Chapter 571 Let’s play missing together
And just now Kresteel told him that French goods seemed to be very popular, and many businessmen or companies had expressed their willingness to take over these goods immediately, and promised to announce that the original buyers still paid for them.
Just the price needs to be discounted.
The Duke of Leeds looked at Krestiel and asked: "So, how much more money do we need to pay in total?"
"Seven orders, a total of 1.8 million florins, Your Majesty the Duke." The latter said, taking out a stack of copies of the agreement, and added hurriedly, "These buyers are very reliable. For example, Viscount Plummer, He is very famous in Vienna and has strong financial resources.
"My people signed an agreement with them, the terms are clear, and they have even paid part of the payment to the French company."
The Duke of Leeds frowned again.
1.8 million florins is 180,000 pounds.
In order to attack the French industrial plan this time, Congress allocated him a total of 500,000 pounds.
He had only used 300,000 to do business, and the rest was originally intended to be used to "reward" himself and deal with the officials involved in the matter.
But if the 180,000 pounds are not invested now, the entire plan may fail, and all the 300,000 pounds invested previously will be wasted.
However, after deducting the expenses for management, the funds are already less than 180,000, and I still have to put in a little bit...
Damn it! He clenched his fists angrily and comforted himself in his heart: Just paying 480,000 pounds would cost the French at least 1.3 million pounds and their industrial system!
After the plan is completed, he will be able to return to the political core circle in London with this meritorious service. Just think of this little money as an investment for your future.
The Duke of Leeds repeatedly confirmed to Crestier that there was no problem with these transactions - of course there was no problem. The person or company who signed the agreement had already started paying for the goods, so what else could be wrong with real money?
Then he finally nodded: "Okay, I will allocate the funds to you as soon as possible. I don't want to see any more surprises."
"I assure you, Your Majesty."
In the period that followed, Crestier distributed 180,000 pounds, or more than 4.5 million francs, to his subordinates and asked them to use it as a "discount" to supply French companies.
Just when he breathed a sigh of relief and began to imagine again how he would go to Manchester to enjoy the wonderful life after getting paid by the British, he heard the butler report that Graz was looking for him in an emergency.
"What do you mean someone is missing?!" Krestil frowned and looked at Gratz.
"Just, that's it," the latter stammered, "Viscount Plummer has not participated in social activities for several days. When I went to find him, I found that all his villas had been vacated.
"I sent people to his hometown of Erdenburg to inquire. People there said that Viscount Plummer died at the beginning of the year..."
A bad premonition arose in Krestier's heart, and he quickly asked: "What about the French company's payment for the goods? How much did he pay?"
"Only, only the first 50,000 florins..."
Clay Stilton felt like the world was spinning, and he fell down on the chair. Then he stood up suddenly and shouted to the housekeeper: "Quick! Send someone to find this bastard!"
However, as soon as the butler turned around and left, he returned with Bolasnia.
The latter said to Klestil with a dark face: "Sir, that Homslar Investment Company suddenly declared bankruptcy, and their directors seem to have fled abroad..."
In the next three days, Kresteel received news one after another that the people or companies who signed discounts to take over French goods were missing.
In fact, they all "disappeared" on the same day, but it took time for the news from Italy to arrive. No matter how stupid Krystil was, he now understood that he had been deceived.
Subsequently, the French company's reminders became more frequent and began to publicize the matter in public. They even took business people or celebrities to visit the warehouse where the goods were piled up, and complained bitterly about the ordering company's breach of contract.
Graz was the first to run away.
After being unable to contact him, Krestil also hurriedly fled Vienna with his family overnight and headed towards Russia.
However, as soon as his carriage reached the outskirts to the east of the city, it was forced to stop by a fallen tree on the road. Then several men in black took advantage of the afterglow of the setting sun and killed all his family members, including the servants.
…
Paris.
The headlines in mainstream newspapers such as "Paris Business" these days are "Outrage!" Austria, Tuscany and other countries carry out contract fraud in an organized manner! ", "Contract fraud involves a large number of factories across France, with a total amount of more than 30 million francs! "Titles like ".
While the executives of major French factories were scolding the scammers as crazy, they were also secretly glad that the scam was exposed early. They only produced less than one-third of the order. After deducting the deposit, the loss was not too great. big.
At a salon in Lyon, several textile factory owners were gathering together and talking angrily, "I have less than 20,000 francs left in my hand. If I find that there is a problem with the order one month later, I will Will have no choice but to declare bankruptcy!”
"Yes, for this batch of orders, I borrowed 150,000 francs from the bank and almost used it all to buy cotton..."
"Those damn Austrians!"
Some people had a more relaxed expression: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince asked us to control production a month and a half ago. Maybe he had already discovered the clues at that time."
His factory is 40% owned by the Industrial Development Fund, so it had to significantly reduce production in accordance with the requirements of the Fund Committee. As a result, he suffered the least loss.
A senior executive from the Lyon Textile Industry Guild next to him lowered his voice and said: "You are right. I heard that the goods shipped to Tuscany by Thiescilline Company were mobilized by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince from Nantes and various places in Lyon. , otherwise they would not be able to complete the order so quickly.”
Someone immediately said in surprise: "It was those goods that exposed the tricks of the scammers!"
"This must be His Highness's foresight. Oh, God, he is really the son of God..."
The factory owners who had survived the disaster immediately looked shocked and said, "Thank you, His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince!"
"Your Highness saved my factory!"
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"
Just as everyone was raising their glasses, an official from the Lyon Textile Industry Guild rushed in, signaled the band to be quiet, and then jumped on the table with no regard for etiquette, and loudly said: "Just now, a notice was sent from the Palace of Versailles, everyone here Factories that suffer losses in this order scam can receive 12% of the order amount as compensation!
"Everyone, hurry up to the city hall to register. Oh, remember to bring your order agreement!"
There was a burst of cheers in the salon. People rushed out of the door and returned home to pick up the order agreement, regardless of the helpless look of Baroness Leo, the salon organizer.
This money was naturally the 4.5 million francs that Mesmer and others "knocked" out of the Duke of Leeds using the method of "discount acquisition".
(End of chapter)