The Shadow of Great Britain

582: Chapter 295: Corrupted_3 582: Chapter 295: Corrupted_3 Arthur replied, “Neither have I, not only that, he also lost several dozen British pounds to me in cards.”

Upon hearing this, Louis only scoffed, “Well, one can only say it truly has Talleyrand’s style, he has always despised small money, if he gambles, he plays big.

If it were up to him to handle Liverpool, I’m afraid he wouldn’t leave a penny for the government.”

Heine, shocked and perplexed, exclaimed, “Does he gamble that big?”

Recalling what his uncle had told him before, Louis could not help but say angrily, “Even ten thousand British pounds are just over two hundred thousand Francs.

Talleyrand gambles much bigger than that.

I heard from my uncle that during the Great Revolution, Talleyrand was initially just an ordinary bishop, who was against the Great Revolution from the start and even went to the palace overnight to request the assembling of troops to suppress the revolution.

But later, seeing the tide turn, he quickly abandoned Louis XVI, and in a single night changed his stance, proposing at the constitutional assembly that the church’s properties should be confiscated for the government.

He earned a good reputation as a people’s bishop just by being generous with other people’s money.”

During the Consulate period, Talleyrand became the Minister of the Foreign Office, and within two years had collected twelve million Francs in bribes.

There was a saying in the Foreign Office at that time: before negotiating with the French government, one must first deal with Talleyrand, for without his nod, no other country’s diplomatic documents could be processed.”

At that time, Americans had passed a bill in Congress intending to default on all their international debts.

The Americans claimed that these debts were owed by the previous government, which was the British colonial government, and therefore the debts belonged to Britain, not to the United States’ current government.

But as you know, to help the Americans fight their War of Independence, France had provided America with substantial loans.

However, seeing France embroiled in the Great Revolution and unable to collect, these yokels thought to muddy the waters and default on the debt, something the Consulate definitely could not agree to.

So, as revenge to force the Americans to repay the debt, the Consulate ordered the French navy to seize more than 300 American merchant ships in the Caribbean and even hired pirates to attack their trading routes in the Mediterranean.

The Americans got scared, so they decided to send a delegation to sue for peace and mend relations.”

However, Talleyrand hid the affair with the American delegation from the government, secretly sending his own agents to negotiate with America, demanding they must give Talleyrand fifty thousand British pounds in bribes, plus provide France with thirty-two million Dutch guilders in loans to help France fight against the anti-French coalition.

But those American yokels didn’t understand this European tactic, and no matter what was said, they refused to bribe Talleyrand.

In a fury, Talleyrand then held the American delegation for half a year; the Americans, seeing no hope, had to return home and declare the negotiations a failure, starting to buy armed merchant ships, preparing for an undeclared war with France.

This way, France and America confusingly fought a two-year war at sea, and Talleyrand’s affairs finally came to light.

But by then, my uncle had taken power, and since Talleyrand had played a major role in helping him rise, the two countries signed a treaty and the affair was hastily covered up.”

Heine, greatly shaken, said, “I’ve heard much about corruption, but it’s the first time I’ve learned of corruption leading two countries to war.”

Louis rolled his eyes and said, “That’s nothing.

The Americans have learned their lesson; at the time, America and France were negotiating a commercial treaty, and the talks were making no progress.

Seeing the bad situation, the Americans quickly sent three million Francs to Talleyrand, and the treaty was signed the next day.

The case with France and Austria ceasing hostilities is even more classic; to ensure the treaty was signed smoothly, Austria first sent several hundred thousand Francs to Talleyrand, but Talleyrand brazenly demanded fifteen million from Austria.

Austria refused, so Talleyrand simply included the fifteen million in the war indemnities, and after the ‘Luneville Treaty’ was signed, Austria had to compensarte France and additionally pay Talleyrand separately.

To commit corruption and bribery to his extent, truly, through the ages, in both East and West, it’s hard to find someone like him.”

Great Dumas took a deep breath and asked, “Can Napoleon tolerate him continuing to be so corrupt?”

“How can he not tolerate it?”

Louis said helplessly, “After all, he still relies on Talleyrand for negotiations.

He is indeed corrupt, but everyone is willing to negotiate with him.

A treaty, others go taking not a single penny, but can’t settle it.

Talleyrand goes in, hugely corrupt, and the treaty is established.

What can my uncle do?

And although I dislike Talleyrand, the Bonaparte family can exist until now, and he indeed has a part in that credit.

Originally, the restored Bourbon Dynasty wanted to settle scores with us, but Talleyrand was always against them doing so, and was even marginalized for it.

Overall, it has its pros and cons.”

Hearing this, Great Dumas’s heart relaxed a little, and he said to Arthur, “Well, this little sum, just take it.

Arthur, compared with Talleyrand drawing so much, I think you are far too righteous.

In my view…

perhaps we should draw a bit more?

If we take too little, I fear they won’t trust us!”