Chapter 545: Quiet Corsica (Please compare!)
When the marchers arrived at the Louvre Square, thousands of people had gathered here, singing the "Happy Streetlight Song" as loudly.
Joseph came to the second floor of the Louvre from the side door and saw crowds surrounding a circle of open space in the middle of the square, where hundreds of scarecrows were piled up and down.
The face of the scarecrow cannot be clearly seen, but the names of big tax collectors such as "Ford", "Bolore", and "De Cantele" can be heard from the people's shouts.
Then, an old woman stepped forward and set fire to the "tax collectors", and thunderous cheers erupted in the square: "Let these bastards die!"
"Long live His Royal Highness the Crown Prince! Long live His Majesty the King!"
"Thank you to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the General Administration of Taxation for sending the devils to hell!"
"Burn the tax collectors, burn them!"
The fire burst into flames, and people immediately sang songs around the flames, and some began to cry bitterly.
What Joseph didn't notice was that just under the pillars on the east side of the Tuileries Palace, tax bureau officials such as Robespierre and Chaumet were also looking at the jumping flames, their expressions even more intense than those of the celebrating people. Be excited.
This was a victory they won - the first time they challenged a behemoth like the tax collectors, the newly established tax bureau won a resounding victory.
Looking at the happy and contented expressions of the people in the square, they felt that they had brought fairness and justice to France, and their lives had become more brilliant.
After a long time, Chaumet suddenly said:
"Mr. Robespierre, fortunately I accepted your suggestion, otherwise I would have missed such a great moment."
It was Robespierre who called on everyone to join the tax bureau at a Jacobin gathering. At that time, although he made many assurances, Chaumet was still very hesitant - most of the people at the party were similar to him and had a repulsive attitude towards serving as a government official.
However, Robespierre still convinced many people, including Chaumet.
Robespierre smiled, and then said seriously:
"Fortunately, I met His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, otherwise..."
He suddenly raised his voice:
"He is really a very special royal family. A person... who can bring justice and happiness to the people. He is far more qualified to do this than us."
Dartie on the side seemed even more excited. He was once the Jacobin who was most suspicious of Robespierre. He joined the tax bureau to prove that the latter was wrong, but now he has become Joseph's "iron fan".
He then shouted: "Mr. Rousseau told us how to do it, and His Royal Highness the Dauphin is realizing it! France is great because of them!"
Robespierre nodded slightly: "Yes, we will witness the great France..."
…
Corsica.
In the light gray villa on the outskirts of Ajaccio, the newly appointed governor, Count Butafuoco, handed a secret report to the acting commander of the Corsican garrison in front of him:
“This is Mr. Girolamo from the separatist parliamentarian. Although the information we learned there is not detailed enough, we still have to treat it with caution."
Napoleon took the secret report and unfolded it, and saw a list of names above, with the following text: Pauli may launch a riot in the mountains in the near future. These are the people who have close contact with him.
Count Butafuoko said nervously: “Most of these people are parliamentarians who are still loyal to Pauli, as well as some senior leaders of separatist organizations.
"Perhaps, you can mobilize the army in advance and suppress it immediately if there is a problem."
After a series of previous blows, Poly's status in Corsica has plummeted.
This made him decide to make a final struggle, mobilize all the forces he could still influence, and promise huge profits, intending to create riots in his hometown. Then, he would venture back to Corsica and repeat his father's routine, taking advantage of the chaos to gather hungry people to form an army.
Napoleon frowned slightly, shook his head and said, "Mr. Governor, there are hundreds of villages in Chinto Mountain, and the current intelligence is not enough for us to deploy defenses."
Count Butafuoko said anxiously: "You have to think of a way. The situation has improved just now, but there can't be any more trouble." His position as governor is far from secure. If a riot breaks out now, he is likely to He will be replaced by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
Napoleon also looked solemn. He had just been promoted, and he even had the word "agent" before his position. Naturally, he also hoped that Corsica could stabilize.
"No, it's unwise to fight in those mountain villages." He suddenly shook his head, "We should solve the problem from a higher level."
"You mean?"
While the two were talking, the governor's steward came in and saluted: "Sir, there is an officer outside who wants to see Lord Buwanaba."
Napoleon saw the face of the captain outside through the door, and immediately apologized to Count Butafuoko: "I'm afraid I have something urgent. As for the riot, I will take care of it, please don't worry."
"Oh, thank God! Then I'm counting on you."
Napoleon said goodbye to the governor, came to the carriage, looked at the officer opposite and said: "How many people have been invited?"
"Yes, Commander, they are in the warehouse south of the camp now."
"Very well. I'll go meet them."
Not long after, the car stopped outside the warehouse, and Napoleon immediately heard cursing inside.
He smiled, pushed the door open and entered the room. Several soldiers inside quickly stood at attention and saluted him.
Napoleon nodded to them, then looked at the three men sitting in the corner, stroked his chest and said:
"It's an honor to meet your honorable judges. I hope my soldiers didn't do anything rude."
"As expected, it's you! You lunatic!" A judge in his forties with a thin cheek said angrily, "Let us go back quickly!"
Another old man also shouted: "You are kidnapping! I want to sue you and your soldiers!"
Napoleon motioned to the soldiers to bring in chairs, sat down across from the three men, and said with a smile: "As long as you judge those prisoners not guilty, I will send you back immediately."
He was talking about the more than 400 self-defense soldiers captured during the previous suppression of the National Guard.
After executing some die-hard officers, he incorporated the remaining soldiers into his own army.
However, although these men were pardoned by the military court, the Corsican court insisted on finding them guilty of riot in accordance with the decree of parliament.
According to French regulations, such serious crimes are not allowed to join the army. Even if they are forcibly recruited, the General Staff will not pay them a salary.
"You're dreaming!" the thin judge said firmly, "I will not do anything that violates the law!"
The other two judges also had cold faces and said nothing.
Upon seeing this, Napoleon stood up and said to the soldiers on the side: "It seems that Mr. Judge still needs to think about it, so please make sure to ensure their safety. I will come back in 10 days."
"Madman! Let us go!"
The three judges immediately wanted to drag him to argue, but the soldiers pushed him down on the chair.
Napoleon came out of the warehouse and said to the officer beside him: "Please transfer two companies, oh, just the companies of Labeau and Boileau. Meet in front of the parliament hall tomorrow morning."
"Yes, Commander!"
(End of chapter)