'Relocating' Supplies and Troops to America
June 15, 1775, France, Versailles Palace.
"America has risen in rebellion against Britain."
The American Revolutionary War, eh? Military generals—and Lafayette should have been seated in the middle ranks by seniority, but he was relegated to the back due to the glares from the other generals—and administrative officials chimed in about the American War of Independence.
This is our chance to straighten out Britain's attitude. Let's send massive supplies and troops to America and liberate all the British colonies!
Are you mad? Nouvelle France is legitimate French territory!
Then how about a compromise: we secure Nouvelle France in exchange for American independence?
Genius, my lord!
American independence is utterly just. I, Lafayette, will gladly lead the vanguard of the expeditionary force and fight for liberty!
Most were in favor of supporting the war. Dissenting voices cropped up now and then, but they came from the conservative old guard centered on the Second Estate. Ironically, the more conservative they were, the stronger their zeal for intervention.
Hmm... From what I remember, France joined the American Revolutionary War at this point and ended up breaking its back under the weight of military spending...
I'd have to buy Korean ginseng from the Qing Dynasty too, it seemed.
"I understand your opinions well. But if we rush into direct intervention, we'll clash head-on with the mighty British navy, and our boys will die pointlessly, won't they?"
My words doused the conference room like a bucket of cold water, cooling the atmosphere. Still, it wasn't entirely futile; the military and officials began to think.
"I believe we should not intervene directly in this war."
Some officials nodded in agreement at my outright opposition to direct involvement, but most in the military and bureaucracy let out sighs of betrayal. Tears welled up in Lafayette's eyes.
What, did they think a reformist monarch like me would love American liberty, equality, and fraternity?
"First, there's the matter of finances. Military funds don't fall from the sky. Someone has to pay taxes for it. If you gentlemen foot the bill instead, I might consider direct intervention. But can you? When you don't even pay your own taxes properly?"
Finances were infinite for me, but this was a chance to give the nobles a nudge. The more alibis, the better.
"Second, direct intervention risks Britain blockading French seas."
And I knew full well how strong the British navy was—right up until the Washington Naval Treaty after World War I, no one messed with it lightly.
"Third, going in alone would cost too much blood."
And above all...
People in this era might not realize it, but meddling in someone else's war is never a good idea.
"So, here are some compromises. First, France's direct intervention must wait until we've forged an anti-British alliance. Spain, Russia—plenty of options. Spain especially has a grand fleet to counter the British navy, so it's essential for the alliance."
"By then, America will have been crushed! The militia besieging Boston is just a ragtag bunch with courage and lives to spare—no proper commanders!"
Damn. If you're that eager for war, go fight alone.
I'd send him eventually for real combat experience, but right now? He'd get weeded out by natural selection.
"Major General Lafayette. As director of the Army Doctrine Research Institute, how about recruiting volunteers and leading them to America as volunteer commander? You can test military doctrines in real combat while you're at it."
That should get the point across.
"Your Majesty's command! I shall obey!"
Why?!
June 23, 1775. France, Tuileries Palace, the king's office.
The meeting wrapped up smoothly. There were no real opponents to begin with. The conservatives were bloodthirsty for screwing over Britain, and the reformers saw supporting American independence as a moral duty.
Lafayette—that guy; I'd wondered where he got the idea, but it was the American Revolutionary War. He'd probably desert and join the volunteers. Typical nobles of this era: brains short on reason, overflowing with romance. Dumbasses.
But I liked those dumbasses.
"Terray. Set up another ghost company for American Revolutionary War support. Issue two-year notes at 40% interest. And America needs bonds to fund the war, right? Doesn't matter if it's Continental currency or bonds—let's snap up 40% of whatever they issue."
"Your Majesty. Didn't you promise them a loan too?"
"That's just pretext to reclaim Nouvelle France. If we lend money, we have to get something back."
"Nouvelle France is Spanish territory, but... before that, the notes are ballooning. Even the combined GDP of all Europe couldn't cover their face value."
Already? Still two years left.
"But we're not the ones repaying them."
"Eyes exist, Your Majesty. Some nobles have caught on to the sham."
"Then they shouldn't buy."
"They do."
"Problem solved."
Investors bet on odds, speculators on the pot size. Greenhorn gamblers like nobles would strut confidently about scalping even knowing it's stock manipulation.
"Still, we can't just default entirely—repay some notes with the proceeds from selling others now and then. Bourgeoisie will buy even if nobles won't."
"Your Majesty. Won't that endanger the Third Estate's base at home?"
True enough. The notes were issued to save the Third Estate, after all.
No way for the domestic Third Estate to avoid Qing trade company notes...
"Force companies to list publicly and take investments. Corporate bonds will dwindle, capital will legitimize, underground money will shrink."
I vaguely remembered it from history class—Park Chung-hee? No, Kim Young-sam? Financial stuff, so Kim Young-sam? Whoever, forced listings kill corporate bonds.
Cramming education pays off sometimes.
"There'll be massive backlash."
"We have ways."
Channeling Churchill.
"Enact labor laws."
To keep unions from rioting, start with labor laws. And mounted police... hm, a wicked thought crosses my mind.
Now I see why Adam Smith was called a radical here. Fourteen-hour days drew no complaints, no minimum wage. Apprenticeships meant paying to slave away for decades peeking over shoulders at skills like blacksmithing.
21st-century Korea had remnants, but nothing like this.
Time for decisive national normalization.
"Eight-hour days, minimum wage, union formation, guaranteed breaks, meal times. Establish a Labor Ministry and assign bureaucrats."
Center-right policy, that.
"Your Majesty. Seriously, do you think that's feasible?"
Ah, Hard Mode.
"France's average workday is fourteen hours. Halve it, and everyone starves. Capitalists lose profits, workers become unemployed."
This era's right-wing is further right. Christianity at least gives Sundays off, or it'd be 100-hour weeks. Churches earn their tithes.
"Fine, compromise: cap weekly hours at seventy-two. Overtime beyond that at 50% premium."
Better skip shady inclusive laws from the start—not meant for manufacturing anyway.
This gets average to twelve hours, progressive steps.
"Then... some businesses at twelve hours enable divide-and-rule among firms."
Bad connotation.
"Anyway, not Adam Smith levels, but we must restore families. Who minds the kids and cows then?"
21st century? I'd get pummeled. In 1775, this tops radical left—subversive.
"Roughly that framework for labor laws, implement gradually. No forcing impossibles. First and Second Estates still solid."
"Yes. Treasury will review and apply."
King can't micromanage. Bureaucrats exist for this.
"Your Majesty. Next item: Major General Lafayette and his volunteers to the American independence army have been captured."
What?!
"We'll send a protest to the British."
Ha, that hateful England. We offer to free their colonies, and they freak out.
"Not Britain. American Commander-in-Chief George Washington captured Lafayette's entire division."
George Washington? Why?
"Commander Washington deemed it impossible for France to send a division commander, so he treated them as British landing forces and took them prisoner. Seems he wants political leverage over France."
Washington's letter indeed boasted of capturing a young Englishman claiming to be a French division commander, invoking French generals' honor.
"Makes sense—I'd suspect an eighteen-year-old general too."
"And he carried France's unofficial intervention declaration. Washington likely thinks that's forged too."
No bloodshed, please.
Marquis Lafayette is indeed a colonel in the French army. As commander of France's volunteer division, treat him as a French general.
Louis XVI, King of France
This should clear the misunderstanding between Washington and Lafayette.
"Supply convoy sails this afternoon? Send it with that. Arrives before August?"
"Depends on winds. Late July, most likely."
Good, early arrival. Late, and Washington might trade prisoners with Britain... shudder.
"Your Majesty. Come to think of it, this war..."
"Ahem, not a war—merely temporarily relocating French military supplies and troops to America. War? Don't utter such savage words."
He nearly said "special military operation" but held back.