Chapter 72 Secret discussion in the study (please order first)

After all, the only option was to compromise, but he couldn't come up with any conditions for compromise, and he wouldn't sell his own interests to help others gain credit, so after thinking about it, he said seriously to Alphonse:

"Mr. De Moller, could you please take a moment to speak? It's just the two of us."

"Then... come to the study." Alphonse stood up and said: "Mr. Alfred, please bring us a bottle of champagne and help us look at the door."

When he arrived in the study, Rie looked around the window furtively, closed the curtains, and locked the door himself, then came to sit down in front of Alphonse, looked at Alphonse seriously, and then

He said with a mournful face: "You probably don't know that I even went to the cell because of your incident."

"How do you say that?" Alphonse didn't expect that Rieux would still be in jail when he returned to Paris.

"His Majesty's Chief of Guard, Fabian Mahesha, unreasonably took me out of my home and threw me into prison on the day I returned to Paris. He said that I did not handle this state affairs properly and that it was treason!" Rieux was short of words.

Shedding tears: "But before departure, Count Colbert just told me that it was a very important investment and that I must strive for a larger investment ratio to obtain greater returns."

"Then how come you are suspected of treason?" Alphonse asked strangely.

"This is an unreasonable slander! It is also a shameless deception by Count Colbert!" Rieux roared in a low voice: "What your Majesty wants is better artillery, and you don't care whether the investment will make a profit; especially when the Spaniards use you

Your rapid-fire cannon won a great victory, and His Majesty values ​​your ability very much.

What's even more shameless is that the count is using the rate of return on investment to prevaricate His Majesty, and plans to force you to process artillery for him for free! I don't know if he will take this opportunity to enrich himself, but it is indeed true when I declare that your investment is

His Majesty was satisfied only after using it to develop better large-caliber artillery.

You even asked the Duke of Letelier to reward me well and fully support your work; but the result? You and I got nothing, and the big shots still forced us to work!"

"Perhaps you can consider explaining all this to His Majesty?" Alphonse thought for a while and replied.

"I do have the opportunity to do this, even if the possibility of success is very slim, but now if you refuse the investment, I will be executed immediately." Rie grabbed Alphonse's hand and said: "You are the only one who can help now.

I am dead, and you don’t want the big shot to take away our credit and sit on top of us and lord it over us, right?”

"What is your proposal?" Alphonse asked.

"Count Colbert told me that as long as you can come up with a large-caliber artillery, I will immediately give you an investment of 300,000 livres; I know that before I returned to Paris, you had already test-fired a large-caliber artillery piece.

Artillery, right?" Rie simply risked his life and said:

"Give it to me, and I will solve all other problems, give you 300,000 livres, and then seek a permanent residence in Calais; I know that your network of connections here is very large. After I stay here permanently, I will give your Majesty

Write a secret letter to report the matter.

If it succeeds, there will be great rewards for you and me. If it fails, you have to help me leave; you can also consider leaving with the 300,000 livres, or simply return it to the Louvre, how about it?"

"To be honest, I have no objection to this proposal. At most, I will lose a useless prototype cannon, but you will definitely lose everything." Alphonse replied calmly.

"Do you think I will fail?" Rie asked unwillingly.

"It will definitely fail. Before your secret message was even delivered to His Majesty, the killers of Duke Letelier and Count Colbert were already on their way." Alphonse replied calmly.

"Then... what do you think we should do?" Rie asked unwillingly.

"You can still take the sample cannon with you, and you have completed all the procedures as you said; but when the count asks you to bring money to Calais, you should apply to the count to send another palace noble as the investment official.

The envoy will come to Calais with you." Alphonse thought for a moment and then continued: "And you will apply to be posted to Lyon."

"Why is this?" Rie asked curiously.

"It's very simple. The more you refuse to participate in this investment, especially the 300,000 livres, the more worried the count will be about money problems;

But he has already reported everything, and if he gives up now because you refuse to come, he will have no way to explain to His Majesty. You said that Your Majesty is not worried about losing money at all." Alphonse smiled:

"Then the earl will definitely let you come. At this time, you are asking for a higher reward. In the eyes of others, you are making trouble unreasonably, but the earl knows that you are still refusing, so he will definitely reward you and let you come to Calais to deliver this.

investment.

Then you asked to go to Lyon, which seemed to have nothing to do with it, but the naval ports were in Toulon and Rochefort. You went to Lyon and ran away as soon as there was news; therefore, the count had to put you in Calais.

, and send a certain amount of manpower to Calais at the same time to keep an eye on you and me."

"Isn't this more dangerous?" Rie asked strangely.

"No, you can also ask to bring your family with you. After all, the count will send someone to follow you, so he shouldn't refuse." Alphonse smiled:

"I will send people to attack you on the way and kill all the people sent by the count. You will come to Calais immediately, but write a letter to Paris saying that you were attacked in Boulogne; let the count be suspicious, and you will naturally

We have arrived in Calais safely. As long as you are here, it will be difficult for the count to think about asking you again."

"What if the Count sends His Majesty's army?" Riet asked.

"So what? You wrote that you were attacked in Boulogne, how could His Majesty's army search in Calais?" Alphonse smiled:

"If the other party still wants to arrest you, then you can write to your friends in Paris; don't worry, even His Majesty's army will still not be able to arrest you without reason in a short time; until His Majesty personally sends an envoy

Come here, and you will have the opportunity to speak frankly to His Majesty."

This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading!

"But what if His Majesty doesn't send troops? What will I do in Calais?" Rieux asked.

"I will still use my money to invest in new caliber artillery, and you can continue to write to His Majesty to report the progress of my research, but no profits will be handed over to the Louvre; after the second phase of development is completed, you will also

There is no need to write a letter, just wait for your Majesty to summon you." Alphonse smiled and said: "At that time, you can directly take 300,000 livres back to His Majesty and tell Him everything;

Considering the drawings obtained from the first two phases of investment, and considering that the 300,000 livres have not been spent at all, you will not be blamed by His Majesty, only the big shots will be unlucky."

"You're right! Just do it!" Rie replied happily.

"You don't have to rush back to Paris. You can go shopping in Calais these days and choose a house for you to live in Calais next. By the way, prepare all the necessary documents. If you need my cooperation, you can also directly

Say." Alphonse smiled and said:

"I know local bankers in Calais. They are wealthy and well-connected. When the time comes, I will help you store the 300,000 livres brought from Paris. I can help you get an interest return of 4% per year, and you can get half of it."

You can hand it over to Your Majesty when the time comes, and His Majesty’s 300,000 livres will not be wasted; the other 2% of the income of 6,000 livres can also supplement your living expenses in Calais.”

"Thank you so much, Alphonse, I just rely on you." Rie said with a smile.

"By the way, if you ask for a reward, I suggest you ask for a mayor, of course a coastal town in Lyon or Marseille, but I guess the count will only arrange for you to be the mayor of Calais." Alphonse smiled.

: "This is the best arrangement. If there is any problem, we can also mobilize the citizens to protect the mayor who serves them."

"I am from the financial department, so I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to get the position of mayor." Rie frowned.

"That's even better. The count will feel that you are deliberately making things difficult for him, just because you don't want to have anything to do with money. Believe me, if someone else becomes the envoy, the previous promise will still be valid, because the 300,000 livres

You are still in my hands." Alphonse smiled and said: "At that time, others will not be able to make things difficult for your huge income from unknown sources because of your superior life in Lyon."

"I swear, you are my best friend, no one else. My son has just been born, and I hope you can be his godfather." Rieux held Alphonse's hand tightly.

"If there is a chance." Alphonse replied with a slight smile.

"There will definitely be one, your plan is perfect!" Rieux said happily, and after thinking for a while he asked: "What is the caliber of your prototype gun?"

"Legal 16 pounds." Alphonse replied.

"Oh, that's good...what? Legal...16...16 pounds?" Rie's eyes widened.

"It failed. The barrel was bent. Although it can still shoot, it cannot rotate. We still failed to overcome the technical difficulties and had to refocus on the 9-pounder and 12-pounder cannons." Alphonse laughed.

"It doesn't matter. You said it can shoot. That's enough. At least you did design a legal 16-pound cannon. This means that the first three phases can achieve the goal. I am completely confident that the earl will quickly distribute the funds.

!" Rie said happily, but then said awkwardly:

"This won't work. You have nothing to gain from doing this, and you will lose the drawings for writing to me. I have to do something for you. What do you need?"

"Just help me refuse to produce artillery for the count for free. This is the biggest difficulty he can cause me. Otherwise, when you become the mayor, you can give me and my friends some policy conveniences.

Right." Alphonse smiled.

"It doesn't matter. I can't do anything in Calais, so I still need you and your friends to help me." Rieux said without hesitation.

"That's good. I've arranged a dinner for you. Would you like to get dressed and tidy up before attending the dinner?" Alphonse smiled.

"I'm very tired after coming all the way. I need to take a rest, so I won't disturb you. I will definitely attend your dinner on time in the evening." Rieux quickly stood up and said goodbye, and Alphonse accompanied him out with a smile.
Chapter completed!