Chapter 56: Fouché: A Lifetime Adrift, A Master's Unspoken Plea
Chapter 56: Fouché: A Lifetime Adrift, A Master's Unspoken Plea
Prosper nodded. "This mission is extremely important, so there will certainly be generous rewards."
The monk suddenly lowered his head. Just as Prosper was about to ask, he abruptly looked up and leaned in, a hint of excitement in his voice. "Sir, I've thought it through carefully. Simply poisoning their food isn't foolproof; someone might eat late, for example! Oh, by the way, could I get some funds?"
"Yes, how much do you need?"
"About 20 livres." The monk clasped his hands tightly, as if grasping something precious. "I'll find an excuse, perhaps my birthday – no one remembers it anyway – and throw a small banquet. I'll buy some good wine and poison the food and drink beforehand. That way, I can ensure they all consume it simultaneously."
"Furthermore, I could invite you all to attend, saying you're my relatives. If anyone isn't deeply poisoned and tries to destroy information before dying, you can finish them off immediately!"
Joseph shook his head at the suggestion, then nodded, pushing open the door and stepping inside. "That's him, the Fouché I was looking for."
Eman followed him in and explained to the astonished Fouché that it was just a joke, and there were no foreign spies.
Joseph sat opposite the monk, observing his expression. "Monsieur Fouché, you seem a little disappointed?"
Joseph got straight to the point. "If you had to establish an intelligence department as quickly as possible right now, how would you go about it?"
Fouché glanced at the young man before him, then quickly averted his gaze and rubbed his hands together. "May I ask, how much funding do I have?"
Joseph considered this. "About 500,000 livres. More can be added if necessary."
An indescribable glint flashed in Fouché's eyes. He nodded. "500,000... Then the most efficient method would be to recruit those who have served as secret police, or rather, the royal police."
"Are there many such people?"
"Yes," Fouché immediately replied. "During the old King's reign, the royal police force was enormous; they were everywhere in Paris. The current Majesty, perhaps to cut costs, dismissed more than half of them. These people are very experienced and can almost immediately begin working."
Joseph frowned slightly. "Those dismissed from the royal police must be less capable, no?"
Fouché chuckled. "You might not know, but the royal police didn't base their decisions on ability, but on connections and silver coins. In fact, those who were dismissed are often the truly capable ones, because they spent their time gathering intelligence and neglected flattery."
"Besides these individuals, I can also recruit from universities, even military academies. They are intelligent and have connections to high society. With a little training, they would make excellent spies."
"And then there's the postal service..."
Joseph nodded inwardly, listening. Fouché indeed possessed extraordinary talent in intelligence, and Emperor Napoleon had a keen eye for it too.
He asked with a touch of curiosity, "You are a monk; how do you know so much about the royal police, universities, and the postal service?"
"Observe much, listen much, think much." Fouché glanced at Joseph again. "I must make myself know more. The royal police, the nobility, the Church, schools, the rich, the poor, even thieves – I must understand them all! Because I won't remain in this monastery forever. Those things will eventually prove useful."
"Very good." Joseph nodded. "Then, one last question: Are you willing to serve me and lead an intelligence agency?"
Fouché's pupils suddenly dilated, and he nervously rubbed his hands. "If I'm not mistaken, Your Royal Highness, you must be the Crown Prince?"
Joseph nodded. It would be strange if a future intelligence chief couldn't figure that out.
Fouché immediately stood up and eagerly bowed. "Your Royal Highness, I am willing to become your most loyal servant."
Joseph nodded, though he felt a slight amusement at the phrase "most loyal servant." Fouché was like a vulture; he would not hesitate to swoop down and take a bite whenever he saw meat. While his abilities were exceptional, his loyalty was questionable.
Historically, he betrayed the National Assembly, then the Jacobins, then Emperor Napoleon, and finally Louis XVIII before betraying the restored Emperor Napoleon again...
The reason Joseph dared to use this man now was his certainty that no one else could offer Fouché a higher stake at the moment, ensuring his loyalty.
Moreover, his abilities were currently essential for establishing the framework of an intelligence agency. Once the agency was fully operational, Joseph could replace him as circumstances dictated.
'Even petty men have their uses sometimes.'
"Then, let us go directly to see your new office," Joseph said, rising.
Fouché hesitated, then cautiously asked, "Your Royal Highness, was the 500,000 livres you mentioned just now real?"
"As long as you demonstrate satisfactory capability, several more allocations of 500,000 are entirely possible."
Joseph knew that intelligence work was inherently expensive. He wasn't afraid of Fouché embezzling; a little corruption could actually make him easier to control. Besides, Joseph planned to establish another department later, specifically to monitor official corruption.
The group left the monastery and traveled by carriage to a sizable villa in the western suburbs of Paris.
Joseph had purchased it over ten days prior. Because it wasn't in the city center, the price wasn't exorbitant, and it was relatively close to Versailles. This would be the new headquarters for the intelligence agency.
In the villa's ground-floor hall, a massive conference table had already been set up. Fouché, Prosper, and seven other spies who had arrived in Paris were neatly seated around it.
Joseph scanned the group and began, "Currently, this intelligence agency operates under the Police Bureau, named the 'Police Bureau Intelligence Department.' However, it is not subject to the Police Bureau's jurisdiction and reports directly to me."
He looked at Fouché. "Fouché will temporarily serve as the Director of the Police Bureau Intelligence Department."
"Yes, Your Royal Highness. Thank you for your trust." Fouché, still dressed in his clerical robes, rose and bowed, looking somewhat incongruous.
To be honest, he still couldn't fathom why the Crown Prince would entrust him with such a crucial role so quickly. It all felt like a dream; just yesterday, he was praying for a chance to make something of himself, and today the Crown Prince had sought him out.
Suddenly, a possibility struck him: 'His Royal Highness must have been observing me for a long time, in ways I was completely unaware of!'
With that thought, he felt significantly more at ease. 'I hope the Son of Divine Favor truly possesses divine power...'
Joseph continued, "Captain Prosper, you will command the Action Team, responsible for specific operations."
"Yes, Your Royal Highness!"
"Captain Quentin." Joseph turned to another senior spy. "You will be responsible for training intelligence personnel. From now on, you must go to the Paris Police Academy at least two days a week to teach intelligence courses there. Additionally, you may select talented cadets from the academy and directly recruit them into the Police Intelligence Bureau."
"Yes, Your Royal Highness!"
"As for the assignments of the others, including those who have not yet arrived in Paris," Joseph gestured to Fouché, "I will leave all decisions to Monsieur Director."
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