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Chapter 181: Industrial Espionage
🕑 Added 2025-01-08 21:10:00 +0000 UTCChapter 181: Industrial Espionage
Currently, the French Reserve Bank is the major shareholder in the seven banks owned by Lido and his associates, giving them the right to examine their accounts at any time.
Joseph remembered that a few months ago, a certain girl had mentioned to him that several French banks had made substantial investments in the British textile industry. So, he decided to look into it, and as it turns out, those seven banks were indeed involved.
Upon hearing this, Marquis Lido jumped up from his chair.
He had been so overwhelmed by the Necker case recently that he had completely forgotten about their investments in Britain! Even the beggars in Paris knew that France and Britain were at odds, with Britain having seized France's colonies in India and North America. Now, he had taken French money and invested it in Britain. This could be considered treason.
Marquis Lido wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, staring nervously at his shoes. "Your Highness, this... this was a mistake. I'll immediately withdraw all the investments from Britain and... and put everything into the Industrial Development Fund!"
Joseph flipped through the documents in his hand, gesturing for him to sit down. "Hmm, with a 15% fixed annual interest rate and profit-sharing, the returns must exceed 20%."
Lido's face turned pale. He was about to plead again when the Prince continued, "Such a good investment doesn't need to be withdrawn in a hurry, but it must be put to good use."
Lido cautiously asked, "What do you mean, Your Highness?"
Joseph motioned for him to sit again. "You don't need to be so nervous. You and Count Kapfel, along with others, have invested over 20 million livres in the British automatic loom industry, making you major shareholders. With such a significant investment, it's only reasonable for a shareholder to visit Britain and check on the operations, right?"
Marquis Lido, barely perched on the edge of his chair, nodded. "Yes, yes, that's reasonable."
"Good," Joseph smiled. "I need you, as a shareholder, to bring me back a few of the latest automatic looms from Britain. I'll also need some technicians familiar with the loom's structure and workers who know how to operate them."
Lido's jaw dropped. It took him a while before he could finally stammer, "You... you want me to be an industrial spy?"
Joseph waved his hand dismissively. "That's not the right way to put it. France has invested a large sum of money in the British; it's only fair to verify whether their technology is as advanced as they claim. Oh, and I'll send some of the Secret Police with you. All you need to do is use your position as a shareholder to gather information about the British factories. The rest will be handled by the agents."
Lido had spent his entire life counting money in his bank. He had never done anything like this before, and his mind was racing. But when he saw the Prince's eyes turn cold, he realized he had no choice. He might get caught stealing British looms and face a few years in prison—perhaps even buy his way out. But if he refused, he would end up in the Bastille right now.
Marquis Lido swallowed hard and reluctantly nodded. "Alright, alright, Your Highness. I'll go to Britain and make sure to bring back what you need!"
When he returned home, deep in thought, Count Kapfel and others quickly gathered around, asking what the Prince had wanted from him.
Since Lido was about to become an industrial spy, he naturally didn't want too many people to know, so he made up an excuse about bank accounting issues. The other banking giants didn't suspect anything and instead brought out their plan to deal with Necker for him to review. But Marquis Lido, with his mind preoccupied with the British looms, was too distracted to pay much attention, merely nodding along absentmindedly.
...
Four days later, three inconspicuous carriages left the Bastille, taking a long, winding route through Paris before finally leaving the city under the cover of darkness.
Trailing them from a distance was a man dressed as a postman, following on horseback and occasionally leaving markers.
The three carriages headed northeast, carrying Necker and his family. He had ultimately decided to go into exile in Lorraine, as it was closer to Switzerland, where his friends might be able to help him.
The hot wind blowing through the carriage window only added to Necker's frustration. After all his years of hard work, here he was, sneaking out of Paris in the dead of night like a common criminal.
He gritted his teeth in anger, thinking, This is all Carona's fault! I swear, I'll make him suffer even more than I have!
By dusk the next day, the escort team arrived in Sommerdier. The officer in charge, a Secret Police agent named Lange, checked the time and realized they wouldn't make it to the next town before nightfall. So, he ordered his men to take a break at the town hall's inn.
Once Necker was settled, Lange and his men started playing cards in the outer room.
After a while, another Secret Police agent came in and whispered something in Lange's ear. Lange nodded, grabbed a bottle of wine, and began drinking with his men. Meanwhile, the guards stationed behind the house also started drinking.
When night had fully fallen, a rundown carriage stopped across the street from the Sommerdier Town Hall. A few men dressed as merchants got out.
The "postman" quickly approached them, head down, and whispered, "This is a good opportunity. Those Secret Police agents are all drinking."
The "merchant" nodded and signaled his companions to grab their weapons and disembark. They quietly climbed over the eastern wall of the town hall.
The street lamps had already been extinguished by the "postman," and the three "merchants" smoothly pried open the main door and slipped inside.
These men were seasoned killers, and they moved silently as they located Necker's room, only to find the Secret Police guards drunk and slumped over.
The leader of the killers grinned and lit a torch, deftly sidestepping the guards and signaling to his men.
They drew their swords, gently opened the bedroom door, and rushed in, stabbing the figure in the bed more than a dozen times before stopping.
The leader held the torch close to the bed, confirming that it was indeed Necker. He immediately signaled for his men to retreat.
They couldn't believe how easily they had completed this job, which was worth a hefty 30,000 livres. Already thinking about how they would spend the fortune, they exited the town hall.
"Wait!"
The leader suddenly halted. His years of experience as an assassin told him something was wrong. But before they could react, dozens of torches suddenly flared up around them, revealing the barrels of countless muskets pointed directly at them.
...
Marquis Lido hadn't expected his mission to go so smoothly.
Within just two days of arriving in Britain, a manager from a textile factory had enthusiastically shown him the entire automated loom operation.
He had also spent a hefty sum bribing two technicians responsible for maintaining the looms.
After making the necessary preparations, Prosper from the Secret Police led a team to stealthily remove an automated loom in the dead of night—it was bolted to a waterwheel, and without the help of professional technicians, it would have been impossible to dismantle it properly. They transported the loom through Britain's inland waterways to Dover, where it was loaded onto a waiting ship.
(End of Chapter)
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