Chapter 569: Using deception to counter deceive
Joseph clenched his fists and said:
"These stupid guys!"
Archbishop Beaumont's face was full of embarrassment—His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was just talking in a low voice just now, and now he was about to shout out. This is above the temple...
He had no choice but to raise his voice desperately, trying to cover up His Highness's "blasphemous" act.
Mirabeau was even more worried:
"Your Highness, there is no concrete evidence in this report. It is just Viscount Carlona's speculation that there is a problem with the order.
"Based on these alone, I'm afraid it will be difficult to convince those factory owners. After all, they are all waiting to make a lot of money...
"Moreover, at present, the transaction procedures and orders are very formal. I mean, it is difficult for us to confirm which orders are problematic and which ones are normal.
"If factories are forced to reduce production, I'm afraid it will also affect a large number of normal orders."
Joseph was startled when he heard this. He really ignored this problem.
No one can identify all fake orders, so if forceful measures are used to stop it, even if only one out of ten orders is genuine, it will severely damage the credit of French factories and interrupt the rapid growth of French industry.
And if you leave it alone, you will face catastrophic consequences.
This is all a conspiracy.
No matter who came up with this plan, Joseph had to admit that that guy was indeed smart and vicious enough.
So, how to avoid the harm of fake orders without harming real orders?
Mirabeau in the back row listened to Archbishop Beaumont reciting prayers loudly in a hoarse voice. He couldn't help but cross himself and murmured:
"Almighty God, please help France survive this crisis."
He immediately shook his head and sighed: "Right now, unless those scammers cancel the orders themselves, there is nothing they can do..."
Joseph was thinking hard about countermeasures, but when he heard Mirabeau's complaints, he couldn't help but feel moved.
That's right, as long as the person who placed the fake order can cancel the order on his own.
But how to get them to back off on their own?
Their company, qualifications, procedures, and even the deposit are all real, but only the balance must be fake. Otherwise it would not be a fake order.
Therefore, we must firmly hold on to the final payment.
It happened to be the time for the Holy Communion to be distributed, and everything suddenly became quiet. Joseph's brain was running rapidly in this silence. After a while, a smile suddenly appeared on the corner of his mouth.
Since the other party is going to pull such a big scam, don’t blame me for cheating him back!
He grabbed the Holy Communion and Holy Wine from the hands of the deacon, made the sign of the cross hastily, said a prayer, turned around and motioned for Mirabeau to come over, and said in his ear:
"Please immediately let people screen out all foreign orders with an amount of more than 50,000 francs, and then let the factory owners do this, and then do this..."
Mirabeau's eyes suddenly widened: "Your Highness, this... although it should be feasible, but what if the factory owner is worried about his reputation and is unwilling to cooperate?"
"It doesn't matter. As long as one-tenth of the factories are willing to do this, others will understand immediately after seeing it."
Mirabeau immediately leaned forward and said, "Yes, Your Highness, I will do it immediately after the mass."
Joseph thought for a while and asked again: "By the way, you mentioned before that most of the deposits for those orders have been received?"
"Yes, Your Highness. If this is a scam, they are obviously trying to lure factory owners into taking the bait."
Joseph nodded: "But the goods we produce have greatly exceeded the amount of the deposit, so we must make up for it as much as possible."
"What do you mean?" Joseph waved directly to Fouche, who was sitting further behind. Seeing that Archbishop Beaumont didn't pay attention to him, the latter quickly slipped over.
"Your Highness, what are your orders?"
"That liar, what's going on with Metz..."
"It's Mesmer, Your Highness."
"Oh, yes. I remember Viscount Carlona's report said that he is now a well-known businessman in Vienna?"
"That's right, Your Highness."
"Okay, you tell him to do this in Austria...and find a few factory owners who are willing to cooperate and go to Vienna..."
"Yes, Your Highness." The intelligence chief nodded and quickly jotted it down in his notebook.
Joseph continued: "Also, we need to focus on investigating the guy named Clay Steele. He may be the key point of all problems!"
…
More than ten days later.
Vienna.
In the office of the general manager of Mannhart Trading Company, Baron Graz looked at the letter sent by the trading director in surprise and said in disbelief:
"How is this possible? Have you confirmed it?"
"Yes, Lord Baron." The trade director nodded, "This was sent personally by the assistant manager of Gregor Brothers Steel Company. I met him when I signed the order contract."
"But, this..." Graz frowned and looked at the notification letter, "They produced more than 720,000 florins in less than three months?!"
720,000 florins is 1.8 million francs. If used to buy iron products, it can already pile up a hill.
And just this morning, Gregor Brothers Steel Company told him that all orders placed by Manharts Trading Company had been completed.
Graz suddenly panicked. According to Krestil's previous instructions, he had to pretend in Vienna until October. Only when the production funds invested by the French factories could no longer be withdrawn would he withdraw.
It was only mid-May now, and Gregor Brothers Steel Company was about to deliver the order. What should I do?
He has already prepared a way out to escape to the United States, but if he leaves Vienna at this time, all the fake orders may be exposed——
He established a total of 6 leather bag companies, and commissioned other caravans, placing a total of 11 orders with France, with an order amount of 3.5 million florins. That is more than 8.7 million francs.
If he goes to the United States at this time, the subsequent orders may be interrupted, and Mr. Crestil's mission will not be completed, and his commission will be greatly reduced...
No! If he ran away now, not even one-third of the task would be completed, let alone the commission. Krestil would probably have to settle the score with himself.
But how can we deal with the Gregor Brothers Steel Company if we don't run? Where do you have the money to pay the balance?
Graz was scratching his head anxiously when he heard the trade director say:
"Lord Baron, according to the order agreement, we must pay half, which is 360,000 florins, before the end of the month, and the other half before July..."
"I know, get out of here!" Gratz roared.
In order to stimulate the French factory to invest as much money as possible to expand production, he even included a clause in the order agreement that "you can get a 3% reward of the order amount if you deliver the goods in advance."
(End of chapter)