Chapter 40
Gold Rush 4
Shortly thereafter, the U.S. Ambassador William Dinsmore reappeared, accompanied by federal envoys.
Ten days ago, I heard about the great victory the Emperor has obtained against wicked pirates and thugs. You will defeat them, Your Majesty! We, the United States, have no doubt about the victory of the French Empire, and we pray that those arrogant British n will eventually kneel at your feet.
Not long ago, it was reported that the Valencian Corps, led by one of the French marshals, Louis-Gabriel Suchet, defeated a coalition of British, Portuguese and Spanish militias. It was a small skirmish that did not an much. The Allied forces suffered little damage and the victory itself was insignificant. However, the French troops on the peninsula, who had lost their morale after the crushing defeat of the Battle of Salamanca, regained so confidence.
Thanks, Ambassador. By the way, how co your flattery is longer than the last ti we t? Its cumberso.
During his expedition to Russia, so shortly after his awakening, Napoleon strongly felt the need to keep Britain in check, because it was supporting the French enemies both openly and secretly. And it was the New Worlds new nation, the United States, that was chosen by Napoleon to act. Napoleon then sent a letter to the U.S. Ambassador, Dinsmore, asking when the United States would attack Britain to protect their friendship.
At that ti, Ambassador Dinsmore did not give a definite answer, maybe knowing that France was overdoing it, as he passed the topic with a lukewarm attitude. But when he saw them co back after breaking Russia, he praised Napoleon and France like the saviors of the world. Now that the United States had started a war with Britain, as soon as he was called, he ran like a foal on fire. Napoleon laughed at the sight.
Yes, international diplomacy had this taste.
Thats how much I and the federal governnt were honored by Your Majestys victory. We, the United States and the federal governnt, will always do our best to protect our friendship with the French Empire.
Ti is precious, so enough of useless talk. Lets get right to the point So, you want to discuss the exceptions to U.S. ships in the Milan Decree issued by our country?
Yes, Your Majesty! The United States and the French Empire are in a fierce war against the sa country. In this situation, what is the need for the two countries to stick to closed protectionism and do what is only good for Britain? In order to circulate economic value-added through active trade transactions between our countries, and to promote mutual interest of the two countries, the abolition of these asures seems inevitable.
Napoleon nodded and asked as if he was convinced by the U.S. delegations argunts.
Our country has been fighting a trade war with the islanders for years. As the ambassador knows, it has been a tradition for trade wars to prevent enemy rchant ships from entering or leaving a port, or extorting the cargo of the ships. But the cunning islanders broke the tacit rules of the sea by sinking or seizing ships of neutral countries as well as enemies. Thats why I was forced to issue the Milan Decree to counter Britain.
We acknowledge that the announcent of the decree at the ti was an unavoidable asure, even within our federal governnt.
In the end, all the problems are caused by the cunning British. I fully understand the situation of Your Majesty and France.
Right now, they were bowing their heads as if they were compassionate, but if one looked at the records at the ti of the decrees announcent, one could see that the reality was very different on the Arican continent. That was why Marshal Bessires and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Hugues-Bernard Maret were showing displeasure at the face-changing attitudes of the Aricans.
Napoleon, however, simply nodded coolly.
What use were past actions and old feelings in discussing international diplomacy? It was nice to see their forward-looking attitude, as it was necessary to thoroughly determine whether it was beneficial to the nation.
Thank you for understanding. So the decree cannot be removed. In addition, it would be difficult to make an exception only for Arican ships. Im sure the British would smuggle trade with the flag of the United States, and there would be no way to stop them from doing such tricks. Also, granting special treatnt for the United States would make it difficult to avoid backlash from other neutral countries.
Oh, weve thought of sothing to prevent the British for smuggling by stealing U.S. flags. Please listen, Your Majesty.
The head of the federal delegation and the Democratic Republican State Council mber, Caudran Pollins, stepped up to explain the newly changed standards and ordinance laws for the U.S. rchant ships that would start next month. Most of them were inconsistent with the mariti and hull regulations that British rchant ships now abide by.
Pollins argued that the rules and ordinances could be a distinction between U.S. and British rchant ships.
The U.S. rchant ships will abide by these ordinances thoroughly. If a rchant ship is caught acting against the law, the federal governnt will accept any response and punishnt from the French Empire, considering as if it were a vessel of pirates of the island country disguised as an Arican rchant ship or soone that was not entitled to carry the U.S. flag.
Certainly, that would steady trade between the U.S. and the French Empire, and the blood-sucking ones would disappear. But I dont think its a convincing proposition for angry neutral rchants and the citizens of the Empire.
Napoleon said that such a preferential treatnt would require diplomatic benefits in response, even if the issue of preventing the camouflage of British rchant ships was resolved in such a way. The delegations representative and the U.S. ambassador briefly t eyes and soon opened their mouths.
We have prepared so suggestions that might suit Your Majesty and the national interest of the French Empire.
Their proposals were not much different from those expected by Napoleons secretaries, departnt heads and vice ministers.
There were a wide variety of financial grants secured by U.S. governnt bonds, lower tariffs on French products, licenses of various federal patents, and official docunts pledging to actively attack Britain. However, Napoleons aides and secretaries refuted the proposal, pointing out the laxity and ambiguity of the conditions. In the middle of the talks, Napoleon stepped in and walked through the Arican people, as if he were strolling through a store without being able to choose anything.
Then tell what your Majesty wants. Ill consider it with all due respect if its a proposal that our federal governnt can accept.
The delegations representative, Caudran Pollins, responded by trying to hide his tired expression.
For the federal governnt, which had no choice but to support the Democratic Republican leader and current president Jas Madison Jr., the removal of the Milan Decree for the U.S. ships was necessary to win the presidential election. But even if the negotiations were concluded, what if they took too long and the decree was abolished after the presidential election? To them, losing the election ant losing a lot more. Their minds were in a hurry, and Napoleon knew how to use such psychology.
Napoleon, who was tapping the table with his fingers, said in a soft voice.
I have a long story to tell, so it would be nice if the minimum number of people remained. Id like to have a discussion with key officials. I will also remove everyone on my side, so please show your sincerity by doing the sa.
The mbers of the delegation, who had been wary, stood up and left the office at the order of Pollins.
Napoleon also forced not only the staff, the secretaries, but also the guards to step down. Only Napoleon, Caudran Pollins and William Dinsmore remained in the office.
Do you have any idea why I left only the three of us and asked the rest to leave?
I understand to so extent. Isnt it to discuss Your Majestys private affairs that are hard to reveal?
Hahaha! Youre quick to read. Exactly. Thats right.
Pollins had a gentle smile on the outside but felt a surge of disgust on the inside. This was because he noticed what Napoleon was saying. The Emperor in front of him wanted to receive personal rewards in return for national affairs.
What a disappointnt. Napoleon Bonaparte Was he such a snob and greedy man?
Napoleon, the Emperor of France, always had noble causes and justifications when he staged a coup, when he beca Consul for life, or even when he ascended the throne. There were so many who were fascinated by the justification he put forward, except for the intellectuals who constantly questioned the truth.
In the United States, where the reality of France was not well known, a favorable public opinion towards Napoleon prevailed, and people were saying, Wouldnt George Washington, the sovereign and spirit of the United States, be like Napoleon today if he had beco king? Napoleons popularity and public opinion in the United States were never bad, as the head of a friendly country with the common British enemy, and as a great conqueror who led many wars to victory.
Such a man was now blatantly demanding private interests. He acted like he would grant exceptions to the Milan Decree if he was bribed. How dare soone compare the great George Washington to this greedy, hypocritical dictator? Anger rose in his heart, and Pollins wanted to tell the U.S. citizens about it.
Of course this stayed in his mind.
Ambassador Dinsmore and I are open-minded and willing to accept Your Majestys offer. Whether its bonds, cash or bills, our federal governnt will be prepared to deliver it. Of course, this story will be kept strictly confidential.
But this situation was better for the national interest of the United States. If they managed to please Napoleon with compensation, they would obtain the abolition the decree. By just knowing one side of his personality of course, they never ant to reveal this to the Aricans), the United States would be able to gain so negotiating advantages.
Well, that sounds obvious But what I want is not bonds, cash, or such.
Waiting in a forward-looking manner, U.S. Secretary of State Pollins and U.S. Ambassador Dinsmore were soon at a loss for words at Napoleons suggestion. It was not because it was such a ridiculous condition, but because it was a proposal they had never thought of before.
Id like to have full ownership of four villages in Georgia: Dahlonega, Villa Rica, Ellijay and Calhoun.
What the hell was he talking about?
TL notes
Here is a map I made with Google Maps of the four villages:
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