The Crown Prince of France - Chapter 140

Chapter 140: The Real Killing Weapon

The current situation in France is that, as long as the interest on debts can be paid, they are thankful for God's mercy. As for repaying the principal? Ha, that's something not even dared to dream of.

Joseph shook his head with a troubled expression, thinking that it would be nice if all the banks that loaned to the government suddenly went bankrupt...

In addition to the debt interest, another major "bleeding point" for France is taxation.

Currently, the French government has delegated most of its tax collection work to "tax contractors." The contractors pay a fixed amount to the government each year, and then they can go ahead and collect taxes.

Later estimates suggest that the actual tax collected by contractors each year exceeds the amount paid to the government by more than one-eighth.

Based on last year’s French tax revenue of 500 million livres, one-eighth would be 40 million. All of that money ended up in the pockets of the tax contractors.

In reality, the contractors' profits are likely even more than that, with statistics showing that nearly 20% of the tax revenue is pocketed by the contractors.

In other words, if the tax contractor system were abolished, the French government could increase its annual revenue by at least 40 million livres!

Of course, tax reform is very difficult to implement.

One important reason is that the contractors are also creditors of the French government. They pay the government the year's tax expenses at the beginning of the year and only then proceed with tax collection.

If the tax contractor system were suddenly abolished, it would mean the French government would have no tax revenue for an entire year!

Joseph suddenly realized that whether it was increasing revenue or cutting costs, neither seemed an easy task...

While pondering this, the Palace of Versailles square had already come into view.

Joseph got out of the carriage, and a court official sent by Louis XVI, who had been waiting in front of the carriage, quickly came over with a smile and said, "Your Highness, His Majesty says he is waiting for you at the Royal Workshop."

Joseph nodded in thanks and walked toward the King's lock-making workshop.

As he rounded the pillar before the stairs, he saw a troubled-looking person approaching—it was the Minister of the Interior, Count Nicoll.

Nicoll looked up, saw the Dauphin, and quickly bowed, saying, "Long time no see, Your Highness. May God bless you."

Joseph smiled and nodded at him, about to ask about the signing of the Eden Treaty when Nicoll, with a somewhat dispirited air, excused himself and left.

Joseph looked at Eymond in surprise, "He seems troubled?"

Eymond caught up with Nicoll's attendants, whispered a few words, and returned to Joseph, saying, "Your Highness, it seems that Count Nicoll is feeling down after the negotiations with the British. Archbishop Brienne reprimanded him, so he seems a bit depressed."

Joseph nodded. It seemed that Nicoll lacked diplomatic talent. Fortunately, the trade negotiations with Britain had already been settled between him and the British Ambassador, Hartley, so it wouldn't affect the signing of the treaty.

When Joseph reached the Royal Workshop, the door opened from the inside, and a middle-aged man wearing clerical robes with a round face and thick lips hobbled out, sighing.

The cleric saw Joseph and froze for a moment before immediately putting on a bright smile and greeting the Dauphin with great enthusiasm.

Seeing Joseph's puzzled expression, Eymond quickly explained, "Your Highness, this is Archbishop Talleyrand of the Abbey of Saint-Denis."

Talleyrand? Joseph blinked in surprise. Wasn't this the man who had survived multiple eras—Louis XVI, the National Assembly, Napoleon, and Louis XVIII—managing to thrive in French politics?

Talleyrand had been the Archbishop of Autun and later served as Napoleon's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Louis XVIII's Prime Minister.

Though it could be said that his political career was marked by constant changes, there was no doubt that he was a first-class diplomat.

Joseph smiled and nodded to Talleyrand. Before he could speak further, Louis XVI’s voice called from the workshop: "Joseph, is that you? Oh, dear, I’ve been waiting for you. Come in!"

Talleyrand, recognizing the moment, bowed and excused himself. Joseph stepped into the workshop and saluted the king.

Before Joseph could even begin his formal greetings, Louis XVI excitedly pulled him by the arm, nearly dragging him to the workbench, pointing at something covered with blue cloth, and mysteriously asked, "Guess what this is?"

Joseph guessed that it might be the completion of the fire cap gun, but he played along with exaggerated tone, "Is it... a pile of jewels?"

Louis XVI shook his head proudly, "No, this is something even more precious than jewels."

He pulled off the blue cloth with force, revealing two beautifully polished fire cap guns, as fine as crafted works of art.

"Don't you want to try them?" Louis XVI gestured towards the guns.

Joseph nodded and picked one up, carefully inspecting it.

The barrel, trigger, and stock were basically identical to the Charleville 1776 flintlock, indicating that it used well-established components.

The biggest change, however, was in the firing mechanism and the ignition chamber.

The firing mechanism had been transformed from the bird's-beak shape of a flintlock to a hammer style. The ignition chamber had been completely removed, replaced by a cylindrical protrusion about the size of a date pit.

Joseph pulled the hammer back with force. Louis XVI immediately took a brass "green bean" from a wooden box and handed it to him.

Joseph looked at the fire cap in his hand and then at the box, which contained dozens of fire caps scattered carelessly. He thought to himself: The safety awareness here is lacking. Fortunately, there was no fire; otherwise, it could have been disastrous...

He placed the fire cap onto the ignition hole. Louis XVI quickly pointed to a corner of the workshop, indicating that he had already tested it there many times.

Joseph aimed the gun at the empty space, pulled the trigger, and heard a "poof" sound. There was no gunpowder in the barrel, but a small puff of smoke came out as the mercury fulminate burned.

From the smoothness and steadiness of the firing mechanism, Joseph could clearly tell that the gun was flawless.

Indeed, France’s finest craftsmen would never disappoint. Now, he had another powerful weapon at his disposal!

However, "Craftsman Louis XVI" seemed somewhat unsatisfied with his own work. He muttered, "I thought I could finish it a month ago, but the air-tightness issue was very complex."

He gestured to the water wheel system outside the window of Versailles, "If it weren’t for that British boring machine you recommended, oh, and the 'micrometer' you invented that helped so much, this gun might still be leaking."

"You are the greatest master in the world!" Joseph raised the gun in his hand and praised, "Without you, this gun might not have appeared for decades."

Louis XVI narrowed his eyes in contentment, then softly suggested, "Let’s go to the woods east of the square and test-fire it. I often go there to test guns."

Joseph smiled and shook his head, "It’s too lacking in atmosphere to test guns in the woods. Let’s go to the shooting range and get some real practice!"

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