Chapter 249: Offend the Crown Prince and Expect to Run?
Mirabeau quickly entered the Crown Prince's study, handed his hat to Eman, and then bowed to Joseph. "Your Royal Highness, from yesterday until half an hour ago, a total of 41 people have written letters or directly sought an audience with Her Majesty Queen Marie, expressing opposition to the bill abolishing noble privileges."
He said, handing over a list. "Most of them are influential grand nobles."
Joseph took the list and gestured with a smile towards a nearby chair. "Please, have a seat."
He scanned the paper and nodded. "Hmm, just as I expected. Mostly those from the Assembly of Notables. That makes things simpler to handle."
The grain crisis in the southern provinces was largely the handiwork of those fellows from the Assembly of Notables, and Joseph certainly wouldn't forget them.
After dealing with the military, he hadn't implicated anyone else precisely to let them drop their guard.
The Duke of Mouchy, who had previously submitted that coercive petition signed by more than twenty generals to the Queen, had brazenly come out in the last two days to rally nobles against the abolition of noble privileges, acting completely unabashed.
Indeed, he was the first name on Mirabeau's list.
Truth be told, Louis XVI and Queen Marie had spoiled these nobles rotten. They always assumed that as long as their prestige was high enough and enough people were involved, the Royal Family wouldn't dare touch them.
In reality, Joseph had simply felt that directly dealing with them wouldn't provide a significant enough charge, and it would likely just end with a reprimand and a fine. He had been waiting for a bigger opportunity to strike.
Now that preparations were mostly complete, it was the perfect time to deal with them and the stubborn, conservative forces in Versailles all in one fell swoop.
Joseph put away the list and calmly looked at Mirabeau. "The western and southern provinces are all set, I presume?"
The latter nodded. "Yes, Your Royal Highness. Enough personnel have been dispatched as you instructed. The funds and pamphlets were also prepared half a month ago."
"Excellent," Joseph smiled. "Then let's begin. The Police Intelligence Bureau will fully cooperate with you."
"Yes, Your Royal Highness."
Mirabeau bowed slightly, then, remembering the Crown Prince's astonishing plan, he couldn't help but show a hint of hesitation. "Your Royal Highness, might this action be a bit too drastic?"
Joseph sighed inwardly. 'Alas, you Feuillants lack decisiveness and are too prone to compromise. If I weren't worried about the Jacobins getting out of hand if they stirred things up, I would have sent Marat and Danton to handle this.'
He said to Mirabeau with a serious expression, "Given France's current situation, even with the same resources as Britain, it would be impossible to win in industrial competition. Moreover, our colonies and trade routes are significantly behind Britain's.
"The Old Nobility's influence is a huge impediment to industrial development. They occupy vast amounts of land and labor but offer no benefit to the nation's progress. We must seize this rare opportunity to weaken them as much as possible.
"Ordinary methods are too slow; only this approach can yield quick results.
"You know, the Eden Treaty only protects our industries for three years. In fact, it might not even last three years, because the British are likely to immediately tear up the treaty once they realize the situation is unfavorable to them. We must act quickly!"
Joseph knew very well that to achieve national Industrialization, the Capitalist Nobility must gain influence and become the pillars of the nation. The British had become a world hegemon precisely because they took this step first.
The historical tide from feudalism to capitalism was unstoppable. Rather than letting pure capitalists overthrow the monarchy, it was better to proactively elevate the emerging forces among the nobility—the Capitalist Nobility.
The Capitalist Nobility were naturally aligned with the monarchy, and since everything they possessed was acquired through his efforts for them, they would naturally staunchly support the Royal Family in the future.
As for whether centralized royal power would severely impede the development of capital? 'That's a scenario only seen in history.'
With his 21st-century mind, various advanced reforms and policies could be implemented far faster than those pursued by a bourgeoisie advancing through trial and error, and without making unnecessary detours.
It could even be said that the greater his power, the faster and smoother France's industry, technology, and capital would develop.
Mirabeau was deeply moved. He finally abandoned his thoughts of compromise, stood up, and placed a hand over his chest. "Your Royal Highness, I understand. I will not allow anyone to hinder France's prosperity!"
Of course, the underlying reason he served the Crown Prince so wholeheartedly was that he was a quintessential representative of the Capitalist Nobility. What the Crown Prince was doing now would greatly promote the nation's industrial and commercial development, which was precisely what they desired.
Mirabeau paused, then asked, "Your Royal Highness, this bill only includes the abolition of noble privileges, but you previously mentioned the 'Grain Production Decree,' which is not included..."
Joseph smiled and nodded. "And abolishing local tariffs, dismantling various toll gates—these will all be advanced later.
"But if you were to include all these provisions at once, it would inevitably provoke immense resistance—not just from the Old Nobility, but also from the provincial Governors, who would all object.
"So, we'll introduce them little by little. Once the opposing forces grudgingly accept one, we'll introduce another, until all our objectives are achieved.
"Oh, this is called the 'salami slicing' tactic."
Mirabeau's eyes widened. 'He truly had no idea why the Crown Prince's mind held so many devious methods... no, wait, they were exquisite strategies.'
"I commend your wisdom, Your Royal Highness." He quickly bowed deeply and exited the study.
Joseph took out his plan for nationwide Police Reform and was revising it when Mirabeau returned.
The latter bowed hastily, then said somewhat urgently, "Your Royal Highness, it seems the Duke of Mouchy has persuaded the Count of Artois. The Count is currently at the Petit Trianon."
Although the Count of Artois held only the title of Count, he was no ordinary Count; he was Louis XVI's younger brother and wielded immense influence. Historically, he also bore the title Charles X—the last king of the Bourbon dynasty.
Joseph was not surprised by this. The Count of Artois had always been the most extreme conservative, and he would certainly strongly oppose the abolition of noble privileges.
Artois and Queen Marie had an excellent relationship, so his influence on the matter could not be overlooked.
Joseph thought for a moment and said to Mirabeau, "We might as well give the Duke of Mouchy another push. Find someone to persuade Marie Adélaïde, the King's aunt, to also intercede with Her Majesty the Queen. You know, she certainly won't approve of abolishing noble privileges either."
Marie Adélaïde was Louis XV's daughter and the current King's aunt.
Mirabeau blinked, puzzled. "You—you're serious?"
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