Chapter 391: Chapter 385: The 9th Russo-Turkish War
Just when certain inquisitive folks wanted to delve deeply into the background of the newly established bank and company, the Worker’s Credit Bank, which was supposed to act discreetly, once again made a groundbreaking move.
The bank president (whose real identity was a white glove recommended by Isaac Pereire and selected by Jerome Bonaparte) couldn’t wait to announce to the public the construction of a large number of affordable shared apartments on the newly acquired suburban lands from Georges Ossman, aiming to relieve the escalating rents in Paris.
When the journalists with long guns and short cannons asked the bank president how many apartments would be built, the bank president gave them no direct response, but instead held up one finger.
"One thousand?" one of the journalists blurted out instinctively.
The next second, he received a look of disdain from the president, as if questioning whether he underestimated their bank.
"Ten thousand?" another journalist boldly speculated.
The president nodded and responded to all the journalists present: "That’s right! Precisely, it’s fifteen thousand apartments. Moreover, these apartments are just our first phase! In the future, more and more apartments will appear in Paris, providing living assurance to the Parisians!"
At this point, an observant journalist from the Observer immediately inquired about the purpose behind such actions from the president.
"Paris is developing! The Parisians are becoming affluent, and I hope that in our mutual prosperity, we don’t forget a group still awaiting wealth! They are still living frugally, unable to fill their stomachs or warm their bodies, they still live in holes underground every day! We should invest more of our economy in them, in those vulnerable groups!
The purpose of commerce is not just to make money, it is also a form of charity!"
The president recited a pre-polished speech by Jerome Bonaparte to the reporters present, nevertheless, someone inherently indifferent towards the lower classes would not truly connect with them, and his actions were merely a task!
The president’s words, like a sharp knife, cut into the hearts of the journalists, making those who already lived in the lower strata realize they were mere mortals.
In that instant, the journalists sincerely hoped for more people like that in Paris.
That evening, almost all the newspapers in Paris overwhelmedly publicized the Worker’s Credit Bank and the France Construction Company.
Left-wing newspapers praised the president as a responsible entrepreneur, wishing the bank greater success.
Right-wing newspapers also commended the president for following the guidance of order and morals to help the poor masses.
Of course, not everyone agreed with the plans of the Worker’s Credit Bank to build affordable housing.
In Paris, there was another group that wholly resented the act of private banks investing in affordable housing construction.
This group consisted of the landlords living in Paris, also known as the new landlords of France.
Ever since Georges Ossman announced the renovation of the Paris Region, these new landlords in Paris started to plot ways to pull strings, raise rents, and await demolition.
Just when they happily thought they could finally gain some compensation after demolition and raise rents,
The Worker’s Credit Bank taught them the lesson about plans falling behind changes with its actions, as fifteen thousand affordable homes could completely crush their rental resources.
Moreover, the Worker’s Credit Bank never said it would stop building after fifteen thousand units.
A large number of affordable rental housing impacting the market would only create severe disruption in existing rents.
Therefore, in the eyes of this emerging new rentier class, the actions of the Industrial and Commercial Credit Bank were a direct confrontation.
This new rentier class clearly found such changes unacceptable, and their vested interests made them forget the military stationed outside Paris, gathering together to go to the Paris City Hall, demanding an explanation from Georges Ossman at the Paris City Hall.
But they chose the wrong target, as Georges Ossman himself was also a dictatorial and domineering leader. Sometimes he even dared to contend with Jerome Bonaparte on certain core issues and gained Jerome Bonaparte’s recognition.
Not to mention, towards these "new landlords," Georges Ossman showed no mercy to their demand for an explanation, immediately scolding them for disrupting the peace of the Empire and disturbing its order, claiming he had the right to arrest them.
When these "new landlords" heard that Georges Ossman was serious about taking action against them, they immediately retreated. They no longer pressed Georges Ossman to disapprove the land for the Worker’s Credit Bank but instead demanded that Georges Ossman ensure that rent prices in Paris would not fall significantly.
Georges Ossman, who had learned about the affordable housing scheme from Jerome Bonaparte, naturally did not disagree with their request.
After all, the more rent, the more tax the Paris City Government could levy.
If not for the Emperor’s direct orders, Georges Ossman wouldn’t care about the fate of those people.
Under Georges Ossman’s assurance, this group of "new landlords" left the Paris City Hall satisfied.
Watching the backs of these new landlords leaving, Georges Ossman displayed a disdainful smile at the corner of his mouth.
This time, the action of the new landlords indeed effectively forced Georges Ossman’s "retreat," yet also successfully positioned themselves against the working masses of Paris.
It can be said that harming the enemy by eight hundred will cost us a thousand.
On May 20th, a plan titled "On Paris Housing Reform and Affordable Housing Construction" was sent from the Tuileries Palace to the Legislative Corps.
The plan emphasized that Paris must build 30,000 standard housing units within five years to alleviate the housing shortage in the city...
The signature at the bottom right of the plan wasn’t anyone else’s; it was Jerome Bonaparte’s. Many non-core Bonaparte Faction members finally realized that the mastermind behind all this was likely from the Tuileries Palace.
When the plan reached the Bourbon Palace, the members there once again approved it with understanding hearts.
After the Legislative Corps passed it, the plan was placed in the Senate.
The "Elders" in the Senate also agreed to the contents of the plan.
Then the entire contents of the plan were made public by the Council of State.
This meant that the Worker’s Credit Bank, a private bank, would take on the responsibility of building affordable housing.
As a return, the government would provide tax-free subsidies to the Worker’s Credit Bank and its affiliated businesses over the five years of housing construction, and offer materials needed for the project at discounted prices to the France Construction Company.
On May 21st, the head of the Worker’s Credit Bank cooperated with the Bank of France’s Count Algou.
The Bank of France injected 80 million francs into the Worker’s Credit Bank. However, this money was not handed to the Worker’s Credit Bank but kept as a reserve in the Bank of France, intended to guarantee the Worker’s Credit Bank.
In all of France, no one was more secure than the Bank of France.
On May 23rd, the France Construction Company, a subsidiary of the Worker’s Credit Bank, officially went public on the Paris Stock Exchange.
While Parisians wondered why the Worker’s Credit Bank wasn’t listed, they crazily bought up shares of the France Construction Company.
The stock soared, and in no time, the construction company’s valuation, originally over 60 million, broke through the 100 million mark and continued to rise.
The rentier class’s frenzy for the emerging industry somewhat exceeded Jerome Bonaparte’s expectations.
On May 25th, Paris’s affordable housing project was officially launched.
To involve more people in this grand endeavor, under Jerome Bonaparte’s order, the general manager of the France Construction Company announced an open call for suitable design plans.
As long as you have the required isolation measures, it doesn’t matter whether you’re an engineer or an ordinary worker.
The winning blueprint of this competition would be awarded a residential unit by the construction company, along with a prize of 10,000 francs.
The deadline was set for early July, meaning everyone had a month to get involved.
Enticed by the prospect of a house and a 10,000-franc prize, a large portion of Paris’s population was mobilized. Many workers contemplated design layouts while on the job.
Jerome Bonaparte successfully rallied the entire city of Paris.
At this moment, Valerovsky, serving as ambassador to the Near East, once again sent news from there.
On May 26th, at 10 a.m.
Just as Jerome Bonaparte sat down to handle documents, Minister of Foreign Affairs De Luy burst into his study with a telegram.
Gasping for breath, De Luy said to Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty... the... telegram!"
"How is the Near East? Did something happen?" Jerome Bonaparte swiftly stood up, approached De Luy, and took the telegram from his hands.
"On May 25th, the Ottoman Empire’s grand council convened once more! During the meeting, the Ottoman Empire’s religious leaders were highly anti-Russian, causing the regular proceedings to be interrupted several times.
Ultimately, the Ottoman Empire’s grand council refused Menshikov’s conditions.
The Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire are now completely at odds! Awaiting instructions!"
Jerome Bonaparte read the intelligence sent by Valerovsky from Constantinople, word by word, and then calmly said to De Luy standing by, "It seems that the war between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire is about to begin!"
De Luy nodded in agreement and replied, "If the Ottoman does not want to become a puppet of the Russian Empire, then it must launch a war."
"Now, immediately gather the Cabinet members!"