Life of Being a Crown Prince in France-Chapter 520 - 431 Bastille 2.0 Version_2

"It’s simple, just use your caravan to transport some goods for me," Count Saigul said, "passing through the Ottoman Empire on the way to the Indian Peninsula."

"You will be responsible for gathering the goods, and the buyer will pay the full price. As for any items you can’t acquire, you can purchase them from Spain."

"Just like that?" Muhammad III was somewhat surprised. Morocco and the Ottoman Empire had always been engaged in close trade, so this request seemed to bear no loss to him. He could even hand over the goods directly to Ottoman merchants in Basra, who would then transport them to India.

"Are you sure someone will pay?"

"Of course," Count Saigul said, "otherwise you can stop the transport immediately. As long as you help me with this for two years, any misunderstandings between our two countries will be wiped clean."

Muhammad III narrowed his eyes.

He knew the French were using his channels in the Ottoman Empire for smuggling, but if the so-called buyers really paid, and the demand was high, he could even make a profit.

"All right, I can give it a try."

France could completely stop supporting Mysore, but if the latter got supplies from the Ottoman Empire, England would never trace it back to France.

Count Saigul then smiled at Muhammad III and said in a deep voice:

"The most important thing is that these trades you conduct have nothing to do with France."

He wasn’t afraid that Muhammad III would betray him to the British.

Firstly, the British had just tricked the Moroccans, who were now itching for revenge, so why would they go and inform? Secondly, the Moroccans had no evidence; even if they told the British, France would deny anything—there wasn’t a single French person involved in the sourcing or smuggling channels.

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If the Moroccans refused, then Count Saigul would turn to the Persians, getting supplies from Russia via the Caspian Sea and transporting them to India through the Gulf of Oman. However, the Persians would likely demand a cut, making them less cost-effective than the Moroccans. Fortunately, Muhammad III had agreed immediately.

After leaving Morocco, Count Saigul immediately headed north to Spain. He would seek to procure some weapons and materials like steel from Charles IV. This would not only be profitable for Spain but also put them in good favor with the French, and he believed they would not refuse.

...

January 12, 1790.

Paris.

A top-equipped light gray "gemstone" type horse carriage rushed through the crowd and then abruptly stopped at the edge of Bastille Square.

A servant hurriedly set down the carriage step and then opened the door.

Mr. Walsh, a wool merchant, jumped down from the carriage impatiently, complaining to his wife behind him:

"I said we should have taken the railcar, but you insisted on driving..."

Looking at the throng on Bastille Square, he raised his voice:

"We’ve been delayed so long, there’s no way to squeeze in now."

Mrs. Walsh, wearing the most fashionable dress of the season, followed down from the carriage, murmuring quietly:

"It’s just a bank relocation, what’s there to see. I heard the British pavilion is already set up, we’d be better off buying preview tickets and having a look there..."

Mr. Walsh cut her off:

"What does a woman know? The Crown Prince will surely announce some financial policies today that will affect everyone’s business, of course, we have to come and see!"

A boy in his early teens, seeing Mr. Walsh’s anxious expression, approached quickly with a bright smile and said:

"Sir, the Crown Prince has arrived, would you like to get a closer look?"

"Of course. Have you got a way?"

"Three livres."

Walsh immediately handed over three silver coins: "Quickly!" Your adventure continues at novelbuddy

The boy whistled towards the Bastille, and instantly about seven or eight children began jostling the people around them. A "path" quickly formed among them.

Walsh hurriedly pulled his wife through the crowd, making it all the way to a very close position in front of the Bastille’s main gate.

The little boy, hearing the music rise up around him, waved to his companions:

"It’s already started, there shouldn’t be many more people coming. Now, let’s go line up outside the ’Habitable’ store."

"Alright, big brother Gilles," the children scrambled out of the crowd and hopped along behind him.

Walsh craned his neck to see and noticed that where the once dark and terrifying prison entrance had been was now hung with colorful ribbons, and several rows of court guards in red uniforms stood neatly in front of the steps, with a large group of reporters behind them. Beside them, the band was playing energetically, and by the looks of it, they very well might be the court orchestra.

And at the top of the prison’s main entrance, a new large brass plate had been hung, inscribed with "Bank of France Reserve - Head Office."

As the ceremonial cannon roared, the music stopped instantly, and Joseph, in his brand-new blue and white cavalry uniform with a tricorn hat, briskly ascended the stage beneath the plaque, flanked by several officials.

The surrounding crowd immediately bowed their heads in salute, and Joseph smiled and raised his hand to gesture:

"Thank you all for attending the relocation ceremony of the Bank of France Reserve."

He turned and pointed towards the Bastille:

"I know that nobody used to like it here very much."

Laughter erupted from the people instantly.

"But from now on, I’m sure you will like it," Joseph declared loudly. "This will become the headquarters of the Bank of France Reserve.

"Additionally, the French Stock Exchange will occupy its western side.

"And its second floor will be the hall where the French Royal Insurance Company conducts its business."

He made a sweeping gesture: "There will be no more jail here, but a symbol of Paris’ wealth!"

The crowd immediately erupted in cheers! Indeed, there was no French person who did not hate and loathe this prison.

Before, when Joseph was selecting a site for the French Stock Exchange, the idea of this location suddenly came to mind, and he decided to turn it into Paris’ financial center.

Abolishing the notorious Bastille would definitely greatly improve the national sentiment towards the Royal Family.

Moreover, the prison had already lost its purpose. As a prison, it did not hold many prisoners, and its core function was actually to maintain the order in Paris. In the past, it had a large garrison of soldiers who could suppress any unrest in Paris from nearby. But now the security of Paris was in the hands of the police.

So, when Joseph proposed that the Bank of France Reserve buy this fortress, Queen Mary hardly hesitated before agreeing. The Marquis of Launay, the commander of Bastille, had previously received the Crown Prince’s care during the Necker affair, and this time he was very cooperative with the relocation work as well.

Almost half a month ago, the guards and prisoners of the Bastille were all moved to a new location in the Southern Suburbs of Paris, and the name was also changed to "National Prison No.1."

On the stage, Joseph waited for the crowd’s cheer to die down, then continued:

"Besides the relocation of the Bank of France Reserve and the Stock Exchange, there is another very important matter to be announced today."

He signaled to Finance Minister Brian, who eagerly stepped forward, cleared his throat, and spoke out:

"His Majesty the King has decided that from today onward, the banknotes issued by the Bank of France Reserve will become the official currency of France and will be renamed francs!

"One franc banknote is equivalent to one livre silver coin, equivalent to 0.3 grams of gold.

"The National Treasury Decree will guarantee the franc, and anyone who holds a franc banknote can exchange it for an equivalent value of gold at the bank at any time. Similarly, gold can also be exchanged for francs at the bank.

"Within the boundaries of France, no one is allowed to refuse francs, otherwise, they will be prosecuted. Livres, ecus, and other currencies will still be in circulation."

The crowd was immediately abuzz. Although the banknotes of the Bank of France Reserve had been circulating in many places, the formal establishment of their currency status still astonished everyone.

After all, just a few decades ago, John Law had flooded the market with banknotes during the Mississippi affair, causing many French people to go bankrupt overnight. Since then, people have been very resistant to banknotes.

Brian looked sideways at the Crown Prince, raised his hand to signal for silence, and then continued:

"In order to maintain the stability of the franc’s value, the Royal Family, the Treasury Department, the Bank of France Reserve, and the French Chamber of Commerce will jointly establish the ’Currency Regulation Council,’ with full authority to oversee the issuance of banknotes to ensure that there will be no oversupply."