Chapter 377: Van der Noot's Conspiracy
"You are the true leader of the French revolutionary cause!" the middle-aged man flattered intensely. "While those cowards retreated in fear of the tyrant's oppressive power, only you bravely fight for the French people."
"This is my eternal cause!" Saint-Just's face showed a mix of pride and arrogance. He had little interest in money or beauty, but he greatly enjoyed flattery.
The middle-aged man discreetly took a stack of Bank of France banknotes from his pocket and offered them to Saint-Just, whispering, "This is for your operational expenses."
These banknotes had been received by the Southern Netherlands Assembly from local farmers. They weren't fond of this flimsy paper money, but the French seemed quite willing to accept it.
Saint-Just immediately pushed the money back. "Operational expenses should be managed uniformly by the 'Club'. I cannot accept funds privately."
He motioned for the middle-aged man to join him in the carriage, his expression solemn. "Compared to funding, where are the firearms the committee promised?
"You know, those vultures at Versailles who only prey on the French people will never surrender easily. We need guns, and ideally cannons, to utterly crush them, so the French people can truly gain freedom!"
The "committee" he referred to was the organization sent by the Southern Netherlands Assembly to incite revolution in France. The middle-aged man before him was Yeskut, one of the seven core members of this committee, specifically responsible for liaising with Saint-Just, a key figure among the French Liberals.
The entire committee had over 210 operatives in France. To turn the tide of the stalled situation on the Brussels battlefield, Van der Noot had spared no expense, providing not only personnel but also over 800,000 livres in funds, along with several thousand flintlock muskets, in cooperation with the Netherlands.
"Please rest assured, the first batch of one thousand flintlock muskets has already passed Cambrai and should arrive in Reims the day after tomorrow. The rest will be delivered within this month."
A fervent glint flashed in Saint-Just's eyes, and he immediately began discussing the specific implementation process of the uprising with Yeskut.
It wasn't until the carriage stopped in Zesgehuchten village that farmers immediately began to gather from the fields.
Other revolutionaries from the "Club" had already made arrangements here, including secret propaganda and defenses against the Mounted Police, simply awaiting Saint-Just's speech.
Saint-Just looked at the people around him with excitement. Suddenly, he remembered something and turned to Yeskut, speaking in a low voice, "I've always had a question, Monsieur Yeskut. How did you learn the details of Versailles' land redemption plan?"
The latter paused slightly, then forced a smile. "You know, we've been active in France for many years; naturally, we have our own channels."
"Is the information reliable? I wouldn't want the people to think I'm deceiving them."
"We've been revolutionary partners for years; you can trust me completely!" Yeskut declared with certainty. In reality, the harsh redemption plan Saint-Just had spoken of earlier was merely an invention prompted by the British to Van der Noot.
...
Versailles Palace.
At a salon attended by over a hundred people, almost all the nobles paid no attention to the salon's topic, instead gathering in small groups, whispering about the recent domestic situation.
"Have you heard the news? The farmers in Reims and Lille have driven out the village Stadtholders and then attacked the town halls!"
"Although the newspapers haven't reported much on it, it's already become widespread gossip. They say there have been protests in over a dozen cities."
Several less informed nobles immediately asked in shock, "What exactly do those commoners want?"
"Apparently, they're dissatisfied with the land redemption plan and want to use this method to pressure the government."
"These greedy scoundrels! His Majesty has already agreed to let them own land, an unprecedented gift since the creation of the world by God, and they're still not satisfied just by paying a small redemption fee?!"
A plump noble in his fifties said fiercely, "Exactly! Our rights have been abolished, all the benefits given to the commoners, and they aren't even grateful, but cause trouble instead? I say, we should arrest and hang all the unruly ones, and not give them an inch of land!"
"Precisely! Feudal taxes were His Majesty the King's reward to the nobility; they should not be abolished!"
The young noble, who had remained silent nearby, saw that the time was right and interjected, "I advise you all to accept the facts. In the future, to appease the rioting farmers, His Majesty has already instructed the cabinet to issue new decrees, reducing the redemption period to five years."
The surrounding nobles immediately began to clamor, "That's land granted to us by His Majesty the King! After five years, we won't get a single penny from it?"
"How can this be? My son's tuition, my daughter's dowry, they all depend on that land..."
"Forget about tuition and dowries; in five more years, we might be begging in the streets!"
Although most of these Old Nobility members had other ventures, feudal taxes were undoubtedly one of their most significant sources of income.
They had all initially assumed the government would require farmers to redeem feudal taxes for at least twenty or thirty years, which would give them time to plan other sources of wealth. But if it was only a mere five years, their quality of life would inevitably plummet.
Not to mention those with inflexible minds, who relied entirely on feudal taxes for a living; without those taxes, they truly would have to resort to begging to survive.
Someone excitedly waved his fist and urged, "Come on, let's petition Her Majesty the Queen!"
"Yes! We absolutely cannot let the commoners get land so easily!"
The young noble, however, stopped them and said in a low voice, "His Majesty has surely already made a decision. Have you forgotten? Last time, when the noble rights were abolished, we also petitioned, but it had no effect."
"Then what do you propose we do?"
"We must defend the Lille and Reims town halls ourselves, and teach those greedy commoners a lesson with our swords! Are there any brave souls willing to join me?"
...
Second floor of Tuileries Palace.
In the Industrial Planning Bureau office, Fouché bowed deeply, his voice low. "Your Royal Highness, this incident is due to my poor handling. Whatever the punishment, I will accept it without complaint."
Joseph sighed and gestured for him to sit in a chair. "Protests breaking out simultaneously in over a dozen cities clearly indicates a long-planned conspiracy. You don't need to blame yourself too much."
As he spoke, Eman knocked and entered, followed by a court official who bowed to Joseph. "Your Royal Highness, Her Majesty the Queen requests your immediate return to Versailles Palace for an emergency cabinet meeting."
Joseph nodded and stood up. "Is it about the farmers' unrest?"
"Yes, Your Royal Highness."
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