The Fox of France

Chapter 291: Trade and Prosperity

Dessalines toured various parts of France and eventually made his way to Paris, accompanied by those who praised it as the "City of Miracles." His first visit in Paris was with the Minister of Truth, Lucien, at Montmartre Heights.

Lucien had two possible locations to receive Dessalines, and one was the official Ministry of Truth building, which was originally the Bourbon Palace. (In its original history, this building had fallen into the hands of Murelle, becoming his residence and was named the "Elysée Palace.") The other option was the Palace of Bliss on Montmartre Heights.

The Palace of Bliss was Lucien's private residence, built at the location where the "Sacred Heart Basilica" existed in another timeline. It was in close proximity to all the places of revelry on Montmartre Heights, yet it offered relative serenity. Perhaps in another timeline, the "Sacred Heart Basilica" was constructed here for the same reason. However, unlike that other timeline, in this one, it was a place of earthly pleasures. If one were to find any similarity between them, it would be in the building's materials and colors.

Just like the "Sacred Heart Basilica" in the other timeline, the "Palace of Bliss" was primarily constructed with a special white stone called "London Castle Stone." When this stone came into contact with rainwater, it would dissolve into white fragments commonly known as glass shards, giving it the characteristic of becoming whiter over time when exposed to wind and rain.

After Dessalines's arrival in France, the Ministry of Truth and the Department of Public Safety had been closely observing him, recording his every move, and sending these records to their respective analysis centers to determine his character and inclinations.

Both the Ministry of Truth and the Department of Public Safety mentioned a couple of key observations about Dessalines. Firstly, he was quite sensitive and could appear proud on certain matters. In truth, he had a certain level of insecurity about his background because he was highly sensitive to the politeness with which he was received. To put it more bluntly, he had a slight vanity problem.

Secondly, Dessalines had a strong aspiration for a luxurious "high-end lifestyle." For instance, when dining, he seemed to prefer gourmet foods like "truffles" and "caviar," even though observers could detect from his mannerisms that he didn't genuinely enjoy the taste of these delicacies. Truffles, for instance, had an odd flavor that only a minority appreciated on their first try. However, analysts believed that his love for truffles and caviar stemmed from their representation of status and luxury.

Taking these observations and other details into account, Lucien chose to receive Dessalines at his private residence, the "Palace of Bliss."

Before this meeting, some preparation was needed. For instance, Dessalines had to be subtly informed that Minister Lucien rarely received anyone at the "Palace of Bliss." Only those most highly regarded would have the honor. The Ministry of Truth building was usually crowded and not suitable for receiving esteemed guests; it was reserved for ordinary individuals. Furthermore, the "Palace of Bliss" was the most opulent and prestigious place in all of France, and not having visited it would be seen as a sign of ignorance by those of true importance.

With these preparations in place, when Lucien extended his invitation and asked Dessalines to visit the "Palace of Bliss," Dessalines was almost unable to contain his excitement. His heart was filled with gratitude toward Lucien and the Bonaparte family.

Two days later, Lucien welcomed Dessalines at the "Palace of Bliss." He inquired about Dessalines's life in France, and Dessalines expressed profound gratitude for the warm welcome he had received from the French people.

Dessalines told Lucien that his trip to France had broadened his horizons, leaving him deeply impressed by the wealth and power of France. He hoped to receive France's assistance in transforming Saint-Domingue into a democratic and prosperous oasis, making it the Black France of Central America.

Therefore, he stated that France was the world's beacon of democracy and liberty, illuminating the path for people around the globe. France was also the helmsman guiding the progress of humanity. Only under France's leadership could the world's people achieve prosperity and liberation. The black population of Saint-Domingue was willing to follow the lead of France, under the guidance of the great leader and First Consul, Mr. Napoleon, towards freedom and prosperity.

Of course, the official statements were quite different. According to some "historical inventors," the meeting between the two men was far from formal. They spent their time indulging in food, drink, and playful banter. In the end, Dessalines posed a question to Lucien.

"Respected Minister Bonaparte, I am very curious to know how much salary you receive each year that allows you to own such a magnificent mansion."

Lucien led him to the rooftop of the "Palace of Bliss" and pointed to the roads leading from Paris to Montmartre Heights.

"Do you see those two-way four-lane roads?" Lucien asked.

"Am I seeing things, Minister?" Dessalines replied, puzzled. "All I see are some one-way two-lane roads."

"That's because the other two lanes are currently under our feet," Lucien answered.

Several years later, after Dessalines came to power through a coup and became the new president of Haiti, the newly appointed French ambassador visited him to present his credentials. In casual conversation, the ambassador asked him almost the same question. President Dessalines then took the ambassador to the balcony of the presidential palace, overlooking the harbor below, and said:

"Ambassador, do you see the shipyards and power plants over there?"

"I don't see anything," the ambassador replied.

"Oh, that's because they are now under our feet," President Dessalines said with a smile.

Of course, these legends are highly unreliable and were likely fabricated by the British. However, according to the renowned historian George Le Fevre in his book, "A New History of the Roman Empire," the two men did have a somewhat similar conversation.

"Minister Lucien, being in France and witnessing such wealth here, I am both envious and curious. I want to know how France became so prosperous," Dessalines asked.

"Of course, it's through trade," Lucien replied. "Trade is the source of wealth. For example, even if someone has vast land that yields wheat every year, enough to fill thousands of carts, will they be rich if they just hoard it in their storehouses without selling it? No, because things that don't enter the market aren't wealth. That wheat will only rot in their granaries until someone else can use it to grow cabbages. Will that person become rich? Of course not. They are merely a beggar guarding a treasure trove.

Trade is the true source of wealth. Take me, for example. Do you think the salary of a French minister could afford me such a palace? Impossible! But I'm involved in a lot of trade, and these trade ventures have made me wealthy. Saint-Domingue is a place rich in resources, capable of producing many things with tremendous trade value. If you can master trade, you can become as wealthy as I am."

After a friendly conversation, the two parties reached a general consensus on Saint-Domingue's status. According to their agreement, Saint-Domingue would become an autonomous territory of France until it could pay the full amount for purchasing its national territory. Afterward, Saint-Domingue would become an independent nation allied with France. France would assist the new black republic of Saint-Domingue in establishing its industries and protecting its land and trade security. Saint-Domingue would accept French guidance in foreign affairs and domestic policies and implement a French priority policy in trade.

It is said that after essentially reaching this agreement, Lucien reminded Dessalines, "One principle in trade is that a person cannot possess all the benefits because nobody can trade with themselves. Sharing interests creates a solid community and enables more talented individuals to stand by your side."

Later, after returning to Saint-Domingue, Dessalines voluntarily relinquished his position in the local army and offered his services as the Minister of Foreign Trade for the Autonomous Territory of Saint-Domingue. In this role, he utilized his position to enrich himself and many others, particularly those who had joined him in the initial uprising.

These black individuals who gained wealth through trade saw Dessalines as irreplaceable because he could lead them to prosperity. This strengthened his influence within the military despite officially stepping down. With the support of the military, he eventually led a coup, overthrowing the lifetime ruler of the Haitian Republic, Toussaint Louverture. He ascended to the position of the President of Haiti and became the richest black man on the "Businessman's Gazette Wealth List."

In his memoirs, he acknowledged that his mission to France, especially his conversation with Minister Lucien, taught him many valuable lessons that greatly benefited him in his political career. This contribution led to the newly-formed Haitian Republic becoming one of the more prosperous nations in Central America. (Of course, it also became one of the world's most economically disparate nations, with no close rivals.)

Now, having reached an agreement with Lucien, Dessalines's only task was to patiently await the summons from the First Consul.