Falling Through Time: Basking in Firelight: Book 2

The World Revolves Around Money

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Warnings: None

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The ambassadors were, by far, the easiest thing to decide. The people almost just fell into place. However, it was also weird knowing that it wouldn't be Jefferson that went to France. But other than him not going, history seemed to just drop Benjamin Franklin into their path, like seriously, he practically fell from the sky. Not only that, he had a gleaming in his eye like he knew something no one else did. Hamilton and Jefferson highly suspected Franklin possessed the memories of his past life as well but they decided not to do anything about it. Franklin left for France, John Quincy Adams for England, and various others to different countries. Hamilton pushed for an alliance with France but Jefferson sent them off with the explicit instructions to only discuss commerce and nothing more.

"An alliance with England would be highly beneficial," Hamilton argued, sitting across from Jefferson's desk, arms crossed.

"Alliances have their perks, but in the end, they're always more dangerous than they're worth," Jefferson responded, placing a piece of paper in a pile.

"If we gain England's backing, everything will become ten times easier," Hamilton replied. "If a world war were to break out, we'd need the ally."

"Hamilton, alliances are the reason world wars break out. One country throws a rock or spits an insult and the other country calls in all their friends. Soon everyone's involved and nuclear war imminent. *Peace, commerce, and honest friendships with all nation's, entangling alliances with none.* We don't need to go around and poking our noses into everyone else's business."

"Sure, but an alliance would give a boost and at least one close-knit relation with a country of standing would solidify our place in the world, which I might remind you, is pretty much nonexistent. China is going to be super pissed about their our debt to them never being paid."

"So we pay it."

"Jefferson, the debt belonged to a country that no longer exists. There is no debt anymore, this nation isn't bound to any treaties or debts of the last nation."

"Wouldn't paying back a debt to avoid war and an even greater future debt be worth it?" Jefferson countered.

"We can't afford it!" Hamilton protested, shooting up from his chair and ransacking Jefferson's desk for a specific chart. Hamilton found it and shoved it in Jefferson's face, "You see this? This is how much we owe to ourselves. Throw China on there too, you know what we get?" Hamilton turned it over and drew a new graph on the blank side. "This. This is what we get. And if we pay back China, we'll have to assume the debts that are owed every other nation as well." He drew additional charts for them. Hamilton was fuming, how could Jefferson not understand?

Jefferson stood from his chair, plucked the paper from Hamilton's hand and strode across the room, studying all the different charts Hamilton had drawn. "You're a terrible artist," he remarked. Hamilton scoffed. "This debt is extreme," Jefferson sighed, "But imagine if we went to war." Jefferson placed the paper on the desk and drew his own comparison charts. "This is the debt we would owe to every country, plus to ourselves if we assume the debts. This is the debt we would have if we went to war." Jefferson looked pointedly at Hamilton, God, Jefferson loved him when he was like this. Defiant, stubborn, unyielding, hot from arguing. "It would cost us significantly, plus even more loans from other nations since we don't have a dime for ourselves. And if other nations come after us like China, then it'd be an even greater war with even greater costs. Not only can we not afford a war, we don't have the stability for it. We just got up and running."

Hamilton studied Jefferson's charts, Goddamnit, he was right. They couldn't afford to pay the debts and they couldn't afford a war either. Fuck. Now what? Hamilton studied Jefferson. He stood cockily, smirk stretched across his face, hip popped out slightly. He knew he was right, that fucker. He knew what that stance did to Hamilton's self-control. Wait, no he didn't, he wouldn't remember that. "What we need is a war..." Hamilton said slowly.

"Hamilton-"

"No, not like that. We need a war that we're not involved in. A European or Asian war, anywhere that just isn't here. Remain neutral, don't get involved, sell guns, turn a profit and bam! No more debt. War is the quickest money maker if one knows how to use it."

"That might be but a war isn't going to happen just because you say we need one," Jefferson reminded him. "Let's just talk to our treasurers. We can come up with a plan. Besides, we need to get the infrastructure up and running first. Right now we need to worry about rebuilding. We've got lots to reconstruct. Cities, roads, you name it, we can't do that without an infrastructure. We've got to get the nation standing again."

"Fine, but if we have no money, how do we rebuild an infrastructure? You need money to build one, but an infrastructure is how the government gets money. It'd be doable if the government had some money to start with, but we don't and a loan isn't even an option at this point. We've got no standing credit with other nations and they won't talk to us until our ambassadors come to an agreement. It's a circle with no beginning."

Jefferson sat back down behind his desk, pulled open a drawer and searched around in it. After a moment he pulled out a checkbook and flipped it open, scanning through the pages. He sank back into his chair, elbow on the armrest, fingertips supporting his head as he studies the checkbook in resignation. It couldn't be helped. He closed the book and tossed it onto his desk amidst all the papers. "I'll cover it," he sighed.

"What?" Hamilton was sure he heard wrong.

"I'll pay it. We can rebuild the infrastructure."

"Jefferson, that's hundreds of billions of dollars. Hundreds of trillions. Probably more."

"Probably more," Jefferson sighed.

"There's no way even you could cover it."

"I said I'll cover it," Jefferson grit his teeth.

"Can you even afford it? I mean, I know you're rich, but are you really that rich?" Hamilton reached for Jefferson's checkbook.

Jefferson snatched it away and put it in his pocket. "Yes, I'll be fine. Now quit asking," Jefferson snapped.

Hamilton backed off. "Okay, I'll make some calls, we'll focus on money raising for now. I'll talk to the treasurers and go before Congress and see if we can get some tax money rolling in."

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