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Chapter 139: The Real Game-Changer
🕑 Added 2024-12-15 19:06:08 +0000 UTCChapter 139: The Real Game-Changer
The current situation in France is such that just being able to pay the interest on the debt is seen as a blessing from God. As for paying off the principal? Haha, not even in dreams.
Joseph shook his head with a bitter expression, thinking to himself how wonderful it would be if all those banks that had loaned money to the government suddenly went bankrupt…
Besides the debt interest, another major "bleeding point" for France is taxes.
The French government currently delegates most of the tax collection work to "tax farmers." These tax farmers pay a lump sum to the government each year, and in return, they are allowed to collect taxes.
It is estimated that the actual amount collected by the tax farmers each year is more than one-eighth greater than what they pay the government.
Based on last year's tax revenue of 500 million livres, one-eighth would be 40 million. All of that money went straight into the pockets of the tax farmers.
In fact, the tax farmers' profits are likely even higher, with some reports indicating that nearly 20% of taxes are taken by them.
In other words, if the tax farming system were abolished, the French government could increase its revenue by at least 40 million livres annually!
Of course, tax reform is no easy feat.
One of the main reasons for this is that the tax farmers are also creditors of the French government. Every year at the start, they pay the year's tax amount in advance to the government before going out to collect taxes.
If the tax farming system were suddenly abolished, it would mean the French government would have no tax income for a whole year!
Joseph suddenly realized that whether it was raising revenue or cutting costs, neither was an easy task at the moment...
As he pondered, the Versailles Palace square appeared in his sight.
Joseph stepped down from the carriage, and a palace official who had been sent to deliver a message from King Louis XVI hurried over from the carriage ahead, beaming, "Your Highness, His Majesty said he is waiting for you in the royal workshop."
Joseph nodded in thanks and made his way toward the King's locksmith workshop.
Just as he rounded the column in front of the stairs, he saw a worried-looking man walking toward him. It was the Minister of the Registry, Nicoet.
Nicoet looked up, saw it was the Prince, and immediately bowed, "It has been a long time, Your Highness. May the Lord bless you."
Joseph smiled at him and was about to ask about the signing of the Eden Treaty, but Nicoet, looking rather dispirited, excused himself and left.
Joseph glanced curiously at Emond, "He seems troubled?"
Emond caught up with Nicoet's attendant, whispered a few words, then returned to Joseph and said, "Your Highness, it seems that Count Nicoet wasn't doing too well during the negotiations with the British. Archbishop Brienne scolded him for it, so he's feeling down."
Joseph nodded. It seemed Nicoet really didn't have much diplomatic talent. Fortunately, the details of the Anglo-French trade negotiations had already been settled by himself and the British ambassador, Hartley, so it wouldn't affect the signing of the treaty.
When Joseph arrived at the door of the royal workshop, the door opened from the inside, and out walked a middle-aged man in clerical robes, with a large round face and thick lips, limping slightly and sighing.
The priest saw Joseph, paused for a moment, then immediately put on a bright smile and greeted the Prince enthusiastically.
Seeing Joseph's puzzled expression, Emond quickly whispered, "Your Highness, this is Abbé Talleyrand from the Abbey of Saint-Denis."
Talleyrand? Joseph blinked. Could it be the same Talleyrand who, through the reigns of Louis XVI, the National Assembly, Napoleon, and Louis XVIII, always managed to stay on top in the political world?
Talleyrand had served as Archbishop of Autun and later held positions as Napoleon's Foreign Minister and Louis XVIII's Prime Minister.
Whatever else one might say about him, in the realm of diplomacy, he was undoubtedly a first-rate expert.
Joseph smiled and nodded at Talleyrand, but before they could exchange more than a few words, the voice of Louis XVI rang out from the workshop, "Joseph, is that you? Oh, my dear, I've been waiting for you so long. Come in quickly!"
Talleyrand tactfully bowed and excused himself. Joseph stepped into the workshop and bowed before Louis XVI.
Before he could finish the customary greeting, the King excitedly grabbed his hand and almost dragged him to the workbench, pointing at something covered with blue cloth, and said mysteriously, "Can you guess what this is?"
Joseph guessed it might be the finished percussion cap rifle but still played along, responding in an exaggerated tone, "Is it... a pile of jewels?"
Louis XVI shook his head proudly, "No, it's something even more precious than jewels."
With that, he dramatically pulled off the blue cloth, revealing two beautifully polished percussion rifles that looked like works of art.
"This is the finest rifle in the world, developed by me and my beloved son!" Louis declared.
The two gleaming percussion rifles lay before Joseph.
"Would you like to give it a try?" Louis gestured toward the rifle.
Joseph nodded, picking up one of the rifles and carefully examining it.
The barrel, trigger, and stock were almost identical to the Charleville Model 1776 flintlock musket, likely using the same well-tested parts.
The biggest modifications were in the firing mechanism and the ignition chamber.
The firing mechanism had changed from the flintlock's bird-shaped hammer to a hammer design. The ignition chamber had been entirely replaced with a small cylindrical protrusion, about the size of a date seed.
Joseph cocked the hammer. Louis XVI immediately rummaged through a wooden box beside him and handed Joseph a small brass "pea."
Joseph looked at the percussion cap in his hand and then at the box, which was filled with dozens of loose caps. He thought to himself: The safety precautions here are way too lax. It's a wonder there hasn't been a fire yet…
He placed the cap on the nipple, and Louis XVI gestured toward a corner of the room, where he had likely tested the rifle many times before.
Joseph pointed the rifle at the empty space and pulled the trigger. There was a soft "pop" as a small puff of smoke from the burning mercury fulminate emerged from the barrel—no gunpowder had been loaded.
From the feel of the rifle's action, Joseph could tell it was a solid piece of craftsmanship.
The finest craftsmen in France never disappoint, Joseph thought. Now he had yet another powerful weapon in his arsenal!
However, "Craftsman Louis XVI" didn't seem entirely satisfied with his own work and muttered, "I thought I could have finished it a month ago, but the problem with the airtightness was more complicated than I expected."
He pointed out the Versailles water pump system through the window, adding, "If it weren't for that British lathe you recommended—and the 'micrometer screw gauge' you invented—I'd probably still be dealing with leaks."
"You are the greatest master in the world!" Joseph lifted the rifle in his hand and praised, "Without you, this rifle might not appear for decades."
Louis XVI squinted, pleased with the compliment, but then whispered, "Let's go test it in the woods east of the square. I often go there to try out my guns."
Joseph smiled and shook his head, "Shooting in the woods is not very exciting. Let's go to the shooting range and fire a few rounds properly!"
(End of chapter)
