Life of Being a Crown Prince in France-Chapter 749 - 657 Political Gains

Chapter 749: Chapter 657: Political Gains

Chapter 749: Chapter 657: Political Gains

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Aureol had recently received 50,000 British Pounds from the “Abolitionist Alliance” of Santo Domingo — indeed, the very money the British had previously paid to Mr. Brissot — which he used to purchase logistical supplies needed by his troops.

Later, when the Governor of Jamaica sent troops to reinforce the Bahamas, he seized the opportunity to attack Kingston again.

Jones, carrying a vow of vengeance and 50,000 British Pounds, returned to Barbados.

He had thought he would need to lie low for a while before he could restart his great endeavour of uprising, yet he hadn’t expected the British to leave Barbados so soon to support the Bahamas.

Soon after, he began leading hundreds of black soldiers in raids on sugarcane plantations.

The whole Caribbean Sea Region’s independence movement surged like a colossal wave rising in a hurricane, unstoppable in its momentum.

In the officer’s meeting room on the British Expeditionary Force’s third-rate battleship “Black Mountains,” General Brand, his hands pressed against the table, bellowed at Colonel Galisonnière sitting across from him, “If not for your incompetence and cowardice, we would not have been defeated by those damned blacks! You, and the French Government, are wholly responsible for the situation in the Bahamas!”

He glanced at the Spanish Commander Garcia Cortes, obviously seeking his support.

Colonel Galisonnière scoffed and retorted loudly, “Who bribed that greedy envoy, ordering my troops to leave Magua Fortress to reinforce Nassau?

“It was you!

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“Your foolish actions led to the fall of Magua. My soldiers learned they had lost their supply base, which crushed their morale, and they were just then ambushed by those blacks.

“You should be responsible for all of this!”

Cortes also looked toward Brand, “We should have reinforced Magua first. It has been proven that your combat deployment was wrong.”

“You, you all…”

Colonel Galisonnière coldly interrupted him, “Our government will lodge a protest with England over this matter!”

Cortes shook his head, “General Brand, your series of mistakes has led the entire Caribbean into chaos…”

At the same time, the Saint Domingue Republic finally elected its first president.

Vincent Ore was unsurprisingly elected by a high margin.

On the day following his inauguration, he and other high-ranking government officials held an extremely important meeting with Brissot in the Parliament House.

“There is no doubt, this is a victory for liberty and equality!” Brissot began with a fervent speech, “And this place, is a great and hopeful nation. Congratulations to you, congratulations to the Saint Domingue Republic!”

“This is all due to His Majesty the King’s mercy, and the guidance of the Crown Prince,” Ore hurriedly replied politely, “Saint Domingue, and all the liberated people of the Caribbean, will forever remember them!”

Other Saint Domingue officials also spoke excitedly, expressing their gratitude to France.

After the formalities, Ore moved to the main topic, “Honored envoy, as you know, the newly established republic still faces enormous challenges.

“First of all, there are military threats from England and Spain.”

He wasn’t exaggerating. Although Saint Domingue was a French colony, it was currently the hub of the abolitionist movement in the Caribbean. To suppress the abolitionist organizations in their own colonies, the British would need to eliminate this “command center” first.

Therefore, it was likely that the next batch of the British expeditionary force arriving in the Caribbean would attack Saint Domingue first.

At the same time, Spain, to protect its own Juan Island from the influence of the abolitionist movement, might also join the British action.

Brissot nodded, smiling slightly, “Since our expeditionary force has already surrendered, all their weapons and equipment will be left to you. This is enough to arm an army of tens of thousands.

“I will also make a trip to the United States soon, trying to procure some more weapons.

“You need to use these few months to recruit as many soldiers as possible.

“And I believe that other regional rebel armies will also try to reinforce you.”

“Thank you for your generosity!” a middle-aged, somewhat bald mixed-race man stood up, “But such a large army, our Congress simply can’t afford enough military expenses to maintain it.”

Brissot knew he was the new Saint Domingue Finance Minister Straw, and immediately nodded, “You don’t need to worry about that, actually the Crown Prince has already approved a loan of 5 million francs to Saint Domingue. This will be enough to help you defeat the British.”

5 million francs for military expenses were nothing in Europe, but in the Caribbean, it was a substantial amount — black soldiers almost needed no wages, only food and lodging, and they would willingly take up arms against the British. Because if they lost, they would have to return to the plantations as slaves, or even be strangled directly by the British.

At the same time, military supplies like uniforms, leather boots, and tents could also be spared.

All 5 million could be spent on buying food and ammunition, enough for an army of 10,000 to last a year or two.

Ore and others immediately showed excitement, “This is wonderful!”

“With these military funds, we will surely be able to hold Saint Domingue!”

“Thanks to the Crown Prince, thanks to the leader of freedom!”

Straw cautiously asked, “Mr. Brissot, what is the interest rate for this loan? You know, after such turmoil, Saint Domingue’s financial situation is probably very tight.”

“33%,” Brissot said, “The risk of default by Saint Domingue is very high, and it was hard for the prince to get the banks to push the interest rate any lower.”

Straw silently nodded. He knew that as a newly established nation, having to contend with England, it was impossible for any country other than France to be willing to lend to them.

But such a high interest rate was nearly unbearable for Saint Domingue.

Brissot seemed to see his concern and continued, “Of course, the prince knows your financial situation might not be so good, so he also has another loan scheme.”

————

In such circumstances, Batu had seized a historical opportunity. The duchies of Poland, driven by a common fear, were also forced to band together against the Mongol forces. Boleslav IV now resided in the capital, Krakow. He seldom left the capital, not out of laziness, but because his actual control was only over the capital and some nearby areas, limiting his range of activity. In the duchies of Poland, the most powerful was Boleslav IV’s uncle, Henry II. Henry II controlled Silesia on the border of Poland and Germany, commanding the widest territory and strongest power among all the duchies.

There were also three other duchies. Their strength was weaker than Henry II but stronger than Boleslav IV. They were all stationed along the Vistula River.