Chapter 2372 The King’s Shadow (Part 2)

In Homer's epic poem "The Odyssey", Calypso planned to give Odysseus eternal life in order to keep him on the island forever.

However, Odysseus still plans to go home to visit his foreseeable, old and senile wife, who has been waiting for him for twenty years.

There were a lot of people gathered in this drawing room, some young, and some like Maria Edgeworth, who was already in her thirties and was an old girl in this day and age.

Maria Edgeworth was discussing a topic enthusiastically with another woman who was also a little older. When she saw Georgiana approaching, they both stopped talking and bowed to her.

"Good morning, ladies." Georgiana walked over.

"Good morning," Maria replied together with the old girl.

"What are you talking about?"

"This is Miss Elizabeth Lamont. We are talking about her new book." Maria introduced.

"What book is so interesting that you even skipped breakfast?" Georgiana asked.

Mrs. Devodey arranged a table covered with white cloth, and placed sandwiches, coffee and other buffets on it. Guests could chat while drinking coffee.

Lamont glanced at Edgeworth, who hesitated a little and said, "It's a collection of dialogues, a dialogue between an Ionian hat merchant and a knight."

"Oh, what did they talk about?" She just asked casually, thinking they were talking about fashion topics such as hats.

"It's about enclosure, ma'am, but they lived in the 16th century, the time of Queen Elizabeth. For what purpose do you think she encouraged enclosure?" said Edgeworth.

Georgiana was so shocked that she was speechless.

"Farmers believe that sheep are the source of all harm, because their added value exceeds that of various grains, thus driving agriculture out of the countryside. The gentry has become a rancher, and the income from the land has increased, causing rents to rise and farmers must pay more

To support his family with money, he had to raise the prices of his products, so that merchants and hatters had to spend more money on food and drink. Enclosures ruined everyone because they made the system

All the people in the country paid a higher price for their former possessions, and prices rose accordingly for plows, harrows, and wheelbarrows, for shoes, hats, linens, and woolen goods, so that even the best farmer could only earn a little at the end of the year.

Savings, while land prices in the New World are very cheap..."

"Where is the hatter? What did he say?" interrupted Georgiana Maria Edgeworth.

"He talked about the mint, and the king made up for her losses by coining coins." Lamont said, "Because His Majesty needs all kinds of cannon, anchors, wire ropes, pitch, tar, steel, pistols, and black powder to arm the navy.

, he must buy these things from abroad, and their prices are determined by foreigners. Even if her expenditures in other areas are ignored, these expenses are still borne by the king and nobles. She obviously cannot pay for them solely by the taxes given to her by her subjects.

, the subjects need to have money before she will apportion it to the subjects. What if they have no money? Who will buy the hats of this foreign hat merchant? This is undoubtedly a question worthy of discussion, because this hat is exported from the United Kingdom.

Made of wool, processed and sold at a higher price, it is impossible for a farmer to sell his products at a reduced price. Unless the prices of plows, wheelbarrows, and woolen products are reduced accordingly, it will be difficult for him to survive."

"Who are you?" Georgiana asked Elizabeth Lamont.

"I'm from Aberdeen, Scotland, madam. My brother is a member of the House of Commons. He is very worried about the Corn Laws." Elizabeth replied, "The price of cereals in the United States is significantly lower than that in the United Kingdom. The British cereals are exported almost every year, but they are very expensive."

There are few foreign imports, and the low prices of foreign grains will bankrupt domestic farmers. Although the reduction of grain production in the Baltic Sea has caused soaring grain prices and social panic, a resistance movement broke out to ban foreign grain imports. It may be contradictory to say that, grains

The rise in prices has also led to an increase in land rents, and much of the land that was recently turned into pasture is now being replanted with cereals because we no longer rely on wool but on cotton."

"Her brother was the member of Parliament who spoke in the House of Commons demanding that the United States pay back its pre-war debts in accordance with the Peace of Paris." Maria Edgeworth said. "The asylum you opened in Paris used to belong to the Church of Scotland.

It was changed into a prison..."

"Wow." Georgiana exclaimed in disbelief.

"I didn't ask you to take me in." Elizabeth said with a smile, "There are other monasteries of the Scottish Church on the European continent. I heard that the monasteries in Bavaria are very good at making cheese. I want to visit there during this trip."

"Which publisher dares to publish your book?" Georgiana asked. She really wanted to meet and see who was so desperate.

"Do you think such a book will be published in France?" Elizabeth asked.

Georgiana felt like she wanted to say no.

"Not all land in America is cheap," Georgiana said. "For example, in Louisiana, there is a lot of poor land. If they want to meet the standards for growing food, they need to improve the land, so they also need to invest costs."

Elizabeth and Mary both looked at her in confusion.

"The land used to breed sheep is usually very barren." Elizabeth thought for a moment and said, "I have to say that Americans' waste of food is unimaginable in Europe."

"Developed agriculture at least makes them look tall and strong."

"Madam." Georgiana turned back and looked at the young man, "The First Consul calls for you."

"Eat some breakfast." Georgiana looked back at the Corsican dwarf and said to the two of them, "Don't waste the food."

"What will you do with Chiara?" Elizabeth said suddenly.

Georgiana, who was about to leave, looked at Lamont.

"She will never be able to go to the Louvre again?" Elizabeth continued.

"Yes, she can continue to work at the Louvre in the future." Georgiana looked at Lamont and replied, "I will not bury talents because of some rumors."

Then she turned around and followed the young man to Bonaparte's side.

Looking at him, Georgiana thought of Prince Eugen. His mother was Louis XIV's "first love", but he did not get any preference because of it. The depressed young man left France and volunteered to participate in the Siege of Vienna.

Later, he participated in the War of the Spanish Throne that broke out in Italy, causing France to lose Italy.

At that time, she was still "Linda Smith" and went to Europe for her honeymoon with Mr. Smith. She, like most "people of insight", opposed aggression and expansion.

A vast territory means resources. Even Siberia has wood and furs. But Machiavelli also believes that even a republic on the right track will inevitably cause considerable damage by using troops abroad, just like Rome and Hannibal occupied Capua.

If Capua was farther away from Rome, the Spartacus uprising would have happened here. This land of leisure and pleasure was enough to deceive the military. Rome at the time of Hannibal was not as corrupt as it was in the later period, so Machiavelli believed

If Capua was far away from Rome, and the bad habits acquired by the soldiers here were difficult to correct, or if the Roman Republic had acquired bad habits through exchanges and showed signs of corruption, then the gains from the conquest would be meaningless, and the Roman Republic would even be destroyed.

Foreign lands were conquered, foreign customs entered the breast of Rome, frugality and other very good virtues gave way, and luxury took root, and they made the conqueror the conqueror.

Like Antony who surrendered to the charm of Cleopatra and the life of the Egyptian court.

She walked over and touched his arm lightly. The woolen uniform felt a little prickly and not as smooth as purple silk.

"Let's go," said Bonaparte, smiling at Georgiana.

"where to?"

He took out the hand that was touched by her, and in turn helped her leave the living room and went to the garden outside. There was a group of people standing there, a few of whom were clearly civilians living in embarrassment, and behind them were others.

French soldiers stood wearing tall hats to make themselves look taller.

"Mercy!" Before she could get close, one of the young men shouted at Georgiana.

"Please let us go!" A thin woman next to him also said with a cry.

This scene made her unable to bear it, and she looked at Bonaparte.

But he looked at her calmly.

"This...this is..."

"Didn't you say that as long as you get married, you don't have to perform military service." He said calmly and calmly with his hands behind his back, "These two are both painters. They used to live in an abandoned house in the forest."

She didn't react a bit.

"Are you willing to marry him? Emily, as long as you marry Quincy, you will no longer have to hide in XZ, and Quincy will not have to perform military service, but you can no longer continue to live in the previous place." Bonaparte said to him.

The two said loudly.

This time, not only Georgiana, but also Emily and Quincy were stunned.

"Will you marry him, Emily?" Bonaparte asked again.

Emily hesitated.

But Quincy didn't beg her, or rather beg Emily to agree in order to keep himself alive.

Georgiana took off a diamond ring from her finger and threw it to Quincy.

"No one proposes without giving a ring." Georgiana said, meeting Quincy's eyes.

Quincy did not immediately pick up the ring on the grass. At this time, Father Grégoire came out from the crowd of onlookers. He picked up the ring and handed it into Quincy's hand.

"Today we gather in front of God and guests to witness the sacred wedding of the couple. This is a precious treasure left by God from the creation of the world. Therefore, you must not enter at will, but must be respectful and solemn." Gregg

"If anyone knows of any reason why this marriage cannot be established, please speak up or remain silent forever," Wa said.

Grégoire paused deliberately, no one spoke, and then he continued, "I command you to confess before the Lord any reason that prevents your union."

"I have nothing." Quincy looked at Emily and said, "But my love for you is eternal."

"What about you?" Grégoire asked Emily.

With tears in her eyes, she looked at the people around her almost in despair.

"Are you willing to accept him as your lawful husband, to live with him by God's decree, and to live with him in the holy covenant of marriage?" Grégoire asked.

Emily covered her mouth and cried.

"I want to establish an art gallery in Mechelen, and Quincy can work there." Georgiana said at the side.

Now Emily nodded, and Quincy opened his arms and hugged her tightly.

There was warm applause from all around.

"Where do you plan to build an art museum?" Bonaparte asked amidst the cheers of the crowd.

"Do you mind if I use part of the Louvre's 'inventory'?" she asked.
To be continued...