Chapter 508 Let the gangsters tremble, Mr. Robespierre!
Hearing this, Joseph was a little surprised - he had previously seen intimidation and attacks against the tax bureau in the Intelligence Bureau's report, but he did not expect it to be so serious.
These tax collectors are a little too courageous!
His first reaction was to ask the Intelligence Bureau and the police to cooperate and let the attackers taste the iron fist of the violent organization, but then he thought of another thing and frowned.
Who were Robespierre and his subordinates?
That is the "French IRS" that I built myself!
In later generations, the IRS in the United States was able to arrest gangster godfathers that even the FBI could not handle. It was able to take away congressmen in public, and it was able to catch ruthless keyboard warriors along the Internet cable.
And now, the French "IRS" is like a frustrated little daughter-in-law who was bullied by a group of gangsters and came to ask for help...
How is this possible?
You know, in this era of advocating the law of the jungle, it is not uncommon to beat tax officials and gather people to resist taxes. If the tax department doesn't have a bit of "murderous spirit", it won't be able to collect taxes at all.
You can take this opportunity to give the tax bureau some exercise.
Thinking of this, Joseph raised his eyes and looked at Robespierre: "What are your plans for these vile outlaws?"
Robespierre immediately said: "I hope to send some more guards to the tax bureaus in various places..."
Joseph raised his hand and interrupted him: "There will be no guards, but I can issue two pistols and standard military swords to all tax officials. You can even apply for cannons if necessary."
Currently, the standard equipment of the tax bureau is a Charleville 1776 flintlock rifle for each person, as well as equipment such as batons and shields. Although this firepower is already very powerful, it obviously does not give the tax officials enough confidence.
Robespierre was a little unresponsive: "Your Highness, but we are facing a killer..."
"So what, you are tax officers!" Joseph raised his voice, "You are tax officers who have received strict training at the Paris Police Academy and have the authority to search, interrogate, and arrest!
"Whether they are killers, gangsters, or smugglers, they should only tremble after hearing your name, instead of daring to threaten or even attack you. Attacking a tax officer is a serious crime. If you are issued guns, you must be good at using them! "
When Robespierre heard this, he felt a rush of blood rushing through his body. The Crown Prince is right. He is a dignified tax collector and is determined to dedicate everything to the interests of the country and the people. To be intimidated by a group of gangsters is simply a shame! What about your own perseverance and belief? Do they all disappear when in danger? !
Seeing the change in his eyes, Joseph continued to encourage:
“You represent justice and the whole of France. At the same time, you also have enough power to let those lawless people know how powerful you are. . Let them have nightmares whenever they think of the reputation of the tax collector! "Go ahead, tell me if you need any weapons, and I will send them to you immediately, but they are not guards." "
Robespierre immediately stood up and shouted: "Yes, Your Highness!"
After he left the Tuileries Palace, he immediately returned to the office, tore up the speech he had made to appease his subordinates, and then wrote a new one based on what His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had just said.
Not long after Robespierre left here, Brian came to Joseph's office and saluted excitedly: "Your Highness, Berlant just came to me with the drafted agreement and expressed that he would increase the tax package." to 540 million francs and waive some trade-related taxes, which can be signed immediately. However, I followed your instructions and drove him away. "
Joseph smiled when he heard this. The tax collectors were using both soft and hard tactics. They were intimidating the government tax officials, and they were offering generous tax packages here.
However, judging from their actions, their "empty accounting" method has obviously produced results, and the tax collectors' previous self-confidence in controlling the government through tax collection began to collapse.
Then the next step of dividing the tax collectors association can begin.
He warned Brian, and then summoned Fouche to ask the Intelligence Bureau to investigate the forces behind those who attacked the tax bureau.
Most of these attackers are sent by tax collectors. If they can be caught, the resistance to tax reform will be reduced. …
Palace of Versailles.
In the drawing room of the Crown Prince's palace, Charles, one of the giant tax collectors, kept looking at the door with a rather anxious expression.
Since three days ago, his assets in France have been temporarily seized. The explanation given by the High Court is that the Intelligence Agency is conducting some investigations against him.
Several banks and lending funds under his name were affected. Already shareholders got the news and asked him anxiously what happened.
Charles looked for all the connections, but still couldn't figure it out.
Finally, after spending thousands of francs, a captain from the Intelligence Bureau revealed to him that the investigation was conducted at the request of His Royal Highness the Dauphin.
So, he hurried here again.
After more than an hour, the crown prince finally returned.
Charles hurriedly stood up and stepped forward to salute respectfully. He was thinking about how to ask about the seizure of assets in a subtle way, but unexpectedly, the Crown Prince spoke first: "You are here to learn about the Intelligence Bureau's investigation of you, right?"
Charles was startled and immediately nodded: "Yes, Your Highness. I have always been doing serious business. If the Intelligence Bureau seizes my assets for no reason like this, I will suffer huge losses."
"Is this serious business?" Joseph deliberately lengthened his voice, "You seem to have forgotten something."
"I swear, Your Highness, all my business is legal!"
"It seems that I need to remind you." Joseph's face darkened, "You have been funding the Southern Netherlands rebels for a long time, and it was not interrupted while our army was fighting the rebels."
Charles was immediately shocked. France had declared war on the rebels in the Southern Netherlands. According to the Crown Prince, that was a serious crime of aiding the enemy.
He waved his hands repeatedly and said: "Your Highness, this is absolutely impossible. I have always invested in the royal families or governments of various countries, and I will never care about the interests of the rebels."
"Yeah?"
Joseph motioned to Eman to get a document and flipped through it: "Your Charles Bolton Bank in Southern Netherlands provided a total of three loans to rebel organizations last year. You also helped them complete dozens of transactions with the Netherlands, Fund transfers from the Bank of England.”
Charles' eyes widened: "This, this is absolutely impossible!"
Joseph threw the documents directly to him: "See for yourself."
Charles immediately wrote on it: Charles Bolton Bank, Brussels Branch, loaned 37,000 livres to the Heulos Steel Company on October 21...
The Burgent store of Charles Bolton Bank loaned 20,000 livres to the Ghent City Hall on December 1...
There are more records of loans and capital transactions later.
(End of chapter)