Life of Being a Crown Prince in France-Chapter 634 - 543 Ah! It will be alright, it will be alright, it will be alright!

Chapter 634: Chapter 543 Ah! It will be alright, it will be alright, it will be alright!

Subsequently, the High Courts of several provinces in France also publicly disclosed the trial details of numerous Tax Farmers’ magnates. Although most sentences had not been declared, just the names of those defendants were enough to shock everyone.

Tax Farmers Association leader Ford, Parisian banker Barrot, second president of the Marseille Chamber of Commerce Pellier…

Apart from Ford, the relationship of these other individuals to the Tax Farmers Association was virtually unknown to most people.

However, with Borelay being sentenced to death, everyone was plunged into a frenzy of ecstasy.

Starting with Paris, scenes of people spontaneously taking to the streets in celebration appeared everywhere, which clearly showed how much the people despised the group of Tax Farmers—especially since the government’s tax bureau had recently taken over tax collection duties, marking a stark contrast to the previous operators of the Tax Farming Bureau.

The Tax Officers were invariably polite, lacking the habit of swinging clubs while speaking, and they never harassed merchants or factories, collecting taxes strictly in accordance with what the laws prescribed.

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Although the Jacobins like Robespierre were somewhat idealistic and occasionally acted too radically, their belief in building a nation of equality and freedom for the people and maintaining social justice was unequivocal. This distinguished them greatly from former officials, at least not making money-grabbing their objective.

Therefore, the tax bureau quickly gained immense praise among the populace. The prestige of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, who had overseen the establishment of the tax bureau, continued to rise steadily, which in turn made people’s attitude towards the Royal Family even more supportive.

On the second floor of the Tuileries Palace, Tax Bureau Director Fulco was reporting on the collection of fines: “…The total amount collected so far is 42 million francs. People who have fully paid their fines include Baron Morrel, Baron Pellier… and seven others, while the rest are still arranging funds.”

Joseph nodded in satisfaction, according to previous estimates, this round of fines was sure to exceed 100 million francs. Pretty much every pocket of the major Tax Farmers was picked clean.

As for the more than half still uncollected, he was not particularly worried, given the vast sums involved. It was only because the Tax Farmers had previously prepared for the tax farming payments that they were able to produce such large sums so briskly; otherwise, even with fortunes worth tens of millions, it would be very difficult to instantly muster two to three million.

At the very least, the government funds for the current half-year were secure without concern, even with a considerable surplus.

Joseph said to Fulco, “I will have the High Court expedite the rulings on Morrel and others. I believe that will significantly speed up the payment of fines from the others.”

For Tax Farmers like Morrel, who were more cooperative, the sentences could naturally be somewhat lenient, serving as an example for the other Tax Farmers.

Fulco continued, “Your Highness, as for the assets of Hope and Fankevich, they haven’t been fully accounted for yet. However, the funds left by Hope in the country should not exceed 4 million francs, and Fankevich’s is around 6 million.”

Joseph suppressed the anger in his heart and said solemnly, “I have already instructed Archbishop Talleyrand to send a diplomatic note to the Netherlands. These two scoundrels will sooner or later have to pay their fines and face trial.”

He had received a report last week that the two Dutch tycoons, Hope and Fankevich, had fled France and it was very likely they had done so with the assistance of the Dutch embassy.

According to the intelligence agency’s analysis, Hope probably had a body double, and the original was still inside the Dutch embassy.

Since the Dutch Patriot Party primarily represented bourgeois interests, it was no wonder they protected financial magnates after coming to power.

However, with the Dutch Patriot Party standing against France in the Brabant uprising in the Southern Netherlands, and now pulling this move, it would be necessary to give them a good lesson in the future.

Thinking of this, Joseph was somewhat pained. Hope and his cohort had taken at least 10 million francs of fines. That was his money!

While he was inwardly lamenting, suddenly the sounds of lutes, bagpipes, and drums mixed together came from outside the window, accompanied by many people loudly singing along to something.

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The melody was very familiar, which made Joseph curious enough to go to the window and look down.

He saw on the street south of the Tuileries Palace, a small “band” holding various instruments leading the way, followed by six to seven hundred people. They carried a multitude of straw figures, walking and singing out loud, their expressions filled with joy, seemingly celebrating something.

As the crowd drew near, Joseph finally made out the images on the straw men’s faces; although crudely drawn, he could still distinguish Borelay’s facial features.

Then he heard the song emanating from the crowd—

Ah! It will all be well, all be well, all be well!

People are repeating it over and over today,

Ah! It will all be well, all be well, all be well!

Even though the tax farmers are overbearing, everything will work out!

The detestable Tax Farming Bureau is our target,

We march forward, singing “Hallelujah!”,

Oh! It will be fine, it will be fine, it will be fine!

The Crown Prince once said,

As if he were a prophet, he foretold it,

Humming my leisurely tune,

People say very happily,

Oh! It will be fine, it will be fine, it will be fine, even if,

They took all our money, everything will succeed!

Oh! It will be fine, it will be fine, it will be fine!

Robespierre and Dibor sing in the café,

Oh! It will be fine, it will be fine, it will be fine!

Let us look forward to the arrival of better days!

The people of France used to be silent,

But now the tax farmers say, “I bow my head in fault!”

Oh! It will be fine, it will be fine, it will be fine!

The Crown Prince leads us,

To shatter the unfair taxes,

And let peaceful life return!

…

Oh! It will be fine, it will be fine, it will be fine!

Drive the tax farmers to the guillotine!

Oh! It will be fine, it will be fine, it will be fine!

Hang the heads of the tax farmers on the street lamps!

Joseph listened for a while and suddenly remembered, wasn’t this the famous song from the historical Reign of Terror, “Ah! Ça Ira”? It also had another name, “The Street Lamp’s Merry Song”.

That year, after Louis XVI’s escape attempt, the Parisians sang this song as they escorted him to the Tuileries Palace. Of course, the lyrics at the time were mostly denunciations of the king’s desertion, but now they had been adapted to criticize the tax farmers.

He had thought that since his father had not fled, this song would also disappear into the annals of history, but it stubbornly appeared nonetheless.

Before long, the festive procession at the street corner joined with another group of people, swelling their numbers to over a thousand, and they moved majestically toward the Louvre Square.

Having said all that needed to be said, Fulco finally finished speaking, and Joseph immediately changed into an inconspicuous black coat, boarded a carriage, and followed the parade with great interest.