บท 82: Chapter 82: Arrested
"I thought about it for a long time and finally decided to include this sensitive topic. However, it is a fact, and I am merely stating history."
"The most important thing is that I found out the owner of this factory is a Jew," Marmont whispered quietly into Napoleon's ear as he leaned in close.
"Oh! A Jew!" Upon hearing Marmont's words, a gleam flashed in Napoleon's eyes.
The fact that the factory owner was Jewish was considered good news. This meant he could seize the factory without any hesitation or concerns. Whether in the past or future, Europeans harbored a deep dislike for Jews, who were often associated with usury and perceived as lacking patriotism.
When war broke out, Jews would typically choose to take their wealth and flee. This behavior made them the target of hatred from governments and the public alike. Additionally, their lack of prowess in warfare meant that during financial crises, governments would unhesitatingly turn their wrath on the Jewish community.
After all, who would resent a fat sheep ready for slaughter?
So, upon hearing that the factory belonged to a Jew, Napoleon couldn't help but feel a sense of joy. Now, he didn't even want to buy it; instead, he would fabricate charges against the owner and imprison him. If the owner was sensible enough to hand over the factory, Napoleon might spare him. If not, well…
There was no one who would stand up for a Jew.
It must be said that Jews had truly narrowed their own path. They conducted their affairs with profit as the sole motive, and never missed an opportunity to exploit others. This behavior led to widespread dislike throughout Europe, and no one would speak up for them.
...
"In that case, let's go in and take a look at this factory run by Jews," Napoleon said with a smile, emphasizing the word "Jews" with a deeper tone.
"Yes, Consul!" Marmont replied with a smile. He had already anticipated the next steps. After all, the approach to Jews was the same throughout Europe.
"The environment of this factory is not bad. One must admit, Jews do have a knack for business," Napoleon remarked with satisfaction as he looked around the factory after entering.
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"Of course, I searched all over Paris to find this place. This factory used to produce cannons. With a few adjustments after you take over, it can start producing the rifles you need, Consul," Marmont said with a sycophantic smile.
He had just replaced Bernadotte as the Minister of War and lacked a solid foundation. He desperately needed Napoleon's support, and handling the arsenal matter well was the best way to win his favor.
"Sigh! If I had known the factory owner was a Jew, I would have brought the police instead of a bag of francs," Napoleon shrugged and smiled.
"Greetings, gentlemen! May I know what brings you to my factory?" At that moment, the real owner of the factory arrived, sweating profusely, clearly having rushed over.
"We are government officials, here to inspect your factory. You haven't engaged in any illegal activities, have you?" Seeing the factory owner approach, Napoleon remained silent, leaving Marmont to step forward with a stern expression and address the owner coldly.
Marmont was smart; he knew that Napoleon, with his high status, wouldn't stoop to dealing directly with a small factory owner. So he took the initiative to engage in the conversation.
Many times, Roland felt that Marmont shouldn't have become a soldier but rather a politician, as he seemed to have an innate talent for it.
"No, no, sir! How could we dare do anything illegal? We are all law-abiding citizens," the factory owner's face turned ashen upon hearing Marmont's words. He waved his hands frantically, trying to explain.
"Hmph, whether you are law-abiding or not isn't for you to say. Let me conduct a thorough inspection to see if your factory has engaged in any illegal activities," Marmont's cold heart was unmoved by the owner's pleas. He continued to question the factory owner with a stern face.
"Yes, yes, sir! We will fully cooperate with the inspection. You gentlemen must be tired after your long journey. I have already arranged for food and drinks. Please stay for lunch here," the factory owner bent even lower upon hearing Marmont's words. He realized that these men had ill intentions and were likely here to extort money from him again. How many times had it been this month already?
Thinking of this, the factory owner felt a wave of bitterness. He was reaching his limit.
"Sigh, once this month is over, I might as well go back to my hometown in Mali," the factory owner murmured to himself. But for now, the most important thing was to get rid of these troublesome officials.
"Lunch? No need. I'm here on official business," Marmont waved off the factory owner's suggestion. In the past, he might have accepted such an offer, but not with Napoleon present. Moreover, they were not here for extortion; what he wanted was the factory itself.
"No lunch? Alright… alright!" The factory owner's face turned deathly pale. This was not a good sign. He had assumed these people were here to extort money like the others before them, so he planned to pay them off during the meal. But now it was clear they had more sinister intentions.
Realizing this, he became highly alert.
"Where are you from?" Marmont asked.
"My hometown is in Mali, sir. I studied in Paris and decided to settle here," the factory owner replied.
"What about your factory's equipment?"
"Sir, all this equipment was purchased domestically. There's not a single British piece. All our products are delivered to the Biels Shipyard. If you don't believe me, I have the delivery records here. You can also confirm with the Biels Shipyard," the owner said.
"And your workers?"
"Sir, all my workers are locals from Paris. I ensure their interests are protected, pay them on time, and even arrange regular health check-ups."
Marmont continued his questioning, trying to find any illegal activities to arrest the owner and force him to hand over the factory. However, the factory owner was well-prepared, answering every question thoroughly, leaving Marmont at a loss.
"This damned fat man answers everything I ask. If this continues, I might just frame him for treason and get him arrested. After all, he's just a Jew," Marmont thought angrily, glaring at the obsequious factory owner.
The poor factory owner, still racking his brain to answer Marmont's questions, was completely unaware that Marmont had already developed murderous intentions towards him.
At that moment, Roland, who had rushed over, noticed something peculiar. The factory owner seemed somewhat familiar to him.
He slowly approached the factory owner and asked, "Why do you look so familiar? Did you attend Brienne Military Academy?"
Roland asked with a puzzled expression. Since graduating from military school, he had joined the army directly, so if the person in front of him was a friend, it must be from his school days.
"Military school? How... how could I have attended a military school?" The factory owner kept his head down, and upon hearing Roland's question, his expression immediately became flustered. He waved his hands repeatedly in denial.
"Hmm? Military school? You, a Jew, dared to attend a military school? What audacity. I see you're up to no good. Come with me to the police station," Marmont's eyes lit up upon hearing Roland's words. He finally had an excuse to deal with the factory owner.
"No, no, I didn't. I really didn't. I'm innocent!" the factory owner desperately tried to explain, but his panic made his explanations more incoherent, ultimately revealing his true background.
"Hmph! Save your words for the court," Marmont sneered. "Take him away. Lock him up in prison," he ordered loudly.
"No!" the factory owner cried out.
Upon hearing Marmont's order, the factory owner seemed to lose all strength and collapsed to the ground, completely despairing. If it weren't for the soldiers surrounding him, he might have tried to escape.
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