As a forr colonial empire, Spain actually possesses no small amount of gold reserves. But due to the decline in national strength, plus the fact that a large amount of wealth belonged to the forr royal Bourbon family, after the Bourbon family fled north to France, they took away a large amount of gold and other property.
The gold reserves currently under the control of the Spanish Governnt are only less than 200 tons, and the gold reserves in Carlo’s hands are even fewer, adding up to not even enough to reach ten tons.
No way around it, gold this thing in the era of the gold standard was really not that important to various countries.
Possessing gold allows for printing currency, and the proportion between gold and currency cannot possibly be a fixed 1 to
Even in so countries with relatively more gold reserves, the actual proportion of gold to printed currency is as high as 1 to 10 or more.
What does that an? Holding gold worth 100 million pounds sterling, the share of paper currency issued externally could be as high as over 1 billion pounds sterling.
However, printing currency is not done without restraint. First, there is concern about currency devaluation and inflation caused by a large amount of currency flowing into the market; second, there is worry that too frequent gold exchanges will lead to a sharp reduction in dostic gold reserves, triggering a currency crisis with no gold to redeem.
To put it bluntly, the money supply is also related to currency credibility. And gold reserves are a major factor that can support currency credibility, and one of the most important thods.
Currency itself does not possess value, but only gains actual aningful value after being pegged to gold for exchange. Without gold, currency is actually just waste paper, fundantally unable to circulate in the market.
The Royal United Bank and the Spanish National Bank, as Spain’s only two legitimate currency issuance banks, have also accumulated certain gold reserves during these years of currency issuance.
But the gold reserves accumulated by the two major banks together are only just over a dozen tons. Although this is already no small gold reserve for the banks themselves, for Spain, a dozen tons of gold is just a drop in the bucket.
The gold reserves in the hands of the Spanish Governnt may be able to cope with this economic crisis, but who would complain about having too little gold?
Every additional ton of gold in hand can create millions of pounds sterling, which is over 30 million pesetas in value.
Whether it is the Spanish Governnt or the two official banks, the more gold reserves in hand, the better, naturally.
Where to obtain sufficient gold reserves to cope with this economic crisis?
Carlo thought of many thods, but most of them were not very reliable, at least for Spain, basically impossible to achieve.
For example, salvaging treasure from sunken ships. Not to ntion anything else, during Spain’s colonial Arica period, there were multiple ships transporting treasure that sank in the Atlantic Ocean.
Although the money transported on a single ship was not too much, the various sunken ships added together would probably amount to no small wealth.
But the problem is that the locations of these sunken ships are not completely unchanging. Plus due to current salvaging technology, even if the locations of these sunken ships can ultimately be found, it is not certain they can be salvaged.
Moreover, the Atlantic Ocean is so vast; finding the location of sunken ships is extrely difficult. Current technology is not suitable for salvaging sunken ships; otherwise, countries with even stronger technology like Britain and France would have done it long ago.
Besides salvaging sunken ships, there is another relatively reliable thod: prospecting for gold mines and mining. But doing so first requires a very long ti, and second, the existing prospected gold mines are basically all owned; prospecting for gold mines in other places takes too much ti again.
Carlo does indeed know that many places have large gold mines, but the problem is, how to ensure that other great powers do not intervene, and Spain exclusively occupies this gold mine?
Moreover, even if Carlo points out that a certain region has a gold mine, it still requires mineral prospecting teams to confirm the location of the gold mine, and then massively mine gold ore to extract gold.
Such a long ti obviously cannot keep up with the pace of the economic crisis, and for current Spain, it is also not a relatively suitable thod.
After thinking it over, Carlo ultimately set his sights on the Indians. This region of India has the world’s second-largest population, and similarly possesses a large amount of unknown treasures.
The temple treasures of India, which have various rumors in posterity, Carlo is naturally aware of. Even the temple treasures of India are not just one; the largest temple treasure contains countless wealth, and smaller treasures also have much gold and silver treasure. Taking any one could obtain no small gold reserves.
But the current problem is that India is British territory, and the relationship between the British and Spain is not so good.
Moreover, excavating temple treasures in India requires complete secrecy throughout. With the current forces under Carlo’s control, it is hard to perfectly execute the entire plan, after all, this requires dispatching personnel to India for treasure excavation, and concealing it from the entire Indian colonial governnt and British Governnt, transporting the excavated treasures from India to Spain.
But to simply abandon the Indian temple treasures would be too regrettable.
Although in history, the temple treasures would only be discovered 100 years later, who can be sure there won’t be any changes?
After all, the process of the Franco-Prussian War has already been changed; whether future events will be changed is sothing Carlo fundantally cannot determine.
Since it cannot be determined, then the temple treasures should naturally be obtained as early as possible. This rich treasure, whether left to the British or future Indians, is not cost-effective for Spain and Carlo.
Now is a relatively good opportunity; the market changes before the outbreak of the economic crisis will certainly attract the attention of the British Governnt. This is also the most suitable ti to go to India for treasure excavation.
By the ti the British refocus their attention on India, it will not be easy to dispatch personnel for large-scale action again.
After careful consideration, Carlo ultimately decided to cooperate with Pri Minister Primó, using the power of the Spanish Governnt to obtain this batch of treasures.
Of course, in cooperating with the Spanish Governnt, this batch of treasures will definitely have to give a portion to the Spanish Governnt. Even if Pri Minister Primó is a bit forceful, the Spanish Governnt will get the lion’s share, and Carlo can only get a small share.
But this is also unavoidable, after all, at this ti the royal family’s power is too weak. Those nobles although possess certain influence, but the matter of temple treasures is of great importance and cannot completely rely on those old aristocrats.
New Aristocrats naturally go without saying. The power in their hands all cos from the royal family; Carlo does not have the ability to conceal the Indian colonial governnt and British Governnt to excavate treasures, let alone these new aristocrats who have no power at all.
Although cooperating with the Spanish Governnt ans giving the governnt the lion’s share, the good news is that the Spanish Governnt does indeed possess sufficient power. Moreover, India’s temple treasures are not just one; as long as more gold and other valuable treasures from several treasures are obtained, the benefits Carlo ultimately gains will still not be few.
Moreover, for Carlo, it is also beneficial for the Spanish Governnt to obtain these treasures. Although Spain’s developnt is relatively smooth, all of this is premised on loans from the Italian Governnt and the Austro-Hungarian Imperial Governnt.
Including France, the loans France provided to Spain amount to 500 million francs; just the interest requires repaying 100 million francs.
The Spanish Governnt’s financial pressure is still very great. If a batch of temple treasures can be obtained to expand gold reserves and financial reserves, it will undoubtedly alleviate a large part of the financial pressure, allowing greater investnt in developnt and construction for better results.
Since cooperation with the governnt has been determined, the next matters are easy to handle.
Carlo only needs to confirm the relevant plan with Pri Minister Primó, and leave the specific actions to the governnt; at most, the Royal Security Intelligence Bureau can provide so assistance.
January 15, 1873, inside the Madrid Royal Palace.
“Your Majesty, what matter requires summoning so urgently?” Pri Minister Primó hurried over, his gaze carrying so curiosity and doubt.
Since Carlo ascended the throne these past few years, he had not summoned him so urgently and mysteriously. This also made Pri Minister Primó sowhat curious, and he hurried over without much thought.
“Pri Minister Primó, my subordinates have found a mysterious treasure outside Europe, which may contain a large amount of gold and silver treasure and other priceless rare items.
But as you know, the royal family does not have too many personnel to retrieve these treasures. I wonder if the governnt has any interest. If possible, I am willing to give three-tenths of the treasure to the governnt as reward for the governnt’s participation in this action.” Carlo got straight to the point and proposed his suggestion.
However, regarding more private institutions like the Royal Security Intelligence Bureau, Carlo did not tell the full truth, but simply summarized them as subordinates.
“A priceless treasure outside Europe?” Pri Minister Primó was sowhat doubtful; this sounded not so reliable.
“Your Majesty, where did you hear this news? Please forgive , but if our action ultimately yields no harvest, it will be hard to account to the governnt.” Pri Minister Primó pondered for a few minutes and raised his question.
Although Carlo is the King of Spain, the Spanish Governnt clearly will not take actual action just because of a few words from Carlo.
The risks involved and the interests that can be harvested are all things Pri Minister Primó needs to consider. Unless it is confird that the governnt can obtain actual benefits, the Spanish Governnt will not go far beyond Europe to search for so-called treasures just because of one sentence from Carlo.
“There’s nothing to say about the intelligence source, but what can be confird is that the intelligence is very likely true. Even if the intelligence is not true, the royal family is willing to bear all expenses of this action.
If the intelligence is true, the specific expenses of this action will be deducted from the share of the obtained treasure. Pri Minister Primó, I hope you will carefully consider my opinion. This is a treasure that absolutely cannot be missed; it is huge wealth for both the royal family and the governnt.” Carlo would not foolishly reveal the Royal Security Intelligence Bureau he established in full.
Although the Royal Security Intelligence Bureau may not necessarily fool Pri Minister Primó, he definitely would not know too much about its current developnt.
As the King of Spain, it is only natural for Carlo to establish his own forces. Unless Pri Minister Primó wants to fall out with Carlo, he will not inquire too much about the situation of the Royal Security Intelligence Bureau.
The facts indeed turned out as Carlo had predicted.
After hearing Carlo say that the intelligence source cannot be revealed, Pri Minister Primó imdiately linked this intelligence to the previously rumored intelligence bureau established by Carlo.
Regarding the intelligence bureau established by Carlo, Pri Minister Primó did not have too much opposition. After all, the governnt cannot possibly stop the king’s actions; although Carlo does not have too much power, the King of Spain is not just a figurehead.
If pushed too hard, it would not be good for either Pri Minister Primó or Carlo. Maintaining the current balance is the most suitable choice, neither delaying Pri Minister Primó’s reforms for the governnt and Spain, nor delaying Carlo’s own power layout.
Regarding the current situation of the Spanish Governnt, both Pri Minister Primó and Carlo are naturally clear. The current Pri Minister Primó is the unquestioned controller of the Spanish Governnt, and Carlo’s influence is far inferior to Pri Minister Primó’s.
But such power will still have to be returned to Carlo in the future. Before completing their respective plans, neither Carlo nor Pri Minister Primó is willing to destroy their relationship with the other.
Since Carlo has indicated willingness to bear the expenses of this action, Pri Minister Primó naturally has nothing to say. Even if there is no so-called treasure, at worst it can be treated as a bit of play between the governnt and the young king.
The king does not propose many suggestions each year; Pri Minister Primó naturally cannot frequently reject the king’s opinions.
Moreover, such a proposal has no great loss for the governnt; it is nothing more than selecting so reliable personnel from the military to cooperate with the king for an action.
“If that’s the case, then there is no problem. But Your Majesty, according to the plan you described, the governnt will act as the actual manager of this action.
If the treasure share is too small, the governnt will have no harvest. I suggest changing the split proportion to fifty-fifty; for the royal family and the governnt, this allocation is fair.” Pri Minister Primó continued: “
The governnt is willing to cooperate with Your Majesty the King’s action. If this batch of treasures really exists, no matter on whose territory, we can bring this treasure back to Spain.”
Carlo of course knew that a thirty-seventy split was impossible, and Pri Minister Primó would absolutely not agree to a thirty percent allocation.
The reason for proposing a thirty-seventy split was actually to achieve a fifty-fifty split. If fifty-fifty had been proposed from the start, Pri Minister Primó had a high probability of pressing for even less, and the royal family’s share would be lower.
This is just like doing business: start with a high price, then slowly negotiate down. Pri Minister Primó of course also knew that thirty-seventy was not Carlo’s bottom line; his aning was also very clear: the governnt can cooperate with Carlo’s action, but the split must be a relatively fair figure.
A fifty-fifty split is completely acceptable to Carlo. The Indian temple treasures are rumored to be mythical, with estimates of billions, tens of billions, or even trillions.
Although Carlo is not certain of the exact amount of the Indian temple treasures, the royal family’s half share will absolutely not be small.
The royal family’s total assets currently add up to only a few tens of millions of pesetas; if this treasure is obtained, it might directly multiply the royal family’s assets several tis.
For such a treasure obtained for free, what is there not to be happy about? The share obtained by the Spanish Governnt will be used to develop the entire Spain; the stronger Spain is, the more beneficial it is for Carlo.
Carlo pretended to be very hesitant, ultimately nodded, and said sowhat reluctantly: “Then fifty-fifty it is, Pri Minister Primó.
But I hope there will be no changes; the royal family accepts at least fifty-fifty. I hope our cooperation will be very pleasant.”
“That is of course, Your Majesty the King.” Having obtained a fifty percent split, Pri Minister Primó’s mood was also quite satisfied. He smiled and nodded, saying to Carlo as if making a guarantee: “Our cooperation will be very pleasant. I hope to see this treasure soon; I am sowhat impatient already.”
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