Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 195 The Banker's Invitation

While Napoleon III was discussing the Mexico plan, Naserdin also received Isaac, who visited that evening.

“Shah, let me introduce you to this groundbreaking innovation. Raising funds from the public by selling shares and bonds, and then using that money to buy industrial stocks. This is a way to rapidly drive industrial development; the old methods are outdated, and this is the way of the new era.”

Naserdin frowned. Was this still a banker? He'd turned into a salesman.

If he had gone to the Paris Stock Exchange, he would have understood. Stocks of movable credit companies were being bought and sold everywhere. From its inception, this company had been plagued by speculation, corruption, and fraud. Even Isaac didn't know when the crisis would explode, so he was trying to get as many people on board as possible.

“You’re doing very well. You have branches not only in France, but also in Spain, Prague, Ceylon, and even Batavia.”

"This is all progress of the times."

Naserdin didn't want to talk to him any further, but instead had his financial steward, who had come with him, speak with him. He had already told the steward what he wanted, so he didn't need to worry.

Closing the door, Nasserdin asked the Iranian ambassador to France with a look of disgust, "Is this really a banker, or is he Jewish?"

"Yes, Shah, Mr. Isaac has been very favored by Emperor Napoleon in recent years, and through this, he has recruited many people to his bank. There are quite a few nobles among them."

So that explains why he suddenly became rich. The common people don't have inside information; they just buy stocks of whoever is making money.

"Banker, Jew, Jewish banker."

The Iranian ambassador, as if struck by a sudden thought, produced a letter. "This is a letter from Mr. Rothschild to you."

Naserdin took it; it bore the emblem of a golden lion and a white horse. This was bestowed upon the Rothschilds by Franz.

“Your Highness Shah, I wonder if you would have time to come to my residence for lunch? I believe we would have many topics to discuss.”

The Shah didn't know what he was discussing with the Jews—whether it was about their family fortunes or the acquisition of Iranian financial power. While he didn't believe the Rothschilds could control everything, the Jewish bankers, led by the Rothschilds, did indeed wield financial power in Europe. Their allies were spread across Europe and the United States, forming a vast network spanning both sides of the Atlantic.

“Let me see if you really have 50 billion pounds,” Nasserdin thought.

Meanwhile, inside the Rothschild bank office, two prominent French figures were also discussing the Iranian Shah.

"Father, what do you think this King from Iran wants to gain from this visit?"

Alphonse Rothschild asked his father, James Rothschild, about how his father had become the head of the family after the death of his third uncle in England.

"What else could it be? Apart from the government's strong influence, there's nothing that would interest him." "Then why did you invite him here for lunch?"

James looked at his son with exasperation, "You should have your eyes on every corner of the world. Look at this."

Alphonse looked at the letter from New York, and its contents surprised him.

"You see, the Shah of Iran is definitely not one of those people we've met before. He understands the value of banks and bonds very well, which is why he invested in those things."

Rothschild's allies in the United States had already passed on information about the Persian Bank to James, and they could easily find out who was investing in the bank.

According to his intelligence network, Persian Bank has been acquiring shares of Pennsylvania Railroad and New York Railroad in recent days, and investing in California and the Minnesota Territory. While it's unclear what they've invested in, there's certainly a lot.

"This man is no ordinary person. He can use banks to raise funds for construction, which is many times more advanced than the backward countries around him. Other monarchs only collect taxes and enjoy themselves, while he has already begun to use finance to acquire more wealth for himself."

During this period, a large number of American railroad company stocks were acquired by Persian banks, but he wasn't acting fanatically; instead, he kept a close eye on a few companies. He probably knew something.

James had never seen a monarch with such foresight in the financial world. He didn't even take Isaac's movable credit company seriously, because he knew the idea would run into problems sooner or later. But Shia finance, represented by Iran, was preparing to enter the European continent. They weren't opposed to it, but an unstable entity was bound to become their adversary, especially since it had the support of a nation behind it.

"That's why I invited the king. Since they want to make money, maybe we can become allies and make money together."

However, Alphonse had reservations: "Father, will he agree? Our faith with Iran is a problem."

"Alphonse" James said angrily, "Do you remember what your uncle said before he died? Money has no country. As long as the profit is enough, he'll sell the country."

Patriotism is not reflected in the Rothschild family at all, nor can it be. Because their family members are scattered throughout Europe, if they were to be patriotic, which country would they love?
Therefore, don't love your country, just love money.

"Besides, he wants to invest, so we can help him make more money. This way, they will become more and more dependent on us, and even without a clear agreement, they will still lean towards us."

Making money is no challenge for them; the Rothschild family not only has branches all over Europe, but also has many allies.

They turned almost all of Europe's nobility into clients, helping them raise funds, lend money, and even assist warring nations in procuring military funds and other war materials. Especially after Napoleon's rise to power, when the European continent was in chaos, the Rothschild family traveled extensively, seizing the opportunity to build a system that included logistics, intelligence espionage, financial partners, and military personnel.

After the Battle of Waterloo, the Rothschilds, through their mastery of British bonds, became the dominant force at the Bank of England. James Rothschild was no less successful; he and his son each held a board seat at the Bank of France. This bank was controlled by 200 banking families, who in turn elected 12 directors to form the board, further deepening the symbiotic relationship between the Rothschilds and the Bank of France.

Such a banking family would naturally want to turn an enemy into a friend when faced with the entry of a new force. It all depends on whether the other party is willing. Of course, if they aren't, they have a thousand ways to prevent the other party from making money. It's just robbery, right? They're far more cunning than bandits.

(End of this chapter)