Life of Being a Crown Prince in France

The manager of Labod Bank brought him some very bad news today—the Crown Prince, who was responsible for financial loans, intended to terminate their cooperation with the government of France.

At present, the industrial and commercial situation for the whole of France was gloomy. Government loans were the most premium segment of Labod Bank’s business. Losing this deal might well mean that Labod Bank would not survive.

It wasn’t long before Labod Bank’s major shareholder, Goldman, confirmed the government’s intention to end the partnership.

In this matter, the two banks were like grasshoppers on the same rope, and they had to work together with all their might.

After discussing for a long time with the shareholders of both banks, they finally pinpointed the crux of the problem—it was the Bank of France Reserve.

This was an outlier that did not abide by the tacit agreements within the banking industry. Had it not been for the Reserve, the French government would have no choice but to plead with Labod and Ravel Bank for loans.

Soon after, someone suggested, “Perhaps we can strike some kind of deal with this Bank of France Reserve.”

“So,” Count Labod looked at everyone, “who has information about this bank?”

No one spoke. After a while, Goldman frowned and said, “It’s probably a foreign bank, one that just arrived in Paris.”

Labod nodded, “It seems we have no choice but to seek Mr. Necker’s assistance.”

In the villa gardens of senior advisor to the Banking Guild of France and famed banker, Mr. Necker…

Labod and Goldman recounted the events, simply referring to the French government as “a certain major client” and the national debt as a private debt of that client, then gazed eagerly at Necker.

If there was one person in Paris who understood the Bank of France Reserve, it would definitely be this master, the most well-informed man in the French banking industry.

However, Necker merely smiled and shook his head, “I have not heard of such a bank.”

He bent down to trim the jasmine and continued, “However, I believe the two of you have fallen into your client’s trap.”

“A trap?”

“He is a gentleman who holds his nerves very well.” Necker swept the fallen branches into a pile and wiped his forehead. “The more you believe he wouldn’t risk deceiving you at this time, the more I am nearly certain that the Bank of France Reserve is nothing but a ploy to intimidate you.

“If you go to him, worried about losing the business, it allows him to lower the interest rate, pretending to stop working with that fictional bank and demanding you to issue the loan promptly.”

Labod and Goldman exchanged looks, both feeling as though they’d just had an eye-opening revelation.

Necker had the expression of a hunter who had seen through the hiding spot of his prey, “I believe, if you do not compromise, that client, two days before the deadline of his debt, will spare no expense to secure your loans.”

Labod nodded vigorously, “Mr. Necker truly is the most outstanding banker in France! Without you, we would have been fooled this time!”

“We’ll heed your advice and certainly wait until the last day!”

…

In the Apollo Hall of the goldenly resplendent Palace of Versailles, a very solemn award ceremony was taking place.

The brisk beat of the military drums and the solemn sound of horns stopped simultaneously, and the Minister of War, Marquis Saint Priest, called out loudly to the soldiers in front of him, “Attention—”

The aide next to him fiercely slammed his staff on the ground, emitting a muffled “thud,” and the soldiers stood tall and straight as swords.

Saint Priest turned around and, lifting his hat, saluted toward Louis XVI, “Your Majesty the King, Your Majesty the Queen, Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince, please allow me to introduce the heroes of the battle at Amstelfen—

“Captain Marie Francois Du Bois!

“Lieutenant Trez Preville Fouquet!

“Ensign Louis Andre Davou! [note 1]

“…”

After he had introduced everyone, Louis XVI stepped forward to Du Bois and gave him high praise, then reached for the brass cufflinks, solemnly handing them over, “I hereby promote you to the rank of Major.”

He then moved towards Lieutenant Fouquet, continuing the promotions, while Queen Mary took a wreath from her lady-in-waiting, placed it on Du Bois’s head with a smile, and said softly, “You are the hero of France.”

As she moved on to the next awardee, Joseph came up to Du Bois, delivering the speech he had prepared in advance, “Your tactical strategy was splendid; without your command, the Dutch Army may have ended in defeat in the first two days.”

He had not intended to participate in such a tedious ceremony, but as the planner behind the Dutch repulsion of the Prussians, both the Queen and the military had strongly requested his presence at the award ceremony, so he had reluctantly attended.

Du Bois immediately raised his hat to salute in return, “Your Highness, these are not my achievements; you designed the overall strategic layout, forcing the Prussians to choose retreat. As for the tactical arrangement at Amstelfen, it was actually planned by a good friend of mine, Captain Bertier, before I left, and I only executed it.”

Joseph thought he heard a familiar name and quickly asked, “Bertier? Which Bertier are you referring to?”

“Your Highness, it is Major Louis Alexander Bertier, under General Custine.”

[note 1: The surname Davou should be close to ‘d’Avou,’ resembling “De Avou” as per translation convention, but it is still written as Davou, and prefixed with “de” to symbolize nobility.]