The Crown Prince of France - Chapter 257

Chapter 257: The Scapegoat

Yes, the lives of the farmers would improve.

This was precisely Joseph’s goal.

Whether it was a minor uprising or a major revolution, they all stemmed from dissatisfaction with life.

Improve the quality of life for the common people, and they wouldn’t care whether you were a king or the National Assembly—they would support you wholeheartedly. Anyone who dared to disrupt the nation would find themselves the target of their disapproval.

Sure enough, when the farmers repeatedly confirmed with Father Marmont that this was indeed a royal decree, they immediately began shouting, “Long live the King!” before scattering back to their homes to share the monumental news with their families.

That afternoon, the district governor summoned the villagers in front of the small chapel to announce the upcoming “Star of France” competition.

More than ten people signed up on the spot.

...

Three days later, the chaos in the southern provinces was preliminarily brought under control.

The newspapers reported that a laundress from the Moulin District had won the "Star of France" competition, earning a prize of 3,000 livres. Moreover, the Duchess of Villars had hired her as a private musician. This shifted everyone’s attention entirely to the competition.

To boost the competition’s popularity, Moulin had held auditions early and completed the event within a week. The Duchess of Villars, acting on the Crown Prince’s request, cooperated to enhance its prominence.

Suddenly, across France, people were practicing dance routines or vocal exercises on the streets. Everyone hoped to be as fortunate as that laundress.

Regional auditions soon began, with competitions running daily until 9 PM to accommodate workers after their shifts.

City halls and town squares were brightly lit. Organizing the competition cost nearly 10,000 livres per city, with the winner's prize being another expense.

But it was all worth it.

Even those who didn’t compete closely followed the progress of their relatives and friends. People gathered in front of city halls every day to watch performances, cheer for the winners, and listen to the contestants’ moving stories. They reluctantly returned home only after dark.

The riots now felt like a distant memory.

With funding for police reform secured—initially through bank loans, thanks to the banking sector’s high efficiency at this time—the new police recruits received their first month’s salary. This greatly boosted their morale.

Investigations into the riots of ten days ago resumed, targeting not the protesters who went to the estates of the great nobles but the opportunists who looted and robbed ordinary citizens.

...

At Versailles,

In the southern corridor of the palace, seven or eight worried-looking nobles murmured quietly among themselves.

“…and then the duke was cruelly murdered by those vile commoners. His body was found in the marsh outside the estate…”

Another sighed and shook his head. “I heard they even stole his clothes, denying him his last dignity!”

“Those shameless, cursed scoundrels!”

“God help us! Is France descending into chaos?”

“Every night, I wake from nightmares of being tied to a stake by those rioters and burned alive… I’m considering selling all my property in my hometown. Sooner or later, the rebels will seize everything.”

“I’m thinking the same. Perhaps fleeing abroad with some cash would be safer.”

“Shh…”

One noble glanced up and spotted the Crown Prince, Joseph, approaching. He quickly signaled to the others.

They immediately stepped to the side of the corridor, bowing respectfully as the Crown Prince passed.

Joseph, having overheard part of their conversation, initially nodded and walked on, but then reconsidered and turned back, smiling at them.

“Gentlemen, the riots are over. Trust me, this was merely the chaos brought about by an unprecedented drought and harsh winter.

“The new police forces are already being trained in the provinces. They will be as outstanding as the Paris police, ensuring peace and security in their jurisdictions. Such riots will not happen again.

“Moreover, those who incited the riots and murdered nobles have been arrested. Their public trials will begin soon.”

The nobles exchanged glances, excitement lighting up their faces. “Your Highness, is this true?”

“Of course. Soon, you’ll see the reports in the newspapers. If you’re interested, you can even come to Paris to witness the trials of the rioters.”

Joseph understood that ending the riots wasn’t just about dispersing the crowds—it was about restoring order in people’s minds.

Aside from the few grand nobles who harmed the nation, the majority of nobles needed to be won over. Even the old aristocracy, as long as they accepted reforms and integrated into the nation’s development, could become the backbone of France.

After all, they still controlled most of France’s wealth, and many were knowledgeable and capable individuals. France could not do without them.

In fact, as a counterweight to the burgeoning capitalist class, the royal family needed them even more.

The art of monarchical rule lay in balancing the powers at play.

Thus, after dealing with the members of the Assembly of Notables, it was imperative to pacify the well-behaved nobles to prevent the nation from falling into turmoil.

And if the rioters were not harshly punished, how could the nobles feel at ease?

Harsh punishment was necessary—not only for justice but to set an example.

Of course, Joseph would never target ordinary citizens who participated in the riots. The scapegoats had already been prepared.

They were the gang members that the Duke of Orléans had used to incite the riots.

These individuals, previously “taken over” and re-utilized by the police intelligence division, were now en route to Paris under arrest.

Since they were still waiting for their wages, the police easily apprehended them. This could even be seen as a nationwide crackdown on criminal gangs.

...

A week later,

A column of 2,000 men, composed of cadets from the Paris Police Academy and soldiers of Berthier’s corps, marched neatly into the streets of Paris.

Behind them followed over 100 gang members arrested in the southern provinces. In reality, nearly 400 gang members had been apprehended, but to prevent disorder, the rest were locked up directly in the Paris Police Bureau.

Leading the procession were dozens of soldiers draped in yellow sashes and adorned with medals of various ranks.

Behind them were drummers and standard-bearers. Two tall standard-bearers carried banners reading, “Victory in Suppressing the Southern Riots,” leading the soldiers as they proudly marched through the city center.

Nearly all the citizens of Paris crowded the streets, shouting slogans like “Long live the King!” and “Praise the heroes!”

The triumphant procession passed through half the city before heading to the Palace of Versailles.

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