I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 150

The Paris of 1789 existed in a state of precarious peace.

The contradictions of the old regime [Ancien Régime], exemplified by excessive tax rates and deepening class discrimination, were glaringly obvious.

Naturally, the discontent of citizens, who had largely resigned themselves to their fate as commoners, was slowly but surely building.

They had been temporarily placated by a surge of national pride stemming from successive war victories, but this was a finite resource.

Increasingly disgruntled voices were being heard throughout the city, but the nobles of Paris, secure in their privilege, paid them no heed.

Of course, the nobles weren’t complete fools.

Many privately acknowledged that things could go terribly wrong if the current trajectory continued, but no one dared to voice these concerns openly.

They comforted themselves with the assumption that whatever calamities might occur in the distant future were irrelevant to their present comfort and security.

This shortsightedness, combined with an utter intolerance for even the slightest perceived loss of privilege, meant there was virtually no chance of meaningful reform or recovery.

After all, they reasoned, the common people are simple.

If things look truly dire, wouldn’t they be easily fooled if we simply pretended to back down and make concessions?

Many openly expressed such sentiments.

Recently, however, Paris had begun to stir with an unusual intensity.

[Robespierre’s Speech Gains Enthusiastic Support from Parisian Citizens]

[Noblesse Oblige: What is the Duty of the Aristocracy?]

[The Rise of the Bourgeoisie: Is the Future Really That Far Off?]

The seeds of unrest were sprouting rapidly, nurtured by the burgeoning press.

Parisian newspapers were, for the most part, owned and operated by members of the bourgeoisie [the middle class].

In particular, the appointment of the Lavoisier family, prominent members of the bourgeoisie, as general sales managers for several publications gave further impetus to this trend.

Of course, everyone in Parisian society was well aware that the Lavoisier family were staunch supporters of the Duke of Orléans.

Therefore, many believed that no matter how loudly the bourgeois might rage in print, they would never be permitted to cross a certain line.

After all, Christian himself was royalty, the first nobleman of France, a Prince of the Blood [a direct descendant of the royal family].

Even if he maintained a somewhat friendly relationship with the bourgeois, there was no way he would easily allow them to breach the fundamental barriers of the class system.

Where in the world would you find a fool willing to diminish the value of his own absolute privilege?

The current articles reflected this cautious approach.

There was no overt sign of any phrases directly attacking the established class system.

[Georges Danton Declares that France’s Debt is at a Critical Level!]

[Analyzing France’s Current Tax System: Jacques Necker’s Diagnosis]

[Is a Tax Increase Really Inevitable, Not Just an Option? An Overwhelming Burden]

[On Responsibility, Duty, and Rights: Camille Desmoulins’ Speech Sets Fire to the Hearts of Parisian Citizens!]

[There is Emotion in Robespierre’s Outcry!]

Most of the articles were carefully walking a tightrope, testing the boundaries of acceptable discourse.

Peltier, the Prévôt of Paris [chief magistrate], the de facto mayor of the city, was watching all these movements with growing impatience and frustration.

“How long are these damn articles going to keep coming out!”

The Paris Minister held jurisdiction over merchant guilds, artisan guilds, tolls, and market taxes, and could also intervene in both civil and criminal cases.

He was a high-ranking official with powers that arguably exceeded those of a modern mayor.

As he slammed his fist on the desk, rattling the newspapers and venting his anger, the deputy representatives and judges in the room visibly flinched.

“When citizens gather now, all they do is complain about being overburdened with taxes! So much so that criticisms are even coming from Versailles [the royal palace], suggesting there’s a problem with the administration of Paris!”

“Calm down, Prévôt. It’s just the grumbling of the powerless.”

“That’s right. What can they actually do if they’re unhappy? Those guys just live with complaints…”

“The important thing is that the central government is doubting my administrative competence! Don’t you realize that with the new king’s enthronement, it wouldn’t be surprising if I were dismissed on this very pretext!”

Usually, when the occupant of the throne changes, most of the existing high-ranking officials are replaced as a matter of course.

No one finds that particularly strange or unfair.

It is considered only natural for the new king to fill key positions with individuals loyal to him.

Therefore, the most important positions, such as the Paris Minister, must never be caught in such a vulnerable situation.

But no matter how he analyzed the situation, the signs were ominous.

What if a full-blown riot broke out?

At that moment, he would have to consider his position irrevocably lost.

‘Nobles must bear obligations because they are born noble, but the nobles of France bear no obligations whatsoever.’

‘It is obvious that taxes will be raised due to the kingdom’s dire financial straits, and all these taxes will be borne, as always, by the commoners.’

‘Just watch. The nobles will definitely not bear a single penny of the cost and will transfer the entire burden to the citizens.’

He simply couldn’t understand what these damn commoners were babbling about.

No, if commoners don’t pay taxes, who does? Do they expect the nobles to pay them?

Where in the world are there nobles who willingly pay taxes? He couldn’t help but dismiss their complaints as ignorant nonsense, befitting their lowly status.

“How about… simply shutting down all the newspapers?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Do you think the Director of Publications exists for nothing? In the first place, if we ban such abstract words and ideas, the underlying dissatisfaction will only intensify and find other outlets.”

If the newspapers had openly published articles arguing that the class system was inherently unfair or that nobles should be forced to pay taxes, they could have immediately shut them down without hesitation.

However, it was the commoners who read the newspapers who were expressing such sentiments, not the newspapers themselves.

Of course, it might be possible to arrest some of them for inciting public unrest, but there was no guarantee that they could secure a proper conviction in a court of law.

“I wish I could just smash the heads of those commoners, but I can’t… What the hell is this Robespierre! What? There’s emotion in Robespierre’s speech? Emotion, my ass!”

“Certainly, his name is being heard annoyingly often these days. If we leave him alone, won’t things get even noisier and more difficult to control?”

“It seems like we should make an example of that one particular guy.”

“Yes… we definitely need to set an example. Since newspapers are clearly a contributing factor to increasing public dissatisfaction, let’s make a formal request to the Duke of Orléans to intervene.”

“Do you think the Duke will allow it?”

Christian had, up to this point, guaranteed considerable freedom to the Parisian newspapers.

Rather than actively favoring the press, the Duke’s personal disposition simply leaned towards non-interference with the freedom of expression.

“Regardless, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to control the press without the active assistance of the Director of Publications. His Highness the Duke certainly wouldn’t want to see the citizens of Paris riot, so he’ll ultimately cooperate.”

If the people of Paris were to riot so soon after the new king’s ascension to the throne, it would reflect poorly on the entire royal family.

That’s because the king’s prestige would inevitably be diminished, undermining his authority.

In that case, the Duke of Orléans, a close aide and advisor to Louis XVI, would inevitably suffer a considerable blow to his own standing and influence.

Would the king and the duke, the very pinnacle of the established class system, ever willingly allow that system to be fundamentally shaken?

How could they possibly step down from the lofty positions they had so painstakingly climbed up to?

Peltier was simply doing everything within his power to maintain his own precarious position as Prévôt of Paris.

※※※

Meanwhile, at the Tuileries Palace in Paris…

“As expected, you’re incredibly skilled at inciting the populace.”

“Hahaha, it’s all thanks to Your Highness’s inspiration. Noblesse oblige [the obligation of nobility to serve], isn’t it a clear and memorable phrase that sticks in your head the moment you hear it? I simply developed the logical arguments based on the concepts Your Highness shared with me.”

The man laughing in front of me was none other than Maximillian Robespierre, who had rapidly become the public enemy number one of the Parisian nobles.

“If you are born a noble and enjoy the privileges associated with that status, you should naturally bear the corresponding responsibilities to society. It’s simply an abnormal and unjustifiable position to want to enjoy all the benefits without contributing anything in return.”

“The nobles and bishops will never accept that line of reasoning. They won’t even entertain the idea that rights and responsibilities should be proportional.”

“That’s precisely why I created slogans like noblesse oblige. Citizens tend to react most strongly to ideas that are simple, intuitive, and easily grasped. Complex and lengthy explanations rarely gain widespread support.”

Originally, the phrase noblesse oblige was coined by the French writer and politician Pierre Gaston Marie Charles Levis, although it has been popularly attributed to others.

He was still alive and active in this era, so I felt a twinge of guilt about essentially appropriating his phrase.

Of course, that didn’t mean I wouldn’t use it to my advantage.

“In fact, in some ways, Your Highness seems to possess a much more natural gift for inciting the public than I do.”

“That’s not true at all. I’m merely suggesting the overall strategies and methods; it’s up to talented individuals like you and Danton to implement them effectively.”

“Certainly, the number of citizens who are responding positively to our message is steadily increasing. But to the same extent, the nobles must be grinding their teeth in frustration, so I suspect there’s a limit to how long we can continue walking this tightrope without serious consequences.”

“That’s correct. Which means it’s almost time to move our plan to the next carefully orchestrated stage.”

Anyway, even if you carefully adjust the level of incitement, it’s almost inevitable that the perceived main culprit will eventually be targeted for punishment.

The vested interests always need to assign blame to someone first, and then make an example of them to deter others.

“But isn’t there a distinct possibility that Danton or Marat will be apprehended instead of me?”

“Marat is currently under the protection of the Count of Artois, the king’s brother, so it will be difficult for the nobles to touch him without risking a major scandal. And I’ve already instructed Danton to lie low and avoid unnecessary attention for the time being, so there’s no need to worry about him. You, on the other hand, will probably be arrested as early as tomorrow, or at the very least within the next week.”

“I understand perfectly. I’ve already finished organizing my defense and preparing what I’m going to say at the trial, so there’s no problem whatsoever. I’ll just have to practice my speech one more time when I get back to my lodgings.”

Robespierre smiled confidently, even at the thought of being dragged away by the police.

I should definitely tell the newspapers to write a sensational article about this later.

‘This man is smiling even though the police are about to arrest him!’

“Still, you might suffer a little discomfort and inconvenience during your brief imprisonment, so please try to endure it with stoicism. In fact, I honestly don’t believe that anyone but you could properly fulfill this crucial role in our plan.”

“Don’t worry about me. Since I know that there’s absolutely no way I’ll be found guilty of any actual crime, who would be afraid? However, I am somewhat concerned that this entire affair will completely alienate Your Highness from the rest of the nobility.”

“Only my closest and most trusted aides are aware that you come and go from my palace like this, so that particular outcome is highly unlikely. The only publicly known connection between us is that you and I are alumni of the same prestigious school, and if they try to criticize me for that, they’ll only expose their own vulnerability to counterattack.”

If the opposing nobles were truly so empty-headed and predictable, there would have been no need to resort to such a complex and carefully orchestrated plan in the first place.

“Is there anything else you’re worried about or concerned about? If not today, I won’t be able to arrange such a private meeting for quite some time, so feel free to ask me anything that’s on your mind.”

“If things go according to Your Highness’s grand plan, I truly believe that this country could be transformed into something completely different and far better. But the tragic fate of those who have attempted to implement sweeping reforms with great ideals is a dark tradition that has been passed down since the time of the Gracchus brothers of ancient Rome. I am most concerned about that particular historical pattern.”

“Are you suggesting that I might be overthrown and chased out of the country by the very nobles I’m trying to reform?”

“Not only that, but I think the greatest danger lies in the possibility of assassination. You never truly know what desperate measures the nobles will resort to when they feel cornered and threatened. Of course, Your Highness will not reveal that you are the true mastermind behind all of this until the very last possible moment.”

Considering that countless reformers throughout history have met untimely ends through assassination, it’s certainly a reasonable and valid point to raise.

However, that particular historical pattern simply does not apply to me.

At one point, I even seriously considered proceeding with the plan by actually getting assassinated once, just like in Austria, and then dramatically revealing my survival at a crucial moment to galvanize public support.

“I’m already preparing for that particular contingency, so you don’t have to worry about it. Rather, I’m secretly hoping that such a daring and foolish individual will actually emerge and attempt such a thing.”

“I understand. Then I will place my complete trust in Your Highness and continue to run forward with unwavering determination.”

“Yes. I also eagerly look forward to seeing you at your upcoming trial. It will be quite a spectacle, I assure you.”

Paris, no, all of France will soon experience a shock unlike anything it has ever experienced before.

Some nobles are still viewing this rapidly evolving situation with naive optimism, but those who are more perceptive and quick-witted are already sensing the ominous signs of impending upheaval.

In a burning forest, only those who run away quickly and decisively will survive the conflagration.

Those who fail to notice the impending change and continue to stubbornly endure the status quo have no choice left to them now.

They have no choice but to perish.

Escape is a Matter of Intelligence End