And in Hanover, Rothschild doesn’t have such resources.
Of course, lacking resources doesn’t an they can’t be created.
Lionel casually flipped through the construction plan Arthur had given him. For a banker, how to build a railway wasn’t important; as long as this railway could guarantee profits, soone would eventually build it. If this German nad Liszt couldn’t build the railway properly, that’s no problem. British companies are eager to start work, as soon as the Hanover Governnt is willing to relax its restrictions.
Lionel could easily grasp the aning without Arthur needing to utter much.
He closed the plan, smiled, and said, "I knew you called to Leipzig not just to watch an opera. Before entering, I saw the Duke of Sussex’s carriage outside the theater. Surely that’s the main reason you called over."
Arthur didn’t hide anything: "The Duke and His Majesty the King share good relations. If we can convince him that building a railway in Hanover is profitable, then have him present our idea to His Majesty, His Majesty could directly order the Hanover Cabinet to approve the railway construction. But all of this must be done quickly, before Hanover passes their constitutional reform. If the reform passes, the railway plan might have to go through the Hanover Council."
Lionel nodded slightly: "I was planning to et the Duke anyway. Arthur, the painting ’Liberty Leading the People’ you got for in Paris — it’s a fine painting, a priceless piece of art. If we consider its creation during the July Revolution that cost Rothschild over a million Dutch guilders, its value increases further."
Arthur also nodded with a smile: "Do you think the Duke will like this painting?"
"Most likely, he would," Lionel replied. "He’s the only one in the Royal Family who harbors a fondness for the revolutionary ideas. He might even hang it in his living room. Let’s hope his siblings, especially the Duke of Cumberland, don’t see it; otherwise, there’ll surely be a big quarrel."
After speaking, Lionel asked, "The Duke should be on the third floor, right?"
"Not just the Duke, King Anton I of Saxony will visit tonight too," Arthur replied as he packed the plans into his bag: "If we’re lucky, we might even secure another railway."
"What do you an?"
Disraeli chid in to explain: "The proposer of the Hanover Railway plan, Mr. Liszt, is a bona fide railway expert and the proposer of the German Customs Union. He advocated a year ago for constructing a railway between Leipzig and the capital, Dresden, in the Saxon Kingdom; however, internally Saxony still faces disagreents over railway construction. So believe building canals is more worthwhile."
Lionel imdiately sensed a business opportunity: "Looks like there’s a chance to close two deals tonight."
Disraeli joked: "If we build two railways at once, can Rothschild manage such a massive financing plan quickly?"
Lionel smiled slightly: "Benjamin, although Frankfurt can’t compare to London as a financial center, don’t forget Rothschild started from Frankfurt. Even if Frankfurt can’t manage it, we can still get support from Vienna, Paris, and Naples."
Leading the way, Arthur asked, "Leaving Naples aside, are you sure financing in Vienna and Paris is a good idea? Even if the Saxon Kingdom doesn’t mind where the railway funds co from, the British Foreign Office might not be pleased seeing Austrians and French ddle in Hanover."
Lionel rubbed his brow, slightly troubled: "Oh, indeed, but if everything goes as the Foreign Office wishes, we’d have to reject the Aricans’ funds too."
Arthur detected sothing amiss and halted, asking, "Aricans?"
With a touch of pride, Lionel replied, "I nearly forgot this news hasn’t been announced publicly. But for you, Arthur, I have no secrets. Rothschild is negotiating with the Arican Governnt, and if everything goes smoothly, we’ll beco the official banker for the Arican Governnt, assisting them in managing their investnts in Europe."
Arthur raised an eyebrow at the news, and involuntarily exhaled deeply.
Unexpectedly, before achieving his dream of becoming an Atlantic policeman spanning both Europe and Arica, Lionel had already beco an Atlantic banker.
However, Arthur didn’t feel too disheartened, as their starting points were different.
When Arthur was still raising pigs in the countryside, Rothschild had already begun helping the Brazilian Governnt issue bonds in London.
Now, although he hasn’t beco an Atlantic policeman, at least he’s mastered trans-Atlantic animal husbandry.
Moreover, he wasn’t without international loan business.
When Eld was conned out of money by won in Rio de Janeiro, Arthur even slipped a few guineas into his reply letter.
Leading the group upstairs, Arthur was about to be stopped for inspection by Leipzig police responsible for third-floor security when the Duke’s attendants stepped forward and gently shook their heads at the police.
"Sir, His Highness is waiting inside."
Arthur and the others followed the attendants into the box.
The theater lights hadn’t fully illuminated, and the silhouette of the Duke of Sussex was hidden behind thick velvet curtains in the box, resembling a silent statue.
His body leaned forward slightly, hands resting naturally on the ornate box railing, his gaze focused and profound, as though penetrating layers of historical dust, trying to decode the secrets of the painting before him.
"Liberty Leading the People" hung on the opposite wall of the box, its figures’ contours faintly revealed through dim lighting: the semi-naked flag bearer, the fluttering tricolor, the young man with a musket, and the smoke filling the air.
The whispers of others outside the box, the occasional footsteps within the theater, and the faint scent of tobacco from behind the curtain seed completely tuned out by him.
Until the attendant gently called out: "Your Highness."
Only then did the Duke of Sussex seem to awaken from a dream, turning around in surprise: "Lionel, Arthur... Mr. Disraeli is here too."
The three removed their hats and bowed slightly: "Your Highness."
The Duke of Sussex gestured for them to relax: "This painting is indeed remarkable, but I’m most intrigued by one aspect. I heard Mr. Dumas is also in this painting, yet I’ve looked for a long ti and couldn’t find anyone resembling his physique. Where is he?"
Arthur chuckled upon hearing this: "It’s not your fault, Your Highness. When I first got the painting, I searched for a long ti too."
"Oh." The Duke of Sussex stepped aside, inviting Arthur to point out: "Show , which one is Mr. Dumas."
Arthur stepped forward and pointed to a black spot resembling a silhouette: "Look, Your Highness, he’s right here."
The Duke of Sussex paused, then widened his eyes, examining carefully before jokingly saying: "This is Mr. Dumas? Where were you at the ti?"
"Your Highness," Arthur answered solemnly, "I was at Scotland Yard."
"So this painting should be called ’Arthur Hastings at Scotland Yard’?" The Duke of Sussex laughed heartily: "Then in my opinion, this painting is not as good as Mr. Turner’s ’Rain, Police and the Tower of London—Arthur Hastings of 1832’."
The Duke of Sussex laughed while inviting them to sit: "Alright, no more joking. I’ve been busy with the Royal Society and electromagnetism conference matters; I’ve nearly forgotten my most important task for this trip. Arthur, your police reform report has been reviewed by His Majesty the King and the Governor of Hanover, the Duke of Cambridge. But so of the expressions within it still aren’t completely satisfactory."
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