Chapter 53: Political Conspiracy
The Duke of Orleans immediately thought of the Paris Angel Company, founded by Joseph.
He didn't know much about the store, having only visited once to buy his mistress a one thousand Livre VIP card—mainly because the woman had pestered him about it for days.
However, he had heard that the noblewomen of Versailles were like enchanted devotees, scrambling to buy expensive cosmetics at the shop.
The Duke of Orleans then recalled the newspapers' recent discussions about the Paris Angel Company issuing shares.
He couldn't help but narrow his eyes. It seemed those six million Livres had likely come from selling shares. Could a mere shop selling women's skincare products really be worth six million Livres?!
In truth, Joseph hadn't even sought to cash in heavily yet—he still held 1.8 million shares of Paris Angel stock, which, if fully sold, could net him another six or seven million Livres.
Once Orleans understood all of this, the anger on his face gradually faded, replaced by solemnity and anxiety.
If the Crown Prince had previously been merely a nuisance, he had now become a grave problem.
A problem that demanded immediate resolution!
The House of Orleans, through generations of painstaking effort, had already hollowed out the monarchy's power in these three areas to the greatest extent possible.
In finance, for instance, the monarchy had been reduced to a mere tool for major banks to accrue profits. Nearly half of the treasury's income had to be used to pay interest, and the national debt continued to mount.
If this continued, the monarchy would soon be crushed by its immense debt, and that would be the Orleans family's moment to strike!
Indeed, this was precisely how the original historical timeline had unfolded.
But the emergence of the French Reserve Bank was akin to the monarchy opening a breach in the financial sector.
In the future, this bank could potentially absorb an increasing amount of the National Debt, which the Crown Prince, in control of the bank, could eventually sign off to cancel directly.
Even setting that aside, simply regaining financial autonomy, however slight, would boost public confidence in the monarchy.
Therefore, this breach had to be sealed.
The Duke of Orleans paced a few rounds in the room, then, with a hint of irritation, beckoned to the butler outside the door. "Invite Comte Isaac, Marquis Ludot, Comte de Kaunitz... yes, those from the Banking Guild, to my Yèvre estate for a hunt tomorrow."
"Yes, my lord," the butler replied.
The following noon.
In the vast Yèvre estate to the west, the sun shone upon withered grass and bare trees. The air was filled with the sounds of hooves and the baying of hounds.
Dozens of servants directed a hundred hounds, driving herds of deer from several directions in the thickets, gradually herding them towards the open ground on the southern side of the woods.
Seated firmly in his saddle, clad in a dark blue hunting suit, the Duke of Orleans raised his Charleville Model 1763 Short-Barreled Flintlock. He carefully aimed at a distant stag for a moment, then squeezed the trigger with force.
Gunsmoke drifted in the air with a thunderous bang, but the deer merely scoffed, leaped a few steps forward, and began to graze.
The Duke of Orleans showed a hint of regret and gestured to the middle-aged man beside him, who had slightly bulging eyes and a prominent aquiline nose. "Comte Isaac, it's your turn."
The middle-aged man smiled faintly. He raised his gun and fired almost immediately. The distant stag fell instantly, twitching weakly on the spot where it had been grazing moments before.
The surrounding party immediately cheered and congratulated him, as the hounds and servants rushed towards the downed prey.
"We've actually discussed that bank ourselves," Comte Isaac remarked, handing his gun to a servant and turning to Orleans. "He has clearly violated the recognized rules within the industry, for example, by using administrative means to cancel government contracts with Laborde Bank and Laville Bank."
An elderly man nearby, whose neck was so short it was almost imperceptible, leaned forward and interjected, "If we don't put a stop to such behavior, it's bound to harm everyone's interests."
The Duke of Orleans immediately offered him an approving smile.
"Therefore, I propose," the old man declared, raising his gun and aiming at the deer herd, "that members of the Banking Guild collectively boycott the French Reserve Bank. This includes refusing to accept its notes and requiring our clients to cease all business dealings with it."
A man in his fifties, dressed in a form-fitting cream-colored jacket with a prominent chin, spurred his horse forward from behind. "That alone, I'm afraid, won't be enough to halt the French Reserve Bank."
Isaac turned to the newcomer. "Then, Mr. Necker, what do you suggest?"
Necker bowed respectfully, placing a hand to his chest. "I believe His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is able to act so recklessly in the financial sector entirely due to the support of Her Majesty the Queen and the Minister of Finance. Otherwise, he wouldn't even have secured permission to issue shares for the Paris Angel Company."
The Duke of Orleans nodded thoughtfully. 'No wonder that Austrian harlot wanted her son to become Assistant to the Minister of Finance. With Brienne's cooperation, she could then fully control financial policy. The Paris Angel Company and the French Reserve Bank must be part of her scheme as well!'
He immediately stated in a cold tone, "You are absolutely correct. Since Archbishop Brienne has chosen betrayal, he is no longer fit to continue as Minister of Finance."
Brienne had once been the Speaker of the Assembly of Notables, the representative body of the high nobility, and the leading figure opposing Louis XVI's tax reform bill.
Later, Louis XVI, to win over the Assembly of Notables, appointed Brienne as Minister of Finance.
After taking office, Brienne realized that France's finances were utterly shattered, the nation on the brink of disaster at any moment, and tax reform an absolute necessity.
He consequently abandoned his personal interests and steadfastly supported the King, but this earned him the ostracization of the high nobility and the Church.
Isaac surveyed the assembled group and smiled. "If we leverage our influence to remove Brienne from office and replace him with another Minister of Finance, for example, Mr. Necker..."
Isaac and his associates controlled France's financial lifeline. Coupled with Orleans's political sway, their collective noble influence certainly had the power to dictate the selection of the Minister of Finance.
A flash of joy appeared in Necker's eyes. He immediately bowed and declared, "I will ensure the government severs all cooperation with the French Reserve Bank and push for a bill to revoke the Paris Angel Company's right to issue shares. All problems will then be resolved at their root."
...
Joseph, completely oblivious, was unaware that a political conspiracy against him had quietly begun to unfold.
He was currently presiding over the inaugural ceremony for the first class of new students at the newly established Paris Police Academy.
Accompanied by the rhythmic beat of military drums, the academy instructors led their respective students, marching in crisp formation towards the reviewing stand.
"Attention! Right face!"
At the command, the more than two hundred new students, arranged in several squares, all turned in unison. Through the rising dust, their eager gazes fixed on their commandant—His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince of France.
Comments