His Excellency the Count of Grandet

That night, President Monroe hosted a banquet at the White House for a group of people from France.If it is said that the meeting during the day must be qualified to attend the meeting, the dinner party is much easier.But most of the French people who came to the United States this time have seen the palace banquet of the Tuileries Palace. Compared with the relatively stingy country like the United States (even the president’s salary is barely enough to survive)——

Compared with what, can't it be better at all?

Although out of politeness, no one told the truth; but if you observe carefully, you can see the casual disdain.Or not to the point of disdain, but the sense of superiority that has been deposited in the bones for hundreds of years; there is no malice, but it is not very good.

Because of this, Charles reminded everyone along the way.They are here to do business, not to show people's face; only being kind can make money, is it good to leave a psychological bump for the other party?

"I thought I was already busy enough, are you swearing to compare me?" Victor was hanging around with a glass of wine, when he saw Charles from a distance, he called out, and at the same time felt satisfied—very good, did not let He saw Shire surrounded by a group of people!

Charles didn't answer him until he got closer. "Still joking? Looks like you're doing well?"

"No progress is good progress," Victor said, succinctly.As he spoke, he looked around and took a swig of his wine, only to frown immediately. "...What the hell is this?!"

"Okay, you can't use your picky taste to choose American champagne." Charles was a little helpless.This is not to say that American champagne is bad, but American tastes are a bit different from Europeans.

"Well, I remember you saying that," Victor admitted, but still wrinkled his nose and put down his glass.Then he lowered his voice slightly: "They haven't figured it out yet, and I'm afraid they can't control us too much."

Whether it can be controlled or not is related to the itinerary designation, neither Charles nor Victor, they don't want to follow the government's arrangement honestly——

Just kidding, the president has made it clear what his attitude is!If they follow the route drawn up by the other party, they will never even think about doing any business!

"Understood." Charles nodded clearly. "My end has almost been connected. I will go to South Carolina first, then go all the way west until the Mississippi River and then turn back. I have no problem with where I want to go later."

Victor frowned slightly. "I knew it, half a day is enough for you."

"Thank you for your appreciation, but this time I really didn't take the initiative to do it myself." Charles returned a small wink, and then briefly explained the matter of the plank merchant Hampton.

"Hmm..." Victor thought for a while, "Which side is he trying to pull you to?"

"What do you think?" Charles asked.

"It doesn't have to be faction. What's the matter with us?" Victor shrugged slightly. "It would be bad if we really intervened. It will look like we don't want to part with the Americas and want to go to war with the United States, Britain, or Spain."

"I think so too." Charles confirmed. "So, it's enough to talk about money, and there are too many other troubles."

"Are you implying that I'm a problem?" The tone was so familiar that Viktor couldn't help but bring himself into it.

"If you have to say it, yes." Charles replied seriously. "Sometimes it's a sweet nuisance, though." He said it carefully, making sure only Viktor could hear it.

Even a thick-skinned man like Victor was stunned by Charles' blunt statement.He froze for a while, and then showed a wry smile: "Although I really want to say that I like you, but if you insist on saying it now, it must be on purpose, right?" I just want to fight three hundred times on the bed, okay?

"That's because you think too much." Charles' expression became innocent. "I just want to say that trouble should be avoided as much as possible; if it cannot be avoided, it must be solved!"

"The trouble being solved." Victor couldn't help touching his nose.If I knew he shouldn't have mentioned this in the first place!

Charles doesn't care what Victor thinks of. "Look, here comes the trouble—" he said softly, touching Victor's arm with his elbow, motioning to look to the side, "I think Mr. Congressman is here to look for you, so I won't accompany you for now." As soon as he finished speaking, he strolled to the other end.

It was Webster who came.

He didn't get the desired result in the official meeting, and of course tried to find another chance to redeem it.Because he has heard just now that the representatives of the southern faction put forward their opinions on the itinerary of the French delegation—similar to what Victor said, first south and then north—couldn’t help but secretly want bad things, they really want to be led The nose is gone.

Even if the president and the secretary of state want to avoid the possible troubles brought by the French, it is too late now.As an emergency remedy, they took the next best thing and considered letting a few members of the northern faction accompany them all the way.

Considering that it is the home court in the south, the people they send can't be too insignificant, or they will be useless at all.In addition, he himself felt that it was necessary to participate in person, so he and two other people went to replace the original candidate.

Webster genuinely felt a little aggrieved.Before the French did anything, they were already in a mess!In addition to this underlying reason, the other is that the bargaining chips that the French can take out are very attractive——

Even he, who doesn't do business, knows that cooperation with people like Shire is highly profitable and less risky!

So Webster came here now, just to get some more information from Victor's mouth.Tariffs can be discussed, but the scope of cooperation must not be limited to the plantations in the south!

Come to think of it, words can't be said so directly.Therefore, Webster started talking about the customs, then the taste of special products, and finally mentioned the industry vaguely.

Victor listened, nodding from time to time.The nod didn't mean he was persuaded, it was just polite.He had a rough idea of ​​Webster's position, but it wouldn't happen unless the other party offered something genuine and worthwhile—

Charles spent so much effort and time in industry (so much so that he only ate meat a few days ago), how could he exchange it easily?If it's too little, it won't be enough for his mental damage fee!

"...Most of our shipyards cooperate with the British. Although we can't agree with some of their policies, we have to say that the steam engine alone makes them more in the forefront of the world." Webster That being said, there is some insinuation.

Victor snorted coldly in his heart.What are the British, what are the steam engines, his Shire is a treasure!Just like textile factories and ironworks, others only see the scale, but in fact there are management, energy, and mechanical innovations that cannot be ignored!These things are the most precious essence, and others can't catch up!Wait a few more years, time will tell!

It's just that Victor has such a high opinion of Charles, but he can't say it to everyone.I want to show off my family, but I am afraid of being coveted because of it, so happy and heartbroken!

"I don't think so," Victor finally replied. "If I'm not mistaken, Mr. President is working on developing domestic industry, right?"

I wanted to try Victor's attitude towards England, but I didn't expect the ball to be kicked back again. "You've got a pretty sharp eye," Webster replied, but the alarm bells were already ringing in his heart. "Me too, actually. But it's a long way off for us. to go."

The subtext of these words is that the way for the French to catch up is not so difficult.

"You really have lofty goals and a commendable spirit." Victor said deliberately, "But for me, these are not the scope of my concern."

Webster was amazed.How can this be?Who doesn't care about being on top of others?If the strength gap is not big or even stronger, why should we endure and not take action?

"I always like to compare myself with others, and maybe one day I will be mad at myself. So although we know how others are, it is enough to know." Victor said, deliberately slowing down his speech, "Whether it is British, American, or The Spaniards are all the same in our eyes. After all, our goal is only ourselves."

only myself?

Do you really not compare yourself to others, or are you so confident that no one can surpass you?

Webster was silent.

Here Victor and Webster talk, and there a whole bunch of people stare eagerly.Although I can't hear the specifics clearly, I can figure out a thing or two from the expressions and posture changes of the two people, even the people in the circle of the president and the secretary of state are the same.

"Do you think Webster can achieve his goals, Mr. President?" Adams asked Monroe.

Monroe narrowed his eyes slightly.This gesture, paired with his hooked nose, made it even more stern. "Though we all hope so, the situation doesn't look particularly promising." Because according to their position, the French business group would get nothing; so it's strange that unless the French are stupid, it's optimistic!

Adams didn't answer right away.He looked at Victor's side, and then looked at Shire's side, who was no longer visible (because he was surrounded by American businessmen), knowing that they were facing another dispute and compromise brought about by an interest issue. "I'm not against free trade, but at least it has to wait until the domestic industry develops. The French still..." He paused and said, "It's still too early."

And they failed to stop, Monroe added in his mind.In fact, in his opinion, it would never have occurred to the French to do so.So who the hell is behind this whole thing?Is it just because of the temporary stability of the political situation in France?

People in Charles' circle also paid attention to Victor.

"Mr. Webster is famous for his eloquence." A tall and thin man said, his tone sounded complicated, "but I don't know what Mr. Lafitte thinks."

"Whatever it is, at least it won't affect the things we care about most." Others don't particularly care.The so-called most concerned thing is the tax rate. "For me, when the government can get rid of the whiskey tax is the real deal!"

The complaint was easy to understand, and everyone laughed, joking that a whiskey tax would be good for reducing beer bellies.Amidst the laughter, someone asked Charles: "What do you think?"

Charles smiled. "Just wait for the result."

Although he didn't know that Webster thought they were coming too early, he didn't need to know, it might even be just right.Because all he needs to know is—even if there is no war, the waters in the United States are already muddy enough, and it is a good time to catch fish!

The author has something to say: Americans: Well, Frenchmen, can’t you circle your murderous husband and wife?

Count Artois: They're making my heart suffocate.Going abroad is just right, give me time to think about what to do next.

Americans: ...Hi! (#'O')