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Chapter 552: A New Era for France

Rouen, a city in northwestern France.

Barnell, having just returned to the town hall, received his first task: to draft an announcement regarding the cessation of city entrance taxes and the abolition of tollbooths on the three main roads leading in and out of Rouen.

He gazed at the administrative document, signed and stamped by the Municipal Commissioner, and looked at his superior with some surprise.

"Mr. Depont, why are we stopping the collection of city entrance taxes?!

"Oh, I mean, won't this strain the town hall's finances?"

Although he had studied relevant courses at the University of Public Administration, when faced with a practical problem, he still subconsciously relied on experience to think.

The Assistant Municipal Commissioner spread his hands helplessly.

"Baron Vaillant decided this. Though I expressed my disapproval, he insisted, saying that the experience gained at the University of Public Administration in Paris would lead to better development for Rouen..."

Indeed, Municipal Commissioner Vaillant was also a recent "graduate" from the University of Public Administration, with even better academic results than Barnell.

Moreover, he was incredibly astute. Immediately after returning to Rouen, he noticed that many town hall officials had been reassigned to a building across from the town hall, becoming "auxiliary administrators."

He quickly inquired about the duties of these so-called auxiliary administrators and discovered they only received a basic salary with no significant tasks. In short, they had been removed from the centers of power.

After much deliberation, Baron Vaillant quickly identified a common thread among them: during their time at the University of Public Administration, they had all voiced dissatisfaction with the new policies recently planned by Versailles.

He immediately set about mitigating risk, for instance, swiftly implementing policies suggested by Versailles, such as abolishing city entrance taxes, ceasing toll collections, and allowing artisans from other regions to enter.

These policies had been promoted by the cabinet for many years but had faced various forms of resistance or delay from local governments. These were significant sources of local revenue, and no one wanted their financial income to drastically decrease.

This time, however, the situation was different.

The most stubborn and conservative officials had been relegated to the old building across the street, replaced by younger, more open-minded officials. However, due to the limited number of graduates from the University of Public Administration, many positions even remained vacant.

Nevertheless, this was enough to significantly reduce resistance to the new policies. At the same time, Vaillant worried that he, too, might be sent to that old building across the street, so he promptly signed off on these policies.

Of course, it was also because Versailles had allocated over 200,000 francs in funding to Rouen this time, and the taxes collected by the newly established Rouen Tax Bureau would also be provided to the town hall in the future.

This money was essentially enough to sustain the town hall's operations, so abolishing city entrance taxes was not entirely unacceptable.

Only then did Barnell recall the knowledge he had acquired at the University of Public Administration, nodding.

"It seems it can increase the circulation of goods in various regions and promote trade."

Depont, the second-in-command of Rouen, sighed.

"Apparently, local tariffs and the commodity access certificate system will also be abolished soon. At this rate, Mr. Daniel will probably go mad."

Daniel was Rouen's finance officer.

Depont then waved his hand.

"Ah, I'm going for advanced studies at the University of Public Administration next month, so Rouen's affairs will be in your hands. May God bless Rouen."

As he made his way to his office, Barnell explained to his superior.

"You see, if all cities abolish city entrance taxes and tariffs, although goods from other regions will flood into Rouen, our products can also be sold more widely elsewhere, and 'goods taxes' will increase significantly.

"Now that the tax farmers are gone, these tax revenues will remain in Rouen..."

Southeastern outskirts of Rouen.

Chabanne, manager of the "Ruby" Mirror Workshop, looked out of his carriage window toward Évreux, his spirits lifting immediately. He began to hum a soft tune.

"Ah! Everything will be fine, everything will be fine..."

It was no wonder he was so happy. On his delivery trip to Évreux, he had only encountered a toll collection once along the way—outside a small town near a bend in the Seine River—which saved him a substantial amount of money.

Even upon entering Évreux, no one collected the city entrance tax!

The entire transaction went smoothly—he delivered a cartload of mirrors to the ordering shop, paying only 4 francs in tariffs and 9 sous in stamp duty.

Previously, for the same business, he would have had to pay various tolls and miscellaneous taxes, totaling over 13 francs!

Following this trend, the "Ruby" workshop would earn nearly 50 francs more each month.

Moreover, according to the client, even tariffs might be abolished starting next month!

Life was simply brimming with hope. Chabanne's smile deepened, and his soft hum turned into full-throated singing.

"Robespierre and Duport are singing in the café. Ah! Everything will be fine..."

The accompanying assistant and coachman, infected by his cheerful mood, also began to sing along.

"...Everything will be fine, everything will be fine! Let us hope, for good days are coming!"

After the master and his servants finished singing, Chabanne couldn't help but exclaim loudly out the carriage window.

"Thanks to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince! Oh, and Count Fulco, Mr. Robespierre! Long live the Tax Bureau!"

The carriage soon entered Rouen. As it approached the Great Clock Street, a clamor could be heard from ahead.

"No, you're collecting too much!"

"Exactly! We haven't earned much; we absolutely won't pay taxes!"

"Go on, get out of here. Don't think you're getting a single sou from us today..."

When the carriage drew a little closer, Chabanne finally saw clearly: dozens of street vendors on the street were confronting four tax officials.

Great Clock Street was Rouen's most bustling commercial district and a significant collection point for market taxes.

"Look at these scoundrels," the assistant beside Chabanne scoffed. "When those tax farmers used to come with sticks and whips to collect taxes, they were as docile as sheep."

Chabanne glanced at the pistol on the tax official's hip and shook his head.

"One shouldn't be too polite with these unscrupulous merchants, but the tax officials rarely resort to force..."

"The tax rate is already much lower than before. If you ask me, they deserve a good beating! Let's see if they pay their taxes then!"

Mr. Robespierre was indeed going a little overboard with this. To cultivate an image for the Tax Bureau that was completely different from the former tax farmers, he required his subordinates to speak politely and avoid using force as much as possible.

This earned widespread praise for the Tax Bureau across the nation, but at the same time, some sly merchants and difficult commoners no longer feared them and began openly acting unruly.

By the time Chabanne finally returned to his own workshop, before he even dismounted, he saw the workshop's accountant jogging over, whispering to him.

"Sir Manager, I just saw the tax officials' carriage on Rue Germain; they should be here soon."