Xiao Letian and Bismarck met on the streets of Paris on war horses. The two bosses were surrounded by more than 600 elite soldiers, and the entire block was occupied.
In order to prevent hidden enemy attacks, McMahon also sent a battalion of soldiers to assist in the defense. Of course, their most important task was to prevent the two bosses from seeing the ugly appearance of Paris.
"I heard that this water tower is where Delecluz died in battle..." Bismarck raised his head and said.
"Yes, that's right... He is a very good newspaper editor and is very good at writing articles!" Xiao Letian looked up at the water tower and said with emotion.
"When are you going to return to China?" Bismarck looked at Xiao Letian and suddenly smiled, "I have good news for you. Thiers has prepared to pay the first war compensation, which is a total of 500 million!"
"I know you have to go back to your country and it's a long journey... Of the five hundred million miles, you can take three hundred million away first, and I'll take the rest!"
As soon as this statement came out, the surrounding officers were in an uproar. "Five hundred million gold francs? Have the French started paying compensation! Great..."
The Germans and the Chinese have been fighting for their lives, squeezing almost everything out of them, and the purpose is just money! Climbing up on the bones of France, the fate of the country is rushing up bit by bit.
In the minds of these officers, even if France wants to repay war reparations, it will not happen overnight. After all, the Civil War in Paris has just ended a day or two, and all government functions have not been restored. The location of the Ministry of Finance has not been found yet. Where to pay compensation?
In the minds of these officers, France will definitely restore government functions first, then resume reconstruction. After tax revenue begins to accumulate little by little, it will repay war reparations in batches.
This is the same routine for any country. Why is France so unique? Just two days after the civil war ended, it was able to send 500 million?
Xiao Letian was not at all as surprised as Bismarck expected. He even asked, "My old friend, why don't I feel your surprise? France's performance is beyond your expectations, right?"
Bismarck smiled awkwardly, "Well... it does surprise me a little, but no matter what, we are all winners, right?"
Xiao Letian was very clear about the iron-blooded prime minister's plan. This time Germany extorted France's compensation of 5 billion gold francs. In fact, it had an important mission, which was to squeeze France alive for thirty years!
According to Bismarck's judgment, France would not be able to spend 5 billion gold francs at once, and it would take about thirty years at the earliest.
The Treaty of Frankfurt clearly stipulates that the German troops will not withdraw to the homeland until the compensation is paid!
After stationing troops on French soil for thirty years, carving off two provinces, and taking away France's 5 billion in compensation, this can widen the gap between Germany and France by an entire generation!
As long as Germany maintains such a huge gap in national power, France will never be able to take revenge!
As long as the descendants of Germany do not commit suicide and keep their family property well, then Germany will at least be invincible!
This is Bismarck’s centenary plan, to suppress France for thirty years and keep a low profile for seventy years... As for what will happen a hundred years from now, I believe there will be another outstanding and great politician to lead the way!
I, Bismarck, can only make plans for a hundred years, but I can't really do anything further!
But they never expected that France's first step would surprise Bismarck. In just a few months, France would actually produce 500 million in cash out of thin air!
Where did this money come from? If we continue at this rate, let alone 30 years of garrison, I am afraid it will be difficult to even garrison for three years!
Xiao Letian walked up and down the street confidently. "My friend, with your intelligence capabilities, it is impossible not to know that Gambetta is issuing bonds in the south of France at this moment, right?"
"This accredited republican is giving speeches non-stop in major cities in France, helping France raise funds and starting to sell national debt!"
"Gambida has a very high reputation in the south of France because of this war. It will not be easy for him to sell some national debt!"
"Yes, of course I know what Gambetta is doing in the south. I'm just a little confused...why was 500 million raised so quickly?"
"Is France so rich? If it is so rich, why did Napoleon III end up in such a serious financial crisis? He didn't even have money to fight..."
Xiao Letian had studied "Das Kapital" in his previous life, and in this life he had met the original author's master. He was still mature about this issue.
"Haha... Prime Minister, you have calculated everything about this war, except this one!"
"I tell you, France's real national strength is completely stronger than you think, but all this wealth has been accumulated instead of appearing in the national financial system!"
Since the Age of Discovery, how much wealth has Europe plundered from around the world? There are countless Spain and Portugal alone, not to mention the Dutch, who later became sea coachmen.
In fact, the United Kingdom and France were not the first to take advantage of the situation. They relied entirely on the power of the Industrial Revolution to come from behind and snatch the baton from the first echelon.
At that time, Spain did not know how to carry out its own industrial development, and all the gold and silver it robbed was used to build churches, build palaces, and raise armies.
The civil society is basically hollow, and the fragile handicraft industry is completely unable to withstand the dumping of British and French industrial products, especially textiles and mechanical products, which are even more defenseless.
Spain became a passing god of wealth, and a large amount of gold and silver changed hands for Britain and France to make money!
France and the United Kingdom are different. The United Kingdom is alone and focused on building up its navy, while France is seeking to dominate the European continent.
The money earned began to build an army and expand everywhere. Both Spain and the Netherlands were once French territories, and it was simply impossible to say that there was no economic plunder after military occupation.
The Industrial Revolution and military expansion helped France seize massive amounts of real money, and France's other economic pillar was even more terrifying.
culture! Another way France can make money is through the export of culture!
Since the Bourbon Dynasty, French culture has always been the center of Europe. Literature, poetry, painting, sculpture, clothing...all kinds of art fields have been at the forefront of Europe!
One of the most important signs of a developed culture is the booming luxury goods industry!
At that time, Europeans were proud to speak French. Even the aristocratic circles of the Tsarist Empire no longer spoke Russian but collectively spoke French.
In Europe, nobles who do not speak French are ridiculed. If a woman does not understand French, she cannot even marry into a good family!
Culture is intangible, but it is also tangible!
Once the commanding heights of French culture reached a consensus, they became the setters of standards!
The right to set standards for the clothing industry, wine, food, painting, sculpture, literature... fell into the hands of the French, and money naturally followed.
Just from these three industries: clothing, wine, and French food, how much money do French people make in Europe every year? Countless!
Listening to Xiao Letian's analysis, Bismarck suddenly realized that he did not expect that there was such a big omission in his plan.
"Oh God! I only calculated the total wealth of the French treasury and the banking system, and completely ignored the huge wealth contained in the private sector..."
"Damn it!"
Xiao Letian looked at the annoyed Bismarck and sneered, "Not only that! The French people can hide so much wealth, and many of them are due to Germany!"
