Make France Great Again-Chapter 792 - 783 European Currency Union Meeting

"First of all, the obverse of the gold coin should not bear my portrait. This is currency intended for all of Europe, not just France. Printing only my portrait would result in a negative impact..."

Jerome Bonaparte explained slowly to Count Algou about why he gave such directions.

Count Algou gradually realized that his Emperor not only desired to unify the currency’s gold content but also harbored ambitions to unify currency issuance.

If the European countries truly agreed to His Majesty’s new currency under the European Currency Union, it would amount to them effectively handing over part of their currency issuance rights to the French Empire.

However, Count Algou considered this possibility to be very slim.

If His Majesty stubbornly insisted on implementing the new currency policy, Count Algou even doubted whether the outcome of this currency union would result in an unsatisfactory end.

Thus, Algou felt obliged to prevent the Emperor’s reckless actions.

Therefore, Count Algou tactfully advised Jerome Bonaparte that it would be best for the French Empire not to make an issue of currency issuance.

"Count Algou, are you implying that I cannot propose the concept of a new currency in the European Currency Union?" Jerome Bonaparte questioned Count Algou in a disgruntled manner.

"Your Majesty, that is not what I meant!" Count Algou firmly denied and then humbly responded to Jerome Bonaparte: "In my humble opinion, what France should prioritize now is to use the determination of gold content to re-establish its prestige in front of the European countries!

Once the time is ripe, then set new currency standards!"

"When does Mr. Algou think the time will be ripe?" Jerome Bonaparte retorted to Count Algou.

"Your Majesty, that is something I cannot easily determine!" Count Algou replied to Jerome Bonaparte, "However, I believe that the French Empire will achieve this goal under your leadership!"

"Alright! I understand your point!" Jerome Bonaparte also realized that his goal of establishing a universal European currency was somewhat unrealistic.

After all, even in the previous life, the European Union achieved uniform issuance only after facing numerous challenges, and he was just taking his first step toward European unification. Hoping to achieve unified issuance was practically an impossible task.

But as a monarch, how could he ever admit he was wrong? He could only end this topic by muddling through.

"Your Majesty, I am also considering the interests of the Empire!" Count Algou replied to Jerome Bonaparte in a humble manner.

"Yes! I understand!" Jerome Bonaparte replied with the same unchanging attitude to Count Algou, "However, I am still not satisfied with this gold coin! Change the obverse to the map of France, and the reverse to the map of all Europe!"

Count Algou had no choice but to nod, indicating that he would follow the Emperor’s requirements.

Afterward, Count Algou left Jerome Bonaparte’s study.

Jerome Bonaparte then sat quietly in the study, murmuring to himself, "Am I being too eager for quick success?"

Indeed, ever since the European Currency Union received responses from several countries (although not many), Jerome Bonaparte became even more eager for the establishment of the European Union, and this impatience led him to hastily draft future policies (focusing on policies from post-World War II to the establishment of the EU) without considering the over one-hundred-year gap between this era and the future.

Even the same policy implemented in the same country can result in completely opposite outcomes due to different environments.

Like the issue of unified currency issuance just now, if it weren’t for Count Algou’s reminder, he would have nearly made a grave mistake.

"Any policy must be adapted to its era!" Jerome Bonaparte couldn’t help but reflect, "One should never carve a boat to seek a sword!"

After speaking, Jerome Bonaparte called in Mokar and ordered him to visit Count Algou’s residence to deliver some gifts.

Although Count Algou was wealthy, Jerome Bonaparte believed that Count Algou would be more pleased with the gifts he received than with a large sum of money.

Because the gift was not just a gift, but also a reflection of Jerome Bonaparte’s attitude.

Sure enough, after Mokar went to Count Algou’s residence to deliver the gifts, a smile immediately blossomed on Count Algou’s face.

"Mr. Mokar, please convey my gratitude to His Majesty!" Count Algou said while subtly handing a note to Mokar.

"Count Algou, rest assured I will certainly report this to His Majesty!" Mokar hurriedly assured Count Algou.

When Mokar reported back to Jerome Bonaparte, he exaggeratedly described Count Algou’s expression upon receiving the gifts.

Jerome Bonaparte quietly listened to Mokar’s report, silently estimating how much Count Algou had given Mokar.

Judging from Mokar’s words, it seemed that Count Algou had given Mokar about 50,000 francs.

"Alright! I understand!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded and then gestured for Mokar to leave.

...

In the following two days, Jerome Bonaparte continuously received visitors from various countries.

Soon, the time for the start of the European Currency Union arrived.

At 1 PM that day, the scorching sun hung over Paris, making the entire city exceptionally hot.

It was in this sultry weather that the delegates from various countries began their journey by carriage, with their destination set as the Louvre, adjacent to the Tuileries Palace.

At 1:30 PM, delegates from various countries began to arrive at the main gates of the Louvre one after another.

Journalists from major newspapers in Paris, who were stationed near the Louvre, swarmed towards the delegates, startling them considerably.

Delegates, who were used to the genteel reporters they encountered outside of Paris (during this period, reporters usually set an appointment for private interviews outside of Paris, whereas Parisian journalists, influenced by official gazettes, started scrambling for first-hand news shamelessly), had never seen such a scene. Faced with a barrage of questions from reporters, some delegates showed signs of embarrassment on their faces.

If it weren’t for the intervention of the Guard Army stationed near the Louvre, the delegates might never have made it inside.

Watching the delegates enter the Louvre, the journalists showed disappointed expressions on their faces.

If the delegates weren’t entering the Louvre, they had a hundred ways to block them at the entrance.

At this moment, a young man appeared before the reporters, addressing them loudly, "Ladies and gentlemen of the press, please, please calm down. We assure you that you will have time for your interviews after the conference concludes!"

"Who are you?" asked a reporter, looking puzzled at the young man who had come out of the Louvre.

"I’m a junior clerk at the News Office of the Emperor’s Private Secretarial Department. My name is Rastigne," Rastigne responded leisurely to the journalists present.

"Alright! Remember what you said!"

Finally, the journalists, under Rastigne’s assurance, headed to a nearby café to wait for the conference to end.

Upon returning to the Louvre, Rastigne immediately received commendation from the head of the News Office.

...

At 1:40 PM, delegates from various countries gathered in the hall of the Louvre were led by Mokar to a conference room on the second floor of the Louvre.

The overall style of the conference room also reflected the Imperial era, with a round table covered with a Turkish wool carpet and twelve blue-backed chairs around it.

"Please be seated, representatives!" Mokar invited those present to sit, "His Majesty and Count Algou will arrive shortly!"

The attendees were momentarily stunned upon hearing the name Count Algou.

Count Algou appearing together with His Majesty the Emperor was something they hadn’t anticipated.

Soon, it was 2 PM, and Jerome Bonaparte, along with Count Algou, came into the view of the representatives from various countries.

All the representatives stood up to pay their respects to Jerome Bonaparte, who glanced at the attendees and smiled, "Representatives, once again I’ve come only with a pair of ears!

Everything will be communicated with Mr. Algo!

However, let me speak plainly first. Regardless of what happens during this exchange, no disputes are allowed!

Otherwise, I’ll have to call the guards to expel you!"

"Yes!" everyone present nodded in agreement.

Jerome Bonaparte gave Count Algou a glance, then looked at the representatives standing by the round table, and solemnly said, "Alright! You may begin!"

Following that, Count Algou walked up to the representatives with a firm step, while Jerome Bonaparte took his seat at the already prepared throne.

"Ladies and gentlemen, representatives, I am honored to host this European Currency Union and represent France..." Count Algou expressed his gratitude to the representatives with a calm tone.

The representatives immediately applauded Count Algou’s opening, and after a round of applause, Count Algou continued to speak to the representatives about the glorious history of the Roman Empire and its single currency policy during its era.

He followed up by drawing a connection from the Roman Empire’s destruction to the construction of a currency union theme.

"With the fall of the Roman Empire, Europe’s currencies began to diversify greatly! The plethora of currencies affected trade and communication between countries, turning Europe’s economy into an array of isolated islands! This severely hindered friendly exchanges among European countries’ people, making the establishment of a pan-European currency union a top priority!"