Chapter 550: Graduation Season at the Royal University of Administration
The British Prime Minister observed the ministers nodding in agreement and continued, "Combining the plans you all previously submitted from other areas, as well as Marquis Wellesley's military deployment just now, I have full confidence that before France becomes a threat to the nations of Europe, we can restore them to their rightful place."
Indeed, a nation's overall strategic shift cannot be decided impulsively by the Prime Minister.
Over the past few months, the British Cabinet mobilized all its key ministers and a great number of experts to develop extremely detailed plans covering politics, economy, trade, military, public opinion, and other areas. Only after repeated deliberation and revision was the overall scheme roughly finalized.
After that, it would still require the King and the House of Lords, which was later commonly known as the Upper House, to review and approve before it could be implemented.
This involved investing the nation's entire resources to contend for the fate of the next few decades, or even a century. Once begun, there would be no turning back.
Victory meant dominating Europe, even the entire world. Defeat would lead to irreversible decline, or even the peril of national subjugation.
Therefore, utmost caution was absolutely necessary.
Pitt gently tapped the thick stack of strategic plans in his hand to tidy them and surveyed the ministers once more, stating, "Then, the entire proposal will be submitted to His Majesty the King for signature tomorrow, and after that..."
Just then, the Duke of Portland, the Home Secretary, coughed lightly with some hesitation and interjected, "Mr. Pitt, regarding our plans in the trade sector, I believe there's still room for improvement."
Pitt promptly replied, "I eagerly await your suggestions."
"Actually, I recently encountered a Dutchman," the Duke of Portland said. "You might have heard of him, Henry Hope. He has a high reputation in the fields of credit and shipping. He mentioned to me some vulnerabilities France has in finance and trade, and I believe some of those points are noteworthy."
As he spoke, he looked at the Second Lord of the Treasury, "Mr. Wilberforce also strongly agrees with his views."
The British Second Lord of the Treasury was, in fact, the chief financial officer. As for the "First" Lord of the Treasury, that was naturally Pitt himself.
At that time, the position of "Prime Minister" did not yet formally exist in Britain. The term "Prime Minister" was merely a customary appellation, and before Pitt, it even carried a somewhat derogatory connotation. It had only recently evolved into a respectful title. Currently, the Chancellor of the Exchequer was the de facto head of government, and it wasn't until the early 19th century that "Prime Minister" became an official post.
Wilberforce nodded, "Yes, Hope lived in France for many years and is very familiar with the situation there. His suggestions are very helpful. Not long ago, he was persecuted by the French government over certain matters, and at the request of the Dutch Parliament, we helped him escape to London. Now, he's eager to make the French suffer."
Pitt pondered for a moment, then collected his documents and nodded. "Very well. Please prepare a report on this matter for me as soon as possible."
"Yes, Prime Minister."
...
February 7, 1791.
France.
Paris.
On the east bank of the Seine River, within the solemn and magnificent Royal University of Administration, the final interviews for the first cohort of students were underway.
Indeed. The written examination had concluded three days prior, and officials who passed had advanced to the interview stage. If successful, they would officially complete their studies and continue their official careers.
Those who failed the written exam would have to continue for a second semester, lasting three months.
Why 'completion' and not 'graduation'? After barely half a year of study, one could at most only scratch the surface of complex administrative knowledge. And they expected to graduate from university? Did they truly think a Royal Academy diploma was so easily obtained?
All courses required three years of study. Only after earning enough credits could one officially graduate. However, upon graduating from the Royal University of Administration, their official positions would be elevated by one rank.
As for students who had never held official posts, they would be able to directly assume positions such as departmental chief secretary at a city hall, with excellent prospects.
Thus, many officials, seeing this opportunity, chose to continue their advanced studies. After all, in the normal course of their bureaucratic careers, it would be difficult for them to achieve promotion within three years.
Inside the interview room, Baron Corceppe looked nervously at the examiner, thinking, 'Collecting fees from merchants on the main roads leading into the city can supplement the city hall's finances. These funds could then be used for things like widening roads or enhancing market management.'
His original post had been assistant financial officer at the city hall, so he was very familiar with such matters. However, he had forgotten that in the taxation and fee collection course he'd taken just last month, the drawbacks of establishing checkpoints for fee collection had been discussed from every angle.
The examiner shook his head imperceptibly and moved on to the next question.
To be honest, these questions were child's play compared to modern civil service exams, but for French officials who had never encountered such things, they truly served to test certain aspects.
An hour later, Corceppe left the examination room feeling a bit dizzy. Habitually, he considered trying to bribe the examiner, but then his eye caught sight of the Royal Guard standing by the door—dispatched directly by Joseph—and he immediately abandoned the idea.
The following afternoon, Baron Corceppe received his official completion certificate. The school official who delivered the documents also informed him to attend the completion ceremony the day after tomorrow.
After seeing off the registrar's assistant, he took out the completion documents from the paper bag and noticed there seemed to be something else inside.
He pulled out the other document and found it was a letter of appointment. After a verbose preamble of formalities, it concluded with: 'In the name of His Majesty the King, Baron Corceppe is appointed Assistant to the Auxiliary Administrative and Financial Management Department of Rouen...'
He felt a pang of confusion. He turned to his classmate beside him, Barnell, the City Secretary of Rouen. "Did you receive a letter of appointment?"
"Yes, I did. But it seems nothing has changed; it's still my old position."
"Me too. But mine has the words 'Auxiliary Administration' added to the front."
"Oh? I don't have that..."
They had no idea that their fates had already diverged dramatically because of the prefix "Auxiliary Administration."
Baron Corceppe would henceforth be far removed from power, entering a state of comfortable stagnation. Barnell, however, would enter the new bureaucratic system, beginning a second career.
The criteria for this prefix were entirely based on their previous performance in office, their study record at the Royal University of Administration, and their final interview results.
While these criteria couldn't precisely delineate an official's true situation, they could reveal something about their attitudes and capabilities, and whether they were prone to corruption and bribery.
Just as Baron Corceppe did in his interview, stubbornly adhering to his old administrative habits, acting as if he hadn't learned anything in his half-year at the university, such officials would naturally be relegated to idleness.
Comments