Chapter 8: The Predicament
Three days later.
The Municipal Commissioner's office.
"My lord, are you aware of the Crown Prince's police reform efforts?" Froissart fixed his gaze on the Municipal Commissioner, a worried frown on his face. "The Duke of Orleans's intention was to make the Crown Prince look foolish, but now he's making quite a name for himself, and the police officers' morale is high. I'm concerned..."
Le Verber carefully selected a bottle from the wine cabinet and pulled out a bottle of wine. "Relax, Gaël," he said. "Someone will take care of this."
"Someone will take care of it? Who?"
Le Verber admired the purple liquid in the bottle against the light. "I spread news of the Crown Prince's activities yesterday," he said unhurriedly. "I imagine certain people are already getting restless."
Just as he spoke, Commissioner of Police Guizot knocked and entered. He gave a perfunctory bow and said anxiously, "My lord, you must go and advise His Highness the Crown Prince."
"Oh?" The stout mayor took out a corkscrew, asking pointedly, "Advise him on what?"
Guizot irritably tapped his leather boot on the floor. "Haven't you heard? His Highness has completely overhauled the police force. This will severely impact public safety in the Saint-Antoine district!"
Le Verber forcefully pulled out the cork, inhaling the wine's aroma that wafted from the bottle's neck, and shook his head. "Viscount Guizot, what the Crown Prince is doing falls under the internal affairs of the Police Bureau. It's difficult for me to comment on it.
"Besides, I've been busy with funding recently. You know, the Chamber of Commerce's allocation is limited, and the Crown Prince has added a large number of police officers. Nearly half of the Police Bureau's funds would have to be allocated to the Saint-Antoine district."
"How can that be?" Guizot exclaimed in alarm. "He can't monopolize so much of the budget! You must help me find a solution!"
Le Verber feigned a troubled expression, pondering for a moment, then poured a glass of wine and handed it to Guizot. A subtle smile flickered in the corner of his eye. "Well, it's not entirely without a solution. For instance, if you can make the Crown Prince retreat in the face of difficulty. I'll do my best to cooperate with you on this end."
Guizot gave him a deep look, then drained the glass in one gulp. He nodded firmly and left with a grim expression.
As the office door closed, Froissart looked at the stout mayor in surprise. "My lord, how did you know Viscount Guizot would come?"
Le Verber handed him another glass of wine and chuckled. "The Crown Prince may have some ability, but he's still just a child. He only sees what's in front of him, neglecting the broader implications."
"Implications?"
Le Verber took a sip of his wine and said, "Aside from the Chamber of Commerce's allocations, the police force's biggest income comes from selling police positions. I spread the news that the Crown Prince is promoting commoners to police officers. Those who originally intended to buy a police position will surely speculate that police positions in Paris won't need to be bought anymore. Who would be willing to pay at a time like this?"
"This is where those in the police force make their biggest profits," the stout mayor said, swirling his wine glass triumphantly. "If I then cut back some of the Municipal Council's allocations to Guizot, they're bound to go mad with anxiety. What do you think they'll do?"
Froissart's eyes lit up. "They'll desperately try to stop the Crown Prince!"
"Exactly."
The sun began to set.
Commissioner of Police Guizot's carriage finally arrived at the Saint-Antoine district Police Bureau.
Inside Joseph's office, Guizot bowed respectfully and flattered with a forced smile, "Your Highness, you are truly remarkable. With this reorganization, the police force has been completely revitalized!"
After showering him with praise, he then put on a troubled expression. "However, those people from the civilian patrol teams you've integrated into the police force can barely wield a sword and have never even touched a crossbow or a musket. They'll need at least three or four months of training, otherwise, they won't even be able to handle street ruffians.
"During these few months of their training, the patrol duties they were originally responsible for will go unfulfilled. You previously asked me to transfer over 120 police officers from other districts, but public safety pressure there is also very high, and they'll have to return soon..."
Joseph invited him to sit, smiling faintly. "It shouldn't take that long. I have a simplified training method. They can complete combat training in about ten days. Borrowing officers from other districts for a little over ten days shouldn't be a problem, right?"
"That... certainly," Guizot said, adopting a serious expression. "But training is extremely important; it cannot be rushed."
"Thank you for your reminder," Joseph said. "Rest assured, I have it under control."
"Alright..." Guizot nodded stiffly, still unwilling to give up, he added, "Your Highness, there's another matter. You've suddenly recruited over two hundred police officers. The Police Bureau cannot provide so much equipment for them..."
"You don't need to worry about the equipment. I'll take care of it myself."
Guizot hadn't expected the Crown Prince to treat the 'predicament' he had so carefully prepared as if it were nothing.
He tried to press a few more 'issues' regarding the police reform, but to no avail. He finally took his leave grudgingly, his mind in turmoil the entire way. 'It seemed the Crown Prince was intent on disrupting the Police Bureau.'
'In the future, there likely wouldn't be much left of the allocations the Municipal Council gave him...'
In reality, he was overthinking it. Joseph didn't care for the meager allocations from the Police Bureau. Besides, it was inherently abnormal for the police force's funding to rely on private merchant associations. He possessed various technologies and advanced concepts from later generations and had plenty of ways to make money. He was going to plug France's 2 billion foreign debt hole; supporting a mere police system was child's play.
Inside the carriage, Guizot's gaze gradually turned cold. 'He had to kick the Crown Prince out of the police system as soon as possible and restore everything to its original state!'
Shortly after Guizot's departure, two elegant carriages arrived at the Saint-Antoine district Police Bureau.
Louis XVI's attendant alighted from the carriage, donned a pair of gold-rimmed monocles, and frowned as he surveyed the dilapidated Police Bureau. Once he confirmed it was indeed the correct place, he swiftly entered, accompanied by his servants.
Upon seeing Joseph, he first performed the complete set of court etiquette, then respectfully handed over a letter. "Your Highness, this is a letter from His Majesty the King."
He then motioned for the servants behind him to open an exquisite wooden box. "Her Majesty the Queen learned that you didn't even bring a royal chef and feared you wouldn't eat well, so she had these prepared for you."
Joseph looked into the box, which was filled with exquisitely crafted cakes, strawberry tarts, cream puffs, and various kinds of candies.
He rubbed his forehead and gave a wry smile. Just looking at them made him feel overwhelmed by the sweetness. But he knew these were all genuine expressions of Queen Marie's affection.
He then broke the wax seal on the envelope, unfolded the letter, and saw Louis XVI's elegant and fluid Italian script:
"My dearest Joseph, I hope this letter brings you all my heartfelt thoughts and warmth! As your father, I want to express my deepest care and concern for you.
Do you know, I've finally completed the 'Salamander Fountain'! I swear to God, it's absolutely the finest piece of art... I could go on and on about the locks I've made. Once it was finished, you were the first person I wanted to share it with. That's when I learned you'd started working at the Municipal Council. I'm so sorry, I truly spend too much time in the workshop and didn't even know. How are you finding life in Paris? Your mother, honestly, you're only thirteen, how could she let you take on such a burden? This is what Brienne and his people should be doing...
Oh, by the way, I heard you completed your university courses! How did you manage that? It's unimaginable! I'm so proud of you! Son, you are the pride of the entire royal family! I am certain you will restore France to the glory of the Sun King's era... (He then dedicated an entire page to praising his son's accomplishments.)
Joseph, I heard you're reforming the Police Bureau, and doing a fine job of it too! That's excellent! Just go ahead and do what you want to do. If anything goes wrong, I'll back you up. I will always support you... If you ever feel tired, just come back to Versailles. Your mother is constantly worried you're not eating well...
Finally, I want to tell you, no matter where you are, you will always be my dearest son. A thousand kisses to you!"
Though the letter was filled with French sentimentality, Joseph still felt the deep paternal love radiating from it.
He took a deep breath. His parents in his previous life had suffered from poor health and had passed away one after another during his university years. He had long been estranged from the warmth of family affection. Now, he felt a profound warmth fill his heart. He hoped that in this life, he could live peacefully and long with his family.
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