The Count of Algo understood that the now fully fledged Emperor no longer needed this "old man" to guard the gates of the Bank of France for him. He wanted to imprint his own will upon the treasury of the Bank of France, turning it into a tool obedient to him.
Just like His Majesty Napoleon did back then.
After all, no monarch likes having a subordinate who opposes them, especially when that subordinate holds a lifeline of France in their hands.
Thinking of this, the Count of Algo couldn’t help but feel a sense of anger. Now he felt like a prostitute, agreeing to submit to Jero Bonaparte after the client fooled him with sweet talk.
Once Jero Bonaparte felt he was of no more use, he would kick him aside effortlessly.
Of course, this was rely a thought borne of the Count of Algo’s sha and anger.
As long as he cald down to think it through, he would realize that his economic philosophy was destined to diverge from that of the Emperor.
Forcing himself to stay as president of the Bank of France would only exacerbate the conflict between both sides. The best result would be for one party to change their economic thinking or withdraw.
The Emperor’s character and vision destined that he would never retreat; only the Count of Algo could retreat.
If it weren’t for considering the contributions Count Algo had made to the Empire before, Jero Bonaparte would not have privately arranged a eting with him at the Elysee Palace, hoping to convince him through dialogue to continue supporting his ideas, instead of directly comncing an Imperial Council and dismissing Count Algo in public.
However, the Count of Algo was reluctant to change his economic ideas, even concocting the "shock therapy".
It wasn’t until just now that Jero Bonaparte made up his mind to let Count Algo leave the position of president of the Bank of France.
"Your Majesty, I will submit my resignation to you tomorrow!" Count Algo coldly responded to Jero Bonaparte.
"Mr. Algo, why is it thus!" Jero Bonaparte feigned surprise, saying to Count Algo: "I was rely lanting the passage of ti just now; you misunderstood !"
"Your Majesty, as you said just now. Ti passes, and in the blink of an eye, I’m almost 80! So, please allow to resign from the position of President of the Bank of France!" The emotional Count Algo could only force himself to suppress his disgust, accompanying Jero Bonaparte in his performance.
"Very well then!" Jero Bonaparte seed regretful about Count Algo’s resignation. He sighed and said to Count Algo: "Since you intend to leave, I won’t force you!"
Subsequently, Jero Bonaparte expressed to Count Algo that, after he resigned from the position of President of the Bank of France, a position would be reserved for him in the Senate.
Count Algo only needed to clock in at the routine voting etings of the Senate.
Count Algo knew that the Emperor arranged this to avoid giving the outside world an impression of ruthlessness and ingratitude.
Though the Senate’s power was far less than that of the Bank of France, it at least represented the Emperor’s stance.
To ensure that his political resources could shelter the next generation, Count Algo agreed to Jero Bonaparte’s proposal.
Once everything was settled, Jero Bonaparte invited Count Algo to dine together.
Count Algo could only accept Jero Bonaparte’s invitation because this might be his last dinner with the Emperor.
"Let’s go!" Jero Bonaparte said to Count Algo.
Count Algo got up and followed Jero Bonaparte out of the room where he first t the Emperor.
The Royal Chief Steward Mokar, standing at the door, saw the expressionless Emperor and the pale-faced, faltering Count Algo trailing behind him. He imdiately realized that this once powerful Mr. Earl had likely beco an outcast beyond power.
Just as Moral was lost in thought, Jero Bonaparte’s voice reached his ears: "Mokar, Mr. Algo’s ntal state hasn’t been well lately! Go and assist him!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Mokar hurriedly responded, then quickly ca to Count Algo, bowed slightly, and assisted him.
"Thank you!" Count Algo replied to Mokar in a low voice.
Now he had none of the grand ambitions he had when he was in charge of the Bank of France; he looked more like a helpless old man.
"It’s nothing, Mr. Earl!" Mokar responded to Count Algo with a standard smile on his face.
With Mokar’s assistance, Count Algo reached the door of the Elysee Palace.
Looking at the sky, now only with afterglow, Count Algo felt even more desolate inside.
"Get in the carriage!"
Jero Bonaparte’s voice ca from the carriage, and with Mokar’s support, Count Algo boarded Jero Bonaparte’s carriage.
The carriage carrying Jero Bonaparte and Count Algo departed from the Elysee Palace, traveling via the Champs-Élysées to reach the Tuileries Palace.
Once Jero Bonaparte and Count Algo alighted from the carriage and entered the Tuileries Palace, they went straight to the dining room.
As the head chef of the Royal Palace, Taylor appeared in front of Jero Bonaparte to ask him if it was ti to serve the dishes.
"Yes!" Jero Bonaparte nodded and responded to Taylor.
Dishes from all over Europe were brought in by the servants of the Tuileries Palace, presented on trays. Seeing these mouthwatering dishes, Jero Bonaparte, feeling cheerful, imdiately felt he could completely devour them.
However, Count Algou clearly did not share Jero Bonaparte’s appetite. Having lost the position of President of the Bank of France, no delicacy could lift his spirits at this mont.
Throughout the banquet, Count Algou only consud a small amount of aperitif and a vegetable salad, abstaining from any other food.
After the dinner, Jero Bonaparte ordered Mokar to personally escort Count Algou ho.
With the escort of Moral, Count Algou successfully returned to his residence in Paris.
Taking advantage of the night, Mokar, having successfully delivered Count Algou ho, took a carriage back to the Tuileries Palace.
...
Early the next morning.
A man claiming to be Count Algou’s butler arrived at the Tuileries Palace by carriage and handed Count Algou’s resignation letter to the Royal Chief Steward, Mokar.
Upon receiving the resignation letter, Mokar imdiately passed it on to Jero Bonaparte in the study.
Jero Bonaparte carefully reviewed the contents of the resignation letter after opening the envelope.
In the letter, Count Algou explained that he was resigning due to his advanced age and lack of energy to manage the Bank of France, hence he pleaded with the Emperor to approve his resignation so that he could retire peacefully.
After reading the resignation letter, Jero Bonaparte signed his na at the bottom and then summoned Mokar over, informing him of the need for an urgent Imperial Council to discuss the appointnt of a new President of the Bank of France, scheduling it for three in the afternoon.
"Yes!"
Receiving the order, Mokar left the study, and Jero Bonaparte, alone in the study, pondered carefully about a suitable candidate for the new President of the Bank of France.
...
Ti passed quickly, and soon the scheduled ti for the Imperial Council approached.
At this mont, in the Royal Hall of the Tuileries Palace, representatives from the three pillars of the Empire—the military, governnt, and bankers—gathered together, all waiting for the arrival of Emperor Jero Bonaparte.
When the grandfather clock in the hall struck three, the side door of the Imperial Palace slowly opened, and Jero Bonaparte, dressed in a black casual attire, entered the hall.
"Your Majesty!"
Those present all greeted and saluted the Emperor of the Empire in front of them.
Jero Bonaparte nodded and gradually walked to the central position within the hall, ascended the steps, and sat on the chair that symbolized the highest authority of the Empire.
Sitting on the throne and gazing down at the pillars of the Empire below the steps, Jero Bonaparte felt his entire body brimming with power—a sensation bestowed upon him by authority.
After savoring the mont, Jero Bonaparte spoke: "Everyone! Just this morning, I received a letter of resignation! The author of the letter inford that due to his advanced age, he no longer has the energy to manage banking affairs!"
Upon hearing these words, everyone present imdiately realized that the person resigning was likely Count Algou, whose position was vacant at this Imperial Council.
Abundant with Count Algou, several bankers in proximity felt a slight shift in expression after realizing the news that Count Algou might have been "forced" to resign.
Conversely, the shareholders of the Bank of France who had previously been at odds with Count Algou and those vying for the position of President of the Bank of France, revealed smiles of pleasure at the corners of their mouths.
"Your Majesty, the person you’re referring to—isn’t it Mr. Algus?" Minister of Finance Mane, on behalf of those present, inquired of Jero Bonaparte.
"Indeed! It is Mr. Algus!" Jero Bonaparte nodded and replied to Mane, then turned his gaze towards Mane and said with regret: "Since Mr. Algus insisted on resigning, I have no choice but to grant his request. Now, the position of President of the Bank of France is vacant, and recomnding a new President of the Bank of France is indeed your responsibility as Minister of Finance!"
Besides the thod of nomination by the shareholders within the bank, there is another way to appoint the President of the Bank of France, which is through the nomination by the Minister of Finance.
However, the Minister of Finance’s nomination is not arbitrary; the appointed person must hold the status of a shareholder in the Bank of France and must be recognized internally by the shareholders of the Bank of France.
If either of these two conditions is not t, then the appointnt of the President of France by the Minister of Finance would be insignificant.
The reason Jero Bonaparte inquired about the candidate for the President of the Bank of France from Mane is to express his dissatisfaction with the conservative economic policies currently pursued by the Bank of France.
After hesitating for a few seconds, Mane, questioned by Jero Bonaparte, responded: "Your Majesty, I propose Count Jérô Lebegue de Bemini to assu the position of bank president!"
Reviews
All reviews (0)