"Understood!" Sheffield lazily held the phone with his neck, lounging in his chair. "This matter doesn't need to be rushed. We can wait until the Secretary of State leaves Paris. After all, my goals don't align with the nation's."
With his legs crossed, Sheffield displayed the ugly face of the bourgeoisie, clearly separating himself from the United States. In fact, the article he hoped to publish was, in tone, almost fawning—specifically crafted to flatter the French people at their highest points. If this were the modern internet age, it might even be considered an insult to America.
However, in the 19th century, few American commoners could afford to travel to Europe, so he wasn't worried about backlash. Still, out of respect for the Democratic administration and given the timing of the U.S.'s standoff with Britain over Venezuela, it would be better to wait until the Secretary of State left Paris for the next country.
Flattery toward France at this time didn't hurt either. The French deserved praise—this was the era when their desire for revenge against Germany began to rise. This wasn't empty patriotism but was backed by real action.
During the reign of Wilhelm II, the German Empire was undoubtedly the king of land powers. The French army, which bore the brunt of the German forces on the Western Front, truly fought to the bitter end.
But such relentless fighting came with significant repercussions. Not only did France suffer five million casualties, but its reputation as a "usury imperialism" was shattered, leaving it bankrupt by World War II. By then, France no longer wanted another Pyrrhic victory.
Only pain brings reflection—but France couldn't feel that yet. After the Secretary of State's delegation departed for Imperial Russia, *Le Figaro*'s front page finally featured an article by an American named "Sam," reflecting on France and its people. The article briefly recalled the traditional friendship between the U.S. and France, glossing over America's opportunistic actions during France's hardships.
"If there's one nation that can humble Britain, it's France."
"Louis XVI is the true father of the United States. Without His Majesty's support, there would be no United States today."
Anne read the front-page article in *Le Figaro*, a loyal supporter of the newspaper. She knew its usual style—so why had such an article appeared?
The flattery in the piece was unmistakably Sheffield's work. Who else could use the "Founding Father" trope like that? Besides, he wasn't wrong—France had indeed played a major role in the American Revolutionary War. Wasn't it a fact?
As for how such an article appeared in a reputable newspaper, the answer was simple: money! Five thousand gold francs. In this era, the gold franc was no less valuable than the pound and was widely used in international settlements. Many international organizations and conventions adopted the franc as their standard currency. When the Universal Postal Union was founded, the postal convention stipulated the use of francs to establish unified international postal rates and settle accounts between member states.
Did people think "usury imperialism" was just mockery? Wherever pounds were accepted, francs were too. Britain and France were practically interchangeable in this regard.
Seeing Sheffield nodding repeatedly, Anne set down the newspaper and asked, "You don't seem angry at all?"
"Why should I be? It's beautifully written!" Sheffield replied with feigned surprise. "I believe great France deserves such praise—it's a fact."
"I thought someone like you would find this report inappropriate," Anne hesitated. "After all, it portrays America as weak, and you're an American citizen."
"You're overthinking it—I'm not that kind of commoner," Sheffield smirked. "As long as someone offers a price the Sheffield family can't refuse, selling out the country isn't impossible."
After all, the Sheffield family had once been agents of the British Empire—voluntarily so. As long as there was profit, flattering the French wasn't a problem. As for what patriotic Americans thought, who cared? Few of those commoners could even leave the country. Besides, who could prove it was him insulting America?
Evidence? You can eat anything, but you can't say anything reckless. Criticizing the U.S. government was fine, but insulting him was different—it had entirely different consequences. The federal government wouldn't act against a commoner, but he might.
Lately, the old man seemed to be at his most industrious moment in life. Besides handling patent authorizations, he was also arranging French investments in the U.S., acting like a seasoned professional. He got along well with Parisian financiers and bankers, as if he'd done this many times before.
From Rich Martin, Sheffield learned that the reason the French branch hadn't suffered annual losses during the old man's decades in Paris was due to his unique skills.
In the late 19th century, the United States was a typical debtor nation, relying on foreign investment for development. It owed Europe nearly $30 billion, with France—the "usury imperialism"—ranking second. Naturally, the top creditor was London, the global economic center, holding more than a third of America's debt.
The U.S.'s military strength didn't match its industrial power, but these old empires assumed America lacked the ability to default. Moreover, with rapid development, their investments yielded substantial returns.
Sheffield suddenly recalled something the Old Master had once said: "Families like Rockefeller and Morgan might slightly surpass us in assets within the United States. But when considering everything else, our family alone surpasses them. It's just that we don't have publicly listed companies—we don't issue stocks or raise funds in New York."
Now it seemed the Sheffield family's financing likely occurred in places like London and Paris.
"Recently, I've consulted some legal friends and studied French patent law. We've made some progress," Harry Sheffield said late at night, returning to the apartment reeking of alcohol and perfume. He recounted his efforts: "Transferring patent rights through the Ministry of Justice poses no obstacles under French patent law. My idea is to secure a loan from the Banque de France to cover the costs of the patent transfer. Part of the loan will go directly to the transfer fees, and the rest will serve as investment. The recent favorable public opinion has also helped."
"The collateral includes various grains and meat products, which may require comprehensive consideration from Texas."
After hearing the old man explain the entire process, Sheffield was genuinely surprised. The old man was capable after all.
"I, your father, am a bachelor of business administration from Texas," Harry boasted, hands on his hips, looking down on everyone.
"And you have many girlfriends," Sheffield mentally added. Then he heard the old man lower his voice: "I've created so many opportunities for you. Have you succeeded yet?"
(End of Chapter)