Chapter 47 Award Ceremony

Draud Laborde had never been so agitated since he took over the family business.

The manager of Laborde Bank brought him very bad news today - the French government, to be precise, the crown prince in charge of financial loans intends to terminate cooperation with them.

Today, the industrial and commercial situation in France is in a sluggish state. Large government loans are the best part of Laborde Bank's business. If it loses this business, Laborde Bank may not be able to survive.

Soon, Goldman, the major shareholder of Lavelle Bank, came to the door and proved the government's intention to terminate the cooperation.

In this matter, the two banks are like grasshoppers on a rope and must cooperate fully.

The two discussed for a long time with the shareholders of both banks, and finally found that the core of the problem lay with the French Reserve Bank.

This is an outlier who does not abide by the tacit understanding within the banking industry. If it were not for it, the French government would have to beg the banks of Lavelle and Laborde for loans.

Soon, someone suggested: "Maybe we can do some deal with this French Reserve Bank."

"So," Count Laborde looked at everyone, "Who knows the news about this bank?"

No one said anything. After a long while, Goldman frowned and said, "It's probably a foreign bank that just arrived in Paris."

Laborde nodded: "It seems that we can only seek help from Mr. Necker."

In the garden of the villa of Necker, a senior advisor to the French Banking Association and a famous banker.

Laborde and Goldman recounted what had happened, simply referring to the French government as "a major client" and the national debt as the client's private debt, and then looked at Necker longingly.

If there is only one person in Paris who knows the Reserve Bank of France, it must be the most well-informed guru in the French banking industry.

However, Necker just smiled and shook his head: "I have never heard of this bank."

He lowered his head and trimmed the perfumed jasmine, and then said: "However, I think you two have fallen into the trap of your client."

 "trap?"

"He is a very calm gentleman." Necker swept the flower branches on the ground together and wiped his sweat. "The more this time, the more you think that he will not take the risk of cheating, but I can almost do it." For sure, this French Reserve Bank is just a ruse he uses to scare you.

"If you go to him because you are worried that your business will be taken away, he will be able to lower the interest rate, pretend to stop cooperating with the fictitious bank, and ask you to lend money as soon as possible."

Laborde and Goldman looked at each other, feeling suddenly enlightened.

Necker looked like a hunter who had seen through the hiding place of his prey: "I believe that if you don't make compromises, in the last two days before the client's debt is due, he will get your loan at any cost."

Laborde nodded vigorously: "Mr. Necker is indeed the best banker in France! If it weren't for you, we would have been fooled this time!"

"We listen to you and will wait until the last day!"

...

A very grand commendation ceremony was taking place in the Apollo Hall of the Palace of Versailles, which was filled with gold.

The rapid sound of military drums and the solemn sound of trumpets stopped at the same time. The Minister of War, the Marquis de Saint-Priest, shouted to the several soldiers standing in front of him: "Stand at attention——"

The deputy next to him slammed his cane on the ground hard, making a muffled sound. The soldiers held their heads high and stood as straight as swords.

Saint-Priest turned around and raised his hat in salute to Louis XVI: "Your Majesty the King, Your Majesty the Queen, Your Royal Highness the Dauphin, please allow me to introduce to you the heroes of this Battle of Amstelveen——

"Captain Marie Francois de Dubois!

"Lieutenant Therese Prévert de Foucault!

"Second Lieutenant Louis-André de Davout! [Note

"..."

After he finished introducing them one by one, Louis XVI took the lead and walked up to Dubois. He praised him highly, then picked up the brass cufflinks and solemnly handed them to him: "You are officially awarded the rank of major."

Then, he walked towards Lieutenant Foucauld and continued to confer the title, while Queen Mary took a wreath from the hand of the maid, put it on Dubois' head with a smile, and said softly: "You are the hero of France."

After she walked to the next recipient, Joseph then came to Dubois and said a prepared congratulation: "Your tactics and strategies are very wonderful. Without your command, the Dutch army would probably be defeated in the first two days." "

He was originally not prepared to participate in such a ceremony with complicated rules, but as the planner of the Dutch defeat of Prussia, the queen and the military strongly requested him to participate in the commendation ceremony, so he had no choice but to come reluctantly.

Dubois immediately raised his hat in return: "Your Highness, these are not my fault. It is you who designed the overall strategic layout, so that the Prussians had no choice but to retreat. As for the tactical arrangements in Amstelveen, they are actually mine." A good friend, what Captain Berthier planned for me before I left, I just followed it."

Joseph felt that he heard a familiar name and asked hurriedly: "Bertier? Which Berthier are you talking about?"

"Your Highness, this is Major Louis-Alexandre Berthier, subordinate to General Custinat."