Chapter 19 Investment
Vienna, Royal Garden.
The breeze blows, bringing the fragrance of earth.
In the woods nearby, Franz Joseph was swinging on a swing.
On the neatly manicured garden lawn, Archbishop Franz Karl was sipping wine at a makeshift round table.
"Wine again," Archduke Franz Karl thought to himself.
This is certain. Franz II got three thousand barrels of wine from the Elthazy family's wine cellar, and he knew that his son was good at wine.
As a result, Archduke Franz Karl seemed inseparable from these wines.
Baron Brooke carried a suitcase and walked carefully on the lawn of the garden, fearing that he would step on the flowers and destroy the overall beauty of the garden.
Baron Brooke took off his hat and bowed.
"Archduke Franz Karl, you are looking for me."
Archduke Franz Karl glanced at Baron Brooke.
"Sit down."
Baron Brook actually made appointments with several bankers in the afternoon to discuss borrowing money, but he had to go to Archduke Franz Karl's invitation. If the Archduke, who is not very bright, insists on dragging him away, it will be over.
"Sit down!" Seeing that Baron Brooke did not sit down, Archduke Franz Karl emphasized his tone again.
Baron Brooke had no choice but to sit down, after all, the other party was the royal family.
"Drink" Archduke Franz Karl handed Baron Brooke a cup filled with wine.
Baron Brooke looked at Archduke Franz Karl, then drank it all in one gulp.
"Okay, I have an investment!"
Archduke Franz Karl rarely said these words, so it was extremely difficult for him to say them.
"Investment?" Baron Brooke was a little dizzy. He had just learned that the Grand Duke, who was not very bright, actually knew how to invest.
Then I thought, maybe I was cheated?
It's wrong to think about it.
So he asked.
"Grand Duke, what kind of investment is it? I'll help you find out the details."
"No, no need," Archduke Franz Karl took out a piece of paper from his arms, slapped it on the table and crossed it.
Baron Brooke took out his monocle from his coat pocket, put it on his eye socket, and studied the note carefully.
It says:
"I have three million florins. You go and buy land in Chicago and New York. Buy whatever you want, as long as you sell it before Christmas, 1836."
There is also a simple contract at the back.
The handwriting is very sloppy, and the handwriting is a bit childish, like it was written by a child.
However, Baron Brooke was not suspicious. After all, it would be great if the Grand Duke in front of him, who was not very good at speaking, could write.
"The real estate market in the United States is indeed good, and I also have acquaintances who operate real estate in the United States. But Archduke Franz Karl, I must remind you that the United States is a barbaric land, and the credit of those barbarians is very questionable. Those lands have risen so much Be quick, sooner or later something will go wrong.”
At that time, Europeans regarded Americans as barbarians, and mainstream European bankers believed that there would be problems if land in the United States rose too fast. However, because everyone believed in free economics, no one came out to stop it.
"I don't care, my son wants to buy it." Archduke Franz Karl said while drinking wine.
"." Baron Brooke was speechless for a while. The little Grand Duke was only 4 years old. He was a very cute child and was playing on the swing.
"It seems that Archduke Franz Karl really drank too much." Baron Brooke thought to himself and asked.
"Do you want to buy it, or does the little Grand Duke want to buy it? How should I fill out this contract?"
Archduke Franz Karl realized something was wrong, so he changed his words.
"I bought it for my son."
Baron Brooke let out a sigh of relief, that's right, it makes sense.
Baron Brooke worked hard on the contract, put the copy into his box, and then handed the original to Archduke Franz Karl.
At this time, Thalia on the side took the contract and examined it carefully.
After confirming that Baron Brooke had not done anything wrong, he put the contract into the box he had prepared in advance.
It was normal to check the contract. On the contrary, Baron Brooke was impressed by the legendary Archduke who was not very smart.
After all, when it comes to land speculation in the United States, people in the industry know that the Duke is definitely visionary and courageous in being able to see this trend and make such a big move.
"Your Excellency, please rest assured that with me, Brooke, you will definitely be able to buy the best quality land. If you have no other instructions, I have an important meeting in the afternoon related to the national finance. You know, we are now Joined the German Zollverein and used money everywhere.”
Archduke Franz Karl motioned for Brooke to sit down, and then poured him another glass of wine.
"Drink and go."
Baron Brooke rarely drank, especially during working hours, but the Archduke's offer was irresistible and he drank the contents of his glass in one gulp.
Archduke Franz Karl watched Baron Brooke leave and made some comments about his temporary drinking partner.
"What a nice guy, but he likes to force himself too much."
At this time, Franz had jumped off the swing and was excited with the contract in his hand.
Franz knew that this three million investment would increase 64 times in the next three years.
This money will be a big boost for Franz in the future, and even better, it will be able to cut the Americans' leeks.
But what made him happiest was that Baron Brooke was, as he thought, a truly honest and reliable man.
Even in the face of such a huge temptation of three million florins, he did not tamper with the contract.
"Er, I think you are abnormal." Archduke Franz Karl spoke first.
"Father, I am normal. You are the one who is abnormal, so you think others are not normal." Franz replied.
Archduke Franz Karl scratched his bald head and felt that what his son said seemed to make sense.
"Don't think too much, drink. I respect you." Franz Joseph raised his juice.
"Well, I don't want to think about it anymore." Archduke Franz Karl seemed to want to say something, but he couldn't think of how to say it.
Franz Joseph answered.
"One drink can solve a thousand worries."
"right!"
The collision of two wine glasses does not mean a thousand words, but it is worth a thousand words.
Thalia was a witness to everything, but she didn't know what she should say, and even if she did, no one would believe it.
At that time, she was kicked out of her family and came to Vienna alone.
Talia disguised herself as a man in order to prove that she was no worse than a man. She passed the exam as a clerk in the Prime Minister's Office, but she took off her men's clothing on a whim.
I thought I would shock everyone with my skills, but I didn't expect that it would arouse the anger of the men present.
Feeling humiliated, the officials and candidates prepared to hang her from a tree. Fortunately, Lady Sophie passed by and the royal guards rescued her.
At this point, she became Franz's tutor, the little Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess were her benefactors, and they were her only support in the palace.
Thalia knew that if she betrayed the little Grand Duke and Grand Duchess, she would lose everything, which was the result that Lady Sophie wanted.
It's just that she didn't expect that the Little Grand Guild was so special. Maybe he was the emperor.