Playing along

Two days later.

Nine financiers who controlled France's Tax Farmers Guild gathered at Fuld's villa-because of the urgency, only these few from around Paris had come. Still, they held over forty percent of the Guild's funds, enough to make decisions on major matters.

At the conference table, Vankiewicz leafed through a newspaper. When he saw articles such as "Professor Nise says the tax farmer system increases ordinary people's tax bills," "Shocking: they won't let your taxes fall," and "A failure of the tax system, or the darkness of human nature?" he slammed the table in fury.

Joseph had commissioned all these articles exposing the deep-rooted abuses of the tax farmer system and analyzing how tax reform could reduce the public's tax burden. Tax reform benefited both the state and the people, harming only the Tax Farmers, so naturally he would harness public opinion to give it a good round of publicity.

Fuld motioned for everyone to quiet down and said grimly:

"The damned General Post Office actually caught fire. That has put us at something of a disadvantage."

Everyone fell silent.

They had previously put up over a million francs, hoping to use officials to pressure the Royal House. Instead, the entire bureaucracy had now become the greatest supporter of tax reform-perhaps their support was not sincere, but the tide of public opinion had already turned.

Harper cleared his throat softly. "First, all of you must have any subordinates who contacted the arrested officials leave the country immediately. Those officials could name them at any moment."

Several of them nodded:

"Rest assured, they won't be caught."

"I've already sent them away."

One lender said rather nervously:

"I think the Royal House is very determined to abolish tax farming this time. What if the government raises enough funds and refuses to