Chapter 541: Money, or Principle
Their words immediately drew discontent from several nearby nobles.
Someone looked at them and rebuked, "Gentlemen, you should be ashamed of your nonsense! I've been visiting Louvre Square almost daily these days, and all I've seen there are detestable tax farmers, certainly no respectable individuals."
Another, clearly influenced by Rousseau's egalitarian philosophy, added, "No one in France should be called a commoner. At least, when God calls, there's no difference between a noble and a commoner."
"Hmph, if you ask me, those tax farmers deserve to be humiliated. His Highness did absolutely the right thing. Just look at Mr. Vianne; those scoundrels almost got him killed in Faubourg Saint-Antoine."
"So, you sympathize with those tax farmers, do you? Ha, I've been overcharged hundreds of francs by them over the past few years..."
Though the few who had voiced dissatisfaction with the execution method were repeatedly rebuffed, they continued to protest in hushed tones, "I don't particularly care for those fellows either, but perhaps one day, the dignity of other nobles might also be stripped away..."
"It's a matter of principle, after all; it shouldn't be changed on a whim."
Seeing the two factions on the verge of quarreling, a middle-aged man quickly stepped forward to interject, "Gentlemen, calm yourselves, please. Calm yourselves.
"Indeed, you're quite right. They are all condemned criminals with a litany of evil deeds. What difference does it make whether they are commoners or nobles? All proper nobles still uphold their due dignity.
"Oh? How so?"
"It's the newly introduced Guillotine," the middle-aged man said with a blink. "That device, while incredibly swift—a mere whoosh and it's over—lacks any sense of ceremony."
"Now, to have an executioner perform the deed, one must pay a separate fee for their services.
"They will carry out the execution before the cold, impersonal guillotine. Before commencing, they recite vows, display the Executioner's Sword passed down through generations, and even exchange a few words with the condemned. This traditional and ritualistic method of execution is specifically reserved for the nobility. Oh, commoners certainly can't afford to hire an executioner."
The nobles' eyes lit up at these words. "Indeed, that's precisely it! No wonder His Majesty invented the Guillotine—it's merely a contraption for the common folk!"
"Long live His Majesty the King! He has truly expended so much effort to uphold the dignity of the nobility."
"Only a solemn executioner is worthy of a noble's head!"
Joseph had never imagined that his father's Guillotine would so quickly give birth to a unique "economy of execution."
To assert their status, nobles would even specifically commission elaborate uniforms for the executioners, request them to recite short farewell poems, and hire their assistants to scatter petals over their flowing blood.
The cost of these services, after half a month of continuous executions in Louvre Square, had already surged to between 500 and 800 francs per executioner, making it one of the court's primary sources of revenue.
On the second floor of Tuileries Palace.
Joseph studied the documents submitted by the General Tax Bureau, and a slight frown creased his brow.
Following this extensive purge of tax farmers, a vast sum of ill-gotten gains was unearthed. This, combined with the levied fines, added a total of 67 million francs to the national treasury.
It was crucial to remember that this differed entirely from National Debt and loans that required principal and interest repayment; this was pure profit!
However, it was now January 1791, and even with the funds he had previously amassed, there remained a shortfall of over 30 million francs to meet the minimum funding requirements for government expenditures.
This was far from his initial expectations.
According to Robespierre's report, the major tax farmers, knowing they could not escape their crimes, had all chosen to divert their assets to their families.
This era was still one where cash was king—as long as silver coins or banknotes were buried in a secluded spot, it would be incredibly difficult for either the Tax Bureau or the Intelligence Bureau to unearth them.
Only the money tax farmers held in banks was completely seized. Real estate and other tangible assets, things that could not be hidden, were also confiscated, but compared to their total wealth, a significant portion remained unaccounted for.
For example, Bolloré held substantial stakes in over a dozen tax farms. According to Robespierre's estimations, his tax farming revenue last year alone should have amounted to as much as 13 million francs.
However, this time, only 9 million francs of his property was seized and forfeited, the rest having vanished without a trace.
Joseph slapped the report onto the table and let out a long breath. It appeared he would still need to secure a high-interest loan.
A total of 40 million francs, at 16% interest, should be readily secured.
He was about to instruct Eman to summon Archbishop Brienne to discuss the loan proposal when he heard Eman announce from just beyond the door, "Your Highness, Archbishop Brienne has arrived."
'Hmm? Did Brienne read my mind?'
"Show him in at once."
Brienne entered the room, bowed, and handed Eman a box whose contents were unknown, then addressed Joseph, "Your Highness, Fould, representing the Tax Farmers' General Assembly, sought me out recently. They offered me 1 million francs."
"Such a large sum?" Joseph smiled, pleased by Brienne's candor. He then inquired, "What do they want you to do?"
Because Fould and other leading tax farmer tycoons deliberately kept their distance from their subordinates, the illegal activities of the tax farms hadn't yet been traced directly to them. Thus, apart from Pélier, Bolloré, and a few others who were more overtly rebellious, many other tycoons had not yet been arrested.
Joseph was certain that with such enormous sums involved, he would eventually find the evidence he needed against them.
Brienne hastily explained, "Your Highness, they wish to negotiate with you and asked me to persuade you. Oh, that's the gift they sent for you; it's said to be worth nearly 3 million francs."
Eman opened the box beside him, revealing a pair of silvery bracelets studded with diamonds, extravagantly opulent.
Brienne continued, "Fould's proposal is that he and the members of the Tax Farmers' General Assembly are willing to pay a sum of money in exchange for amnesty."
"They certainly have a sense of self-preservation; they know there's no escaping their fate." Joseph had long since instructed the Tax Bureau and Intelligence Bureau to keep a close watch on these individuals, forbidding them from leaving France on the grounds of the Tax Farmers' General Assembly's unclear financial records.
He immediately prepared to reject the offer out of hand. According to his plan, once criminal evidence against these tax farmer tycoons was found, they would all be sent to the guillotine.
However, he suddenly recalled the funding shortfall of over 30 million francs.
If all these men were beheaded, it would certainly uphold justice and fairness, but it would very likely lead to a vast amount of wealth being lost forever, just as with Bolloré.
That was France's wealth!
After these men died, their descendants would adopt new identities and continue to squander this money. Meanwhile, France would be left to bear the interest on high-interest loans.
Joseph fell into contemplation: 'Perhaps maximizing their utility and securing the greatest benefit for France is the correct choice.'
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