Chapter 529: Nobles and Commoners
On the second floor of France's National First Prison.
Captain Clauzel opened the door to Cell 211 for the Crown Prince.
A faint, fragrant scent immediately wafted out. Joseph glimpsed the smooth, clean white walls, the intricately carved desk, and the flushing toilet visible behind the half-open bathroom door, and couldn't help but frown faintly.
This bad habit of French prisons was truly difficult to correct.
Previously, he had instructed Marquis de Launay, the prison governor, that noble cells should not be overly luxurious. Launay had indeed quickly converted them into single rooms, but beyond the main cell, a toilet, a dining area, and a massive wardrobe had been retained. Although the furniture was much less than before, it was still expensive, high-end pieces.
Overall, this place was much more luxurious and comfortable than an ordinary Parisian citizen's home. Of course, for nobles, these conditions were already several times harsher than before; living here for even a day was torment.
However, Joseph also knew that mindsets were difficult to change overnight, and continued adjustments could be made later. Moreover, he was here today for something more important and didn't want to bother Marquis de Launay any further about the cells.
The occupant of Cell 211 heard the sound and immediately turned towards the door. Upon seeing the Crown Prince, impeccably dressed in his crisp blue and white cavalry uniform, he hastily took half a step back with his right foot, clasped a hand over his chest, bowed deeply, and nervously said:
"Your esteemed Royal Highness, it's truly wonderful that you've come..."
"Baron Pélier, you can speak now. About that 'important matter' you mentioned."
Yes, this man, whose gaze always carried a hint of arrogance, was indeed one of the giants of the Tax Farmers' General Assembly, the banker, usurer, and great landlord Pélier.
Just over ten days ago, his trusted subordinate Antonel was arrested for "inciting panic" and "spreading rumors."
Then, the police quickly uncovered several murder cases involving Antonel – this fellow controlled one of the largest gangs in the Port of Marseille, and such deeds were not uncommon for him; it was practically common knowledge in Marseille.
It was just that Pélier had previously protected him, coupled with Marseille's corrupt bureaucratic system, so no one had ever been able to touch him.
However, this time, Police Bureau Director Besancon personally took charge, bringing with him orders personally signed by the Crown Prince. With this, no one dared to help Antonel escape justice anymore.
Who would have thought that after Antonel was imprisoned, Besancon merely threatened him a few times, and he immediately exposed his backer.
Besancon immediately felt as if he had struck gold. Recently, the Tax Bureau had gained too much prominence, even usurping many tasks that rightfully belonged to the Police Bureau. After stabilizing the situation in Marseille, he immediately rushed back to Paris with lightning speed, leading his men to apprehend Pélier, this big fish.
With the Crown Prince's orders in hand, let alone a mere tycoon, he now dared to arrest even cabinet ministers!
Pélier initially intended to resist stubbornly, but he soon heard the news that 'the French Trade Alliance had emerged and seized nearly a quarter of France's caravan market within half a month.' He instantly felt utterly defeated, losing all his previous confidence and arrogance.
He knew very well that Fould's plan had failed. With the crisis of collapsing trade routes averted, and the Port of Marseille incident suppressed, the government now had no further qualms. Their next step would undoubtedly be to deal with people like him.
And at this critical juncture, he had been sold out by that idiot Antonel.
Thus, he decisively decided to follow Antonel's example – selling out his comrades to save himself.
Pélier adopted a fawning expression, bowing slightly as he addressed Joseph:
"Your Highness, I admit I made some very foolish and disgraceful decisions in the past. I know you must be furious because of them, but I hope the information I'm about to give you will improve your mood.
"And of course, if you could grant a humble wretch like me a measure of merciful forgiveness in return, I would be eternally grateful for your compassion."
Noticing Joseph's impatient expression, he quickly got to the point:
"Your Highness, I know who instigated the intimidation and attacks on the Tax Bureau across the country."
Joseph lifted his gaze: "Speak his name."
"It's Bolloré," Pélier said. "Jacques-Albert de Bolloré. I know your people arrested many attackers, but the trail quickly went cold. That's because Bolloré sent all the subordinates responsible for this to Switzerland and Venice."
"And I happen to have friends in Switzerland who know the whereabouts of some of them."
He claimed it was 'by chance,' but in reality, he had begun plotting to use this matter to gain leverage over this 'smuggler' as soon as he heard Bolloré intended to use intimidation against the Tax Bureau.
Subsequently, by making arrangements in Switzerland beforehand, he successfully pinpointed the hiding places of Bolloré's subordinates.
He had originally intended to use this information to threaten Bolloré, hoping to extort significant business advantages, but he never expected it would now be his own salvation.
Joseph's eyes lit up. These capitalists truly played hardball when it came to their own interests.
"So, where are they?"
Pélier rubbed his hands, chuckling awkwardly: "Your Highness, I hope to exchange a fine of two million Francs for immunity from punishment..."
Joseph immediately cut him off: "I can only guarantee you won't lose your life."
At these words, Pélier felt as if he'd been struck by lightning, beads of cold sweat trickling down his forehead and along his cheeks...
A week later.
As Bolloré was preparing to board a ship to flee to England, he was intercepted by Intelligence Bureau agents. Soon after, in a prison interrogation room, he came face to face with the subordinates he believed had already escaped to Switzerland.
Tuileries Palace, second floor.
Joseph listened to the cheers and murmurs drifting in from outside, then gestured for Eman to close the window.
Those were Parisian citizens rushing to Louvre Square, preparing to witness the upcoming execution ceremony. Today, dozens of Tax Farmers' henchmen, universally loathed by the common people, would lose their heads there.
Nearly all citizens who could spare the time, including farmers from within a radius of over ten kilometers, flocked to witness this thrilling moment.
Baron Breteuil, the Minister of Justice, who stood before Joseph, waited until the clamor was muffled by the glass, then immediately continued: "Your Highness, you know that among the prisoners being sent to Louvre Square, there are quite a few nobles, ah, at least a dozen or so.
"To have them executed alongside those despicable criminals is an insult to their noble status. I fear this will provoke strong protests from the nobility; I mean, this could be entirely avoided."
In current France, and indeed across Europe, death sentences were handled entirely differently for nobles and commoners. This time, due to the 'merged trial,' ordinary prisoners who would normally have been hanged were unexpectedly 'upgraded' to enjoy the guillotine treatment reserved for nobility.
Comments