Chapter 488: The First Step of Administrative Reform
The province of Reims, just east of Paris.
Viscount Duran, the Market Commissioner, watched hundreds of imposing police officers march past him in neat formation, a profound sense of awe filling his heart.
He clearly remembered that just a year prior, the police in Reims had been indistinguishable from common street thugs. Not only could hundreds of them not march with synchronized steps as they did now, but it had been difficult to even get them to stand up straight.
Now, these officers were well-paid, highly disciplined, directly commanded by the Police Bureau, and outside the jurisdiction of the municipal government.
He sighed inwardly, 'The police are completely beyond the control of the nobility now...'
Joseph had originally intended to hold a police parade in Reims, similar to the one in Paris, but the local police's training was still somewhat lacking. The Police Bureau stated they needed a month's preparation to barely achieve the desired effect.
So he had to change the inspection into a police procession through the city. To his surprise, a large number of citizens followed to observe, turning it into a grand parade of thousands, its momentum not much weaker than the one in Paris.
"Hey, did you hear?" An official in a long black coat, with prominent cheekbones, suddenly leaned close to Viscount Duran, nudged him with his elbow, and whispered conspiratorially, "The reason people like Count Norfolk exposed other officials in court is because they were forced by the Intelligence Bureau..."
Viscount Duran's expression immediately changed. He rubbed his ears with an exaggerated motion and loudly said, "Baron Chevalier, the drums are too loud, what did you say? I couldn't hear you clearly."
Chevalier was about to repeat himself when he saw Duran turn to greet a middle-aged man. "Mr. Gerard, long time no see, you've come too."
Chevalier was helpless and had to turn to another official to recount the 'big news' he'd dug up, but the latter also quickly and awkwardly avoided him.
He instantly felt a little dejected. Just then, he spotted his cousin's husband in the crowd—Baron Alex, the Financial Assistant of Reims. So he squeezed through and waved to him, saying, "Henry, it's great to see you.
"About those recently implicated in the corruption case, I heard news that it was the Intelligence Bureau..."
He was halfway through his sentence when his cousin's husband sharply interrupted him, "Stop talking now!"
The latter glanced around and said in a serious, low voice, "I always remind you, never listen to nonsense from others, and even more so, don't spread it around."
"No, this isn't a rumor, Viscount Charles Bernis said it..."
Viscount Bernis was one of the more than 40 high-ranking officials being tried in this corruption case.
Baron Alex nervously glanced at the police formation carrying flintlock muskets not far away and raised a hand to cover his mouth. "The royal family has already suppressed this matter; that's the best outcome. If you keep talking about this, do you want to attract the Notary Investigation Bureau to investigate us?"
His voice dropped even lower. "Before, the High Court only tried four people, and hundreds of officials were implicated. Once those forty-plus people are all tried, it's very likely we'll also be on the list of those exposed!
"Most importantly, whether it's you, me, or the Municipal Commissioner, the trade coordinator, or anyone else, none of us can withstand an investigation... So we just need to cooperate with the royal family and absolutely do not stir up any trouble!"
Seeing Chevalier nod, he finally released his mouth and instructed again, "Prepare yourself when you go back. In a few days, come with me to Paris to enroll in the Royal University of Administration..."
After the police procession ended, Baron Alex pondered for a moment and instructed his coachman to drive to the Police Bureau.
A short while later, he told the Police Bureau official who received him, "I want to report Viscount Charles Bernis for spreading rumors and slandering the Intelligence Bureau..."
In an adjacent office, Viscount Duran was also filing a report about the same matter.
...
After presiding over the police procession in Bordeaux, Joseph returned to Paris.
He first made a detour to the University of Public Administration to deliver a speech on behalf of Louis XVI at the opening ceremony.
Indeed, thanks to generous donations from numerous officials and their persistent urging, in just a month and a half, the university completed its preparations at lightning speed and was ready to begin classes.
The first batch of students numbered over 600, far exceeding the original planned number.
Moreover, to get into the first batch of classes, one had to pull strings with the church, with thousands more officials waiting anxiously in line behind them.
As Joseph left the school, he looked up and saw a "For Rent" sign on a house across the street. The rent was an astonishing 40 francs a month!
This price was almost equivalent to an ordinary civil servant's monthly salary.
He slapped his forehead, filled with immediate regret. 'Why hadn't I thought of such an excellent real estate project before?'
This was prime school district property. A single building could easily sell for twenty to thirty thousand francs.
After all, the people moving in here were all officials, and they could certainly afford that much money. Moreover, even if one didn't live there after buying it, it could easily be rented out at a high price. Shrewd merchants would also come to invest in purchasing homes.
If a new residential area were built here, it could earn at least tens of millions of francs!
Thinking of this, Joseph immediately instructed Eman to send people to buy all the vacant land near the University of Public Administration. It wasn't too late to mend the fold after the sheep were gone; wouldn't this gather another sum of money for the Tax System Reform?
The next day.
Versailles Palace. A routine cabinet meeting was being held in the conference hall.
"Next is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's proposal." Brienne looked at the document before him and said in a steady tone, "His Highness suggests that for officials managing road administration, water conservancy, and similar fields, as their areas of responsibility require a great deal of specialized knowledge, they should be required to study at the university.
"If these officials fail their professional assessments, it proves they are unsuitable for the work, and others can be appointed to the position."
Mirabeau immediately nodded in agreement. "His Highness has considered this very thoroughly. It's hard to imagine a road administration director who can't even read construction blueprints for roadbeds could build roads of acceptable quality."
Brienne scanned the cabinet ministers. "Then we shall follow His Highness's suggestion and have officials in these fields enter the University of Public Administration for further studies in batches.
"Furthermore, for positions requiring higher specialized knowledge in the future, they should first undergo study and only assume office after receiving the relevant diploma."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
There weren't many official positions related to water conservancy and road administration, and the power they wielded wasn't significant, so no one paid too much attention.
The ministers all turned to look at Queen Mary.
The Queen was still admiring a beautiful bird outside the window—now that the Crown Prince could handle most matters for her, she was becoming increasingly disinclined to bother herself—until Brienne cleared his throat. She suddenly turned her head back and gave an awkward smile.
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