Chapter 490: Grand Mass
Queen Mary pondered deeply. "The Crown Prince's abilities are exceptional, and he has the Lord's favor. I believe he should be given a broader platform."
Archbishop Brienne glanced discreetly at the Queen's expression, sensing her seriousness before cautiously replying, "I fully understand Your Majesty's desire to further hone the Crown Prince's skills. Perhaps, His Highness could start by chairing a few cabinet meetings, with you guiding him from the side. That way, nothing should go amiss."
Queen Mary heard this and finally made up her mind. "Since you agree, let the Crown Prince preside over the next cabinet meeting."
The words out, she suddenly felt a complete release, as if returning to her chambers after an all-night ball, shedding a tightly laced corset and stiff leather shoes, and experiencing that instant of profound relaxation and ease.
Archbishop Brienne also felt a weight lift from his mind. He quickly bowed again. "As you wish, Your Majesty."
After he departed, the golden doors of the meeting hall closed with a soft thud. Queen Mary stretched her arms, arching her back, and her thoughts drifted to cakes, jewelry, and beautiful dresses.
"Please ask Cécilien to make me a mint cocoa cake." She rose with a smile, instructing her lady-in-waiting, Deberninc, before murmuring to herself, 'Joseph will certainly handle everything perfectly.'
...
June 3, 1790.
At the front of the hall, a Deacon in white robes stood with his back to the congregation, bowing as he held an open Bible above his head. Before him, Archbishop Beaumont recited scriptures with a sacred and solemn expression.
Indeed, a grand Mass for the Feast of Corpus Christi was underway.
Joseph sat at the very front of the congregation, but his attention was not on the Archbishop mumbling in Latin in the slightest—'He was likely the French Crown Prince with the worst Latin in a century. To this day, he couldn't even comprehend Latin texts, let alone understand spoken Latin in real-time.'
He tilted his head slightly and murmured to Fouché, who sat slightly behind him, "Has it been confirmed?"
"Yes, Your Highness." The Director of the Intelligence Bureau leaned forward, likewise lowering his voice to an almost inaudible level. "The information was leaked by Viscount Charles Bernis through the bailiff guarding him. He, along with the six individuals who subsequently spread the news, have all confessed."
Joseph narrowed his eyes slightly.
Bernis was clearly unwilling to accept exile, so he deliberately revealed that Joseph had tasked him with exposing corrupt officials, hoping to ignite the wrath of the bureaucracy, thereby forcing the High Court and the Crown to make concessions.
Fortunately, Joseph had conducted police reviews across various regions, and the Church had lent its support, building momentum, preventing officials from easily believing his "rumors." 'Had this occurred a year prior, the bureaucratic class likely would have plunged the entire nation into turmoil.'
A surge of anger rose in Joseph as he instructed Fouché, "Every official implicated in this corruption case must undergo a rigorous investigation. As for Bernis, his place of exile will be changed to New Zealand. Oh, and his friend, the prison guard, can accompany him."
He had originally reached an agreement with Bernis and his accomplices that they would expose corrupt officials in court in exchange for exile to Lille, a rather prosperous city, and retain a small portion of their assets. 'But since this fellow wishes to stir up trouble, he can go herd sheep on a small island in the Pacific.'
"Yes, Your Highness."
Fouché inclined his head, then cautiously added, "Your Highness, I believe Bernis's message has already circulated among the officials. Though they outwardly dare not speak, they will undoubtedly harbor resentment internally."
A flicker of excitement sparked in his eyes. "Perhaps, we should arrest everyone who has propagated this rumor, to nip it in the bud—"
Joseph turned his head and shot him a pointed look. 'You just want an excuse to boost your record, don't you?' he thought. He shook his head.
"Such actions would only escalate the situation. I have already made arrangements for what comes next. You needn't worry."
Following this incident, he had initially achieved his Administrative Reform plan. 'Now that the bureaucracy has accepted reality, it's time to consolidate.' 'A carrot and a stick is always the most effective management approach.'
According to Joseph's blueprint, he would later announce the admission of commoners to the University of Public Administration, significantly lowering the 'official position tax,' and raising officials' salaries.
Yes, he intended to increase officials' incomes. 'Because currently, the legal income of Civil Servants in France was indeed extremely low.'
This stemmed from successive Kings of France consistently treating the bureaucratic system as a business.
"And since it was a business, it had to turn a profit."
Thus, when selling official positions, they would ask an exorbitant price: any position with even a hint of authority would cost tens of thousands of Francs, with city-level positions starting at 30,000 Francs.
As for officials' salaries, they were kept remarkably low. Ordinary Civil Servants started at 50 Francs, and even a deputy mayor's salary was barely over 90 Francs. On top of that, they had to pay an annual 'official position tax'!
This peculiar tax was stipulated by the Paulette Edict promulgated during the reign of Henry IV—stating that all purchased official positions required an annual tax of one-seventieth of their selling price to continue exercising their duties; otherwise, they would be immediately suspended.
For example, the ordinary Civil Servant mentioned earlier, after deducting the official position tax from their salary, had an actual income of less than 40 Francs. A deputy mayor's actual income was 60 Francs.
Relying on this system, since Louis XVI's ascension to the throne, the state treasury annually reaped over forty million Livres in revenue from the sale of official positions and the collection of official position taxes.
This led to the vast majority of French Civil Servants being unable to live on their salaries alone, forcing them to find their own means of sustenance—ranging from petty extortion to outright bribery and corruption. This had become the norm in French officialdom.
"If you want officials to remain incorruptible, you must at least pay them a salary that allows for a dignified life."
The first half of Joseph's Administrative Reform was to dismantle the nobility's monopoly over the bureaucracy and promote capable individuals. The second half involved improving officials' remuneration, and incidentally, eradicating the detestable practice of selling offices as swiftly as possible.
Of course, given France's current fiscal situation, the outright prohibition of selling official positions was not yet feasible. However, according to his plan, he intended to reduce the number of positions sold by at least half before the coming year.
At the front of the grand hall, Archbishop Beaumont finally concluded the lengthy chanting ceremony, and the priests, directed by the precentor, began distributing Holy Communion to the assembled faithful.
Archbishop Beaumont glanced at the Crown Prince, who had been "chatting" with the Director of the Intelligence Bureau, not taking offense in the slightest. He cleared his throat lightly and, seizing the moment, switched to French and declared in a resonant voice, "The Lord says, 'For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.' Behold, those greedy officials, though they may have faced worldly retribution, shall ultimately still face the judgment of the Lord..."
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