Lord of Industrialization

"Two thousand livres!"

"You can buy more than a dozen tractors."

"You can buy seven or eight paddle steamers."

In the tavern, several student leaders sitting with Guillaume were dejected. If they could come up with so much money, the school would not dare to take their scholarships.

Renault shook his head and said, "We contacted several businessmen, but the amount was too large and they couldn't do anything."

He told Guillaume about some businessmen he knew in the past few days. Those businessmen sympathized with the students' plight.

However, businessmen need working capital to run their businesses. If they can come up with more than ten or twenty livres to support them, it is not a problem. If they come up with more than thirty, they will be helpless.

"We have only raised less than 500 livres now." Renault sighed helplessly, "This is the limit that the entire city of Paris can raise. Together with the funding received from various places when soliciting indictments, it only adds up to more than 600 livres, less than one-third."

Another person continued: "Many merchants have concerns. They are afraid of offending the court and the nobles who run schools, and they dare not help us."

"I also told them that we won the lawsuit with the nobles this time. With a precedent, it will be much easier for them to sue the nobles in the future."

"Many merchants are tempted, but we haven't started the lawsuit yet. They won't help if they don't see the result."

Renault said helplessly: "Yes, there is no way. There has been no precedent for civilians to sue nobles and win in hundreds of years."

Others nodded together.

Guillem was also helpless, but there was still a glimmer of hope.

He took out a small bag from his pocket and said to everyone, "Don't be discouraged. Since it's just a deposit, we can get it back as long as we win the lawsuit."

"I have a check from the Duke of Lukang here. I met him on the road. This is his money to help us fight the lawsuit."

"I think the Duke of Lukang is so rich that it shouldn't be a problem to help with a few hundred livres. We can use this to lobby those merchants who had concerns before."

He remembered that when he was in the Principality of Wessen, a senior took him to see a farce. One of the skits was about a man who wanted to play mahjong, so when he made an appointment, he said that he was the only one missing.

Others thought it made sense, especially that they could hint that the Duke of Lukang was backing the case, so they were not afraid of not winning.

During this period, the students who did not go out were not idle. They collected a lot of evidence and even got the records of the king's scholarships in the palace. Then they compared them with the records of the schools and saw the problem at once.

With these evidences and the support of the Duke of Lukang, they could lobby other merchants who had a sense of justice and concerns to help, and return the money to them after winning the lawsuit.

Guillaume put the check from Frederick on the table and said to several students around him: "This is the check from the Duke of Lugang. I haven't opened it for so long. Who will open it?"

Everyone would think that this is a huge amount of money. Guillaume has not opened the plastic bag containing the check, just to open it in front of everyone at this time.

When it comes to money issues, it is never too cautious. Maybe the opponent will spread rumors that he has embezzled money, causing the team to fall apart.

Someone counted the people around the table according to today's date, and it happened to be Renault.

Renault tore open the plastic bag, carefully took out the check inside, and spread it on the table.

"Uh... Did I see it wrong?"

"Someone pinch me to see if I am dreaming."

"Do you want to ask someone who has been to the Principality of Wessen for business if the currency is wrong?"

...

Several student leaders kept rubbing their eyes, and their conversation soon attracted several other students around them.

"Three thousand florins?" a student exclaimed, "equivalent to three thousand five hundred livres!"

Renault asked him cautiously: "Are you sure? It's not silver coins, right?"

"No!" the student said firmly, "The Chamber of Commerce where I work does business with the Duchy of Wesson, and I have seen such checks many times."

Then he taught everyone to easily identify the authenticity of checks. This check is obviously real.

Renault said again: "Why don't we take it to the boss of that Chamber of Commerce to see it."

Other students nodded one after another, and Guillaume also trembled and said: "Yes, yes, yes, it's better to ask clearly."

He didn't expect that he had run so far with such a huge amount of checks. Fortunately, there was no mistake, otherwise it would be a big problem.

A group of students left the bar. They didn't find the boss at the Chamber of Commerce, and came to a billiard club according to the instructions of the staff.

"Quill Pen Military Strategists" are not only in the Duchy of Wesson, but also in the Kingdom of Gaul. A group of people talked about the war in the Kingdom of Tarago.

Now let's put aside the war in the neighboring country and study the huge check in front of us first.

That night, Sir Javel hurried to Count Ferret's house.

As soon as Javel sat down, Ferret said: "I know about that matter. I didn't expect that the Duke of Lugang funded them so much money. Could it be that he just took out so much pocket money?"

When he spoke, the envy appeared on Javel's face.

"Maybe." Javel said enviously, "It's my income for more than 20 years."

Feret just smiled. Javel's annual salary as a judicial assistant was 150 livres, which was only the official income. The gray income behind the scenes was not lower than this number. He himself also earned 800 to 900 livres a year on and off the stage.

But compared with Frederick, the gap was really too big.

Feret sighed: "Everyone says that the Duke of Lugang is stingy. I think he has so much money because of his stinginess."

Javel nodded.

Frederick came to Paris last year, but he didn't gamble or race horses. Women only accepted free sex, so many people thought he was very stingy.

Feret said to Javel: "Let them submit the indictment when they have enough money."

Javel nodded and waited for the next step.

Feret said seriously: "They have collected litigation commissions from many people. You must strictly review them to avoid forgeries."

Javel understood that the only way to delay was to delay as long as possible.

The next day, Guillaume and his team took the check to the Gaul headquarters of the Dawn Chamber of Commerce at No. 48, Secquana River in Paris to exchange for gold coins, took out 2,000 livres, and deposited the remaining money. They decided that at least ten of the thirteen student leaders would come at the same time before they could withdraw the remaining money.

That morning, they sent the indictment and the deposit to the noble court.

Count Ferret took Sir Javel to accept the indictment and the deposit in the presence of some local reporters. Sir Javel personally verified the amount and authenticity of the gold coins on the spot and finally issued a receipt.