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Chapter 530: Execution

Precisely for this reason, the nobles who participated in today's violent attacks on tax officials would be sent to hell alongside the common prisoners they typically looked down upon.

This, to the nobles, would feel like a profound insult.

It might sound absurd, but in this era, it genuinely was a major concern for the aristocracy.

A matter concerning their very identity!

"Thank you for your suggestion," Joseph said, exhaling as he looked at Baron Breteuil. "Perhaps the nobility must gradually grow accustomed to 'integrating' with common people."

The nobles' sense of superiority and disdain for commoners wasn't just reflected in their extravagance and privileges; it had permeated every detail of their words, actions, and thoughts.

From accents, gazes, and demeanor, to food, lodging, work, and even prisons and death sentences, nobles had a completely different set of norms compared to commoners.

This had become a natural, almost subconscious behavior, taken for granted. And it inevitably led to a fractured social hierarchy.

Joseph knew this was a significant problem, but he also knew it was the most difficult one to solve.

Baron Breteuil tentatively suggested, "Your Royal Highness, we could secretly execute these noble prisoners; it wouldn't take much effort..."

"There's no need for that," Joseph waved a hand, looking out at the crowds surging towards the execution ground. "I've already made arrangements.

"Today, those prisoners will no longer be distinguished as noble or commoner; they will all be given the same status. I believe the nobles will have no objections to a unified execution."

In fact, this execution was also an experiment for Joseph—an attempt to gradually diminish class divisions.

If people accepted nobles and commoners being beheaded in the same venue this time, it would become a precedent going forward.

Next would be the convergence of noble and commoner prisons, followed by uniformity in certain daily habits... a slow, gradual approach that, while not highly efficient, would minimize social unrest.

Joseph wasn't even certain his method would succeed, but it was better than doing nothing at all.

Breteuil still wanted to offer more counsel, but the Crown Prince stated, "Actually, it's not just the criminals from this combined trial. Everyone on the list you just gave me will also be executed in the same manner."

The Minister of Justice was greatly astonished. The list he had given the Crown Prince to sign contained the names of Tax Farmers recently tried and convicted, including prominent nobles like Bolloré and Antonel!

He had initially thought His Royal Highness was merely making a statement, and would later seek the Queen's pardon for these individuals—though the Crown Prince currently presided over most judicial matters, the power of pardon, belonging solely to the King, was temporarily exercised by the Queen.

He never imagined that the Crown Prince would even execute Bolloré. Previously, a great noble of such status, even if they committed public murder, could atone for their crime with a fine. This was both tradition and custom.

What Joseph disliked most were these traditions and customs that should have been relegated to the dustbin of history.

He glanced at the grandfather clock in the corner, rose, and motioned for Eman to fetch his overcoat. Then, he clapped Baron Breteuil on the shoulder. "It's almost time. Care to join me at the Louvre Square?"

"Ah?" The Minister of Justice paused, then quickly nodded. "Yes, Your Royal Highness."

Half an hour later.

With the assistance of the Crown Prince's personal guard, a large number of police officers struggled to clear a path through the throngs of onlookers, allowing Joseph's carriage to enter the central area of the square.

It wasn't due to negligence on the part of the police responsible for the special access; rather, the number of onlookers far exceeded their expectations.

The usually spacious Louvre Square was packed with over 13,000 people, making it incredibly crowded.

Although Joseph kept the carriage windows tightly shut, the cheers and shouts ringing in his ears still left them buzzing. "These damned bastards are finally going to hell!"

"Thank the Crown Prince! He's the one who judged these evil Tax Farmers!"

"Long live the Crown Prince! Long live the High Court!"

"See? The Crown Prince won't let them off!"

"They're getting what they deserve today! Hahaha!"

Joseph had been mentally prepared, but he was still somewhat shocked by the depth of public hatred for the Tax Farmers. After all, when he returned in triumph from the Southern Netherlands with the Guards Corps, far fewer people had come to watch.

Before long, surrounded by Clauzel, the President of the High Court, the execution judge, and other officials, he arrived at a platform on the north side of the square. It stood about three meters high, finally allowing him to escape the surging sea of bobbing heads.

He took a seat in the middle chair and looked across. About thirty meters away, in the center of the square, a taller rectangular wooden platform had been erected. On it rested a device resembling a long-handled guillotine, completely different from the French Revolution-style guillotine he had seen in documentaries.

'Perhaps it's a good thing that kind of guillotine isn't being used,' Joseph muttered to himself, then gestured to Duport, the President of the High Court, who stood nearby. "Please begin."

"Yes, Your Royal Highness."

Duport then gave instructions to his subordinates. Soon, the heavy thump of drums echoed through the square, and the multitude of onlookers immediately fell silent.

Next, orchestral instruments began to play, and only after more than ten minutes did the music abruptly cease. Duport's voice rang out to the crowd, "Today, we are honored to welcome the esteemed Crown Prince! Please join me in saluting His Royal Highness!"

The tens of thousands of people in the square instantly pressed their hands to their chests and bowed deeply towards the VIP section. Their salute this time, unlike those purely enforced by custom, was almost entirely a heartfelt expression of profound respect for the Crown Prince.

Word had spread throughout the populace that this Tax System Reform was personally overseen by His Royal Highness, and it was through his persistence and drive that these corrupt Tax Farmers had been arrested. How could they not feel grateful?

Joseph smiled and nodded at the crowd, then stepped forward to give a brief opening address before declaring the execution to begin. A flurry of urgent drumbeats immediately resounded across the square, and a prisoner, hands bound behind his back, was escorted onto the high platform by two burly executioners.

But what followed was not a court official reading out the prisoner's crimes. Instead, a man dressed as a farmer followed closely behind them.

He had initially appeared nervous, but upon seeing the Tax Farmer awaiting execution, his fists clenched instantly, and his body trembled violently with emotion.

He completely forgot the speech and procedure he had practiced repeatedly, his eyes bloodshot as he roared, "This bastard, Adrian Bernis, he falsely accused me of concealing my land's yield and demanded fifty livres as a fine! To avoid paying it, my sister had no choice but to become his mistress... In the end, two years ago, she died during childbirth because of him..."