I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 154

As expected, the nobles and commoners accepted my compromise.

The Third Estate commoners were satisfied, as they had at least avoided a situation where their opinions were never ignored, no matter what they did.

The First and Second Estates probably figured that since they had the numerical advantage, nothing would change.

Of course, within the Third Estate, there were those who secretly sided with the nobles, and within the First and Second Estates, there were those classified as pro-commoner.

The deciding votes were held by these undecided individuals.

“Everyone has set aside their self-interest and taken the first step towards harmony, and His Majesty is truly pleased. In particular, he sends his compliments to the nobles and clergy for their generosity in making such a difficult decision.”

In reality, they didn’t really approve the change in voting method for the sake of harmony.

They knew they could still win this way, and they wanted to claim the justification that they had listened to the commoners’ demands; this was the result they aimed for.

“However, now that the method has changed, I would like to announce one more precaution. For fair voting, representatives must not individually contact representatives of other estates. This is to prevent the act of buying and selling votes with promises of vested interests. Voting will be anonymous, and anyone who commits fraud, regardless of status, will be considered to have insulted His Majesty the King and will be punished accordingly.”

As expected, as soon as I finished speaking, some nobles clicked their tongues quietly.

These were the ones who had intended to buy off the Third Estate representatives if the situation seemed favorable.

The nobles are by no means fools, and the majority of them are not incompetent.

The reason why they act so thoughtlessly is mainly for two reasons.

The first is that their vision is narrowed by greed, and they insist on things even when they know they are wrong.

This was a common occurrence even in modern times.

Politicians who make excuses that no one can understand aren’t really stupid or uneducated, are they?

They have to say things that even they know are nonsense, so their logic becomes twisted and inconsistent.

Just like the current issue regarding the tax system.

“Respected representatives of the nobles and clergy. The growing dissatisfaction among us, the Third Estate, is not simply about wanting to pay less taxes or that taxes are high. We have no intention of denying the estate system [the social hierarchy of pre-revolutionary France]. However, if taxes increase further here, the number of people who cannot survive will exceed one million. I hope you understand this point.”

“We are well aware of that. That’s why we’re talking about making adjustments within a reasonable range, aren’t we?”

“Even now, bread prices are slowly rising, and the number of people starving to death is not small. The number of people who can withstand that so-called reasonable adjustment is too small. Moreover, because many people have already reached their limit, raising the tax rate may be counterproductive.”

No one is better at stirring up the masses than Danton, who boasts skills surpassing even Robespierre.

He spread out a huge piece of paper in front of him so that the nobles could see it well and continued his explanation.

“The current population of France is estimated to be over 25 million. Of these, the First Estate, with about 10,000 people, occupies 10% of France’s land. And the Second Estate, estimated at over 500,000, occupies 30%.”

In other words, about 3% of the total population occupies more than 40% of the total land.

This is nothing short of a farce.

The reason this is happening is because there are simply too many nobles.

Compared to the total population, the number of French nobles was relatively 20 times greater than the number of nobles with titles in England.

With so many people with tax-exempt privileges, there is no way the national finances can function properly.

“The tax burden on commoners is almost at its limit. In particular, the structure of collecting taxes by relying on tax farmers [private individuals who collected taxes for the government in exchange for a fee] is a major problem in itself. Several countries are reforming the tax farming system and achieving positive effects. Our France must also actively adopt these advanced examples to improve our constitution! We implore the respected representatives of the nobles and clergy to listen to our voices!”

As soon as Danton finished speaking, the Third Estate representatives applauded in unison.

It sounded like a logical and reasonable proposal, but it was a difficult story for the nobles to accept.

Borrowing money from tax farmers in advance and granting them tax farming rights was much less work and beneficial to the nobles.

However, they couldn’t possibly say that their own interests were more important than the people who were dying under the burden of taxes, could they?

They needed a more plausible excuse.

While Marquis de Bérulle, who had taken on the role of scapegoat, was racking his brains, an unexpected figure requested the floor.

A representative figure of the nobility who had fallen from the pinnacle to the depths in an instant.
A prestigious noble who barely managed to survive thanks to the mercy of the Duke of Orléans.

The Duke of Chartres requested the floor and rose from his seat.

“The words of the Third Estate representatives are certainly reasonable. Neither Robespierre nor Danton have said anything illogical. But let’s be honest. Will the finances become prosperous just by fixing the tax farming system? Will the commoners be satisfied?”

Originally, the Duke of Chartres was the epitome of a noble who had good relations with the commoner intellectual class.

However, after being stripped of all power by me and becoming a kite with a severed string, that was a thing of the past.

In the first place, the Duke of Chartres associated with intellectuals because he wanted to ascend to the throne himself.

People like Jean-Paul Marat, who once associated with the Duke of Chartres, had expressions on their faces as if to say, ‘What’s wrong with that guy?’

Regardless of what others thought, the Duke of Chartres continued to speak with a straight face.

“Let’s just point out one thing. Do you think the nobles are really heartless and unwilling to give up their vested interests? The story is drawing a parallel because you are assuming that the nobles are incompetent and greedy. The only reason we don’t listen to the commoners’ demands is because we know better than anyone that it won’t end there!”

“That’s an overgeneralization!”

“No. It is an immutable truth proven by countless histories. The psychology of the masses is that if you give them one, they want two, and if you give them two, they soon demand ten. You want us to fix the tax farming system? If we do that, then they will ask us to reduce the tax burden. Then there will be voices saying, ‘Why do only commoners pay taxes? The wealthy should pay more taxes.’ The end result will be the abolition of the estate system.”

“That’s right! That’s right!”

Voices of agreement poured out from where the First and Second Estate representatives were sitting.

The Duke of Chartres’s argument was as valid as the words of Robespierre or Danton.

The current debate is not simply a matter of saying, ‘Can’t you even concede this much?’

Giving one thing will eventually lead to giving everything.

This sense of crisis was clearly widespread among the nobles.

The Duke of Chartres’s speech scratched the nobles’ itch.

“Moreover, if the masses think they have exerted some influence, they will use the same method whenever they want something in the future. We must not instill in them the idea that ‘it works if we do this.’ Of course, reform is necessary, and the burden on the people must be reduced. But that must be done under our leadership.”

“Your Excellency, Duke of Chartres. Does that mean that we, the Third Estate, must continue to live satisfied with the favors that the nobles throw us out of charity? It sounds to my ears like you are saying that we should not dare to attempt to force our intentions on the noble clergy and nobles.”

“Keep the line. We will listen to you enough if it is not a sensitive issue that could break down the walls of the estate system. But we cannot, of course, listen to proposals that show more than that impure intention.”

At that moment, the Duke of Chartres was the spokesperson for the nobles living in this land.

“The Duke of Chartres is right!”

“Give one and you end up giving everything!”

“Tax farming reform? No way! No way!”

As expected.

With a plausible justification, the nobles, who were incredibly united, completely closed their eyes and ears.

No matter what the Third Estate said, it would only be ‘I can’t hear you~I can’t see you, eh bebebe [mocking sound].’

Of course, with the First and Second Estates completely blocking the conversation like this, the faces of the Third Estate representatives were filled with hatred beyond anger.

“Then are you just going to stand by and watch the national crisis? Why don’t you know that if we don’t prevent financial collapse here, everyone will inevitably suffer in the long run! The commoners cannot bear any more taxes!”

“Then raise the tax rate for those who have the means!”

“Even so, it is not enough to solve the chronic financial collapse. If the nobles would bear the same proportion of taxes as we do, the financial deficit could be solved in an instant. But why should we adopt such an irrational and inefficient method!”

“Ha! Look at this, now the true colors are coming out. Comrades, did you hear that? The original purpose of the Third Estate was, after all, to abolish our tax-exempt privileges! Tax farming reform was just a plausible false pretense!”

The commoner representative, who had made a slip of the tongue, distorted his face and sat back down.

Louis XVI, who was watching the meeting carefully next to me, asked quietly.

“Isn’t this going a bit dangerously?”

“What do you mean?”

“If this continues, it seems like all the compromise proposals presented by the Third Estate will be rejected? Wouldn’t their anger explode then?”

“If that happens, they will be angry. But it won’t burn as fiercely as you think.”

The Third Estate had already obtained a concession to change the voting method of the Estates-General closer to their demands.

In other words, the power to condense and unleash anger when they lose the vote is weakened that much.

The reason why the commoners completely exploded in the original history was because all their demands were unilaterally and thoroughly ignored.

Moreover, at that time, there were so many people driven to the extreme that cases of cannibalism were reported throughout France.

The situation is not that bad now, and there was also the achievement of obtaining a reasonable concession.

Even if they lose this time, there will surely be opinions that if they work hard on preliminary work next time, they can win in the next Estates-General.

“Originally, people only rise up when they have absolutely no way out. A rat with a way out doesn’t bite a cat.”

“Hmm…was that what you were aiming for? To appease and coax the commoners appropriately while siding with the nobles? But then the financial problem won’t be solved…”

Louis XVI, who was questioning himself, massaged his temples in confusion.

It can’t be helped that he’s not very trustworthy for a king of a country.

This was a natural reaction since he hadn’t heard the whole story of the plan yet.

Given my brother’s weak-hearted nature, if he knew everything that would happen in this land in the future, he might end up doing something unexpected.

The risk must be minimized.

Instead of answering, I watched the meeting, which was heading towards an almost catastrophic end.

Both sides, who had completely abandoned the will to persuade and compromise, decided to proceed directly to a vote.

The compromise proposal presented by the Third Estate was as follows.

[Abolition of tax-exempt privileges for the First and Second Estates]

At this point, it is a proposal that makes you feel like they are just going all out.

The clergy and nobles also scoffed and entered the vote.

A typical 모습 [Korean for ‘appearance’ or ‘sight’] of losers who self-destruct when cornered.

You can feel the feeling that they will lose this time, so let’s aim for the next opportunity.

The nobles, who were confident of victory, exchanged 덕담 [Korean for ‘words of blessing’ or ‘well-wishing’] with each other and accepted the ballot papers.

“Wow, the Duke of Chartres’s speech was the best.”

“That’s right. After all, even if the family fortune has temporarily declined, the innate noble status does not go anywhere.”

“Your Excellency, Duke of Chartres! I will arrange a great 자리 [Korean for ‘gathering’ or ‘occasion’] next time. Would you be able to attend and grace the occasion?”

“Of course. I will gladly go.”

Unlike the amicable nobles, most of the Third Estate representatives submitted their ballot papers with a look of disgust.

Robespierre and Danton were also silently guarding their seats with stiff faces.

After about an hour, a report came up that the tally was completely finished.

Contrary to the anxious gaze of Louis XVI, I leisurely got up and listened to the results from the servants.

“First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to all the representatives who discussed according to the established rules until the end. The tally took time because we verified it in many ways to prevent any 부정행위 [Korean for ‘fraud’ or ‘corruption’] from intervening. His Majesty has already said that he will 그대로 [Korean for ‘as is’ or ‘without change’] pass the agreed-upon plan at this Estates-General. I hope that you will not show the unsightly 모습 [Korean for ‘appearance’ or ‘sight’] of raising objections just because the results you want did not come out.”

The noble representatives, sitting in a relaxed posture, nodded with a smile of victory on their faces.

“Then I will announce it. 290 representatives from the First Estate, 270 representatives from the Second Estate, and 550 representatives from the Third Estate. The abolition of tax-exempt privileges for the First and Second Estates, voted on by 1110 people…”

I deliberately paused for a moment and surveyed the reactions of the audience.

Some waited for my next words with resignation, while others waited with a gaze full of conviction.

“Out of 1110 people, 572 people, more than half, voted in favor of abolishing the tax-exempt privileges of the First and Second Estates. Therefore, I declare that the abolition of tax-exempt privileges for the First and Second Estates has been passed as of this Estates-General.”

“After all, there’s no way such an absurd plan could be passed…right?”

“Of course it’s rejected! Of course…wait a minute?”

The nobles, who were about to reflexively shout cheers, froze with their arms raised.

As if their brains refused to understand the sound that had entered through their ears, they slowly tilted their heads and looked at each other’s faces.

As if to ask if they had heard correctly.

“Y-Your Highness. Could there have been a problem with the tally…?”

“No. It’s as you heard. Those who want to can check the ballot papers at any time, so please check.”

“…Abolition of tax-exempt privileges passed?”

Even the Third Estate representatives, who had won the vote, blinked their eyes with faces that most of them could not understand.

But the question is only for a moment.

Soon, a tremendous shout that shook the room erupted.

“Wow!”

“It passed! It really passed!”

“Hahaha! Serves you right! Nobles not paying taxes even in heaven, my ass!”

“Long live His Majesty the King! Long live France!”

After the commoner representatives hugged each other and shouted at the top of their lungs for a few minutes.