Life of Being a Crown Prince in France

Chapter 464: Chapter 377 Vandernoot’s Conspiracy

"You are the true leader of the French Revolution!” exclaimed the middle-aged man with fervent flattery, “While those cowards shrink back under the despot’s tyranny, only you continue to bravely fight for the French people.”

"It is my eternal cause!” Pride and satisfaction emerged on Saint-Just’s face. He had little interest in money or beauty, but relished others’ adulation.

Without drawing attention, the middle-aged man pulled a stack of Bank of France Reserve banknotes from his pocket and placed it beside Saint-Just, whispering, “This is your operational funding.”

These notes had been collected by the States-General of the Netherlands from local peasants. They didn’t care much for such flimsy currency, but the French people seemed quite willing to accept it.

Saint-Just immediately pushed the money back, “Operational funds should be managed collectively by the ‘club.’ I cannot accept them privately.”

He signaled the middle-aged man to join him in the carriage, speaking earnestly, “More important than funds, where are the firearms the committee promised?”

"You know, those vultures in Palace of Versailles who only prey on the French people will never surrender without a fight. We must have guns, and preferably cannons too, to completely crush them and truly free the French people!” he declared.

The “committee” he referred to was the organization sent by the States-General of the Netherlands to instigate the French Revolution. The man before him was one of the seven core members of this committee, Yeskut by name, who was specifically responsible for liaising with Saint-Just, an important figure among the French Liberals.

The committee had over 210 operatives in France. To break the stalemate on the Brussels battlefield, Vandernoot had spared no expense, collaborating with the Netherlands to provide over 800,000 livres as well as the support of several thousand flintlock guns.

Yeskut nodded vigorously, “You are absolutely right! The tyrant and his minions must be crushed!

"Rest assured, the first batch of 1,000 firearms has already passed Comblain and should arrive in Reims the day after tomorrow. The rest will be delivered within the month.”

A fiery gleam flickered in Saint-Just’s eyes before he and Yeskut began to discuss the specifics of the uprising.

The carriage stopped in Zephir Village, where peasants immediately began to gather from the fields.

Other revolutionaries from the “club” had already made preparations here, including secret propaganda and precautions against rural mounted police. They were just waiting for Saint-Just to speak.

Saint-Just, filled with excitement, looked around at the people and suddenly turned to Yeskut, his voice grave, “I’ve always had a question, Mr. Yeskut. How did you come to know the details of the land redemption scheme at Palace of Versailles?”

Yeskut faltered slightly, then quickly forced a smile, “You know, after many years of activities in France, we naturally have our channels.”

"Is the intelligence reliable? I don’t want the people to feel deceived by me.”

"We have been revolution partners for many years, you can trust me entirely!” Yeskut said with a firm expression. In reality, the harsh redemption scheme mentioned in Saint-Just’s speeches had been fabricated by the British, who instructed Vandernoot to make it up.

…

Palace of Versailles.

At a salon with more than a hundred participants, nearly all of the nobility paid no attention to the topic at hand but gathered in small groups, whispering about the recent domestic political situation.

"Have you heard the news? The farmers in Reims and Lille have driven out the stadtholders and then attacked the town halls!”

"Although the newspapers haven’t covered it much, it’s already the talk of the town. It’s said that over a dozen cities have seen protests erupt.”

Several less-informed nobles immediately inquired in shock, “What on earth do those peasants want to do?”

"It seems they are dissatisfied with the land redemption scheme and want to use this method to pressure the government.”

"These greedy bastards! His Majesty has already agreed to let them have the land, a boon never granted since the Creation by God, and all they need to do is pay a little redemption fee, and they are still not satisfied?!”

A corpulent noble, in his fifties, harshly said, “That’s right! Our rights have been revoked, the benefits given to the commoners, yet instead of being grateful, they want to cause trouble? In my opinion, all those troublemakers should be hanged, and not a single acre given to them!”

"Exactly! The rent is a favor from His Majesty to the nobles and should not have been abolished!”

A young noble, who had been silent until then, saw his moment and interjected, “I advise you all to accept the reality. The King has already instructed the Cabinet to issue a new edict, reducing the redemption period to five years.”

The surrounding nobles burst into uproar: “That’s the land His Majesty bestowed upon us, and after five years we won’t get a penny from it?”

"How can this be? My son’s tuition, my daughter’s dowry, it all depends on those lands

"Forget tuition and dowries, in five years we may have to beg for a living!”

Although most of these Old Nobility had other properties, feudal rent was certainly one of their important sources of income.

They had all thought that the government would make the peasants redeem the rent for at least twenty or thirty years, which would have given them time to plan for other sources of income. But with only five years, their standard of living was bound to plummet.

Not to mention those with rigid minds, who completely depended on feudal rent for survival—once the rent was gone, they really would have to beg for a living.

Someone, agitated, called out while brandishing a fist, “Let’s petition the Queen!”

"Right! We can’t let the commoners get the land so easily!”

However, the young noble from earlier blocked them, speaking softly, “His Majesty must have already made a decision. Have you forgotten? Last time, when the noble rights were terminated, our petition was of no use.”

"Then what do you propose we do?”

"We must defend the town halls of Lille and Reims ourselves and teach the greedy commoners a lesson with the sword! Who among you brave souls will join me?”

…

The second floor of the Tuileries Palace.

In the Industrial Planning Bureau office, Fouché bowed deeply, his voice somber, “Your Highness, it’s my failure in handling this incident. Whatever the punishment may be, I will have no grievances.”

Joseph sighed and gestured for him to sit down, “Protests breaking out in over a dozen cities on the same day, there must have been a long-standing plot behind this. You need not be too hard on yourself.”

As he was speaking, Eman knocked and entered, followed by a Court Official who bowed to Joseph, saying, “Your Highness, the Queen requests your immediate return to the Palace of Versailles to attend an emergency Cabinet meeting.”

Joseph nodded and rose to his feet, “Is it about the peasants causing trouble?”

"Yes, Your Highness.”

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