Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 550 Speculation
Meanwhile, in the south, Austria also began its operations. On April 8th, the First Army, led by Archduke Albrecht, easily broke through the Italian defenses, cutting off Sardinia and Florence. Then, Italy surrendered, announcing a peace treaty with Austria.

As for the insurgents, Italy betrayed them. Austria committed mass killings on its own territory, sentencing 2534 to death and exiling 15834 to the Congo. Italian literature and education were suppressed, and everything returned to the state it was before the Napoleonic Wars.

There were also exceptions. The 4000 French troops originally assigned to defend the Papal States withdrew, and Austria filled the gap. At the invitation of Pope Pius IX, Austria would send 6000 troops to defend Rome. As for Italian unification, that could only be maintained until a reasonable solution was found.

On Nasserdin's desk appeared a telegram and a letter. In the telegram, Bismarck thanked Iran for its timely assistance, and the loan between the two sides proceeded smoothly.

The letter presented to the Shah was actually quite simple. It was a private letter written in an extremely mild tone, in which William I expressed his gratitude to Iran and invited the Shah to visit Berlin at some future time.

"That's honest. Knowing that we're funding the war, won't they tear a piece of France off the hook?"

Everyone knows that Prussia extorted 50 billion francs from France during the Franco-Prussian War. This seems like a lot, but in reality, France was fully capable of paying it back within a few years.

France's financial sector is not strong, but it boasts the largest and wealthiest middle class. Furthermore, because they dislike investing but love saving money, government bonds have become their primary choice. Following the signing of the Frankfurt Treaty, France raised over 350 billion francs through government bonds. This astonishing ability to save money is evident.

"Shah, the 300 million is ready. Should we send it over immediately?"

"No need to ask. Send 100 million to Brussels first, and the rest according to plan: to Vienna, Berlin, Frankfurt, and London. Remember, bet on Prussia and Austria! Don't let the European bankers seize the opportunity!"

After giving his instructions, Nasser al-Din added, "Compared to me, you'd probably go bankrupt."

The European financial markets are currently in a very sensitive and fragile phase, with various rumors circulating and investor sentiment extremely volatile. The speculation surrounding the front lines is simply unimaginably bizarre!

Some say that the French emperor did not actually retreat, but rather lured the Prussians deep into French territory and then annihilated them... As soon as this news spread, Prussian financial products began to depreciate.

Then came new news that Prussia had defeated the French army and was entering French soil. Upon hearing this news, French stock prices began to plummet.

At this time, the three major financial markets in Europe were London, Paris, and Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Paris was located in a war zone, so it goes without saying that London and Amsterdam had become breeding grounds for all kinds of rumors.

Amidst the chaotic commotion, the two major financial centers were completely out of control. Even seasoned financial market veterans were bewildered, and no one could predict the future. However, Iran's presence in these two locations was merely a branch; its true headquarters lay in nearby Brussels.

Ghahraman is now focused on speculating on French and Prussian financial products, selling some when prices are high and buying some when prices are low, always going against the market!

At this time, he was appointed by the Shah as the head of royal investments in Europe, with a large sum of money at his disposal, investing in factories and real estate. Of course, his primary focus was also bond investment; upon receiving the Shah's orders, he quickly poured money into Prussian government bonds. Because he trusted and obeyed the Shah, he was extremely confident of a Prussian victory, so he didn't react appropriately to market fluctuations. In just a few days, solely through swing trading, he earned millions of pounds in profit.

"My lord, news has come from the front: Prussia has begun to cross French borders!" Ghahraman jumped out of bed and snatched the telegram. Tears of excitement streamed down his face.

"Hahahaha, the Shah was right, Prussia has won!"

Buy! Buy all Prussian stocks and bonds, everything! Tell Amsterdam, London, and Frankfurt—buy them all!

Ghahraman issued an order for the permanent seats on the stock market to begin unlimited purchases of Prussian financial products and to sell off French stocks and bonds on a massive scale!

"What's going on? Someone's started buying up Prussian bonds in large quantities!"

The people at the Amsterdam Stock Exchange were taken aback by this sudden turn of events, but they quickly realized that things had changed.

"The tide of battle has definitely turned... What should we do? We can't think about it anymore, let's follow!"

The London Stock Exchange went absolutely wild, with major banks sweeping through the market, buying up everything in sight. Prussian financial product prices surged by 150% in just four or five hours!

"Damn it, damn it, damn it! The market is completely sold out, what am I supposed to do now..."

When Gahraman heard that his men in London and Amsterdam had run out of stock, he angrily cursed, "When did these people become so sensitive? They're preventing me from getting any!"

News of Austria's pacification of the Apennine Peninsula subsequently caused Austrian bonds to rise, earning Iran at least £30. While they also made a considerable profit, their focus now shifts to Prussian bonds.

Immediately, French immigrants from various countries wept bitterly, many kneeling on the ground and wailing in the direction of their homeland! Other Europeans, who were not directly involved, were more concerned with the war and their own interests, especially the wealthy investors. Now they dared not hesitate any longer, and everyone rushed to the City of London, trying every means to grab any scraps from the banks.

On April 20, the Battle of Gravolot began. More than 300,000 soldiers and 1252 artillery pieces were deployed on an 11-kilometer-wide battlefield. At the start of the battle, the Prussian army launched a fierce attack on the French positions. The French army used the terrain advantage and fortifications to inflict heavy casualties on the German army. However, due to their overwhelming numerical disadvantage, the French army eventually chose to abandon their positions and retreat.

It can only be said that Prussia's power caught Europeans off guard; it was simply too strong. This latest development has caused Prussian bond prices to rise again, while French bond prices have already plummeted. Nobody's willing to buy anymore unless they can get a huge amount.

Iran's funds were replenished at lightning speed—a whopping 300 million! Even if you combined all the bank funds in Austria and Spain, you wouldn't have that much. It just goes to show how much the Shah is willing to spend.

(End of this chapter)