Chapter 279: Negotiations (2)


    When this question was posed, Dusault Leducughed.


    "Monsieur Treville, I''ve heard that during the French Revolution, many nobles found themselves swinging frommpposts. Now that you have a parliament, why continue to hang those nobles?"


    "Because they sought to subvert the republican system," Victor replied firmly. "The Republic has given them numerous chances, but they refuse to repent."


    "That is one reason, of course, but I must say it''s not the root cause," Dusault Leduc shook his head. "The fundamental issue is that they control too muchnd. If the French Revolution can''t dismantle their grip onnd, themon people of the Third Estate won''t see any improvement. If it remains this way, what''s the point of the revolution?"


    "In Santo Domingo, it''s the same. Just like France had three sses of priests, nobles, andmoners before the revolution, Santo Domingo has a simr ss division."


    With that, Dusault Leduc even extended his hand and brought three fingers together in a gesture.


    "Just this little bit, no more. But just like in France, where the first and second estates, although small in number, controlled most of thend, these white ve-owners dominate the vast majority of Santo Domingo''snd. If this continues, ck people will continue to struggle with hunger and death. If that''s the oue, what''s the point of our previous revolution?"


    "So, you''re saying that your quest for independence is to address thend issue?" Victor asked. "But have you considered the economic consequences of doing so?"


    "Economic consequences?" Dusault Leduc inquired. "Could you be more specific?""Firstly, you must know that Santo Domingo''s economy heavily depends on trade. Whether it''s sugar or coffee, they only be valuable through trade. Without trade, these goods are worthless. And these goods are not irreceable; there are many other ces in the Caribbean with the potential to rece Santo Domingo."


    "The attitudes of the Spanish and the British towards your ideal nation, I''m sure you''re aware," Victor continued. "Even the Americans, who rely heavily on ck ves, wouldn''t want to see a prosperous free ck nation emerging in the Caribbean, as it could set an example for their own enved poption."


    "To put it more inly, if ck people in Santo Domingo attain prosperity through rebellion, then why wouldn''t ck people in the United States or Cuba follow suit? The more prosperous your life, the greater the motivation for ve uprisings, and both repressing and appeasing those rebellions would be more costly for them. Conversely, if your living conditions worsen and life bes harder, stability prevails."


    "So, Governor, if Santo Domingo gains independence and ck people generally acquirend, then whether it''s the British, the Spanish, or the Americans, they won''t engage in trade with Santo Domingo anymore. I''m sure they''ve made many promises to you now, but, Governor, promises are the least reliable thing. As long as you analyze where everyone''s interests lie, you''ll see."


    "But…" Dusault Leduc started to say.


    "Governor, I understand your point. Even if excluded from the tradework, independence is still worthwhile for most ck people, because under the current system, trade benefits hardly reach the ck poption. In that case, whether Santo Domingo can sell a pound of sugar or coffee doesn''t matter, even if thend in Santo Domingo has to be turned into fields for food, ck people would still have more than they do now."


    "Isn''t that right?" Dusault Leduc asked.


    "Exactly. But the First Consul believes that ck people have a better path to take – a much better one," Victor said.


    "What path is that?"


    "Santo Domingo remains with France. At the same time, we find a way to address the issue of ck people''sck ofnd," Victor exined.


    "How do we address it?" Dusault Leduc inquired.


    Victor replied, "The first option is that ck people can freely leave Santo Domingo and go to Louisiana. Thisnd is now returned to us by the Spanish. To develop thisnd, the First Consul has just passed a policy. Anyone who is willing to pledge loyalty to France can receive up to 6,500 acres of publd in Louisiana. They need to cultivate it for 5 years – during these 5 years, thend should not be left unused. After 5 years, or within that time, if they reside on thend for at least six months and pay a fee of 21 francs per acre, thend bes their own. Additionally, thesends are tax-free for the first five years."


    "Santo Domingo''s ck people also have French citizenship, and they can apply fornd in Louisiana. Of course, one person can''t truly cultivate so muchnd, but if they can cultivate it, after five years, it bes their own. And if they stay in Santo Domingo, there''s no way they could get as muchnd as this."


    "Heh..." Dusault Leduc chuckled coldly. "Monsieur Treville, are you suggesting we divide our united ck poption by allowing them to leave Santo Domingo?"


    "Governor, I assure you, neither I nor the First Consul have any such intentions. If you do not ept this n or believe it is currently uneptable, we have a second n to address thend issue through alternative means."


    "Redemption?" Dusault Leducughed. "Alternative means? Are you talking about redemption? Am I not already in the process of redemption? And aren''t the white people of Santo Domingo trying to resist me because of it? Aren''t you here for that as well? Of course, I know the price I''m offering is low, but it should be enough for them to acquirend in Louisiana, shouldn''t it?"


    "Governor, I''ve just realized that there might be a serious misunderstanding between us," Victor said with a furrowed brow. "You may think that the First Consul and I, as white men, would unquestionably stand with those white people. However, this idea ispletely mistaken. Just as Americans and the British are also white, are they now on our side?"


    "What do you mean?" Dusault Leduc was quite surprised.


    "In the eyes of the Republican government, the white ve-owners in Santo Domingo are mostly remnants of those feudal nobles, and they were never on the same side as the Republic to begin with. When the revolutionary government abolished very and granted citizenship to ck people, their hatred for the Republic only intensified. I am sure that many of them have ndestine dealings with exiled nobles. If they were in maind France, they''d probably have been sent to the guillotine for counter-revolutionary crimes. The current government, the Conste, is also tasked with defending the revolutionary gains. How could we possibly side with these people?"


    "So, what is the intention of the First Consul?" Dusault Leduc inquired.


    "Even though these fellows are our political enemies, it''s not the time anymore to set up revolutionary tribunals on a whim. The First Consul has just enacted the ''Code,'' have you read it?"


    "I have. It''s indeed the immortal ''Code,''" Dusault Leduc praised.


    "The ''Code'' stiptes that we must protect private property. Although these individuals are our enemies, we can''t undermine our own rules. So, directly confiscating theirnd is not possible. However, if theymit acts of treason first, that changes things. Do you understand what I mean?" Victor answered with a smile.


    "What do you mean...?"


    "Your Excellency, the French government in Santo Domingo, as the highest authority, has the right to investigate any acts of treason and punish those traitors. When the government punishes traitors, these actions are entirely justified. It can also help avoid many economic consequences. At least, French merchants won''t abandon Santo Domingo..."


    "Your Excellency, I believe that by now you should no longer doubt our sincerity, right?" Victor smiled. "Of course, if you still wish to see Santo Domingo as an independent country, that''s also a topic for discussion."


    Dusault Leduc thought for a moment and asked, "What if I still want Santo Domingo to be independent?"


    "In that case, France must receive somepensation. Firstly, those white ve-owners, though our political enemies, are still French citizens. If you be independent, you will be a foreign entity. We cannot allow foreigners to mistreat French citizens and seize their legitimate property. So, if you still want to retain the trade routes, you will need to adopt a real ''redemption'' method, and it must be based on genuine ''voluntariness.''"


    "Furthermore, Santo Domingo is French territory. If you want to be independent on French soil, the cost of purchasing thisnd is also indispensable. Of course, we can provide you with loans. Finally, Santo Domingo holds a vital military position. If you side with Britain and the United States after gaining independence, it would pose a significant threat to France''s interests. Therefore, if you still wish to be independent, you must ept France''s protection. Additionally, France needs to have some military bases in Santo Domingo to ensure that the connection between Louisiana and maind France won''t be easily severed..."