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Chapter 263: Fines, Fines, Still Fines!

Upon hearing the judge's verdict, the Duke of Chartres beamed with joy, turning to celebrate prematurely with his lawyers.

The corpulent lawyer rose, bowing slightly to the judge. "Your Honor, I respectfully request that you issue the enforcement documents, instructing the banks to unfreeze the Duke of Orléans's—oh, I mean, the Duke of Chartres's—assets."

Duport frowned. Legally, he should indeed issue the unfreezing documents, but how would he explain himself to the Crown Prince?

Just as he hesitated, Danton, who had been silent until now, stood up and gestured to the Duke of Chartres's lawyer. "Please wait a moment, Mr. Balthazar."

He then turned to the bench and declared loudly, "Your Honor, I believe we should first verify the exact amount of the Duke of Orléans's inheritance in court. Otherwise, once unfrozen, it could potentially cause losses to creditors."

"Creditors?" Lawyer Balthazar frowned and sneered. "You must be mistaken, Mr. Prosecutor. The Duke of Orléans has no debts..."

Danton continued, "This involves unpaid taxes totaling 3.2 million Livres. The Ministry of Finance has recommended tax arrears and penalties amounting to 15 million Livres."

His assistant immediately handed copies of the two documents to the judge and the Duke of Chartres's lawyer, respectively.

"'After this money was invested in the English steel company, it played a crucial supporting role in the research and development of its smelting technology, thereby giving it an overwhelming advantage over similar French companies in hard steel products...'"

Just as Duport was about to declare an adjournment, Danton preempted him, stating, "Besides these illegal investments, the Duke of Orléans also engaged in extensive tax evasion."

He immediately took a deep breath, pulled out his prepared manuscript, and cleared his throat. "Your Honor, first, I will explain the basis for fining the Duke of Orléans for this illegal investment in 1775.

Bernis, anticipating the various benefits promised by the Crown Prince once the case concluded, continued with grand flair, "As for the investment made in May 1776, its impact was even greater..."

Danton addressed Duport, "Your Honor, I ask Mr. Bernis, who is responsible for auditing these irregular cases, to explain the details to everyone."

Lawyer Balthazar glanced at the document, his eyes widened, and he hurriedly flipped through the pages, then exclaimed, flustered and exasperated, "How is this possible?! Just for not undergoing an audit, a fine of 16 million Livres?!"

Given the Duke of Orléans's status and position back then, no one would have even mentioned these so-called violations. Even if someone pursued them, he would most likely have been pardoned by the King.

"'Here are the testimonies from Marquis Ludot and several other administrators of the Banking Guild. In March 1775, the Duke of Orléans invested 1.8 million Livres from the City Trade Bank into the English "Hull River Steel Company".'"

By the time he finished explaining the basis for all dozen or so fines and bowed to the judges before leaving, it was already 6 PM.

He first bowed to Duport and the other judges, then nervously glanced at the Duke of Chartres's side, but immediately recalled the Crown Prince's instructions.

Joseph only needed to casually copy from future examples, and the Duke of Orléans's paltry assets wouldn't even be enough.

As he spoke, he subtly glanced at Robespierre; the latter had acquired all of the Duke of Orléans's financial records, which were immensely helpful in analyzing the Duke of Orléans's tax situation.

Lawyer Balthazar immediately retorted furiously, "This is utterly absurd! Forget over a decade ago, even today, investment audits are just a formality! Even if it had been audited back then, it never would have been rejected..."

'But now, things are different. Once you're gone, whether it's square or round is just a matter of someone else's word, isn't it?'

Joseph had seen too many news reports in his previous life of powerful figures using similar tactics to target opponents—even influential living figures can be brought to their knees by fines, let alone someone deceased.

Hearing this, the Duke of Chartres nearly spat out a mouthful of blood. The two fines just mentioned had already confiscated more than half of his father's assets.

Mr. Bernis, who was responsible for the audits, retorted coldly, "You are gravely slandering government departments. I can provide ample evidence to prove the efficiency and diligence of the auditing department.

Danton, still impassioned and stirring, declared, "Furthermore, the Duke of Orléans was involved in numerous illegalities in his previous transactions involving farmland and estates... The fine for this portion amounts to..."

Soon, a middle-aged man wearing spectacles, with a meticulously styled wig and finely tailored clothes, was summoned to the stand.

"No, no, these are not mere 'irregularities,' but serious illegal acts!" Danton waved his hand emphatically. "Please examine this fine document issued by the financial audit commissioner."

Danton rattled off 15 investment records, spanning over a decade and involving sums exceeding 13 million Livres.

"'In May 1776, an investment of 2.2 million Livres was made from the Paris Discount Bank to the English "Carman Brothers Textile Company".'"

"'As for your claim that it would not have been rejected in 1775, I ask you to provide concrete evidence.'"

Lawyer Balthazar impatiently interrupted him, "Yes, some insignificant irregularities, which should be handled as separate cases."

"'All these investments were transferred by the Duke of Orléans to the Bank of England via bills of exchange, without undergoing investment scrutiny. This violates Article 12 of the 1774 Financial Decree...'"

Duport's eyes lit up at this. 'To calculate it this way! What genius came up with this method? Finally, the Crown Prince's instructions could be fulfilled.'

"'In December 1776, from the Paris Discount Bank to the Netherlands...'"

He then reeled off a string of technical terms, finally concluding, "'From this, it is clear that from 1775 to the present, due to the Duke of Orléans's illegal investments, at least seven steel mills in France went bankrupt, resulting in losses exceeding 3 million Livres.'"

"'If the Duke of Orléans had submitted an investment audit application to the Ministry of Finance back then, I believe this investment would have been rejected, and the money would have remained in France, aiding the advancement of domestic steel refining technology...'"

"'There is testimony proving that the Duke of Orléans was involved in illegal slave trading... requiring fines...'"

"'I...'" Lawyer Balthazar faltered. 'The previous fine notice bore the signature of the auditing official from that year; what evidence could he possibly produce?'

"'Is that so?'" Danton gestured for his assistant to hand the documents to the judge, also giving a copy to the Duke of Chartres's side. "'Your Honor, please turn to the second page.'"

Danton spoke for an hour and a half straight. The Duke of Chartres's side was already in despair. 'No need for precise calculations, his father's paltry assets must have been completely confiscated by now.'

Danton suddenly paused. Just as everyone thought he was finally concluding, he took a breath and declared, "The above were merely minor violations. Next, I will elaborate on the Duke of Orléans's incitement of riots in numerous southern provinces, which caused immense damage to the nation."