"An additional 9.6 million francs' worth of applications to redeem gold within five days?" Joseph frowned slightly and looked at Laffitte. "Please explain in detail."
"Yes, Your Highness." The manager of the French Reserve Bank bowed. "These clients come from all sorts of backgrounds, but all of them have refused alternative remittance methods. Each amount is at least 300,000 francs or more."
"In the first few days, the redemptions were mainly concentrated at the Paris branch of the French Reserve Bank. Starting yesterday, banks in Reims and Orleans also began receiving redemption applications one after another."
Brienne added from the side, "A great many rumors have also appeared in the financial market, saying that 'the French Reserve Bank's gold reserves have been exhausted,' or that 'the government will soon terminate the business of exchanging Paper Money for gold.'"
"At present, the news has not yet spread very widely among the populace, but there are still cases of citizens lining up at banks to exchange for gold."
Joseph asked Brienne again, "What is the current 'Non-Convertible Amount' of the franc?"
"Non-Convertible Amount" was a specialized financial term, meaning the portion of Paper Money issued by the state that exceeded its gold reserves.
Brienne immediately said, "Fifty-eight million francs, Your Highness."
Judging by France's current market scale and economic conditions, the amount of over-issuance was entirely within the safe range.
Joseph nodded thoughtfully. "It seems someone is maliciously shorting the franc. Mr. Laffitte, how much gold inventory does the Paris branch of the French Reserve Bank have?"
"There are still 740,000 ounces, Your Highness."
After Laffitte finished speaking, seeing the Crown Prince frown, he hurriedly added, "Roughly equivalent to seventy million francs."
Joseph could not help but look grave.
At the current redemption rate, the gold reserves would be emptied within a