I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 1218 made all of Europe tremble!
The Donbas region boasts Russia's largest coal and iron ore mines, as well as its largest iron smelter. These were all invested in by Viscount Olivier of France, with the French Industrial Development Fund also holding shares.

After so many years of development, this region now provides nearly two-thirds of Russia's steel consumption.

Joseph hadn't forgotten this place.

Now that Russia is going to be an enemy of France, it must be prepared to suffer losses.

He promised Viscount Olivier sufficient compensation, which the latter would certainly comply with.

This was also to prevent Alexander I from breaking off relations and confiscating the ironworks when the war became intense.

Of course, Viscount Olivier has been operating in Russia for so long that he must have a lot of connections, so nothing will happen to him in the short term.

The "Mica" arrived at the port of Marseille the following afternoon at full speed.

After Joseph switched to an inland waterway vessel, he took out the bill document that had been revised many times and began to review it again.

There was no other way; this bill was far too important to tolerate even the slightest mistake.

He opened the wooden clipboard and saw that the first page of the manuscript prominently displayed the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.

Yes, this was Joseph's "trump card" for dealing with the anti-French coalition. Even before France was fully prepared for war, he had instructed Baron Breuille to begin drafting this decree, which was completed several months prior.

Historically, even France, which had just experienced the devastation of the Great Depression and was in dire straits, was able to mobilize hundreds of thousands of troops instantly under the inspiration of this declaration.

Moreover, the soldiers at that time hardly needed any pay, yet they maintained astonishing morale and defeated the European powers that besieged them one by one.

With its current industrial and agricultural production capacity, coupled with a "passion for equality and human rights," France is enough to make the whole of Europe tremble!
Previously, Joseph's control over the French government was not strong enough, and he was worried that the Declaration of the Rights of Man would provoke the aristocracy, so he always remained cautious.

Now, his prestige in the country is enough to suppress any dissenting voices.

Furthermore, the reforms that abolished aristocratic privileges and the continuous development of industrialization had significantly reduced the influence of the old French aristocracy on the country. This gave him the confidence to take a gamble.

Joseph was well aware that, with Enlightenment ideas already accepted by everyone, equality, freedom, and human rights were an unstoppable trend.

Rather than being forced to accept these things by the tide of history, we should take the lead and set the trend of the times.

Moreover, implementing reforms from the top down allows the initiative to be in one's own hands, minimizing the impact on national order.

At the same time, being the first to issue a human rights declaration would also make France a symbol of freedom and equality throughout Europe.

This gain in soft power is even more powerful than the combined strength of several army groups!
a few days later.

In the tea room of the Petit Trianon, Queen Marie Antoinette clasped her hands together nervously, her gaze shifting from her son to the decree before her. She asked for the third time, "My dear, are you sure... there's no problem?"

She had also been deeply influenced by the Enlightenment, but at this moment she seemed completely unfamiliar with the legal provisions—

[I. Inherent Human Rights. Human rights are inherent and cannot be taken away by anyone. Every person is born and remains free and equal. Liberty, property, and security are "unshakeable rights of men."]

II. On the Rule of Law. The law embodies the public will, and everyone is equal before the law. No act is a crime unless expressly prohibited by law; punishments are based on legality; laws are not retroactive; everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty; and illegal arrests are prohibited.

[III. On Property Rights. Personal property is sacred and inviolable. No one may be deprived of their property except when it is clearly necessary for a lawfully determined public need, and under fair and pre-indemnifying conditions.] [IV. On Freedom of Expression. The freedom to express thoughts and opinions is one of the rights of all people. All citizens have freedom of speech, writing, and publication, but those who abuse this freedom are held accountable under the circumstances prescribed by law.]

【five……】

Joseph nodded earnestly: "Please believe me, this is a decree that everyone has been eagerly awaiting. It is also the foundation for making France even stronger."

Queen Mary exchanged another glance with her husband sitting beside her, still uneasy, and asked, "Won't this...provoke opposition from the nobles?"

Louis XVI added, "Furthermore, this could weaken the monarchy's power..."

Joseph nodded: "It will reduce some of the royal family's power, but the impact will not be too great."

"The king still has the final say on legislation, and the law is the cornerstone of the entire country."

"In reality, any 'freedom and equality' must ultimately 'not violate the law'."

"You see, even now, if you were to act against the law, you would still face strong opposition from nobles to commoners, and it would be virtually impossible to carry it out in the end."

"Now, it's just that the rules governing the operation of the state have been written into clear articles."

"This clear 'certainty' can greatly enhance the confidence and enthusiasm of all citizens."

In fact, every country under any system has some degree of freedom and equality, but there is no absolute freedom and equality.

Just like in a monarchical society, there is also freedom for the nobility. When there is a need to conscript troops, the common people must also be granted equality.

Even with a parliamentary system, members of parliament and ordinary citizens are not equal most of the time.

Of course, the version of the Declaration of the Rights of Man that Joseph held did not address the "separation of powers." Immediately implementing a parliamentary model would only lead to social chaos.

He plans to gradually initiate parliamentary elections and implement a dual monarchy after the concept of human rights has become more widespread.

Yes, this is the political model he believes is most suitable for France at present.

With this "superhuman" monarch in charge of France's overall direction, the current cabinet will be transformed into a "senior council" to continue handling daily government affairs.

The House of Commons can improve administrative efficiency, allow the government to pay more attention to practical social issues, and significantly increase public trust in the government.

Louis XVI and his wife looked at each other again. Although they were not sure what to do, their son’s outstanding performance in governing the country over the years made them choose to trust his decision.

Queen Mary was the first to nod: "My dear, if you think it's the right thing to do, then do it. God will bless you."

“That’s right,” Louis XVI followed, “We will always stand behind you.”

The following day, all members of the French cabinet, along with the most influential nobles in Paris, gathered at the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles at the summons of the Dauphin, and each of them received a copy of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.

Meanwhile, more than a thousand of the Crown Prince's personal guards, grenadiers, were lined up neatly in the marble square.

(End of this chapter)