The Crown Prince of France - Chapter 84

Chapter 83 doesn't exist

Chapter 84: The Boomerang of Public Opinion

Joseph responded with some excitement:

"I've read many of your articles, and I've always wondered why, as a fighter for freedom, you never took aim at the most corrupt and decayed, the darkest parts of Paris. It wasn't until I read your article that I realized I had misunderstood you."

Marat blinked in confusion:
"What do you mean by the most corrupt and dark place?"

Joseph clenched his fist and replied,
"Of course, I mean the High Court! It's full of money and power deals, constantly creating miscarriages of justice. The judges treat the suffering of victims as a means to get rich. That place is the source of all the suffering of the people in Paris!"

He was not at all slandering the High Court. There is a wealth of documentation in later years that the High Court was, at this time, the most corrupt place in France, bar none!

Because judges were increasingly becoming hereditary, and their power grew ever stronger, the outcome of cases became entirely a matter of bribing the judges.

As a result, many common folk, when faced with a problem, would rather turn to gangs for help than go to the court.

It wasn't until the Emperor's reign, when judicial reforms were implemented with an iron fist, that the court started to clean up a bit.

Marat furrowed his brow. He was very well-informed, and naturally, he knew all about the dirty dealings inside the High Court.

Compared to the High Court, other departments' bureaucrats seemed as pure as an adolescent girl.

Joseph continued:
"Your article was excellent, vehemently condemning the High Court's shameless obstruction of the tax legislation and exposing their dirty dealings with the nobility!"

Upon hearing this, Marat couldn't help but feel a bit ashamed. His article had only mentioned that the bill would benefit the national finances, that the court had no justifiable reason to reject it, and that rejecting it three times likely involved some hidden agenda.

But it was far from the level of "vehement condemnation" as Monsieur Xavier had said.

Joseph seemed to be giving an impassioned speech to himself:
"Because the High Court controls the publication review process, no newspapers dared to expose their corruption, but I have decided to declare war on them!
"Even if my newspaper gets shut down, even if I am imprisoned, I will have no regrets! At least I, the esteemed Mr. Marat, fought alongside you!"

Marat, listening to Joseph's passionate declaration, suddenly felt like a coward.

Because, deep down, he knew that writing about the High Court would make it hard to get past the censorship, so he had subconsciously avoided it. How much corruption and injustice had been buried under lies because of his own cowardice?

The young Xavier was the real fighter!

Joseph, watching Marat's expression, thought that success or failure rested on this moment. He took a deep breath and said:
"Mr. Marat, I know this is dangerous, and if you choose to retreat, I will understand. But I will continue to fight to the end, for the people of France!"

Marat felt a surge of passion rise to his head, and suddenly stood up, clenching his fists with determination:
"I will fight with you, to expose the evil of the High Court! We will return justice and dignity to the people!"

...

In the western suburbs of Paris, at the police headquarters.

Joseph, accompanied by Fouché and other senior officials from the police department, quickly passed by rooms labeled "Intelligence Team," "Action Team," "Resource Team," and others, and entered the office at the end of the corridor.

The police department had grown rapidly. Fouché had just given him a brief report. Now, the entire police department had more than four hundred "officers." The network of informants spanned across Paris.

Important departments, like the city hall, the courts, and the embassies, had all set up full intelligence networks, collecting and compiling reports regularly.

When it came to intelligence-gathering, even a secret police force that outnumbered them by seven or eight times wouldn't dare claim superiority.

Joseph sat at the desk, first praising Fouché and the others for their excellent work, then began assigning tasks:
"The police department must investigate the corruption and criminal activities of the senior judges and important officials at the High Court within a month!"

In reality, he could have just instructed Fouché to handle it, but since it concerned his political future, he decided to come to the police department himself to show how seriously he took the matter.

"Also, the Duke of Sévire, Count de Sérillé..." He looked at the paper in his hand and read out a list of names, including the great nobles who had supported the dismissal of Brienne during the cabinet meeting.

"These people need to be thoroughly investigated as well, whether it’s for sexual assault, tax evasion, or even beating servants. Investigate everything!"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Joseph then listed several street addresses and house numbers for Fouché:
"This is Marat's address."

Fouché looked puzzled:
"Is it the Jean-Paul Marat? The stubborn anti-monarchist?"

Joseph nodded:
"For now, he's considered 'one of us.' You can have your men act as his informants and provide him with any blackmail material you find on the High Court."

He had just successfully guided Marat, the "piranha," towards the High Court. He needed the prey to have some wounds before the "piranha" would start biting more fiercely.

...

At the High Court of Paris.

In the second-floor lounge of the senior judges, Judge Vezinier angrily threw a pile of newspapers in front of the official and shouted:
"What on earth are you doing? How could you allow such a thing through the news censorship!"

The official cautiously picked up the newspaper, unfolded it, and saw that it was an issue of Le Journal de Paris, with the headline: "The Dangers of Hereditary Judges at the High Court."

He furrowed his brow and then looked at the next issue of News and Images, where the front page read, "A Discussion on the Scope of the High Court's Power."

He hurriedly tried to defend himself:
"Count Vezinier, these articles are not problematic. I reviewed them yesterday. Though some parts may suggest or mislead..."

The judge next to Vezinier, with a hooked nose, frowned and asked:
"Are you sure?"

The official in charge of news censorship stammered:
"Perhaps I could ask them to change the title."

Vezinier's face darkened:
"Your censorship standards should be stricter!"

The official immediately lowered his head:
"Yes, my lord, I will ensure that such articles never pass again."

Vezinier turned to the judge beside him:
"Let René take some men and go to that newspaper. Find any excuse to shut them down."

"You're right, I'll instruct him right away."

Two hours later, over thirty publication police, armed with clubs and shields, surrounded the front and back doors of Le Journal de Paris.

Though they were called "police," the publication police were not under the jurisdiction of the police bureau. They operated under the court's orders.

René, the leader of the publication police, marched in with a few men and grabbed a worker, demanding:
"Who is in charge here?"

The worker trembled and pointed to Denico's office. René shoved him aside, stormed into the office, and pointed at Denico:
"Are you in charge here? Gather everyone in the open space right now! I’m conducting a full inspection!"

Before Denico could respond, René heard a whistle from outside the newspaper office.

René turned around and saw more than ten policemen in blue uniforms marching in, accompanied by the sound of whistles.

He approached them with confusion and greeted the leading officer with a tip of his hat:
"Excuse me, are you here to arrest criminals?"

The officer glanced at him and coldly responded:
"What are you doing?"

René pulled out the court's official document:
"This newspaper may have illegal materials. I am ordered to search!"

But the leading officer ignored him and ordered:
"Have your men leave the premises immediately."

René blinked and raised the court's document again:
"I’m carrying out orders. Please..."

The leading officer waved his hand, and the policemen immediately formed two rows. The front row aimed their riot sticks at the publication police, while the back row pulled the hammers on their muskets.

René shrank back at the sight of the dark gun barrels but still shouted angrily:
"What are you trying to do?!"

The leading officer smiled:
"My job is to prevent any outside interference with the operations of this newspaper. You are to leave immediately!"

René, wanting to struggle, saw yet another group of policemen arriving, surrounding the publication police at the entrance.

The publication police, who were usually tasked with searching for prohibited books or sealing newspapers, were no match for the security police. They obediently gathered into a group.

René quickly nodded:
"Fine, fine. We’ll leave now."

He led his men out of the newspaper office, utterly defeated.

Joseph had anticipated the High Court's dirty tactics against the newspaper, so he had already contacted Besson, who had set up a police outpost directly across from the newspaper office. The patrol police in the nearby neighborhoods had been doubled, ensuring the newspaper's operations continued.

When René reported back, he was scolded by his superior. Reluctantly, he returned to the newspaper office with more publication police, only to find that the street outside had already been barricaded by the patrol police.

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