Life of Being a Crown Prince in France-Chapter 649 - 558: The Merchant’s Trick
Chapter 649: Chapter 558: The Merchant’s Trick
Seeing Duke of Leeds nod, Kleistier instinctively shrank back.
He was acutely aware of what a planned default targeting the French market, amounting to thirteen million florins within a short time frame, meant.
His voice trembled as he said, “This, this could even spark a war!”
“So what? It’s just a war between the Emperor of Sanctum and the King of France,” Duke of Leeds said with a light laugh, leaning on the sofa armrest. “You’re not even Austrian nobility; why should you care about what happens between monarchs?”
“No, no, I wouldn’t dare…”
“My old friend, I’ve heard your business has run into some trouble, and without help, you might not last till July, right?”
...
Kleistier bowed his head in confirmation.
“You see, there’s actually no risk in this at all,” Duke of Leeds’s voice was filled with seduction. “By the time the French people discover the problem, you will have already left Vienna with all your assets, and the million florins I’ll give you.
“Then you can start a new and prosperous life somewhere nobody knows you—whether it’s England, Russia, or the United States, all are good options.
“And should any mishap occur, I would provide you with diplomatic protection.
“Of course, if you handle it correctly, no one could even link this matter back to you.”
When Kleistier heard about the million florins, his heart began to race uncontrollably.
He was currently indebted for over four hundred thousand florins, and without surprises, he would be bankrupt in as little as five months.
Yet, the proposal of the Englishman offered him hope!
After a while, he wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief and swallowed hard, saying, “You assure me of diplomatic protection?”
“I swear it in the name of Jesus.”
Kleistier finally clenched his teeth and nodded, “But you must pay me half of my fee in advance.”
“That’s reasonable.”
Half an hour later, the Duke of Leeds left the brick-red villa with an indifferent expression and got into his carriage.
In fact, he had little appreciation for these lowly tricks of the merchants but estimated that it would take at least a year, and maybe even two, for Prussia and Austria to reach a truce and for a joint interest to form and an armament to complete.
Before that, setting these money-grubbing merchants upon France to cause some trouble could make his plans easier to implement.
Indeed, after he had been forced to resign as Foreign Minister, he didn’t admit defeat but rather meticulously studied the French, who had brought him disgrace, finally submitting a strategic plan against France to William Pitt Junior, which was adopted.
After that, the British political elites refined it together, and now the implementation was in full swing.
Duke of Leeds looked up at his attendant, “What time is Baron Walter’s salon?”
“7 p.m., my lord. You have two and a half hours left.”
Duke of Leeds thought for a moment then ordered, “Let’s go to Baron Tugut’s place first.”
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Compared with the petty schemes of those crooked merchants, what he was about to do was a significant move capable of levering the European political situation.
In Austria, anti-Prussian forces were very strong, insisting on not ceasing hostilities without reclaiming Silesia, while Pro-France forces also held significant sway in the market.
His role was to assist Lord Grenville in reversing this situation, a task not to be underestimated.
However, as a seasoned diplomat, he had already devised some strategies. The breakthrough was Queen Ludovica and the anti-French forces in Vienna gathered by her cousin, Baron Walter.
Duke of Leeds suddenly thought of something and said to his attendant, “Have Bres keep a close watch on that Kleistier, to ensure we can make a move at any time.”
“Yes, my lord.”
…
In the central province of Pest, Austria.
Inside a luxurious polo club, Baron Graz was talking a mile a minute to the general manager of MokeBruno Caravan opposite him, “There’s absolutely no risk. The company has received a significant investment and will never be late with payment, you can be assured.”
When he saw hesitation on the other party’s face, he took out a bank deposit receipt and proudly placed it on the table, “Look, this is the deposit for the first batch of equipment, amounting to thirty thousand florins. The company’s business is vast, and profit is guaranteed.
“All you need to do is refer French partners on behalf of your caravan, and you’ll receive a handsome commission.”
Seeing the thirty thousand florins listed on the document, the caravan manager immediately dispelled all doubts — this newly established company was clearly powerful, and since they were using real silver and gold for purchases, there was no possibility of them deceiving him.
So, he quickly affixed his signature on the contract brought by Baron Graz.
Before long, Baron Graz left the club with a smile on his face, thinking to himself that the business entrusted to him by Mr. Elwin Lenna was incredibly profitable.
Lenna had given him a substantial sum of money along with a list, instructing him to order large quantities of goods from France.
This wasn’t something just anyone could achieve — with such an enormous amount, the French weren’t fools; they wouldn’t sign supply contracts with just anyone. This usually involved on-site inspections and a precedent of small transactions to build trust.
But Graz, familiar with the rules of business, set up some shell companies, hired some staff to keep up appearances, and then approached prominent merchants or firms to connect with France.
With endorsements from these people or firms, plus the earnest money he promptly provided, the French side soon believed in his credibility and financial power.
His shell companies had already signed two contracts involving over four hundred thousand florins. With today’s deal, he had easily earned nearly three thousand florins in fees.
As for Mr. Elwin Lenna, he was actually a close confidant of Kleistier, the second chairman of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce.
In the evening, at a dance, Baron Graz began bragging about his recent achievements to Georg, who had received a commission from Elwin Lenna as well.
However, the latter only smiled somewhat disdainfully, “You’re too cautious. I posed as a wealthy businessman investing in a merchant’s caravan in Venice, oh, just a small share of stocks.
“Then they’ll help me place orders in France. Let me tell you a secret, pay the deposit in multiple installments to show you have an ongoing flow of money into their accounts…”
In the past month, similar scenarios unfolded across Austria and the Italian regions under Austrian control.
A vast number of caravans and companies got involved, signing purchasing contracts worth over four million florins, equivalent to ten million francs, with French firms in a short period.
The entire French industrial market was stimulated by this, experiencing an unprecedented boom. Every factory aggressively recruited workers, stockpiled raw materials, and worked overtime to fulfill orders.
And if someone took the trouble to tally the French factories involved, they would discover they were all invested by the France Industrial Development Fund.
