Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 193 Banquet
"Ah, welcome, my friend."

When Napoleon III saw Naserdin extend his hand, Naserdin shook hands in return to show goodwill.

"Thank you for your hospitality. This is my first time in France, and I hope this visit will open a new chapter in history."

"I believe this was a fruitful meeting, and there are many areas where the two countries can cooperate."

The banquet at the Tuileries Palace invited all the prominent nobles in France, and Nasserdin greeted them through Nasser's introduction.

"Your Excellency Shah, how about a glass of Burgundy?"

A man holding a wine glass asked Nasser al-Din a question, while those around him watched with expressions of amusement.

"Okay!"

Naserdin picked up the wine and drank it all in one gulp, which surprised the nobles around him.

"You...this..."

"The great Prophet Muhammad did not oppose grape juice; it was only through misinformation that people came to believe it was undrinkable."

Everyone says that Iran lifted the ban on grape juice a few years ago, and they thought it was a joke, but it turns out it's true.

Napoleon III then said, "Alright, everyone, let's drink to the friendship between France and Iran!"

"cheers!"

Having finally managed to defuse the awkward situation, the other nobles no longer looked at the Shah with the same eyes they had for the Ottomans. Although the French Revolution demanded that they treat each other equally, their own prejudices still influenced their perceptions.

"From the train station to here, I saw a lot of factories along the way. It seems that your country's economy is very good."

When it comes to the economy, Nasan has a lot to say. "Now that our country has experienced many wars, economic recovery and development has become my top priority. If it weren't for bank subsidies in recent years, it would probably have taken another ten years to get to where we are today."

"Is that so? I have an investment opportunity here. I wonder if Your Majesty would be interested?"

Napoleon III became interested. "Oh, please go on."

"The situation in Mexico has been somewhat unstable lately; they're on the verge of war due to various internal issues. If we could install someone as the Mexican president, then..."

At this point, Napoleon III also learned about the New America Project, which seemed quite promising.

"Moreover, as a responsible country, your country certainly wouldn't stand by and watch the Mexican people suffer."

These words struck a chord with Napoleon. He thought of his uncle, Napoleon I, who had also spread liberty, equality, and fraternity to every inch of the European continent. He could also spread these ideas to the New World, and gain an ally in the process.

“The Shah is right, Mexicans can’t live in this kind of environment. They need a society where everyone is equal. I just don’t know if there’s a good candidate?” “I do know one, and he should be taking action now.”

Naserdin's words rekindled Napoleon III's confidence in returning to the New World. If Mexico succeeded, they could enter other New World countries, even the most powerful one, the United States.

"Also, I wonder when the ironclad warships that our country ordered will be completed?"

"Don't worry about that. It will probably be ready to go into the water in another two or three years. We can just send someone to take it away then."

The two had a very pleasant conversation at today's banquet, and Naser al-Din has taken up residence at the Tuileries Palace. Look closely, in another ten years or so, it will be gone.

Meanwhile, in another mansion in Paris, a group of people were discussing the Shah at the banquet.

Have any of you seen that Shah of Iran?

"Of course, he actually drank the wine. I thought the previous orders were just empty words."

The person sitting on the sofa clapped their hands, and everyone else immediately fell silent.

"Gentlemen, I know you are curious about Iran. But think about it, if we can cooperate with Iran, we can not only make money, but also open up our route to the Far East."

The speaker was banker Isaac Paley. Although his work in finance had made him wealthy, he was still no match for another banker, Rothschild. Fortunately, he had caught the coattails of Napoleon III. Based on Napoleon III's desire for rapid economic development, he proposed to the emperor the establishment of a financial institution for public works and industrial development—this is the modern-day Credit Corporation.

Movable credit companies, operating through joint ventures, absorbed small amounts of savings and provided substantial funds to railways, steamships, shipping companies, and emerging industrial enterprises. These companies, combining deposit, discounting, and investment functions, constituted a hybrid financial institution.

French banks have always been wary of the significant risks associated with industrial investment, making them hesitant to undertake such ventures. Meanwhile, French industry harbors deep-seated prejudices against banks, resisting their involvement in the supervision and management of family businesses. This has forced banks to shift towards the service sector and overseas investment. This is also the reason for the establishment of credit companies.

After the company was founded, its stock was highly sought after. In just three years, the stock's par value increased two to three times, and annual dividends reached 2200 million francs. Their current meteoric rise proves they made the right decision.

“But Mr. Perry, as far as I know, Iran has very strong control over their banks, and it is impossible to conduct business without the Shah’s permission.”

“With money, no problem is a problem. I’m going to the Tuileries Palace tomorrow to meet His Majesty, and I should be able to see this Shah of Iran.”

Perry's ambitions extended beyond simply opening a route to the Far East; he sought to dominate the French financial world. The credit companies were growing rapidly, but problems were inevitable. However, if they could secure additional support or defeat their adversaries, these problems would never arise. Because problems are always buried by those with vested interests.

The newspaper staff were busy preparing the front-page headline: the Iranian monarch had arrived in Paris and was attending a banquet at the Tuileries Palace. They had already met the Ottoman and Egyptian French, but they had never met the Iranians before. They had only heard about this enemy of the Ottomans from others, and now that their monarch was here, everyone naturally wanted to know more.

Naser al-Din's act of drinking wine at the banquet also stirred the interest of some nobles, who owned vast vineyards in Bordeaux and Burgundy. Given the quality of their wines, they could export them to Iran and earn money.

The typical image of the Crescent Moon Christians is one of conservatism, headscarves, and prohibition of alcohol, but Nasser al-Din offered a revolutionary perspective. They were shown wearing European clothing, drinking wine, and discussing a wide range of issues. He seemed quite different from the Ottoman sultans; perhaps we could indeed witness a different kind of nation.

(End of this chapter)