The Unfathomable Crown Prince

Jinghua Book Pavilion,

The key to this battle lay with Wilhelmina. Joseph had considered this long ago: as long as the Patriot Party held out a while longer, if they made good use of Wilhelmina and stationed some troops along the Franco-Prussian border, Prussia should withdraw.

I will submit the specific plan to Marquis of Saint-Priest in a formal document.

The Queen nodded. "Very well. I will decide whether to continue the aid based on the Minister of War's opinion."

Just then, Louis XVI, who had seemed entirely without presence until now, suddenly said, "There is no need to draw from the treasury. I will personally contribute 600,000 livres to aid the Patriot Party."

After saying that, he gave Joseph an approving smile.

Brienne immediately breathed a sigh of relief and bowed to Louis XVI. "Thank you for Your Majesty's generosity."

With this money from His Majesty, the treasury could suspend its payments to the Patriot Party for now. In two months, they could decide whether to continue the aid based on the situation in the Netherlands.

He turned to Queen Mary. "Your Majesty, would this be acceptable?"

The Queen nodded. "Very well. Proceed to the next item."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Brienne cast Joseph a somewhat uneasy glance, afraid that he might stir up trouble again. Fortunately, Joseph said nothing more about the subsequent cuts, and most of them passed smoothly.

The Cabinet Meeting then discussed a few miscellaneous matters and soon drew close to its end.

Queen Mary signed the last two documents and asked Brienne without looking up, "Archbishop Brienne, I hear the Tax Law has not been going very smoothly."

She was referring to the new taxation reform bill the government had been pushing hard since the start of the year. Its main provisions were: requiring the privileged noble class to pay Land Tax like ordinary people; allowing the free transport and trade of Grain; abolishing corvée labor; increasing Stamp Duty; and so on.

Its purpose was naturally to increase fiscal revenue and make up the treasury's deficit. If implemented, it would actually benefit ordinary people.

However, the tax reform bill had met unanimous opposition from the great nobles and had failed to pass for more than half a year. The previous Minister of Finance had even been dismissed over the matter.

Brienne nodded bitterly. "Your Majesty, the new bill has been held up by the High Court. According to the information I have received, they are very likely to reject it."

Under French law, a tax reform bill had to be registered with the High Court and then signed by the King before it could officially take effect.

And France's courts were firmly controlled by the noble class. This bill, which touched upon their interests, had been stalled at the registration stage and thus could not be implemented.

Queen Mary's voice was somewhat weary. "You know our financial situation. The Tax Law must be implemented as soon as possible."

"Yes, Your Majesty. I will certainly do everything in my power!"

Joseph shook his head inwardly. He knew that, according to the original course of history, Brienne had never managed to get the bill passed. In the end, Louis XVI, like a desperate man grasping at any remedy, followed the advice of some unknown Hardline Faction member and stripped the High Court of much of its power, exiled the obstinate judges, replaced it with a royal plenary court, and forcibly passed the bill.

Yet the great nobles immediately used the matter to whip up public opinion, portraying Louis XVI as a tyrant who was autocratic, dictatorial, and contemptuous of the law. This sparked a nationwide anti-tax movement across France and plunged the country's finances into chaos.

Louis XVI, who had no voice in public opinion at all, could not defend himself even with a hundred mouths. In the end, he had no choice but to recall the exiled judges and restore the High Court's authority, after which the High Court terminated the tax reform bill that had only recently been put into effect.

The worst consequence was that the great nobles thereby confirmed that the King could not contend with them, and they grew even more overbearing afterward. Left utterly helpless, Louis XVI could only convene the Estates-General, hoping the commoner class would support him against the nobles.

As for the outcome, the nobles exploited the Estates-General to incite riots, only for France to be struck by the Great Famine of 1788. Then the situation spiraled out of control, and the Great Revolution erupted...

Joseph looked at Brienne and thought, You want the nobles to accept a bill that makes them pay more taxes? Isn't that like seeking a tiger's hide from the tiger?

If they wanted to reform taxation, they first had to give these nobles a hard lesson and make them understand the might of royal power. Only then would they obediently pay their taxes.

Moreover, the power of public opinion had to be firmly held in their own hands. These great nobles were most skilled at turning black into white, inciting popular sentiment, and throwing the country into disorder to profit from it. Only by letting

The French people hear the government's voice and know the truth could they avoid being used by the nobles.

He took a deep breath. Taking the position of Assistant Minister of Finance counted as his first step. However, changing the course of history would inevitably bring many obstacles. But whether they were stubborn nobles, the Church, or Capitalists, anyone who dared to bristle against him would receive no mercy!

"That will be all. The meeting is adjourned."

The Queen's voice interrupted Joseph's thoughts. He rose with the other ministers, bowed to the King and Queen, and prepared to turn and leave.

"Joseph, stay a moment." Queen Mary called him back.

Joseph had no choice but to return and sit down.

Only after the other ministers had left the meeting hall did the Queen smile at him. "Joseph, your Police Reform has been done very well. The Saint-Antoine District has clearly become the safest area in Paris."

She paused and sighed. "But this Police Reform must end."

"Why?"

The Queen spoke earnestly. "After your reforms, the Police salaries are far too high, and they are all borne by the municipal government. Previously, you paid the Patrol salaries with your own money, but City Hall simply cannot afford this expense. The safety of ordinary citizens must still rely on civilian patrols."

Joseph replied without the slightest hesitation, "Public safety is extremely important. I believe it not only must not be ended, but should be expanded throughout Paris and even the entire country!"

"As for the money, you need not worry. With me taking over... cough, participating in financial management, the treasury will soon be full again."

Queen Mary looked at her son with interest. "And where do you intend to get the money?"

Joseph froze. Steam Engines, Blast Furnace steelmaking, rubber, mining, cement, even arms manufacturing—any one of them could earn tens of millions of livres.

But I can't tell you any of that...

After hesitating for a moment, he chose several things the Queen could accept. "For example, finance, real estate, Luxury Goods. In short, I am confident."

Queen Mary frowned, feeling that it sounded somewhat unreliable. After thinking it over, she said, "Then let us do this. I will give you half a year. If you can solve the Police salary issue, you may continue the Police Reform. Otherwise, it must immediately revert to its original state."

"Very well. I do not think it will take half a year."

Louis XVI, standing beside them, checked the time and said to mother and son, "It is nearly lunchtime. No work should delay lunch."

He took them both with him toward the royal dining hall. In the corridor, Joseph recalled something and asked Queen Mary, "Mother, do you have anyone suitable for the position of Paris Police Commissioner?"

"Police Commissioner? You would have to ask Count Monod about that."

"Mm. He will accept my recommendation."

The Queen was taken aback, but quickly understood the key to it. "Are you using Guizot's matter to threaten him?"

"Absolutely not," Joseph said with complete sincerity. "I am merely helping put his mind at ease."