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Chapter 256: The Scapegoat

Yes, the peasants' lives would improve.

This was precisely Joseph's aim.

Whether minor disturbances or major revolutions, they all stemmed from people's dissatisfaction with their lives.

When the quality of life for ordinary citizens improved, they wouldn't care if you were the King or the National Assembly; they would be too busy supporting you. Anyone who dared disrupt the nation would face their immediate disapproval.

Indeed, after the peasants repeatedly confirmed with the priest that this was indeed a decree signed by the King, they immediately began cheering, "Long live the King!" before dispersing to their homes to report the momentous news to their families.

That afternoon, the parish Stadtholder once again gathered everyone from the village in front of the small chapel, and announced the upcoming "Star of France" competition.

Over a dozen people immediately signed up on the spot.

Three days later.

The unrest in the southern provinces had been brought under initial control.

Especially after newspapers reported that a laundrywoman from the Moulins region had won the "Star of France" competition, earning a prize of 3,000 livres, and that the Duchesse de Villars had even hired her as her personal musician, everyone's attention completely shifted to the competition.

Indeed, to boost the popularity of the Star of France, Moulins held its preliminary rounds early, swiftly completing the competition in less than a week. The Duchesse de Villars had also made an appearance to cooperate, at the request of the Crown Prince.

Suddenly, France was filled with people practicing dances or vocal exercises on the streets, everyone hoping to become a lucky winner like the laundrywoman.

Subsequently, preliminary rounds launched across various regions. To accommodate working people, daily competitions extended until 9 PM, allowing them to participate after work.

City halls and squares everywhere were brightly lit. Simply organizing this competition cost each city nearly 10,000 livres. The prize money for winners was another significant expense.

Yet, it was all worth it.

Even if people didn't participate themselves, they followed the progress of their relatives and friends. Crowds gathered daily in front of city halls to enjoy songs and dances, cheering for winners or listening to the contestants' moving stories, only returning home reluctantly after dark.

The riots seemed like a distant memory.

With the Police Reform funding now secured (initially obtained through bank loans, a remarkably swift process given the banks' efficiency at the time), the new police officers received their first month's salaries, visibly boosting their morale.

The riot incidents from over ten days ago also began to be reinvestigated. The focus wasn't on those who "protested" at the great nobles' estates, but rather on those who, taking advantage of the chaos, had stolen from and robbed ordinary citizens.

...

Versailles Palace.

In the South Wing corridor, seven or eight anxious-looking nobles were discussing in hushed tones, "...and then the Duke was brutally murdered by those commoners. His body was found in a marsh outside his estate..."

The others shook their heads grimly. "I heard they even stole his clothes, denying him any final dignity."

"Those shameless, cursed wretches!"

"Good heavens, is France truly descending into chaos?"

"Lately, I've been waking up from nightmares every day, dreaming of those rioters tying me to a pyre and roasting me alive... God, I want to sell off all my assets back home, otherwise the rioters will seize them one day..."

"I've been thinking the same; perhaps taking a sum of money abroad would be safer."

"Shh..."

One noble glimpsed the Crown Prince approaching, and quickly gestured to the others beside him.

They immediately retreated to the side of the corridor, bowing deferentially to the Crown Prince.

Joseph had vaguely overheard their discussion. He had initially nodded and walked past, but after a moment's thought, he turned back and smiled at them, saying, "Gentlemen, the riots are over. Trust me, this was merely chaos brought on by a once-in-a-century drought and severe cold.

"New police forces have begun training in every province. They are as capable as the Paris Police, and will excel at maintaining local order; such riots will not happen again."

"Oh, and furthermore, the criminals who incited the riots and murdered nobles have all been apprehended. They will soon face public trial."

The nobles exchanged glances, their faces lighting up with excitement. "Your Royal Highness, is this truly so?"

"Of course it is. I'm sure you'll see the news in the papers very soon. If you're interested, you can go to Paris to witness the rioters' trials."

Joseph knew that to completely quell the unrest, it wasn't enough just to disperse the unruly populace; the order in people's hearts also needed to be restored.

Apart from the great nobles who had harmed the nation, most nobles needed to be won over. Even the Old Nobility, as long as they accepted reforms and integrated into the nation's development, could become a pillar of strength for France.

After all, they still controlled most of France's wealth, and many among them were learned and capable. France could not do without them.

Furthermore, as a counterbalancing force against the Capitalist Nobility, the monarchy needed them even more.

The art of monarchical rule lay primarily in finding a balance among various factions.

Therefore, after dealing with the members of the Assembly of Notables, it was imperative to appease the other law-abiding nobles, to prevent the nation from falling into further turmoil.

And if the rioters were not severely punished, how could the nobles feel secure?

Thus, not only did severe punishment need to be meted out, but a considerable number of rioters had to be punished as a warning to others.

Of course, Joseph would never apprehend ordinary citizens who had participated in the riots. The scapegoats were already prepared.

These were the gang members originally used by the Duke of Orleans to incite the unrest.

They had later been "taken over" and repurposed by the Police Intelligence Bureau, and were now en route to Paris under escort.

These individuals were still awaiting their wages, so the Police Intelligence Bureau had easily rounded them all up. It was, in a way, a nationwide security sweep.

A week later.

A two-thousand-strong procession, composed of cadets from the Paris Police Academy and soldiers from Berthier's legion, marched in perfect formation into the heart of Paris.

Behind them followed over 100 gang members escorted from the southern provinces. In reality, nearly 400 gang members had been arrested, but to avoid chaos, the rest were directly confined to the Paris Police Bureau.

At the head of the procession were dozens of soldiers, adorned with yellow sashes and medals of varying ranks pinned to their chests.

Behind them marched drummers and standard-bearers. Two tall standard-bearers carried a banner proclaiming "Successful Pacification of the Southern Riots", leading the soldiers proudly through the center of the street.

Nearly all Parisian citizens crowded the sides of the roads, shouting slogans like "Long live the King!" and "Praise the heroes!"

The triumphant procession traversed half the city, eventually making its way to Versailles Palace.