Chapter 145 A Talk With The Finance Minister



An hour later, Napoleon and his family strolled along the walkway of the palace grounds, taking in the grandeur of Versailles. The sun bathed the gardens in a warm glow as they explored the palace.

"This place is incredible, papa!" Aveline exclaimed, her eyes wide with wonder.

"It certainly is, my dear," Napoleon replied, a smile gracing his lips as he observed his children's excitement. "Now, are you liking the idea of living here?"

"I do but is it okay papa? This palace is from the royal family of France right?" Aveline asked.

"Well, the royal family left their country, abandoning their people, so it doesn't belong to the royal family anymore but to the country."

"Are you finished with your duties darling?" Ciela interjected.

"No, I'm expecting to meet someone later," Napoleon replied.

The moment he said that Napoleon noticed Lucien running towards him.

"Brother," Lucien said as he got in front of Napoleon. "The Minister of Finance has arrived and is waiting for you in your office."

"Speaking of the devil," Napoleon muttered under his breath. "Well, Francis, Aveline, I'll be out again for a while. I want you to behave yourself and continue exploring the palace with your mother and Lucas, alright?"

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Francis nodded solemnly, taking his role as the older brother seriously. "Of course, papa. We'll be good."

Aveline chimed in with a mischievous grin. "Yes, we'll be as good as little angels!"

Napoleon chuckled, ruffling Aveline and Francis's hair affectionately. "Alright then. I'll see you soon. I'll leave them to you, love,"

"Don't worry, I got this. You do you," Ciela reassured him, giving him a reassuring smile.

Napoleon scoffed softly. "In that case let's save the country we love. First off, let's get to the facts. I want to know how much money is left in the state coffers."

Jacques brought his briefcase to his lap and pulled out an official document, placing it carefully on the desk. "As of today, Your Excellency, the state coffers hold a sum of 147,654 francs," he stated, his expression serious and concerned.

Napoleon choked on his breath, his eyes widening in shock. "147,654 francs?" he repeated, disbelief evident in his voice. "That's all that remains in the state coffers?"

Jacques Necker nodded solemnly. "Yes, Your Excellency. The finances of the country are in dire straits. The revolution and the years of turmoil that followed have left the treasury nearly empty."

"Ridiculous," Napoleon cursed."I'm sure there's twenty times that amount in the pockets of each former member of the Directory. France is really bankrupt,"

He set the document down on the tabletop and sighed exasperatedly. Corruption was truly rampant in the period of the Directory. He also remembered the time when Talleyrand bribed Barras with 150,000 francs to resign as a member of the Directory. It was shameless. Well good thing, there is a way for him to get back the money that each member of the Directory stole during their tenure.

"Necker, I want you to assemble a team of experts, auditors, and investigators to conduct a thorough audit of the government's finances for the last ten years. From the National Convention to the Directory. If there is a sign of fraud, embezzlement, or any illegal activities, I want them exposed. And once exposed, I want their stolen wealth seized and returned to the state treasury," Napoleon declared and continued. "I'm sure we can raise several million francs from that action alone."

Jacques Necker nodded solemnly. "Very well, Your Excellency."

"Also, aside from that, I want to stabilize the financial system. As you are aware, France's current financial situation is precarious, and we must take immediate action to restore stability and confidence in our economy," Napoleon continued.

"Go on,"

"Necker, do you have an idea about centralized banks?" Napoleon asked.

"Centralized banks, Your Excellency, are institutions that serve as the sole issuer of currency and act as the custodian of a nation's monetary policy. They are responsible for managing the country's money supply, regulating interest rates, and providing financial services to the government and other banks," Jacques Necker explained.

"How about establishing a centralized bank in France that not only serves as the issuer of currency but also acts as a driving force for economic development and stability?" Napoleon proposed. "I want this bank to be an instrument of progress for our nation, offering loans and financial assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises. It should also help fund infrastructure projects and encourage research and development in key sectors. By doing so, we can empower our citizens and spur economic expansion across the country."

Necker pulled out his notepad and jotted down Napoleon's words.

"Another thing we can do is to implement economic stimulus measures and revamp our taxation system...I have a lot of ideas on how we can get France back on its feet. I will write a comprehensive plan and present it to you in a few days," Napoleon said. "For now, you focus on the task I gave you and the creation of the centralized bank."

"Understood, Your Excellency, I'll have it ready for you in four weeks," Necker said confidently.

"Good, that's all for now."