After finalizing the plan, the three of them chatted in the living room for a while.

The recent performance of the Corsican National Silver Company in the market has naturally shocked the Duke of Choiseul, so he has been asking Lawrence about the company.

Although the market value of the company far exceeded the entire fortune of the Duke of Choiseul, as a traditional and conservative aristocracy, the Duke of Choiseul had little interest in participating in these commercial activities.

And for a politician like him, power is far more important than wealth, so he doesn't covet the huge amount of money in Lawrence's hands.

However, the financial prowess displayed by the financiers in this carnival gave the Duke of Choiseul a lot of ideas.

"To be honest, I didn't expect that."

The Duke of Choiseul said with emotion:

"Those businessmen have so much money in their hands that they can raise tens of millions of livres to invest in the financial markets in just a few days. Alas, it would be nice if the money could be used to ease the deficit, and perhaps I should tax them heavily. ”

"Well, I don't think that's a good idea."

Lawrence shrugged his shoulders and shook his head:

"After all, only a very small number of top financiers have deep pockets, and most of the investors are just middle-class citizens. If you transfer the financial pressure to them..."

If the Duke of Choiseul had adopted such a radical and unfair approach, Lawrence estimated that the course of the Revolution would have been at least ten years ahead of schedule.

"Okay, okay, you have a point, it's going to cause unrest." The Duke of Choiseul pursed his lips and did not take the thought to heart.

Lawrence glanced at Duke Choiseul and sighed:

"If you are really worried about the finances, you might as well go with the nobles and the clergy, whose wealth can buy most of France, and even a per capita tax on them can give France a big sigh of relief."

"Oh! Don't be stupid, Lawrence. ”

The Duke of Choiseul laughed as if he had heard some kind of joke and said:

"If I were to attack the financiers, I would at most cause a riot in the city of Paris; But if I were to attack the nobles and the clergy, I would provoke a rebellion that would spread throughout France, and in less than a month the rebels would be able to reach Paris. ”

General Jacques Philippe, who was on the side, nodded, looked at Lawrence solemnly, and added:

"Even the generals of Île-de-France will join the rebels, after all, they are also great nobles."

Lawrence shook his head helplessly, not intending to argue with them on the subject, so he said:

"I'm sorry, I was stupid."

The Duke of Choiseul was a great nobleman himself, and of course he would not take a knife on himself.

Even if he had the consciousness to sacrifice his own interests for the good of his country, his political allies would not be as noble as he was.

Whether it was the High Court or the aristocracy and bureaucracy of the Palace of Versailles, they were at the forefront of opposition to fiscal reform.

Even Lawrence had to admit that the current political and financial situation in France was a dead end, and it was not something that could be solved by the efforts of one single person.

A bottom-up change is only a matter of time.

"I don't think it's too early."

The Duke of Choiseul drank the last sip of hot tea, exhaled a pleasant breath, stood up, and said:

"It's time for me to talk to the Foreign Secretary, who happens to be in Paris too. Doge Bonaparte, when are you going to do it to Jean Dubarry? ”

"Without further ado, it's starting this evening." Lawrence also stood up and said.

"Very well, I will send you the Foreign Secretary's order by tomorrow morning."

Duke Choiseul licked his lips excitedly, grinned and said:

"Richelieu, old bastard, I'll personally get him out of Paris and Versailles."

...

After leaving the Duke's palace in Choiseul, Lawrence did not rush to challenge Jean Dubarly, but went straight to the headquarters of the Commerzle de France.

"It is an honour to see you again, Lord Bonaparte."

When Monsieur Montmartre learned of Lawrence's arrival, he also hurried to greet him personally, invited him into his office, and said with a smile on his face:

"You may be seated, you are here for...?"

Since the last meeting at the Paris Stock Exchange, Monsieur de Montmartre, having been reminded by Lord Merry, had made it abundantly clear that he and His Excellency Bonaparte had been completely tied to the same ship.

Once the fraud of the national silver company is exposed, the Commerzile de France, as the stock broker, will suffer an unprecedented credit crisis.

The consequence would most likely be that the leading bank would go bankrupt and disappear from the city of Paris, and Monsieur Montmartre himself would go from a multimillionaire to a poor man with huge debts.

However, if the National Silver Company could really be sustained, Monsieur de Montmartre would be able to extract unimaginable profits from it.

As a result, his lifeblood was in the hands of His Excellency Bonaparte, and Monsieur Montmartre had no choice but to obey Lawrence and do his best to meet all his demands.

Lawrence sat in a fluffy and comfortable sofa chair and asked casually:

"Is there any situation in the market about the National Silver Company in the past two days?"

"The situation," said Monsieur de Montmartre, after thinking for a moment, skillfully:

"Everything was smooth. It's just that yesterday there were some investors who questioned the Ajaccio silver mine report that you disclosed, believing that there was a fiction element in the report. ”

"Oh? And then? ”

Lawrence asked, not surprised.

When the report was first revealed, the carnival investors didn't have much time to analyze it in detail, and now that they have calmed down and read the report, they will naturally be shocked.

Monsieur Montmartre, laughing, flipped through this morning's paper, handed it to Lawrence, and said:

"The geologist you invited was very dedicated, and he was called Academician Gaita, and he and a dozen scholars published a statement in the newspaper, which completely eliminated the doubts of investors."

Lawrence glanced at the contents of the newspaper twice, smiled and nodded, and said casually:

"Very dedicated, please send him a check for five thousand livres, just say that it is a bonus given to him by the board of directors."

"Oh yes, okay." Monsieur Montmartre hurriedly took out his memo and wrote down Lawrence's instructions.

"Also"

Lawrence went on to command:

"I'm going to borrow a few people from you, it won't take long."

"Borrowing? What do you need? Monsieur Montmartre asked, puzzled.

"Your auditors, be the best."

Financial institutions such as Commerzile de France inevitably have their own audit department.

Especially for large industries, if the financial income and expenditure and data statements of the industry cannot be effectively reviewed, then the corruption and bribery of employees at the bottom will be almost unavoidable.

"Auditors? Oh, of course, no problem. ”

Monsieur Montmartre, though he did not know why Lawrence had suddenly asked for this, quickly stood up and ran out of the office to explain to his secretary.

Soon, the secretary returned to the office with two middle-aged men in white shirts and gold-rimmed glasses.

Pointing to the two auditors, Mr. Montmartre diligently introduced Lawrence:

"This is the oldest and most experienced auditor in our bank, and I pay them eight hundred livres a month."

Then he snapped at the two auditors:

"Hey, Tommy, Lyon, salute Lord Bonaparte, I think you two must know the name. Your Excellency Bonaparte needs you to work for him for a while, don't mess me up, understand! ”

"Yes, sir."

The two nodded hurriedly, and then nervously bowed deeply to Lawrence.

The two of them, of course, knew His Excellency Bonaparte, who was famous in both financial and political circles, and knew that it was both anxious and honoured to work for him.

Lawrence also smiled and nodded to the two, since they are the best auditors of the French Commercial Bank, their ability is naturally doubtful.

"Then I'll take my leave, two, please come with me."

......

In the evening, the crimson sunset gradually recedes below the horizon.

Most of the streets of Paris are gradually decreasing, and the abundance of nightlife is a luxury for those who are short on the budget.

But for thrill-seekers and dudes and gentlemen, Paris is the place to be at night.

Velvet Love, a hammam in the heart of Paris.

However, I'm afraid no one comes here to simply wash their bodies.

Whether it's the ambiguous name or the frivolous pink décor inside, it shows that this is not a serious place to go.

Regular visitors also know who the operator is - Jean Dubarly, a well-known pimp and casino operator in Paris.

Today, the most spacious and luxurious bath in Velvet Love is reserved for the owner himself.

The empty Romanesque marble bath is covered with pink rose petals, and the air is filled with a dizzying fragrance.

In the corner of the bath.

Although only the upper body of a flushed woman and a man with a flowing face could be seen, the fierce waves of water could still be seen rippling from beneath them.

"Whew..."

After three minutes, Jean Dubarry let out a long exhale, then pushed the woman in front of him away without a dull look, closed her eyes, and leaned relaxed against the edge of the bath.

"Lord Dubarry, you are so ruthless." The woman who had been pushed away took the initiative to lean into Jean Dubarry's arms and said delicately in her throat.

Jean Dubarry glared at the woman and said impatiently:

"Get out of here, you bitch."

"Are you still thinking about the Duke of Richelieu, Lord Dubarry." The woman was still holding Jean Dubarry's arm and said coquettishly.

For these dusty women, the greatest wish is to be able to become a woman at the king's side like the Countess du Barry.

That's why they went to great lengths to please Jean Dubarry.

"Hmph, you know a fart!"

Jean Dubarry glanced at the woman and said viciously:

"Can Lao Tzu not want to? Lao Tzu's life is almost gone! ”

Jean Dubarry, of course, will not forget that night, the Count of Falcone, who had been locked up in the palace of the Duke of Richelieu, suddenly found him.

Since the Count of Falcone was a playboy who couldn't control his lower body, and Jean Dubarry was a well-known pimp, the two were kind of smelly, and they hit it off and got together a long time ago.

Jean Dubarry also wanted to curry favor with the future duke, so he was obedient to the Count of Falcone.

That night, the Count of Falcone suddenly asked Jean Dubarry to launch his gang to attack and kill a convoy.

Jean Dubarry could not go against the wishes of the son, so he had to do so and convey the order to the king of the beggars.

It wasn't until later that he learned that it was the damned Lawrence Bonaparte's convoy that he had ordered to be attacked.

For several nights after that, Jean Dubarry was in a state of desperation, unable to sleep all night, fearing that the Duke of Richelieu would clean himself up in order to destroy the evidence.

It is said that Madame du Barry, who was at the Palace of Versailles, personally intervened and wrote a letter to the Duke of Richelieu to intercede for Jean Du Barry, saving his life.

Even so, Jean Dubarry lived in daily fear, fearing that the Duke of Richelieu had secretly killed him, and that he would be guillotined if the matter was revealed.

"Fuck, I was really fucked! Then Falcone is a eunuch, a waste, why should I listen to him. ”

Jean Dubarry was angry at the thought of this, and slapped the water in front of him hard, splashing half a meter high.

At this time, an employee suddenly broke in in a panic, regardless of whether the inside was finished, and reported loudly:

"Du... Lord Dubarry! Someone out there is looking for you, and he claims to be Laurence Bonaparte! ”

"What did you say?!"

Jean Dubarly, who heard the name, crawled out of the water like a frightened bird, and flickered naked for a moment before he cried out:

"Damn it, get my clothes!"

...

"We meet again, Mr. Dubarry."

In the hall of Velvet Love, Lawrence smiled and said to Jean Dubarry in front of him.

Behind Lawrence were the two auditors who had been borrowed from Montmartre at noon.

Jean Dubarry, who had rushed out, did not even wipe his hair, and when he was sure that the man in front of him was indeed Lawrence Bonaparte, he could not help but shudder, fearing that the other party had come for the attack.

"Huh... I'm glad you to, Bonaparte... Excellency. ”

Jean Dubarry forcibly suppressed his trembling voice and greeted Lawrence with a stiff smile.

At the time of the last meeting, the Corsican townsman was a small chieftain in a remote place, and Jean Dubarry even considered himself a cut above him in Paris.

And it was less than a month before Jean Dubarry had to bow his head in front of Lawrence and call out to His Excellency respectfully and through gritted teeth.

Jean Dubarry looked at Lawrence with fear and asked:

"So, Lord Bonaparte, you are here for...?"

"Mr. Dubarry, before I get down to business, I have a small request about salutation."

Lawrence playfully looked at Jean Dubarry, who was wet and embarrassed, and said slowly:

"I'd prefer you to call me Your Excellency the Tax Collector."