Turn back two months. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

November, 1867.

Valencia, Spain.

The sky was overcast, the lead clouds were low, and there was a faint rain in the air.

Lucas doesn't have any special feelings about today's weather, but it's a rare day for the locals – Valencia is Spain's gateway to the Mediterranean, with plenty of sunshine all year round, with more than 300 days of sunshine in a year.

Under the towering Migale Tower, Lucas raised his head and muttered a little in his heart: As the bell tower of the Bishop of Valencia, this Migale Tower is too thick, right? The main building of the church next to it is not very conspicuous.

"Excuse me," said Lucas, "is this 'Tower of Michael' named after St. Michael?" ”

"Yes, sir," said the monk who led the way, "you are very knowledgeable. ”

Profound? You're really good at talking, it's a human guess.

"How tall is this tower?"

The monk knew what the guest was asking, "Sixty-three meters - two hundred and seven steps." ”

Two hundred and seven? Good guys, some climbed.

However, from this arrangement, it can also be seen that the people who are going to meet today are cautious -- they are talking at the top of the tower, and there is no risk of being overheard and leaked.

Climbing to the top of the tower in one breath, the strong Lucas was slightly out of breath, but the thin monk breathed as usual, no different from when he was at the bottom of the tower.

"General, the guest has arrived."

A tall man stood by the battlement, he turned and held out his hand to Lucas, his voice low and magnetic:

"Mr. Lucas, it's a good thing."

His German sounded awkward, though.

Lucas took two quick steps and shook the other's hand, "General Prim, long Yang." ”

"General," said the monk, "Mr. Lucas speaks English and French very fluently. ”

General Prim smiled and switched to French, "Thankfully—I'm not very talented in language. ”

"You're too modest," Lucas changed to French, "your German is much better than my Spanish." ”

Prim smiled, then looked at the monk.

The monk bowed slightly, turned and went downstairs.

The smile on Prim's face vanished, a sharp glow from his sunken eye sockets, and a knife stabbed into Lucas's face.

Lucas was very calm, "General, you are known for your honesty, integrity, strength and courage, and it is my honor to meet you in Valencia. Oh, by the way, as far as I know, this city has always been known as the 'City of Strength and Courage', and you have made it your home base, really...... Complement each other. ”

A faint smile returned to Prim's face, "Mr. Lucas, you have a good reputation, but Valencia is indeed a 'city of strength and courage'. ”

"It will be a city of luck, a city of glory, a city of freedom, a city of revolution."

"Freedom? Revolution? Prime's smile was mixed with a hint of mockery, "I don't think the Germans, especially the Prussians, would like these two words." ”

"I'm a businessman," Lucas shrugged, "besides, there's a France between Spain and Germany. ”

Prim's eyes jumped slightly, "Mr. Lucas, you must not be an ordinary businessman - I mean, you must be a great businessman. ”

Lucas smiled, "Maybe- ah, I'm sorry, I'm so immodest." ”

"No, I appreciate your straightforwardness."

"General," Lucas said, "we're all straightforward people—"

After a slight pause, "In that case, please allow me to get straight to the point." ”

"Please."

Lucas slowed down slightly, making every word he said clear:

"If, within three months, you can carry out a coup d'état and overthrow the corrupt rule of your queen, then Citibank will provide financial support for your righteous action; Citibank will then lead the formation of a syndicate of banks to provide adequate financial support for your new government. ”

Although the intermediary had already made a vague hint, when he heard the representative of Citibank say it himself, Prim's eyes were still bright.

"Mr. Lucas," he said, staring into the other's eyes, "how can you be sure...... I thought, well, I'm going to make a coup d'état? ”

"General," said Lucas with a smile, "this matter doesn't seem to be a secret in Spain, does it?" In fact, you've participated in and planned many uprisings or coups—"

"In 1843 you took part in the uprising against the regent Espatero - the uprising was successful, you became the administrator of Madrid, and you were promoted to major general."

"It didn't take long for you to plot to overthrow the government of moderate leader Navaez, and this time, your luck was not good, and you were arrested and exiled to the Philippines - of course, you were later pardoned."

"In 1866, the last year, you again plotted a coup d'état to remove Isabella II from the throne, but unfortunately you failed again, but you had a little better luck than the last time - you escaped in time and went into exile."

"You will be ambitious, and when the time is right, you will quietly return to your country - otherwise, we would not meet today in this 'city of strength and courage.'"

Prime's nose twitched slightly, "Mr. Lucas, it seems that you did some homework before your trip to Spain." ”

"I hope you don't mind if I pay attention to you—" Lucas said, "you know, I'm a businessman, and I have to do my research on my customers before I lend. ”

After a pause, "You do not lack strength or courage, but you lack money - this is the most important reason why you have failed to overthrow the government of Navaez, and why you have failed to remove Isabella II from the throne." General, am I right? ”

Prim didn't speak, and after a while, nodded slowly.

"So," Lucas said, "I believe that Citibank's proposal is valuable to you." ”

"Thank you for your kindness," Prim said, "but why did you come here because you were willing to lend money to me and the new Spanish government?" ”

"Interest!" Lucas smiled and said, "General, you won't tell me that you and your new government don't plan to pay interest, do you?" Our interest is very self-denial, but it can't be called usury! ”

"No, no," Prim was a little embarrassed, "I didn't mean that, I mean—"

It's hard to put words into words.

"I see what you mean," said Lucas, "and in fact, I know that you have been seeking financial support at home and abroad, but unfortunately you have received very little in this regard—"

After a pause, "I can't blame you for this, it's really because before, the credit of the Spanish royal family and government was too bad, too bad!" In the eyes of bankers, there is no real difference between conservatives, moderates, and liberals -- none of them will pay back, or rather, none of them will pay back. ”

Prim breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Lucas with a puzzled gaze, "So ...... you are in business?"

"I certainly have a responsibility to shareholders and depositors," Lucas said, "to keep the risk of every loan within an acceptable level."

After a pause, "Since I can't bet on the credit of the new Spanish government, then—"

Speaking of this, he smiled apologetically, "General, I have no intention of offending. ”

"It's okay," Prim smiled wryly, "you're just stating a fact, and besides, I can neither deny it nor ...... Well, for the time being there is no power to change a fact. ”

"Thank you for your understanding."

After a brief pause, Lucas picked up his words, "Then I'm going to think of a way to hedge the risk of the loan - this loan has a condition attached." ”

"Oh? Please speak. ”

"The coup d'état was successful, Isabella II was overthrown," Lucas said, "and it must not be her son, Prince Alfonso, who will take over the throne, right?" ”

"It's natural—in fact, the Bourbons, they're not in the picture, otherwise why would I carry out a coup d'état?"

"Yes," said Lucas, "Spain would not have been where it is today if it had not been for the corruption and incompetence of the Bourbons—and the new king would have had to be chosen from among the foreign nobility, right?" ”

"Not bad."

"That being the case, I would like to recommend you a candidate."

Prim's eyes suddenly shot a compelling light, "Citibank wants to interfere in Spain's succession?" ”

Lucas said calmly, "General, I said that I am just a businessman, it is a businessman's duty to pursue profits, and it is the nature of a businessman to bargain, I can make a price all over the place, and you can pay back on the spot - that's all." ”

The glint in Prim's eyes slowly faded, "Okay, tell me - which nobleman?" ”

"Prince Leopold."

Leopold ...... Leopold of the House of Hohenzollern? ”

"Yes."

The Hohenzollerns were the most important ruling family in Germany, and the Prussian kings and a number of German princes were all from the Hohenzollerns.

"Hmm...... Which Prince Leopold? ”

Lucas smiled, "There are too many people named Leopold in the Hohenzollern family, what a troublesome thing - Prince Leopold of Bavaria, born in 1846, is twenty-one years old this year. ”

The light in Prim's eyes came out again, "I understand something, Mr. Lucas—you are a merchant, but, after all, you are a Prussian merchant. ”

"General," Lucas shook his head, "it really has nothing to do with whether I am Prussian or not, except that the Prussian government is willing to guarantee this loan from Citibank." ”

Prim stared at Lucas, shifting, and nodded, "I get it." ”

He turned his back and faced the old town of Valencia.

The rain was a little heavier, and the wind carried the raindrops, jumped into the bell tower, and hit him in the face and body.

Although it is southern Europe and the Mediterranean, in late November, it is cloudy and cold.

Prim remained motionless.

Lucas didn't speak, waited patiently.

After about five minutes, Prim turned around.

"I have heard of this prince," he said slowly, "a humble, studious, honest, upright young man, without the slightest hint of arrogance, and to tell the truth, if he were to be king of Spain, as far as I am concerned, he would be a suitable man." ”

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