In the afternoon, as previously agreed, Charles left the city of Paris and went to visit Monsieur du Tayère's secret country house.

However, if an acquaintance was present, he would not have been recognized: he was dressed in black, with a tie, slightly brown glasses to conceal his eyes, a brown wig on his head, a mustache sticking to the corner of his mouth, and a thin rattan cane in his hand, which looked like that of a young university lecturer.

When the rented carriage stopped at the door of the villa, Charles struck the carriage three times with his cane, as agreed. Then, the iron door was opened, and Charles instructed the coachman to drive in at once, and stopped directly at the door of the house. After Charles got out of the carriage, the carriage left directly. Before getting out of the car, Charles looked at his pocket watch, and the time was just right.

Monsier du Taai was already waiting for Charles at the door, and he looked a little honest because of his bald head and round face. This face deceived many people and made them bankrupt.

"Sir, you're finally here......" Mr. Du-Taai touched his forehead a little nervously. I was worried about you just now...... Alas, lately I've been feeling a little nervous, and I've always been a little scared......"

"Don't worry, I've been out there before I came, and it's safe, and I haven't found any agents. Rest assured, I care more about my safety than you do. Charles replied a little coldly, and then deliberately knocked the other party. Also, I advise you not to show your nervousness too much, as it will do nothing but make you appear more suspicious. If you want to learn from Lafayette, you don't just have to have pretty words, so calm down, sir. ”

Hearing Charles's words, Du-Taai's face turned pale at first, then slowly relaxed a little, and his hand was lowered.

Yes, as a banker, Mr. Du Taai longed for the most in his life to learn from his predecessor Lafayette. For this, he chose to imitate this gentleman and became one of the behind-the-scenes patrons of the Bonapartist faction. Without the help of these patrons, it would be difficult for any political party in France to function.

[Lafayette was a major French banker in the first half of the 19th century and served as president of the Bank of France. This man was actively involved in politics after the end of Napoleon, and he strongly supported the Orleans faction and sponsored its political activities in large sums. In 1831, after the establishment of the July Dynasty, he became Prime Minister of France, becoming the first French banker to reach the pinnacle of politics. He and the Marquis de Lafayette, who participated in the American Liberation War and became America's second founding father (the first, of course, the poor guillotine king), an active participant in the French Revolution, were two different people. 】

Today, the banquet organized by Monsieur du Taai will make it possible for the Bonapartist faction to have a few more patrons.

If the charr behaves haode.

Charles followed Monsieur du Taai into his mansion, which was roughly as extravagant as those of those who had become rich and desperately tried to prove their taste, with famous paintings on the walls and a café-like decoration.

But it's not the taste that matters, it's the attendees.

It was already dark, and the curtains had been deliberately drawn, so that in the dim light everyone could not see the whole picture of each other, only a rough outline - to the satisfaction of both parties.

Charles turned his head to look at Du-Taai, and he nodded slightly, indicating that everyone was here.

Then Charles sat down in the haode seat that had been prepared for him—on the right-hand side of the main seat.

Du Taai sat down on the throne and introduced to those who had already taken their seats. "This is what I told you about Mr. Friedland."

"Hello everyone," Charles stood up, "and as a thank you for your host's hospitality today, I suggest you have a toast?" ”

"Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

A few people whispered to each other, and then everyone raised their glasses and drank together.

Everyone knows that "Mr. Friedland" is a pseudonym, but no one bothered to say anything about it.

After drinking, Charles stopped talking nonsense and went straight to the point.

"I think you're all busy people with limited time, so you don't have time to go around in circles and talk nonsense, and as it happens, we're also doers. The authorities have given me the right to explain to you, and you can ask me any questions you are interested in. ”

Several people looked at each other, and after a moment of silence, one person stood up and opened fire. He asked cautiously.

"Mr. Friedland, I hear you've been planning a big move lately?"

"Yes." Charles nodded, "We've looked at it and think the time is coming. Now France is restless, and the dissatisfaction with Monsieur d'Orleans is close to the extreme, and you all have to run your own business, and there are a lot of people to come into contact with, so you must have a deep understanding, right? ”

If it weren't for the fact that the current regime is no longer very stable, I think these people would not have come to the secret meeting.

Several people nodded slightly.

After a moment of silence, a gentleman with glasses spoke.

"Forgive me, sir, what good will we gain if we support your faction? If it's a Medal of Honor, we don't lack it, and if it's just a knighthood, it's a bit attractive, but it's not enough for us to take such a risk. ”

"Of course, we will take the help to you to heart." Charles nodded, "However, we also have to see how much you help - we will naturally reward more for those who help more, and for those who help little...... Gentlemen, there is nothing we can do to help. ”

"I can confess to you." Another participant spoke, "Before you came, we had already discussed that if we decided to help your business, we would not do it half-heartedly, but we would give it our all, and you can trust us." But you've got to give us hope and let us know what we're doing all we can, right? ”

"I am very touched by the consensus that you have reached, and I would like to thank you on behalf of all of us." Charles stood up again and nodded. "In the same way, if you can give it your all, we will do our best to repay you."

"For example?"

"Do you agree that in our time, any title, honor, fame, or medal or the like, though it may look fancy, is not as effective and good-looking as a real franc?" The charr remained silent, whetting their appetite first.

This can be said to the hearts of these people.

"Yes!" Everyone nodded frequently.

Haode, it's time to speak.

Charles picked up his glass and quietly looked at the swaying wine inside. "We have come to the conclusion that after seizing power, we will greatly develop the railways, and at the same time issue railway bonds, and we will issue as many as we need, and we will issue them when we don't need them. We're going to make a list of the industrialists who help us, we're going to give the construction order to the industrialist, which financier is going to help us, and we're going to have them issue these bonds and be responsible for the financing! ”

Everyone was silent and listening.

"You are all practical people, and of course you know how useful the railroad is, it is a huge source of profit, and as long as it is operated well, you don't have to worry about the ability to pay your debts. And how many business opportunities are there? Charles slowly raised his voice, "Gentlemen, don't forget that we are not talking about three hundred kilometers of railways, nor about three thousand kilometers of railways, but about thirty thousand kilometers, more and more, more and more!" ”

"Oh." The collective whispered exclamations.

"How many tracks do you need for such a long railway? How many wagons do you need? How many stations do you need to build? How much financing is needed?! Gentlemen, we will not rest until every village in France is connected by rail! Charles almost shouted. One day, we will pounce on the railway to Baghdad, to Delhi, to Beijing! (There is a typo in the meter~~~)"

Railroad, yes, railroad! This is one of the most important assets of a country.

In the original history, from the Bourbon Restoration in 1815 to the end of the July Dynasty in 1848, the two dynasties built less than 5,000 kilometers of railways in 33 years, while the Second French Empire built more than 20,000 kilometers in less than 20 years.

weishenme？ Was it because these adults in the court didn't know that the railroad was a good thing?

Not really.

This was due to the fact that the owners of large and small estates in France at the time did not like the railway to pass through their fields, nor did they like the distant agricultural products transported by the railways to compete with the agricultural products of their fields. The Bourbon dynasty and the July dynasty, which was born out of the Bourbon dynasty, no matter how much they advertised to be enlightened, could not escape the shadow of the landed aristocracy in essence.

The Bonapartist faction, on the other hand, did not intend to survive on the pleasures of the landed aristocracy from the beginning, whose ruling pillars were industrialists and financiers, while the bourgeoisie valued the circulation of capital and goods, not on land revenue, and needed railways for their own interests.

Because of this, the Bonaparte dynasty was able to implement a much more stringent policy of land expropriation than the original dynasty, and was not particularly afraid of a backlash from the old aristocracy. That's what he used to buy the bourgeoisie.

Although Napoleon III made a lot of mistakes, many that were unforgivable for France. But the construction of a nascent railway network was one of the two most important feats he accomplished for France – the other being the renovation of Paris to make it a true city.

Of course, railways alone are not enough, and state and government control of railways is also an important part of tapping the country's potential – especially during war.

Germany's railways have always been a strategic national asset, and from the very beginning, the planning of the railway network was for military purposes, the railway bureau was directly under the jurisdiction of the General Staff, and every important railway junction and node was under the responsibility of officers. The efficient transport system also laid the foundation for the excellent performance of the German army in the Franco-Prussian War and the two Shijie wars.

France, on the other hand, is very different - the French railway authorities have not directly controlled the national railway network, let alone a special government Ministry of Railways, and the French Railway Administration is only a subordinate department of the Ministry of Transport, and the real power is not large, and the railway companies can only indirectly implement the transportation plan through administrative means. Until 1938 (when there were only two years left before Germany invaded France again!) It was only then that France nationalized five major railway companies, established the French National Railways Group, and finally achieved state control of the strategic railway network!

The tragedy of 1870 was one of the main reasons for the slow mobilization of armed forces and logistical resources in France, and the lack of tight government control over the railway network.

It was for this reason that from the very beginning of his entry into the Napoleonic Party, Charles clamoured for the development of railways and the expansion of government control over them, and his proposal, after several deliberations and extensive discussions among the Bonapartists, was finally widely approved. (Mainly considering the fact that the industrialists are bought off by orders, and the financiers are bought off by construction financing; and the facilitation of troop movements to suppress potential rebellions everywhere. ）

And since the railway has such a big role, it is logical to set up a special railway department to manage it. Of course, their consideration is to take the opportunity to buy others into their own hands.

With that, Charles stopped talking, leaving the attendees to whisper.

After a while, the voices of the participants lowered and there was clearly a consensus.

The Mr. Glasses, who had just spoken, asked again.

"Sir, what you say is indeed attractive, but if it is only words......"

"Our commitment is certainly not limited to words." Charles smiled, then picked up his glass and drank it down. "I forgot to tell you. As soon as our jihua is successful, France will set up a Ministry of Railways to take care of railway affairs. And I will be the political secretary of the Ministry of Railways, and the minister will also be our person. In this case, you don't still believe in our Liliang who fulfills our promises, right? ”

"Oh......"