Champs-Élysées, Elysee Palace.
The crimson sunset shone upon this ancient building with over a hundred years of history, casting a particularly sacred aura around it.
In this building, once the center of power for France, a discussion concerning the direction of the French economy is about to unfold.
The parties responsible for discussing include the current president of the Bank of France (representing part of the financial faction), Count Algou, and the French Emperor Jero Bonaparte, representing governnt interests.
At this mont, Count Algou, representing the interests of the Bank of France, is already prepared in a room of the Elysee Palace, yet Emperor Jero Bonaparte has not appeared.
The ti gradually approaches around 5:20, a carriage escorted by the French Dragoons wearing breastplates stops at the gate of the Elysee Palace, with Jero Bonaparte inside the carriage.
The mont Jero Bonaparte stepped down from the carriage and entered the Elysee Palace, the housekeeper responsible for overseeing the Elysee Palace hurriedly approached him.
"Which room is Count Algou in right now? Quickly take there!" Jero Bonaparte said to the housekeeper at a slightly faster speed than usual.
"Your Majesty, please follow !" the housekeeper promptly responded to Jero Bonaparte.
Under the housekeeper’s guidance, Jero Bonaparte soon arrived at the entrance of a room.
"Your Majesty, Count Algou is inside!" the housekeeper said to Jero Bonaparte while opening the door for him.
The door slowly opened, and Jero Bonaparte looked inside the room. Count Algou was indeed there.
"Your Majesty!" Count Algou promptly stood up and walked towards the door upon seeing Jero Bonaparte’s arrival.
Jero Bonaparte entered the room leisurely and approached Count Algou, extending his hand to Count Algou, "Count Algou, sorry to have kept you waiting!"
"No! No!" Count Algou shook his head in response to Jero Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, I just arrived myself and haven’t waited long!"
"Is that so!" Jero Bonaparte said as he glanced at the cup on the table.
No heat emanated from the cup, suggesting that Count Algou might have been waiting for a long ti.
"Sit down!" Jero Bonaparte released Count Algou’s hand and invited him to sit.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Count Algou returned to his original seat, while Jero Bonaparte sat directly across from him.
"Mr. Algus, you should know the purpose of my invitation!" Jero Bonaparte asked Count Algou as soon as he sat down.
"Your Majesty, please look at this first!" Count Algou said as he opened the bag on the table, took out a docunt, and respectfully handed it over with both hands.
"What is this?" Jero Bonaparte asked Count Algou, pointing at the docunt he had just received.
"Your Majesty, this is the price situation in the Paris Region for the first half of the year, and the issuance quantity of banknotes by the Bank of France," Count Algou answered.
"Oh!" Jero Bonaparte nodded and lowered his head to examine the contents carefully.
After a while, Jero Bonaparte raised his head again and said to Count Algou, "Not bad, not bad! The situation in the Paris Region is overall still developing steadily and positively! This shows that our policies are quite successful!"
"Good? Successful?" Count Algou was stunned for a few seconds, really unable to believe these words ca from Jero Bonaparte.
"Look!" Jero Bonaparte propped up Count Algou’s docunt, pointing at the bread and at column, "See, the value of bread in the first half of this year has increased only by about 3% compared to the first half of last year, and at prices have just increased by about 4%."
"Your Majesty, a 3% increase is enough to make so Parisians tighten their belts!" Count Algou couldn’t help but say to Jero Bonaparte, "And this is only for one region of France, the growth rate in other regions is likely higher than this!"
"So what?" Jero Bonaparte asked in return, "During warti, price increases are inevitable! Besides, so regions of the Empire suffered from extre adverse weather conditions last year. Even without war, there would be small-scale increases!"
"Your Majesty, I understand that price increases are unavoidable, but the Empire’s current situation is not just about excessive price increases; it is inflation! If this continues, workers won’t be able to afford bread! Excessive inflation will lead to a massive political crisis for the Empire!
By now, the Bank of France has cumulatively issued nearly 300 million francs in small denomination notes, and if this continues, I fear the Bank of France will face the risk of a bank run and bankruptcy!" Count Algou pleaded with Jero Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, the Bank of France is the lifeblood of France! If any instability occurs at the Bank of France..."
"Instability?" Jero Bonaparte displayed a faint smile, naturally disbelieving Count Algou’s words, knowing the strength of the Bank of France all too well.
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