Chapter 419 French Banquet

Stefan met Charles VI in Paris. His father-in-law can still communicate with him, but he still needs Salmon's help to pass on the message.

Although he got the title of Duke of Normandy, it was just a title. Most of the land is still in the hands of Britain, and he needs to attract investment.

Stefan looked at the castle where he lived. It was far worse than Constantinople. There was a great uprising that destroyed half of Paris a few decades ago, and it has not been restored to its original state. But thanks to the geographical location and political status of the capital, the local trade is prosperous, and many people have also devoted themselves to the financial industry. The nobles with spare money are also keen to lend money at high interest rates to make quick money.

Walking on the streets of Paris, there are already many banks opened by people. The amount of loans ranges from 100,000 to 200,000 ecu, and the richest person now should be the Duke of Burgundy, but Stefan doesn't want to find him.

However, his reputation has spread throughout the city. Some merchants and low-level nobles came to him to get a place in the future. Stefan accepted all the gifts they gave him. He didn't expect that the first start-up capital would come from this.

Although Stefan was in a high position as the Duke of Normandy, he was not qualified to enter the important regency meeting. One reason was that he had no foundation when he first arrived, and the other was that he was too young. It was a waste of time to talk about governing a country with a child. It was better not to talk.

At present, the Anglo-French war has shown signs of restarting. If you can take this opportunity to accumulate strength, you will be able to have a certain strength in France to compete with the two major factions.

"100,000 ecu. These people are willing to spend money."

Stefan was amazed at the financial strength of the French nobles, although not as good as their Romans.

"Your Highness, Her Highness invites you and the princess to attend the banquet."

The messenger from the French court brought news of the banquet. This banquet was held at the Palace of Fontainebleau, which has been the palace of the King of France for a long time since the 12th century. This banquet was also squeezed out from the limited finances as funds. In addition, some local nobles also attended the banquet in order to get in touch with Stefan.

Queen Isabeau personally checked the banquet list, hoping that she would not let anyone down. The Duke of Orleans and the Duke of Burgundy also attended such a grand banquet. They wanted to test the situation of the Duke of Normandy.

Stefan brought Michelle to the Palace of Fontainebleau. Stefan came on horseback, while Michelle came in a carriage. At that time, there were still very few carriages, not to mention the carriages produced in Rome. Only a few nobles had expensive ones, and even the king did not have such things.

"The princess really caught up with the good time. She actually married the Roman prince."

"Her maid said that the prince loved her very much, and the emperor also gave her many gifts."

A group of noble ladies discussed that Princess Michelle was really lucky. You know, all their property added up is not as much as Stefan's. Alas, why don't they have such a good life?

"He is indeed the son of the Roman emperor. He is the youngest child, so the emperor and empress dote on him very much. The things given to him are enough for a baron to spend for a year."

The Count of Holland was telling others about Stefan's luxurious life. The people here were all counts or lords of Flanders. As lords of the richest region in Western Europe, their lives must represent the highest nobility. Compared with Rome, it was simply not worth mentioning. Gold, silk, spices, and other things that they thought were luxurious were all available on the streets in Rome. God is so unfair.

"Hey, they are here."

All the nobles watched Stefan bring Michelle into the banquet hall. They immediately began to show their most noble etiquette. Although it seemed a little ugly to the other party, this was not the Louis XIV period, so they just had to make do.

Everyone greeted him in a friendly manner. As the host of the banquet, the queen had already met the son-in-law, but she still went forward to greet him.

"The power of Rome is so great that it can make the queen who lives a luxurious life condescend to her."

The Duke of Burgundy and the Duke of Orleans talked at the banquet for the first time after the civil war. The intervention of Roman forces has achieved unprecedented unity within France. There was not much power to begin with, and if we give him a little more, it will be gone.

"The Roman emperor naturally gave our king a lot of gifts, all from the East."

John of Burgundy was a little jealous, and so was Louis of Orleans. As the first and second richest vassals in France, their wealth was not even comparable to that of the newly appointed Duke of Normandy. Not to mention the Roman emperor, the previous spice boom made many nobles and citizens empty their property to buy it, and the wealth of Western Europe was transferred to Constantinople. How could they not be jealous?

"Now he is just a person with an empty title. If he wants to obtain the fiefdom, he has to fight with England. It's better..."

John's words made Louis sweat coldly, "You mean, let England solve it..."

Before he finished, John stopped him. "Of course not. I mean to let England teach him a lesson and make him afraid to return to Rome. At most, he will be extorted for a ransom. If something unexpected happens, the Roman emperor will probably rush directly from Constantinople to Paris."

When they thought of such serious consequences, they shuddered at the same time. The consequences were indeed very serious, so serious that they had to plan carefully, but they still had to let England cooperate. If something unexpected happened, they would all be in trouble.

Stefan has met many people, from dukes to earls. Except for Burgundy and Orleans, these nobles all want to use Stefan to establish relations with Rome.

With this banquet, Stefan's reputation has been established in France. Everyone knows that the new Duke of Normandy is a new force in France, and they can go to him.

Henry IV was also shocked. He didn't expect Rome to join in. And he was also named the Duke of Normandy. Isn't this the title of their British king? Charles VI is indeed pretending to be sick. Such a trick of fishermen benefiting from the snipe and clam fighting can also be thought of.

He must be ready to attack France at any time. The parliament has been settled, and he only needs to maintain the situation in Wales and Scotland. Owen's attack is still going on, but England is larger and can use its size to kill Wales.

Scotland in the north has always been an ally of France, and England cannot annex it all after multiple attacks. For this reason, the Duke of York just keeps a close eye on the other side's movements in the north. Around the ruins of Hadrian's Wall, both countries remain motionless. This is a godsend for England.