Commendation Ceremony (Monthly Ticket Request)

Delaud Laborde had never felt as agitated as he did today since taking over the family business.

The manager of Laborde Bank had brought him terrible news today—the French Government, or rather, the Crown Prince responsible for fiscal loans, intended to terminate its cooperation with them.

At present, France's entire industrial and commercial sector was in a slump. Large government loans were the finest part of Laborde Bank's business. If they lost this business, Laborde Bank would very likely be unable to stay afloat.

Before long, Goldman, a major shareholder of Lavier Bank, came calling, confirming that the government indeed intended to end its cooperation with them.

In this matter, the two banks were grasshoppers tied to the same rope; they had no choice but to work together with all their strength.

The two men discussed the matter at length with the shareholders of both banks, and in the end, they found that the heart of the problem lay with the France Reserve Bank.

It was an oddity that refused to follow the unspoken rules of the banking industry. If not for it, the French Government could only have come begging Lavier and Laborde Bank for loans.

Soon, someone suggested, "Perhaps we can strike some sort of deal with this France Reserve Bank."

Count Labo looked around at the others. "Who knows anything about this bank?"

No one spoke. After a long while, Goldman finally frowned. "It is very likely a foreign bank that has only just arrived in Paris."

Labo nodded. "It seems we can only seek Mr. Necker's help."

In the villa garden of Necker, senior adviser to the French Banking Guild and a renowned banker.

Labo and Goldman recounted the entire matter, merely referring to the French Government as a certain major client and calling the Government Bonds the client's private debt. Then they looked eagerly at Necker.

If there was only one person in Paris who knew about that France Reserve Bank, it had to be this master, the best-informed man in the French banking world.

Yet Necker merely smiled and shook his head. "I have not heard of this bank."

He lowered his head to trim the Arabian jasmine, then added, "However, I believe the two of you have fallen into your client's trap."

"A trap?"

"He is a very patient gentleman." Necker swept the fallen flower branches into a pile and wiped away his sweat. "At a time like this, you are even more convinced that he would not take risks or resort to trickery. But I am almost certain that this France Reserve Bank is merely a ruse he is using to frighten you."

"If you go to him because you are worried about losing the business, he will be able to lower the interest rate, pretend to stop cooperating with that fictitious bank, and demand that you issue the loan as soon as possible."

Labo and Goldman exchanged a glance, both feeling as though they had suddenly seen the light.

Necker wore the expression of a hunter who had seen through his prey's hiding place. "I believe that if you refuse to compromise, during the last two days before your client's debt matures, he will spare no expense to obtain your loans."

Labo nodded vigorously. "Mr. Necker truly deserves to be called France's finest banker! If not for you, we would have been fooled this time!"

"We will heed your advice and hold out until the very last day!"

Within the gold-drenched Apollo Hall of Versailles Palace, an exceedingly grand commendation ceremony was underway.

The urgent roll of War Drums and the solemn Bugle Calls ceased at the same moment. The Minister of War, the Marquis of Saint-Priest, called loudly to the few soldiers standing before him, "Attention—"

His adjutant beside him smashed his cane hard against the floor with a muffled bang. The soldiers lifted their chins and thrust out their chests, standing as straight as swords.

Saint-Priest turned and raised his hat in salute toward Louis XVI. "Your Majesty the King, Her Majesty the Queen, Your Highness the Crown Prince, please allow me to introduce the heroes of the Battle of Amstelveen—"

"Captain Marie François de Dubois!"

"Lieutenant Thérèse Préville de Foucauld!"

"Second Lieutenant Louis Andre de Davout!"[Note 1]

After he had introduced them one by one, Louis XVI stepped forward first. He went before Diboa, lavished him with praise, then picked up a Brass cufflink and solemnly handed it to him. "You are hereby formally promoted to Major."

He then walked toward Lieutenant Foucaud and continued awarding ranks. Queen Mary, meanwhile, took a wreath from a Maid, smiling as she placed it upon Diboa's head. In a gentle voice, she said, "You are a hero of France."

After she moved on to the next recipient, Joseph came before Diboa and delivered the congratulatory words he had prepared beforehand. "Your tactical strategy was splendid. Without your command, the Netherlands Army would likely have collapsed within the first two days."

He had not intended to attend such a tedious, rule-bound ceremony, but as the planner behind the Netherlands' victory in driving back Prussia, both the Queen and the military had strongly insisted that he attend the commendation ceremony. He could only come despite himself.

Diboa immediately raised his hat in return salute. "Your Highness, these are not my achievements. It was you who designed the overall strategic deployment, leaving the Prussians with no choice but to retreat. As for the tactical arrangements at Amstelveen, they were actually planned for me before my departure by a good friend of mine, Captain Berthier. I merely followed his plan."

Joseph felt that he had heard a familiar name and hurriedly asked, "Berthier? Which Berthier do you mean?"

"Your Highness, Major Louis Alexander Berthier, under General Custine."

[Note 1: Davout's surname should be d'Avou, closer to de Avou. However, following translation convention, it is still written as Davout, with the aristocratic "de" added before it.]