December 11th, 1799. Napoleon sat in his office, surrounded by a mountain of documents on his desk waiting to be sifted through. The room was filled with the scent of freshly-inked official documentation, reports, and correspondences from various departments and ministers of the government.
With a sense of purpose, Napoleon rolled up his sleeves and began to tackle the paperwork before him. Each document represented a piece of the puzzle that was the state of France, and he knew that understanding the intricacies of the nation's affairs was crucial to steering it toward a brighter future.
He started with the financial reports, carefully examining the numbers and figures that laid bare the dire state of the country's treasury. It was a sobering sight, as he realized the extent of the mismanagement and corruption that had left France teetering on the edge of bankruptcy.
Next, he delved into the reports from various ministries, detailing the state of affairs in different regions of the country. From agricultural production to industrial output, from law and order to public services, each report provided a snapshot of the challenges faced by the nation.
As he read through the correspondences, he took note of the various voices and opinions that reached him from all corners of France. Some were words of praise and support, while others were cries for help and grievances.
Amidst the sea of paperwork, Napoleon found moments of inspiration and ideas for potential reforms. He made annotations on the margins of the documents, jotting down his thoughts and plans for each issue he encountered.
He was in the zone, fully immersed in the task at hand. The hours seemed to slip away as Napoleon continued to sift through the mountain of documents. The soft glow of the light bulb illuminated his focused expression, and the occasional crackle of the fireplace provided a comforting ambiance.
And then—it was interrupted by the knock on the door.
Napoleon paused, glancing up from the documents as the door to his office creaked open.
"Oh, it's just my beautiful wife," Napoleon chuckled as Ciela entered the room, her presence bringing a welcome respite to the intense atmosphere. She smiled warmly at him, her eyes reflecting her admiration for his dedication and hard work.
"I hope I'm not disturbing you too much, my love," Ciela said, stepping closer to him.
"Since when did I consider you a disturbance?" Napoleon said, pulling her into an embrace and resting his head on her soft bosoms.
Ciela ran her fingers through his hair affectionately and then glanced at his table.
"That's a lot of documents, more than the documents that I have on my table," Ciela commented.
Napoleon's face cheek sank deeper into her ample bosom and sighed. "Yeah, a lot. Anyways, is there anything I can do for you?"
"Well, darling, you have a visitor. It's your Minister of Finance," Napoleon said.
Napoleon pulled back his head and gazed upward. "He's here?"
"Yes, he's waiting in the drawing room," Ciela confirmed. "Shall I send him in?"
Napoleon nodded, straightening himself in his chair. "Yes, please do."
Ciela gave him a reassuring smile and then left to inform the Minister of Finance of Napoleon's availability. Moments later, Necker entered the office, carrying a stack of documents of his own.
"Ah, Your Excellency, I hope I'm not interrupting anything important," Necker said, glancing at the piles of paperwork on Napoleon's desk.
Napoleon shook his head, gesturing for Necker to take a seat. "Not at all, Necker. Please, have a seat. Your timing is perfect; I could use a moment to clear my head."
Necker took a seat across from Napoleon, placing his documents on the table. "I understand the burden of your responsibilities, Your Excellency. I come bearing the comprehensive report on the government's finances for the last ten years, as promised. And there I found corruption in the National Government and the Directory. I also managed to find out who was responsible as well as evidence to support the claims," Necker continued, his expression serious.
Napoleon grabbed one document and opened it. He perused the contents and scoffed. "Seriously, 10,000 francs for a barrel of water and 15,000 francs for a barrel of gunpowder? This is ridiculous," Napoleon exclaimed in disbelief as he read through the report. The blatant corruption and exorbitant prices charged by certain suppliers were outrageous and appalling.
He continued reading and there he found the Directory selling cannons and rifles to an unknown entity at cheap prices. His jaw clenched as he realized that this was not just a case of a few corrupt individuals; it was a systematic problem that had deeply rooted itself within the government.
"What should we do, Your Excellency?" Necker asked.
Napoleon hummed aloud, contemplating for a second.
Moments later, he spoke. "Hold on to that for now, let's wait for my proclamation tomorrow. Here my position is solidified as the First Consul of France. Once my position is strong enough, that's where we will make our move. Anyways, how is the progress of a centralized bank? I need it now so I can present it to the Senate."
"Ah," Necker whipped out a separate set of documents from his stack. "The proposal for the centralized bank is ready, Your Excellency," Necker replied. "It outlines the structure, functions, and benefits of establishing such an institution to stabilize the country's finances and promote economic growth."
Napoleon leaned forward, eager to review the proposal. As he read through the document, his eyes lit up with approval.
"This is excellent work, Necker," he commended.
One might question, how does a centralized bank help stabilize and improve the economy of France? Well, a centralized bank is instrumental in stabilizing and improving France's economy. It performs a crucial role by exerting monetary control, regulating financial institutions, and managing interest rates. This control over the money supply helps prevent excessive inflation or deflation, resulting in stable prices that empower well-informed financial decisions and foster economic growth.
During financial crises, the centralized bank acts as a lender of last resort, extending emergency funds to banks, thus ensuring the stability of the entire financial system. Its presence fosters confidence and stability, encouraging investment and entrepreneurship, which, in turn, supports business expansion and innovation.
Moreover, the centralized bank takes charge of issuing and managing the nation's currency, facilitating smooth trade and exchange. It also oversees foreign exchange reserves, preserving trade competitiveness. Furthermore, the bank contributes to national development by providing funds for vital infrastructure, education, and social welfare projects, ultimately enhancing the overall quality of life for citizens.
"We are going to call it Banque de France," Necker said, revealing the official name for the proposed centralized bank.
Napoleon nodded, pleased with the choice. It was also the name he had come up with, similar to his original world.
"I will send this to the senate tomorrow and have it established next month. Oh, while you are busy with this centralized bank and finding out the corruption of the government, I also made one reform myself," Napoleon said, as he handed Necker a document.
"What is this?" Necker asked.
"It's a currency reform," Napoleon explained with a hint of excitement in his voice. "I propose a new standardized currency system that will replace the multitude of regional currencies currently in circulation across France. This new system will establish the franc as the official national currency, ensuring uniformity and ease of trade within our borders. During the revolution, we experienced a period of hyperinflation and a lack of confidence in our currency. Various types of assignats were in circulation, and their value plummeted, leading to economic chaos.
With this new currency reform, we will bring stability back to our economy. The new franc will be backed by tangible assets, such as gold and silver reserves, instilling confidence among our citizens and foreign investors. Additionally, we will introduce coinage standardization based on the metric system, ensuring a consistent and rational approach to our currency denominations. The document would explain how we would implement it effectively nationwide. What do you think?"
"Your Excellency, I must say, this is a very bold and much-needed move," Necker replied, studying the details of the currency reform proposal. "How were you able to write in such detail? Is Your Excellency perhaps studying economics or finances?"
"You can say that," Napoleon smiled. The truth was he just copied it from the system.
"Give me a day to vet this, Your Excellency," Necker said.
"Very well."
At this point, Napoleon was focusing his efforts on fixing the economy of France, because it is the prerequisite for his future projects.
"I'll see you tomorrow in my proclamation tomorrow?" Napoleon asked.
"Yes Your Excellency," Necker confirmed. "I'll attend."
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