the emperor later!"
While negotiating with the emperor, at this moment, Buffett straightened his back, his expression full of confidence and pride. After all, he was just an ordinary person in Venice back then.
And now?
Not only is he the emperor's guest of honor, but he will also trick the emperor into paying a huge sum of money.
Soon, Buffett and Field entered the Louvre. As representatives of the Atlantic Telegraph Company, they had always been guests of French bankers in Paris. As everyone knew, with the success of the Atlantic Cable, the company would soon lay new cables, and they would definitely need new investments.
As in the past, the Louvre on Monday once again welcomed guests from Paris' upper class, including politicians, envoys from major powers, wealthy celebrities, and of course, the most famous socialites in Paris. The balls and banquets on Monday night were definitely a symbol of status in the Second Empire.
This ball was set by Louis Napoleon after he was elected president - a ball and banquet was held every Monday to entertain the celebrities and gentlemen of the Republic. The famous writer Hugo had some complaints about this, saying: The Republic perished in dancing, and this was due to the president's hobby. The newspapers also satirized: The president is not an emperor, so he has to use dancing to relieve his worries. Apart from winning the applause of the ladies, there is no dignity and glory.
However, this did not prevent such a ball from becoming the top ball in Paris. It was a symbol of the identity and status of the invitees. As foreigners, and indeed extremely famous foreigners in Europe at the moment, Buffett and Field attracted people's attention as soon as they entered the Louvre.
No matter they were bankers or politicians, they all came to them. It seemed that at this moment, they were the protagonists of the ball. Not to mention the bankers who smelled the smell of money, even the socialites gathered around them. They even looked at Field with admiration, not only because of his wealth, but because he was a hero and he created a whole new era.
After all, as we all know, the Atlantic Cable revolutionized the world. And women, from ancient times to the present day, have never been able to resist heroes.
(End of this chapter)
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