Chapter 876 The Crown Prince and the Little Intelligence Officer
The West New District of Paris.
The former Royal Hunting Palace, and now at the headquarters of the Intelligence Bureau, Fouche's calm eyes swept across the subordinates in front of him:
"So, no one has brought me good news today, right?"
His Royal Highness gave him a week to find out the mastermind behind shorting the franc. Today is the third day, but he still has no clue.
Bronsh, the head of the Operations Third Team, stuttered: "Sir Director, those who apply for gold exchange are very clean... We have arrested several guys who incited citizens to exchange gold, but they can't find anything. You know, those lawyers are inappropriate..." Fouche's eyes became cold and he looked at the consultant in charge of the financial field: "Mr. Scott, how much is the total amount of gold exchange now?" "14 million francs, Mr. Director. This is the data of the Legal Reserve Bank, and other banks should have three or four million." Fouche suddenly grabbed Bronsh's collar and roared:
"18 million francs! It's enough to buy three Louvres and have the rest! So much money grew from the ground?!"
Prosper of the first team of operations whispered: "Sir, we started from the source of funds from the beginning. But the money at the beginning did not pass through any bank, nor did it come from factories or large investors..."
This huge capital flow cannot leave traces without leaving any trace. The whole of France has people or companies with more than one million francs, and the Intelligence Agency has long recorded it. If their money moves, it will be found out here soon.
Foi punched the table, and his knuckles suddenly bleeding: "Or you want to tell me that a magician created 18 million?
"Check me for illegal organizations! Also, contact the Notary Investigation Bureau to see if anyone embezzles or misappropriates! ”
Scott, the financial adviser on the side, suddenly thought of something and said carefully: "Sir, when it comes to huge amounts of banknotes, I think of a possibility."
"Say it quickly!"
"When our country negotiated the second phase of the Seine-Rhine Agreement, it provided high loans to some South German states."
Fuchet's eyes lit up: "How many?"
"I'm afraid I have to ask the Secretary of Finance for the specific amount..."
Two days later.
Stuttgart, the capital of Württemberg, Germany, is close to the middle section of the Rhine.
In the spacious hall of the palace, Crown Prince Lucivid Eugen stammered to the French officer in front of him: "Captain Pelier, I promise to explain the purpose of the loan to you...
"But you know, the accounts are very cumbersome, and it will take some time to sort them out. Maybe, one month, no, you will come again in 20 days? ”
Pelier smiled indifferently, and his expression seemed to be the royal family, and the crown prince in his sixties in front of him was just an ordinary vendor: "No, no, this will interfere with the normal operation of the bank," Lucivid Eugen said anxiously, "I promise to give you a satisfactory reply in a week." "I have limited time." Captain Pelier stood up and put on his hat. "You have two choices now. Either give me the authorization to check your country's financial accounts. Or let General Massena's army handle this matter. They are about, well, less than a hundred kilometers away." Crown Prince Württemberg's forehead suddenly burst into cold sweat.
The fact that Massena defeated more than 100,000 coalition forces in Luxembourg has long been a nightmare for all German states.
Although the French government has repeatedly reiterated recently that Massena's army came to punish "evil Austrian invaders and their accomplices Bavaria" and would never threaten "German states coerced by Austria."
But who dares to guarantee such a thing?
After the French crossed the Rhine, they just had to turn north and they could reach Stuttgart in two days. After all, this involves a huge sum of nearly ten million francs.
French soldiers would definitely not refuse to go there.
By then, Württemberg may become an "Austria accomplice".
Lucivide Eugen swallowed and bowed to the officer of the French Intelligence Agency and said, "Okay, I understand, I will let Mr. Arnold come here. The loan is his responsibility."
Two hours later, Arnold, a special financial adviser for Württemberg, handed over a stack of documents to Pelier and explained nervously:
"These 2.2 million francs are used to purchase French fertilizers, sugar and other commodities... These are 150,000 francs to invest in the quarry...The last two are agreements for a gentleman named Banks to lend 7 million francs to the Bank of Stuttgart. He, he called for banknotes..."
Pelier glanced at him, took out the lowest agreement document, and his eyes immediately set.
The loan amount is 7 million francs, the term is half a year, and the interest is 12.5%. Repayment in advance can reduce interest. "What is his origin?" Pellier shook the documents in his hand.
"I, I only know he is a wood businessman."
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French agent sneered: "Do you think I am a fool? The Frankfurt Bank dares to lend a huge sum of 7 million to a businessman of unknown origin? Or do you want General Massena to talk to you?"
Lucivid Eugen, who was on the side, spoke with difficulty: "Captain Pelier, he is recommended by the British Consul in Stuttgart..."
Versailles Palace.
Joseph glanced at Fouche with a gloomy face: "You actually sent someone to the palaces of Württemberg, Augsburg and other countries to threaten them! "Do you know how big a diplomatic storm this will cause? ”
He picked up the report in front of him and threw it hard on the table.
It was his established strategy to stabilize the German states and make them alienate Austria as much as possible.
Fuchy sent agents to intimidate them, saying that Massena's army would enter their capital just to check the loan.
Fousy lowered her head deeply and said, "I am really sorry, Your Highness. But they do have problems. I am worried that it will be too late to investigate secretly..."
Joseph exhaled and picked up the report again: "Please tell me what you have gained."
"Yes, Your Highness."Fousy said, "All the clues point to Britain. They obtained a total of 28 million francs of banknotes from Württemberg, Augsburg, Upper Hesse and other countries through high interest rates.
"You know, our country had a war with Shinra before, and these countries believed that the war would last for a long time, so they all accepted the deals from the British."
Joseph frowned slightly. Previously, France divided into two batches and provided loans of 33 million francs to the Senna-Rhine Agreement country, using paper money. Unexpectedly, more than 80% of them became "ammunition" for the British to short francs.
He looked at the investigation report.
The British promised 12.5% interest to Württemberg, 13% to Augsburg, and 16% to Hesse.
You should know that this is 6 months' interest, and if converted into the annual interest rate, it will be as high as 25% to 36%!
(This chapter ends)