Fox of France

Four days later, the French fleet returned to the port of Brest, its most important naval port in the Atlantic Ocean. Before the fleet entered the port, the French military had already learned the result of the battle by radio. However, in order to maintain secrecy, French newspapers did not report the news. But some influential media still got some hints. For example, "Scientific Pravda" and "Kommersant" were reminded in advance that the French Navy may have taken a decisive action.

So "Scientific Pravda" and "Kommersant" sent reporters to the port of Brest in advance. Before the large fleet entered the port, the leading communication ship first entered the port, and then the forts outside the port began to fire salutes, announcing the news of victory to everyone in the port area. Then the large fleet entered the port.

More than ten minutes later, Pierre, a reporter from Scientific Pravda, rushed into the telegraph office with sweat on his face, and then directly took out a ten-franc note, and exchanged it with the person waiting to send the telegram at the front. a position. A few minutes later, the news of the victory reached the Paris newspapers through this telegraph wire.

A few hours later, a group of newsboys holding urgently printed extra numbers appeared on the streets of Paris. They ran, shouting:

"Extra, extra! Watch the decisive battle between our navy fleet and the British navy fleet in the North Atlantic!"

"Extra, extra! An epic victory for the Marines!"

...

Pedestrians on the street stopped one after another, asking for a free number from the newsboy. Yes, this kind of account has always been free in France.

"What? The British 'Queen Elizabeth' sank, and the entire expedition fleet was wiped out?" Everyone who saw the news couldn't help but widen their eyes.

The news immediately spread throughout Europe as if it had grown wings. Even in the UK, some people are now starting to spread the news in private. The British government naturally knew the news that the French fleet had intercepted the expeditionary fleet in the North Atlantic. But they don't know the specific results of the battle. Of course, no warship has returned in the next few days, which already implies that the ending of the expedition fleet must not be optimistic, but after all, this is not the last news, so many people still have luck idea. In addition, in order to maintain morale, the British government also forcibly blocked the news.

However, blocking news has been aimed at the bottom since ancient times. For the people at the top, blocking news is more effective in giving them time to deal with changes and reduce their own losses.

In fact, everyone knows that this news will not be blocked for long, because the failure of this battle almost means that Britain has lost its command of the sea, and then the French cruisers will continue to attack the British trade routes, and then the colony’s material transportation If you don’t come in, your products won’t be shipped out. It is impossible to keep secrets in this situation. The control of public opinion is effective, but also limited. It's like, even with Pravda, the former Soviet Union couldn't keep Russians from knowing that the Soviet Union had disintegrated. After the torrent of steel disappeared, many people already believed that it was the Americans who liberated Auschwitz.

However, before the news cannot be concealed at all, and before there is an inevitable movement in the market, those who know the news first have time to take various measures to reduce their losses, and even take this opportunity to make a fortune. . It's as if before the plague is bound to get out of control, the Senate of a certain country can accurately sell stocks in advance and before the circuit breaker.

After the war broke out, among other things, Britain issued a lot of war bonds. The interest on these bonds is quite high, of course, high interest also means high risk. Many people with status have invested a lot in it. Now if the news is confirmed, the value of these bonds in the market will plummet. One of the greatest meanings of blocking the news is that it allows those noble people to find a receiver and sell these things in their hands before everyone knows the news;

By the time the French spread the news all over Europe, the British were still blocking the news. At this time, those most noble people, of course, have already thrown those hot things to the receiver and replaced them with golden gold coins. However, there are still some noble people among the receivers. It is also necessary to find another taker as soon as possible. Of course, most of them will be empty before they have time to backhand.

In short, most of the most noble people did not suffer any direct losses, and even made a fortune by taking advantage of the time gained by blocking the news. Most of the more noble people also succeeded in reducing their losses. In the end, these losses naturally all fell on the heads of those big city questioners who thought that they were "middle class". And so they went from "middle class" to abjectly proletarian almost overnight.

"Joseph, what do you think the British will do next?" Napoleon asked Joseph.

"What should we do? How should we deal with the situation after losing command of the sea?" Joseph sneered, "It's not easy? The noblest British have already understood that for their benefit, they can only compromise with us At the same time, they must have been propagating that they must fight to the end, unite, overcome difficulties, and defeat the French invaders. And those "middle class" who have just become proletarians in the market turmoil will definitely fight for This kind of propaganda is very exciting. While feeling that it is a great honor to 'take over for the country', at the same time, it is very embarrassing to respond to the call of the motherland and fight with us. With their intelligence, they must not understand. Their efforts, In fact, there is only one meaning, and that is to increase the bargaining chips of the most noble British people when they bargain with us."

"So, do we need to compromise with them?" Napoleon asked again.

"Of course, but it's not now." Joseph said, "If we really don't compromise and seal it off for two months, a revolution will break out in Britain, and then, of course, the most noble people will be guillotined, or go to the guillotine." America. And Britain has a revolutionary regime. And it is likely to be a very leftist regime. Like the Montagne, to Marat and Hébert. Then, the fire may cross the Channel and burn back to Europe In short, this situation is very complicated and difficult to grasp. On the contrary, as long as we put enough pressure on them, they can finally make a choice between becoming the current Austrian royal family and the past French royal family. Our interests That’s the best guarantee possible.”