"Your Excellency Chu, what are you doing about the trade agreement between France and Tang?" Gravier asked him with a smile. （）

Chu Bai has a calm and breezy appearance, as a diplomat's basic connotation, naturally he is moody and angry, in fact, diplomats in the atmosphere of traditional Chinese culture also pay attention to art in speech, and there is a lot of room for speech, such a boring thing as ruthless words is something that a scheming and deep Chinese-style diplomat will not use.

"On this point, the attitude of the Tang Republic is consistent. Datang welcomes any form of free trade, and hopes to develop commercial relations and cultural exchanges with any country that is friendly to Datang, so as to promote the common development and progress of both sides. This set of diplomatic rhetoric originated in Europe at the beginning, but now Europeans are more accustomed to the exchange of interests under the table. This is because the role of international public opinion is still limited at this time, and many powers are not interested in setting up any memorial arches at all, and they naturally don't bother to talk about good words.

Gravier is also a veteran diplomat, he just smiled slightly at Chu Bai's unnutritious words, and he said: "France is very interested in the achievements made by the Tang Dynasty in various fields, especially arms and weapons, which played a major role in defeating the Anglo-Saxons in this North American war. We hope to be able to get something beneficial from Datang, I heard that another Bourbon kingdom, Spain, has already obtained a batch of advanced weapons and machines from Datang before, as an ally of Spain, we France are also very interested. ”

Chu Bai was not surprised by Gravier's proposal, he said: "Datang is happy to make some efforts in the development of France's defense and industrial technology, open to the Spaniards, we have no reason not to open to France, France is a great country, gave birth to many cultures and arts, produced many great people, admirable." ”

But he quickly changed his tone and said, "Of course, in order to avoid some unpleasant imitation problems. We will make some contractual provisions for arms transactions, such as the purchase volume must meet our requirements, and we can also consider handing over your production license if the French purchase quantity is relatively large. At the same time, Datang has always believed that the export of weapons and machinery should only be a small part of bilateral trade, and Datang has produced many products that can make people's lives more convenient. Hope to be able to get a market in France. ”

Gravier grinned: "France's financial resources should not be underestimated, and there is no need to worry about the volume of weapons purchased." We hope to gain access to the production capacity of Datang's wide range of weapons. As for the other goods, the French are also very interested, you see, this watch I have in my hand, made in your country, I think much more refined than the Swiss man-made pocket watch, with a smooth metal case and diamonds in the dial, it is really a work of art. But it was sold to Paris by the Spaniards. The asking price is very aggressive, 8,000 livres. ”

Chu Bai looked at the watch in Gravier's hand, then raised his wrist and said: "Yes, then the Spaniards are really big profiteers, this watch of yours is a product of Longines, a famous watch brand in my country, which was listed the year before last, and the price in our country is about 125 Tang Yuan." Converted to a livre, it is only about 400 livres, of course, considering the freight and tariffs, it must be more than that, but 8000 livres is really a slaughter. Look at my piece, which is also a work of Longines, it is a limited edition. Only 99 pieces were issued worldwide, and it was not as expensive as 8,000 livres. ”

Men obviously have a soft spot for watches, just as women love bags. Watches are still a novelty in European high society, but because of the exquisite shape and accuracy of Datang watches, many aristocrats have flocked to them. Obviously, Gravier is also a man who loves watches, and Chu Bai took off the watch and handed it to Gravier, which was indeed more dazzling and luxurious than the Foreign Secretary's. It even made him a little lovely.

Chu Bai smiled and said: "It is an honor for our Datang products to be loved so much by Mr., so please ask your lord to have this watch." ”

Gravier hurriedly waved his hand and said, "No, this is too precious. ”

Chu Bai shook his head: "It's nothing, although it's very rare, but it's just a matter of my month's salary, and it's worth it to be able to gain your friendship with Mr. Minister." ”

Gravier finally did not hold back, but still carefully wrapped the watch, and said: "Thank you so much for your hospitality, if you have anything, please tell me that I still have some skills in France." ”

Chu Bai smiled: "Then thank you, Mr. Minister." Well, as a high-end custom limited edition watch, they all have a fixed number, and the owner is also on record, and I can notify Longines after I go back and ask them to change the owner to your name. What's more, you can get it repaired and serviced at any Longines watch shop. I recommend that you keep this watch, because it is clear that the longer it is circulated, the more valuable it becomes. ”

Gravier nodded heavily, "It will be one of our family's heirlooms." ”

The topic returns to commerce, in fact, the French have opened up British products into France, and in order to win over Datang, the French do not exclude Datang goods from entering their own market. On the contrary, the French high society has a very strong demand for Datang goods, whether it is the perfume and skin care products and leather bags loved by young ladies and ladies, or the watches, clothing and leather goods loved by men, each of which is now extremely expensive in Paris, because the Spaniards monopolized the way for these Datang luxury goods to enter France. Gravier knew that the French could not refuse these things, so instead of giving up the profits to the Spaniards, it was better to have them shipped directly to France by the Tang people to sell, and even French merchant ships went directly to the Tang Dynasty to buy them.

It can be said that, at least in the eighteenth century, Paris was still the center of Europe, and the British aristocracy, which was still considered to be a scumbag and uneducated country aristocracy, was also filled with a large number of new capitalist factory owners who started by industry or colonial business, all of whom were played by people. They didn't know what art and beauty were, but the French aristocracy knew it. Britain may refuse to import luxury goods from the Tang Dynasty at the level of industrial development and national economy, and maintain its mercantilism. But even France is engaged in similar mercantilism, but in the face of the consumption needs of domestic nobles and even the royal family themselves, they wish they could buy Datang goods in large quantities and cheaper.

Therefore, the trade agreement that Chu Bai negotiated with Gravier was, to some extent, more favorable than the previous negotiations with the Spaniards. The French do not even restrict the berthing of Tang merchant ships in any French port, of course, the customs duty entry fee can not be less, Chu Bai tried to lower the tariffs of the French, but Gravier is still very insistent on this point, Chu Bai thinks that although the tariff level is slightly higher, but Datang is still profitable, so he nodded and agreed.

The advantage of this trade agreement is that France even allows some powerful Datang enterprises to open a limited number of shops in mainland France. Originally, Gravier still hoped to distribute, but Chu Bai found that Gravier's position was not firm, so he fought hard and obtained a total of ten places for direct investment shops, although it was not much, but it was of great significance. The rest are basically sold by French merchants, and it is obvious that some rich aristocrats have been eyeing the distribution rights of some Datang goods, and everyone knows that this is a big golden egg. Chu Bai also won some joint-stock sales terminals, and the number was also not much, but the profits were definitely better than the direct distribution of the French.

Gravier even went so far as to suggest that the watchmaker Longines should open a boutique in Paris. He heard that any of Longines' shops would maintain his watch, so he naturally hoped that Longines could be opened directly in Paris, otherwise if something went wrong, would he send it to Los Angeles to be repaired.

But when Chu Bai got this agreement, he had a feeling that the conspiracy had succeeded. Direct investment in the point of sale, although there are only 10 places, the impact is already enormous. The French, who are not yet commercially developed, don't know what this means, but Chu Bai thought to himself, there is no need for ten, even one, it should be enough for the Tang business community to turn over the clouds in Paris.

That's right, Chu Bai's plan is very direct, to bring the first retail brand of Datang "Lianhua Supermarket" to Paris and open a Tang-funded super hypermarket, from small canned food to luxury goods such as watches and leather goods, almost everything that a person can usually use can be bought here. And almost the entire industrial chain of Datang consumer goods can enter the French market in a big way, and this profit is unimaginable for Chu Bai.

As for other non-ordinary consumer goods, such as production machinery and even construction materials such as cement, Datang has the intention of exporting to France. Take spinning machines as an example, even if Datang does not export to France, the French will also import from the UK, this is the supremacy of profit-oriented capitalism, the British machine factories will not care whether the export of textile machinery will affect their country's position in the textile industry, they only care about their own profits. And Datang is just simply plundering all the markets that can be plundered, because the world is always advancing, and when the Europeans take a small step, Datang is actually already a kilometer away by virtue of its own advantages, so there is nothing to worry about.

Another major breakthrough was that Louis XVI personally authorized the purchase of two large steam warships from Datang to supply the French Navy. Originally, steamships, especially iron-clad warships, would not be sold by Datang, and Chu Bai did not agree, but invited French representatives to Datang for specific negotiations. Because there is already a relevant atmosphere in the country, it seems that it is not too much of a problem to sell warships with inferior performance. (To be continued.) If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for the recommendation ticket, your support is my biggest motivation. )