CHAPTER 556: CHAPTER 548: GOING SEPARATE WAYS

Champs-Élysées, Elysee Palace.

The crimson sunset shone upon this ancient building with over a hundred years of history, casting a particularly sacred aura around it.

In this building, once the center of power for France, a discussion concerning the direction of the French economy is about to unfold.

The parties responsible for discussing include the current president of the Bank of France (representing part of the financial faction), Count Algou, and the French Emperor Jerome Bonaparte, representing government interests.

At this moment, Count Algou, representing the interests of the Bank of France, is already prepared in a room of the Elysee Palace, yet Emperor Jerome Bonaparte has not appeared.

The time gradually approaches around 5:20, a carriage escorted by the French Dragoons wearing breastplates stops at the gate of the Elysee Palace, with Jerome Bonaparte inside the carriage.

The moment Jerome Bonaparte stepped down from the carriage and entered the Elysee Palace, the housekeeper responsible for overseeing the Elysee Palace hurriedly approached him.

"Which room is Count Algou in right now? Quickly take me there!" Jerome Bonaparte said to the housekeeper at a slightly faster speed than usual.

"Your Majesty, please follow me!" the housekeeper promptly responded to Jerome Bonaparte.

Under the housekeeper’s guidance, Jerome Bonaparte soon arrived at the entrance of a room.

"Your Majesty, Count Algou is inside!" the housekeeper said to Jerome Bonaparte while opening the door for him.

The door slowly opened, and Jerome Bonaparte looked inside the room. Count Algou was indeed there.

"Your Majesty!" Count Algou promptly stood up and walked towards the door upon seeing Jerome Bonaparte’s arrival.

Jerome Bonaparte entered the room leisurely and approached Count Algou, extending his hand to Count Algou, "Count Algou, sorry to have kept you waiting!"

"No! No!" Count Algou shook his head in response to Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, I just arrived myself and haven’t waited long!"

"Is that so!" Jerome Bonaparte said as he glanced at the cup on the table.

No heat emanated from the cup, suggesting that Count Algou might have been waiting for a long time.

"Sit down!" Jerome Bonaparte released Count Algou’s hand and invited him to sit.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Count Algou returned to his original seat, while Jerome Bonaparte sat directly across from him.

"Mr. Algus, you should know the purpose of my invitation!" Jerome Bonaparte asked Count Algou as soon as he sat down.

"Your Majesty, please look at this first!" Count Algou said as he opened the bag on the table, took out a document, and respectfully handed it over with both hands.

"What is this?" Jerome Bonaparte asked Count Algou, pointing at the document he had just received.

"Your Majesty, this is the price situation in the Paris Region for the first half of the year, and the issuance quantity of banknotes by the Bank of France," Count Algou answered.

"Oh!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded and lowered his head to examine the contents carefully.

After a while, Jerome Bonaparte raised his head again and said to Count Algou, "Not bad, not bad! The situation in the Paris Region is overall still developing steadily and positively! This shows that our policies are quite successful!"

"Good? Successful?" Count Algou was stunned for a few seconds, really unable to believe these words came from Jerome Bonaparte.

"Look!" Jerome Bonaparte propped up Count Algou’s document, pointing at the bread and meat column, "See, the value of bread in the first half of this year has increased only by about 3% compared to the first half of last year, and meat prices have just increased by about 4%."

"Your Majesty, a 3% increase is enough to make some Parisians tighten their belts!" Count Algou couldn’t help but say to Jerome Bonaparte, "And this is only for one region of France, the growth rate in other regions is likely higher than this!"

"So what?" Jerome Bonaparte asked in return, "During wartime, price increases are inevitable! Besides, some regions of the Empire suffered from extreme adverse weather conditions last year. Even without war, there would be small-scale increases!"

"Your Majesty, I understand that price increases are unavoidable, but the Empire’s current situation is not just about excessive price increases; it is inflation! If this continues, workers won’t be able to afford bread! Excessive inflation will lead to a massive political crisis for the Empire!

By now, the Bank of France has cumulatively issued nearly 300 million francs in small denomination notes, and if this continues, I fear the Bank of France will face the risk of a bank run and bankruptcy!" Count Algou pleaded with Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, the Bank of France is the lifeblood of France! If any instability occurs at the Bank of France..."

"Instability?" Jerome Bonaparte displayed a faint smile, naturally disbelieving Count Algou’s words, knowing the strength of the Bank of France all too well.