First, Tear a Hole in the Sky

As for involving clergy in politics, this has a long history in France, with outstanding politicians like Cardinal Richelieu in the past and active ministers like Brienne and Talleyrand in the present.

Therefore, giving the Church some vacant official positions will not have a significant impact on France politics.

In fact, judging from past experience, priests who enter politics generally become pure bureaucrats, and their connection with the Church gradually fades. After all, one's position determines one's perspective.

Moreover, this group of clergy members entering politics will inevitably take the lead in studying at Administrative Management University —they should at least show some support for universities built by their own Church, shouldn't they?

Archbishop Beaumont, upon hearing that the Church could be "assigned" official positions, immediately beamed with joy again. "It is also the Church's duty to help His King govern his people."

He asked cautiously, "Your Highness, approximately how many people are needed for these positions? The Church should make preparations in advance."

In the past, clergy were chosen by the King for their outstanding personal abilities when they were appointed to official positions, and their numbers were not large. Especially for local positions, it was even rarer for clergy to hold them.

Beaumont was well aware that the arrest of more than 40 officials, including high-ranking local officials, was a golden opportunity for the Church!

Joseph glanced at him and drawled:

"Yes, at least 10 positions. Among them, there will be at least something like Assistant to the Municipal Commissioner."

"Judging from the progress of the Administrative Management University, perhaps there could be even more."

Beaumont was overjoyed. If the Church's Manor were converted into a university, the cost would not exceed 200,000 Franc. Well, the previous 500,000 francs included "profits," so this deal was very worthwhile.

He hurriedly replied, "Please rest assured, I will personally oversee the construction of the Political Management University, and I will definitely make you satisfied!"

Joseph continued, "By the way, the positions the Church is filling this time are all vacant by officials who were previously punished for corruption. I also want to take this opportunity to reorganize the bureaucracy, and I hope the Church can cooperate."

Beaumont quickly adopted the solemn expression of a clergyman. "Those corrupt fellows will not go to heaven. The Church has always taught people with the teachings of God, and one of the Ten Commandments is not to covet money. This time, the Church will certainly condemn their crimes severely and praise His Majesty for his just punishment."

"Thank you for your wise words." Joseph smiled and nodded, then pulled the Archbishop aside and said, "There are also branch campuses of the Administrative Management University in Lyon and Bordeaux, which may also require the Church's assistance..."

One week later.

Nearly a thousand people gathered outside the Paris High Court, peering through the iron fence.

Today is the day that the Earl of Norfolk, Governor of Poitou, is on trial.

Although it was not a public trial, the newspapers had given it extensive coverage beforehand, and even the Church had twice publicly condemned the recent surge in corruption. As a result, the public was extremely concerned about the trial and gathered here early in the morning to await the outcome.

In the courtroom on the first floor of the High Court, presiding judge Dibore listened to the shouts of "Severely punish corrupt officials" outside the window, and looked at Norfolk, who was walking unsteadily to the dock. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Clearly, the Royal House intended to make an example of a governor, but severely punishing a Governor would inevitably lead to resentment from the bureaucracy, as the saying goes, "The rabbit mourns the fox's death." Previously, if a high-ranking Nobility embezzled only a few hundred Livre, he would simply have to make up the money, at most be dismissed, and might not even be prosecuted.

He took a deep breath, read the opening remarks according to procedure, and then the trial began.

While he was still figuring out how to please the Royal House while giving Norfolk the lightest possible sentence, the prosecutor had already finished his indictment and the defense Lawyer was about to speak.

The Lawyer glanced at Governor Poitou and said to Dibore, "Your Honor, my client has something to say."

Norfolk gritted his teeth and immediately shouted, "I want to expose them, hoping to reduce my punishment!"

He recalled the list he had previously given to the Crown Prince, saying, "First was Baron Belante, the financial Assistant of Angoumois. He bribed me with Livre to help him..."

One sentence caused the dozen or so Nobility in the audience to widen their eyes in astonishment, speechless.

Such public accusations are a major taboo in officialdom! Norfolk has not only offended Baron Belante, but has also made an enemy of the entire bureaucracy. From now on, he can forget about ever holding office again. Whether he goes into business or farming, as long as he remains in France, someone will secretly plot against him and won't rest until he's completely destroyed.

Unexpectedly, Norfolk went completely off the rails, talking about Belante and then starting to expose the Angoumois municipal Assistant...

And so, the Nobility listening in astonishment listened as the Earl of Norfolk continued to name one person after another, losing count of how many people this was.

In short, the entire Poitou province's officialdom is bound to fall.

Dibore's hands trembled slightly. Why did this have to happen in his own courtroom?

Will these officials dragged down by Norfolk later hold them accountable? God, who am I? Why am I here? What am I supposed to do?

He listened to the revelations for hours, then, with his mind blank, announced a temporary recess, to resume the trial the next day. He then fled the courtroom as if he had seen a ghost, driving directly to the Tuileries Palace.

The clerk standing to the side stared blankly at the dozens of pages of confession he had copied, unsure of what to do.

Meanwhile, at several other court hearings nearby, a similar scene was unfolding—officials involved in corruption were frantically exposing their colleagues, and in just one morning, hundreds of high-ranking officials were implicated.

As news from the courtroom broke, an uproar erupted outside the High Court.

Reporters pounced on the Nobility who had just attended the trial like hungry wolves, demanding information about the officials who had been exposed, and nearly tore them to pieces.

The crowd was furious, chanting "hanging," "send all the corrupt officials to hell," and the names of the officials who had just been tried, as they began to march along the streets outside the High Court.

As more citizens heard the news and joined the march, the number of participants quickly doubled.

Then someone shouted, "Petition to His King!" and the procession immediately surged toward the Versailles Palace.

That afternoon, a highly efficient Newspaper Office published the names of the officials who had been denounced in court— the News and Publication Bureau had already received instructions from Joseph to give such news the green light.

The second floor of the Tuileries Palace.

Supreme Court Justice Dibore entered the Crown Prince's office, his face ashen. He forgot even to bow, and exclaimed, "Your Highness, it's terrible! Norfolk has implicated more than 30 people in court—no, perhaps 50! All for corruption, dereliction of duty, and the like..."

Joseph simply smiled at him and said, "Your Excellency, if I remember correctly, you have a court hearing this afternoon, right? Oh, please sit down and have a cup of tea, then you'll have to hurry back."