My America-Chapter 36 - : The Deal

What France needs now is capital export. For financial bankers, profit is far more important than anything else, but sooner or later they will realize that true strength lies in the power of the homeland.

To be precise, the time when European countries recognized that the United States might pose a challenge to Europe's dominance was still some way off, not now. In the eyes of European nations, the United States was still a militarily weak former colony.

The realization that the United States posed a threat came after the Spanish-American War, when the United States, in its nascent form, defeated the declining Spanish Empire, delivering a powerful shock to European countries. It was then that the "American Threat" began to dominate headlines and become the mainstream public opinion in these countries.

It was also the result of the United States defeating the Spanish Empire that made these European nations realize the importance of homeland strength. A colony is just a colony; its power cannot replace the status of the homeland.

After this, European countries changed their understanding of territory, began to strengthen homeland construction, and their expansion goals shifted from competing for colonies to defeating enemies and invading each other's homelands.

As observers in late 19th-century Europe admitted, the United States, as a pioneer of this new territorial concept, rationally utilized its human resources, technology, and social systems to maximize the extraction of North America's natural resources and consolidate the market's dominant position in domestic economic activities.

The war in which the United States defeated Spain marked that European countries were not invincible. Later, when an island nation defeated the Russian Empire, it showed that white nations were not invincible either. Both wars were of great significance.

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At present, European countries do not have a unified view of the United States. Some see the United States in America as a threat, with vast territory and a large population. Others think that the military power of the United States is not strong, especially the French, who are far more wary of Britain and Germany than of the United States.

On European issues, the French are wary of Germany, and on global issues, relations between the French and the British are poor. The Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente are still forming, and the French cannot yet judge whether the British or the Germans are worse.

The United States is naturally no longer the invisible entity it once was, but it is still some time before it becomes the target of everyone's arrows. After Sheffield gained some understanding of the dark side of Paris that couldn't see the light, witnessing some transactions between old men and young women, he felt he could do something.

"Men are all like this!" Sheffield took pleasure in others' pain, enjoying finding places where others were inferior to him. This was his personal hobby. However, this time he was a bit out of place, not considering that a countess's daughter was following him.

This way of browsing through Paris's red-light district in this era seemed, in Annie's eyes, as if it were directed at her. Was he making her take the initiative? How could she encounter such a shameless person on her first outing with a man?

A decadent imperialist country! Sheffield finally understood why the old man chose to settle in Paris. The old man and girl pairing he saw when he first arrived in Paris was indeed normal.

"Because you are talking to me in English, did you see the hostility from that woman just now? What is this? Patriotism? Clearly, she was here to sell herself!" Although Sheffield was just wandering around casually, it didn't mean he hadn't observed anything. After leaving a distance, he exaggeratedly gestured, "Do they all possess the pride of the French people? Selling art but not bodies?"

"Maybe?" Annie's face flushed, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into. This bastard was hinting at her taking the initiative again, damn American hick.

The French are indeed proud. Their thirst for greatness and sublimity and their national pride have always surpassed their belief in liberty, equality, and fraternity. Between the weakness of the republic and the grandeur of the empire, the proud French have never hesitated to choose the latter.

The French love freedom more than any other nation, but they can also redefine the meaning of freedom according to practical needs. The French can shed blood for democracy, but they can also wholeheartedly sing praises for the monarchy. The French can abolish slavery early for the sake of fraternity, but they can also build a colonial empire.

Sheffield thought, this is simply double standards. The French mindset values strength over life. He estimated that in Europe, only the gray livestock under the Russian Empire were more twisted than them. No wonder France and the Russian Empire have always had good relations; they share a common language.

"Since they are proud, I will flatter them and manipulate public opinion a bit." After walking around, Sheffield had made a decision and asked gentlemanly, "Which is the most influential newspaper?"

"Le Figaro!" Although she thought Sheffield's question was a bit abrupt, the girl still answered.

Le Figaro was founded in 1826, its name derived from the protagonist Figaro in the famous play "The Marriage of Figaro" by French playwright Beaumarchais. Its motto is well-known worldwide: "Without the freedom to criticize, praise is meaningless." In the hearts of the French, especially Parisians, Le Figaro has a very strong influence.

When Sheffield returned to the apartment, the guests had not yet left. Harry Sheffield nodded at the two who came in, pointed to the stairs to let them go up, and continued discussing matters.

"Mr. Fernand! Le Figaro has a strong influence among the Parisian nobility and the propertied class. Our Secretary of State is currently visiting Paris. As a citizen of the United States, I have something to say to all French citizens, and I need your help." Rich Martin came to Le Figaro and met the current editor-in-chief of Le Figaro, Fernand Rodet, "The long-standing friendship between France and the United States, though it has had its ups and downs, will not fade. We believe that in this world, if the British fall into madness, only the French can bring them back to their senses."

"Dear Mr. Martin, you must understand that as an objective and neutral newspaper, Le Figaro will not abuse its influence. Moreover, tomorrow's content has already been edited," Fernand Rodet, with his fingers crossed on the table, politely declined, "I'm afraid I can't help with this matter."

Rich Martin sighed, knowing that things wouldn't go smoothly from the start. He reached out, "Five thousand francs!"

"Deal!" A glint flashed in Fernand Rodet's eyes behind his glasses, and with his characteristic refinement, he spoke.

(End of Chapter)