Trade and Prosperity
Dessalines toured various parts of France before heading to Paris, which his entourage had hailed as the "City of Miracles." His first Montmartre Heights he met with Lucien, the Ministry of Truth.
Lucien had two options for where to receive Dessalines. One was the proper Ministry of Truth building, formerly the Bourbon House (which in the original history fell into Murat's hands, became his residence, and was named the Élysée Palace). The other was the Palace of Bliss on Montmartre Heights.
The Palace of Bliss is Lucien's private residence, built on the site of the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in another timeline. It's not far from any of the pleasure quarters on Montmartre Heights, yet it offers relative tranquility amidst the bustle. This may be why the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in that other timeline was built in this location. However, unlike that timeline, in this one, it's a place for mortal pleasure. If there's any similarity between them, it's probably only in the building materials and colors.
Like the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in another timeline, the Palace of Bliss is also built primarily of a special white stone called "London Castle." When this stone comes into contact with rainwater, it dissolves into a white substance commonly known as glass shards, which is why this stone has the characteristic of becoming whiter with the passage of time.
Whenever the rain clears and the sun shines through, the pristine white "Palace of Bliss" reflects the sunlight, sparkling and dazzling, truly resembling a palace in the heavens.
As arranged by Napoleon, during Dessalines's inspection tour in France, personnel from the Ministry of Truth and the Ministry of Police followed Dessalines closely, observing and recording his every move. These records were sent to the analysis centers of the Ministry of Truth and the Ministry of Police for analysis to determine his character and inclinations.
Both the Ministry of Truth and the Ministry of Police mentioned the following points in their analyses of Dessalines:
First, Dessalines was quite sensitive and appeared proud in some matters, but in reality, he was quite insecure about his background. He was very sensitive to whether people treated him politely. Or to put it more bluntly, he was a person with a tendency towards vanity.
Secondly, Dessalines had a strong yearning for a luxurious "high-class lifestyle." For example, when dining, he always seemed to prefer high-end foods such as truffles and caviar, but those observing him could tell from some subtle details that he didn't actually like the taste of these things. (In fact, truffles, although touted as a "diamond-level ingredient," have an unusual taste, and very few people like them on their first try.) However, analysts believe that his fondness for truffles and caviar was genuine. He might not have liked the taste of these foods, but he greatly admired the status and luxury they represented.
Based on these two points, and other details, Lucien decided to receive Dessalines at his residence, the Palace of Bliss.
Of course, some preparations were needed beforehand. For example, Dessalines was constantly implied that Minister Lucien rarely received other people at the Palace of Bliss, and only the most important people could receive this honor; the Ministry of Truth building was quite crowded and not suitable as a place to receive distinguished guests, as only ordinary people were received there; the Palace of Bliss was the most luxurious and highest-class place in France, and if you hadn't been there, you would be seen as a country bumpkin by people of real status.
After making these preparations, when Lucien extended an invitation to Dessalines to visit the "Palace of Bliss," Dessalines was overjoyed and almost couldn't contain himself. His heart was immediately filled with gratitude for Lucien and the Bonaparte Family.
Two days later, Lucien received Dessalines in Dessalines and first inquired about Dessalines's life in France; Dessalines expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the warm hospitality he received from the France.
Dessalines told Lucien that his trip to France had broadened his horizons, and he was deeply impressed by France's wealth and power. He hoped to receive France assistance in building Saint-Domingue into a democratic and prosperous oasis, making it Saint-Domingue Black France of Americas.
Therefore, he stated that France is the beacon of democracy and freedom for the world, illuminating the path forward for all people; France is also the helmsman for the world's people, and only under France's guidance can the world's people achieve prosperity and liberation. The black people of Saint-Domingue are willing to move towards freedom and prosperity under the leadership of France, and under the guidance of the great man who descended from heaven, His Excellency Napoleon, the First Consul.
Of course, these are the official accounts. According to some "historical inventors," the meeting between the two was not so formal at all; they ate, drank, and made merry, chatting and joking around. Finally, Dessalines asked Lucien this question.
"Your Excellency Minister Bonaparte, I'd like to know how much salary you receive each year, so that you can own such a luxurious mansion."
Lucien then led him to the rooftop of the Palace of Bliss, overlooking the roads leading from Paris to Montmartre Heights.
"Do you see those four-lane roads in both directions?" Lucien asked.
"Am I seeing things, Minister?" Dessalines asked doubtfully. "I only see some one-way, two-lane roads."
"Ah, that's because we're currently driving over the other two lanes," Lucien replied.
Years later, when Dessalines seized power in a coup and became the new president of Haiti, the newly appointed France ambassador visited his presidential palace to present his credentials. During their conversation, the ambassador asked Dessalines almost the same question. President Dessalines, however, took the ambassador to the balcony of the presidential palace, overlooking Port-au-Prince below, and said to him:
"Mr. Ambassador, do you see the shipyard and power plant over there?"
"I didn't see anything," the ambassador said.
"Oh, that's because they're all under our feet now."
Of course, such legends are highly unreliable and may very well have been fabricated by the Britain. However, in a more credible account, the renowned historian George Lefebvre's *The New History of the Roman Empire * states that the two did indeed have a similar conversation.
"Minister Lucien, I'm in France and seeing how wealthy France is fills me with both envy and curiosity. I'd like to know how France became so wealthy." —Dessalines
"Trade, of course," Lucien replied. "Trade is the source of wealth. For example, even if a man owns vast lands that yield more wheat each year than thousands of oxcarts could carry, if he simply piles the wheat in his warehouses instead of selling it, will he be rich? No. Anything that doesn't enter the market is not wealth. The wheat will just rot in his granary until someone else uses it to grow cabbages—will such a person be wealthy? Can he eat truffles and caviar every day? Of course not. He's just a beggar guarding a mountain of treasure."
Trade is the source of wealth. Take me, for example. Do you think a France minister's salary would allow me to own a palace like this? How could that be? But I also participate in a lot of trade, and that trade has made me wealthy. Saint-Domingue is a place rich in resources, producing many things with enormous trade value. If you can make good use of trade, you can be as wealthy as I am."
Following a cordial conversation, both sides reached a general consensus on the status of Saint-Domingue.
According to the agreement between the two parties, Saint-Domingue become a France autonomous territory until it can pay the full price for the purchase of the entire country's territory. After payment, Saint-Domingue will be allied with France as an independent state. France will assist the new black republic of Saint-Domingue in establishing its own industry and agriculture, and protect its territory and trade security. In return, Saint-Domingue will accept France guidance in foreign and domestic affairs, and will adopt a France -first policy in trade.
It is said that after the agreement was essentially reached, Lucien reminded Dessalines: "One principle of trade is that no one can completely take all the benefits, because no one can trade with himself. Only by sharing the benefits can a truly solid community be formed, and more talented and capable people be on your side."
After Dessalines returned to Saint-Domingue, he voluntarily relinquished his position in the Saint-Domingue army and volunteered to become the Minister of Foreign Trade of the Dominion of Saint-Domingue. In this role, he used his position of communication between the interior and exterior to enrich himself and many others, especially those who had joined him in the uprising.
These Black people, who had amassed wealth through trade, felt that Dessalines was irreplaceable because he could lead them to prosperity. This meant that although he had officially resigned from his military post, his influence within the army did not diminish. Later, with the support of the army, he staged a coup, overthrowing Toussaint Louverture, the lifelong ruler of the Republic of Haiti, and ascended to the presidency of Haiti, becoming the wealthiest Black person on the "Le Businessman's Daily" rich list.
In his memoirs, he also admitted that his mission to France, especially his conversations with Minister Lucien, taught him a great deal. These lessons benefited him immensely in his later political life and enabled the newly formed Republic of Haiti to become one of the wealthiest countries in Americas (though it was also one of the most unequally wealthy countries in the Americas, and indeed, in the world).
Of course, all of this happened later. Now that Dessalines has reached an agreement with Lucien, all that's left for him to do is quietly await the First Consul's summons.