Chapter 887 The Troublemaker's Specialty (Second Update, Please Subscribe)
End of September 1876.
After France declared war on Turkey, while mobilizing its army, no one noticed that French Emperor Napoleon IV met with representatives of the Paris financial community at the Louvre. This seemed to be a normal meeting. After all, the outcome of a war is determined by financial resources.
What did they discuss in the Louvre that day?
No one knows, but one thing is certain: the next morning, from Paris to London, from London to Amsterdam, from Amsterdam to Berlin, from Berlin to Vienna, in all European bond markets, Turkish bonds were sold off across the board. This was different from the panic sell-off after France declared war two days before, but a comprehensive and reckless sell-off. Overnight, Turkish bonds became worthless paper.
At the same time, French bonds were highly regarded by the capital market. In just two days, France raised 1 billion francs through the bond market, which far exceeded the military expenditure set by the Ministry of War.
To European observers, the result was simple - bankers always hang out with winners!
But what is the reality?
In the smoking room of a club in London, Benjamin looked at Lionel in front of him, who was smoking a cigar, exhaled a puff of smoke, and then said.
"Now, you should be the most excited ones!"
The reason why Benjamin met Lionel here was because they bought a large amount of French bonds, which was obviously against the interests of Britain.
"No, it should be all of us!"
Lionel answered bluntly.
"Now, from London to Paris, to Berlin and Vienna, the most popular bonds are French bonds!"
"Because of Napoleon IV's imperial promise?"
Benjamin asked bluntly.
"Yes, he promised that after France recaptures the holy city, the Jews will be free to return to Jerusalem, and when the time is right, they will support the restoration of the State of Israel!"
Lionel Rothschild said in an extremely calm tone.
"Jews, what are we? ... In Eastern Europe, the social status of Jews is that of an unacceptable foreign group; in Western Europe, although Jews have obtained full citizenship and rights, anti-Semitism remains unabated. Benjamin, you know this better than anyone else, so no one wants to miss this opportunity!"
As early as more than a decade ago, some Jews advocated the restoration of their nation. Since Napoleon, the nationalist movement in Europe led to the unification of Italy and Germany, but European Jews are still looking for solutions to the difficulties they face. What are the solutions?
Of course it is to restore the country!
Many Jews began to envision the creation of a national entity to restore normal life as a solution to the Jewish problem.
However, their idea has never been recognized by outsiders, and it is even only the dream of a few people, especially the bullied Jews under Russian rule.
But now everything is different - the French emperor directly gave them hope!
He promised to support the Jews returning to Jerusalem and even to support the establishment of a Jewish state.
"Lionel, do you believe his promise? France is God's children, how could he hand over Jerusalem to Israel?"
Benjamin directly exposed Napoleon IV's lies and said.
"He just wants to induce you to give financial support!"
"Yes, there is such a possibility, but at least he has made this promise. Moreover, what the Jews need now is not the city of Jerusalem, but the whole of Israel. Benjamin, you should know that this is the only hope that the Jews have seen so far to return to Israel after leaving that land. This hope has never been given by any country in the past, so they are willing to believe..."
Lionel said, looking at Benjamin.
"Benjamin, you are also a Jew, you should be able to understand our feelings!"
Benjamin could certainly understand, even though his father had a conflict with the rabbi, quit Judaism, converted to the Church of England, and forced his children to convert to the Church of England. But it did not prevent Benjamin from being proud of his Jewish ancestry.
In fact, Benjamin's rise was also due to this reason. His Jewish ancestry made Lionel choose him and support him financially. It was Lionel Rothschild's funding that allowed Benjamin to get to where he is today. In return, Benjamin Disraeli gradually introduced more bills that were conducive to British Jews entering the British Parliament, clearing many obstacles for Jews to enter British politics.
As a Jew, Benjamin could certainly understand their feelings.
"Lionel, you have to know that this is a long process!"
Benjamin thought for a moment, then said.
"And in the future, Britain is bound to go to war with France. I mean in the near future. At that time, what choice will the Jews, or Israel, make? You must think carefully. After all, when the war breaks out, all of you may not have many choices!"
"Haha, Benjamin, my friend!"
Lionel laughed.
"Have you forgotten that we are Jews? After we left Israel, we have survived in this world for such a long time. No matter what war or what rulers we face, no matter how they despise us or kill us, we have been able to survive tenaciously. Jews... know how to choose at the critical moment! We can choose the French now, and of course we can choose the British in the future."
I hope so!
Benjamin nodded and then said to Lionel.
“I hope you can get what you want!”
After thinking for a while, he added.
“We may make some concessions on Turkey.”
"concession?"
Lionel asked curiously.
"What is this concession?"
"As we all know, the union of France, Russia, Austria and Austria is entirely due to their own interests. Their common interests are likely based on the division of Turkey. Constantinople is the dream of the Russians, Jerusalem belongs to the French, and there is also the Bosnia-Herzegovina region..."
Benjamin looked at his friend and stated directly his thoughts, or rather, the next move of the British Empire.
"We may express our dissatisfaction through appropriate concessions and military deterrence. At the same time, we may disintegrate their alliance by satisfying some of their wishes through diplomatic negotiations. The Russians are currently the ones who have contributed the most. If the Russians and Austria-Hungary can get the rewards they desire from the negotiation table, they will definitely choose peace, and peace means..."
"It means the collapse of the Imperial Alliance!"
Lionel looked at Benjamin with admiration, and then said with great admiration.
"In this way, the British Empire seems to have sacrificed some of its interests, but it has disintegrated its most powerful enemy. Then what?"
Then… looking up, Benjamin’s eyes sharpened and he said in a cold voice.
"The British Empire will stop at nothing to destroy those countries that try to challenge the rules of the game, France, Ming Dynasty, especially the latter, we will completely wipe that country out of this world!"
(End of this chapter)
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