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Chapter 15: Political Capital

Joseph felt a shiver of dread. Whether it was the bureaucracy, the nobility, the Church, the capitalists, or foreign powers, any misstep in his efforts to reform France would inevitably tread on their interests, leading to a furious backlash.

This meant that incidents like Guizot's underhanded schemes would become endless, making it impossible for him to guard against every threat.

How could he avoid being caught off guard?

He gazed out the window, his fingers tapping on the armrest of his seat as he fell into thought.

To avoid being blindsided, it would be best to detect potential threats early and uncover conspiracies against him.

Ideally, he'd also have professional personnel to nip those threats in the bud.

To achieve this, he would need countless eyes and ears gathering intelligence for him.

Additionally, a command center capable of analyzing and compiling information, devising countermeasures, and then deploying agents to resolve issues according to his directives, would be essential.

At this thought, several names immediately sprang to Joseph's mind: the CIA, the KGB, MI6.

If he had such a professional intelligence agency at his disposal, he wouldn't be blind and deaf when facing the machinations of various factions, thus ensuring the uninterrupted progress of his reforms in France.

In truth, France already had a special intelligence agency: the Secret Police.

However, Joseph knew that this outfit was utterly useless—they were only good for peeking at letters, eavesdropping on conversations, and aimless surveillance.

They couldn't even manage these simple tasks competently, often getting caught and earning the Secret Police a terrible reputation.

Therefore, building his own intelligence team from scratch was the most reliable option.

Not only could it be guided and trained with modern principles from later eras, but its loyalty would also be higher.

However, merely one Secret Police organization had already provoked widespread resentment throughout France. Creating another one would instantly make him a target of public scorn.

Joseph frowned. 'How could I do this without drawing attention?'

'And where would I find the manpower?'

'Ultimately, I'm too isolated, lacking political capital. It's truly difficult...'

Prolonged thought began to give him a headache, followed by a fit of coughing.

He shook his head with a bitter smile. His frail body had always suffered from chronic pneumonia. The poor living and eating conditions in the Saint-Antoine district recently had caused his condition to relapse. It seemed physical exercise also needed to be prioritized.

The carriage suddenly began to slow. Joseph looked at Eman. "Are we there?"

"Not yet, Your Highness," the attendant peered out the window and asked loudly, "Is something wrong?"

A guard from the carriage ahead quickly rushed over, bowing with his hand to his chest. "Your Highness, Count Monnot, the Minister of the Interior, happened to be passing by and wished to greet you in person."

'Happened to be passing by?' Joseph looked at Eman with an inquiring gaze.

Eman leaned closer. "Your Highness, it might be related to Guizot."

Joseph listened as Eman explained their relationship, and his heart stirred. 'I'm currently worried about lacking influence in the cabinet; perhaps this is political capital being delivered right to my doorstep.'

He nodded to the guard. "Please invite Count Monnot to my carriage."

"Yes, Your Highness."

A moment later, a man in his fifties with long, slender brown eyes, a full head of wavy hair, and a powdered face approached the carriage. He handed his cane to a servant, then bowed deeply. "I never imagined I would encounter His Royal Highness the Crown Prince here. What truly fortunate timing."

Joseph politely returned the greeting, invited him into the carriage, and pushed the pastries on the small table toward him. "These were sent by Her Majesty the Queen. Please, try some."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Monnot, appearing flattered, picked up a pastry and exaggeratedly praised it. As if suddenly remembering something, he gestured for a servant to bring a wooden box, smiling, "I recently acquired a beautiful blade that perfectly suits Your Highness's heroic demeanor. I'd be honored to present it to you."

"Oh? Then I must truly thank Count Monnot."

After Joseph accepted the wooden box, Monnot feigned casual conversation. "Your Highness, many things have certainly been happening in Paris lately."

"Indeed."

"The actions of some officials are truly regrettable." Monnot, a high-ranking and powerful cabinet official, appeared quite humble, sighing, "Actually, Guizot was once a very upright man. Who knew he would..."

Joseph opened the wooden box, interrupting him with a smile. "Please speak plainly if you have something to say."

"Right, right." Monnot's face was full of sincerity. "I recommended Guizot previously entirely because of his competence. You know, I was completely unaware of the things he was doing, otherwise I would have done everything in my power to stop him.

"Fortunately, Your Highness is exceptionally insightful, saw through his malicious schemes, and prevented this disaster."

Guizot had once been his student, and he had personally promoted him to the position of Commissioner of Police. With such a major incident now, it was hard for Monnot to distance himself.

Although Monnot held a high position, Guizot was currently with the Secret Police, and Monnot still didn't know the exact situation. He didn't dare ask the Queen directly, so he waited on the road back to Versailles, hoping to probe the young Crown Prince.

"Your Highness, what exactly is Guizot's charge this time?"

Joseph seemed very interested in the jewel-encrusted Shamshir, repeatedly stroking it as he casually remarked, "Hmm, I hear it's inciting a riot."

Monnot's body stiffened. 'A riot? That's a capital offense for undermining the state. If proven, I'll undoubtedly be implicated!'

He gave a dry laugh. "He wouldn't be that daring, would he...?"

"Oh, really?" Joseph set the curved saber down and handed him the confession from the table. "The Royal Police delivered it this morning. Guizot commanded a large number of thugs to attack the Saint-Antoine district police station. Oh, I was still inside the station at the time."

Monnot quickly scanned it, and cold sweat poured down him. Although he felt Guizot had no motive to incite a riot, the evidence suggested it could indeed be classified as one.

He was so flustered he didn't know where to put his hands. After cursing Guizot vehemently, he looked at Joseph with a grim face. "Your Highness, is there still, still room for maneuver in this matter?"

Joseph blinked. "Some say Guizot incited a riot, but I'm not so sure. After all, I was the only one who truly understood the situation at the time."

"Yes, yes!" Monnot nodded repeatedly. "Please, Your Highness, you must explain the true circumstances to Her Majesty the Queen."

"Oh, we'll discuss that matter another day." Joseph picked up the curved saber again, swinging it a few times. "I'm currently busy preparing to prove to my mother that I'm capable of serving as Assistant Minister of Finance."

The sudden change of topic startled Monnot, but he quickly recalled that the Crown Prince had proposed becoming Assistant Minister of Finance during a cabinet meeting. He promptly declared loudly, "No one is more suited for that position than Your Highness! The cabinet meeting is scheduled for the day after tomorrow, and I will propose that you be appointed Assistant Minister of Finance!

"Oh, I can also persuade Archbishop Brienne to support you!"

Brienne was currently the Minister of Finance and also the Chief Minister, the most important official beneath the crown.