I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 1340 The Church is in Trouble
Not long after the Minister of Civil Affairs left, Emmanuel's voice came from outside the door: "Your Highness, Archbishop Talleyrand has arrived."

Joseph nodded. "Please let him in."

The Foreign Minister limped up to him and quickly bowed: "Your Highness, just now Russia sent someone to make contact and convey their desire for a ceasefire."

France and Russia are currently still in a state of war, but there has been no actual fighting. Russia is clearly aware that Poland has French support and, under the immense pressure of fighting on two fronts, wants to influence Poland through France.

Joseph smiled and said, "Well, this could be an opportunity."

Talleyrand nodded: “Indeed, Your Highness. The Koschushko Army has already advanced to south of Minsk, and the Russian-occupied territories are being ravaged by the resistance. The Russians are likely to accept a ceasefire that is very favorable to us. We can take this opportunity to demand that they suspend all trade with Britain.”

Joseph glanced at him and said, “You misunderstand me. The attack on Russia is far from over.”

"I mean, this is an opportunity to use diplomacy to drag the British into this mess."

He was well aware that the trade ties between Russia and Britain were so deep that there was no possibility of them being severed.

Historically, Napoleon's crushing defeat of the Russian army at the Battle of Friedland terrified Alexander I, who immediately signed the Treaty of Tilsit on a small raft on the Neman River, joining the Continental System, a policy that prohibited trade with Britain.

However, after Russia ceased trade with Britain, its finances immediately collapsed, and it soon began large-scale smuggling with Britain. This was one of the important reasons why Napoleon later launched his war against Russia.

Therefore, Joseph never expected to get Russia to accept similar conditions.

Talleyrand asked with some confusion, "What do you mean by 'diplomatic means'?"

Joseph instructed, "Go and tell the Russian envoy that armistice negotiations are possible, but since our country declared war on Russia along with the Mediterranean Security Organization, all members of the Security Organization must participate in the negotiations now."

"As for the location, let's set it up in Milan."

Talleyrand was even more puzzled: "Your Highness, can you tell me why this arrangement was made?"

Joseph smiled and said, "You have asked the Security Organization Committee to draft the following negotiation terms..."

After he finished speaking, Talleyrand subconsciously said, "The Russians certainly won't agree to that."

“That’s right, but as long as the British get the news, that’s fine,” Joseph said. “By the way, make sure to invite plenty of reporters to the event.”

Talleyrand was a clever man, and immediately understood the Crown Prince's meaning, and hurriedly bowed and said, "Yes, Your Highness."

Just as he was about to take his leave, Joseph remembered the church matter and gestured for him to wait: "What are your thoughts on the current church management system?"

"The Church?" Talleyrand's train of thought was momentarily caught off guard. "You mean...?"

Have you ever considered that the church needs some reforms?

Joseph knew that although Talleyrand was an archbishop, he had gained almost no benefit from the traditional church system; his base of support was with the government.

Historically, Talleyrand was an active member of the church reform movement, and he was involved in promoting laws such as the "Clerical Citizens' Organization Law," which undermined the church's foundations.

Talleyrand immediately nodded: "Yes, Your Highness, I believe there are many things in the Church that should be changed."

Joseph smiled and said, “Then I hope you can contact some influential priests and offer some reform suggestions when necessary…” Talleyrand nodded repeatedly with a serious expression, and then added, “Your Highness, I think Father Siècles and Father Bernier, among others, can participate.”

"Okay, then please take charge of gathering them."

……

In the French tax office building, three kilometers from the Palace of Versailles, Robespierre looked at Roland in surprise and said cautiously, "Are you really going to do this? This application will involve hundreds of millions of francs in taxes, and the Church will certainly not agree to it."

Roland stroked the coffee cup in his hand and said calmly, "Back then, you were a brave warrior who dared to lead your men in a gunfight with the tax farmers using flintlock muskets. How come you've become so timid and hesitant now?"

“I am not afraid!” Robespierre was clearly provoked, his voice rising several decibels. “You know, the Church has immense influence; they will use all sorts of methods to get Your Highness to reject the application. For example, they might say things like ‘the tithe is collected on behalf of God,’ or ‘paying the tithe is necessary to avoid natural disasters,’ or even use delaying baptisms and Masses as a form of passive resistance…”

Roland glanced at him and smiled, "This is His Highness the Crown Prince's intention."

Robespierre paused for a moment, then nodded: "I understand, I will submit the application as soon as possible. But what about the church..."

“You don’t need to worry.” Roland took a sip of coffee and added two large spoonfuls of sugar, somewhat dissatisfied. “His Highness said that the Church will soon be too busy to deal with tithes, because they will encounter a very demanding matter.”

"A big deal? What is it?"

“I’m not sure either. But we’ll find out when the time comes.” Roland shook his head, looking at the brown coffee. “I still prefer the taste of tea.”

Robespierre said irritably, "You know, my salary can't afford much tea."

Recently, the price of tea in Paris has tripled, and even His Highness the Crown Prince has started drinking coffee instead of tea.

The tax bureau chief said, pushing the sugar jar forward, "Please add more sugar; it will taste much better."

Yes, sugar in France is subsidized, so the price is relatively cheap.

……

1800 1 Month 11 Day.

The Epiphany had just passed, and the portraits of the Three Wise Men in Notre Dame Cathedral were still up in the walls, but the faces of the church leaders gathered there showed no sign of the joy that should have been present during the festival.

“That Robespierre is absolutely insane!” the Archbishop of Boulogne exclaimed angrily, gripping the armrest of his chair. “He used to be just a pathetic little lawyer, and now he’s trying to get involved in tithes!”

Archbishop Agde frowned and said, "I've heard that Roland and Monge are also involved."

The expressions on everyone's faces grew even more serious.

One tax commissioner is manageable, but with two cabinet ministers added on, things get a bit complicated.

Yes, just a few days ago, Robespierre formally submitted a proposal to the cabinet, stating that the current process of transferring the tithes collected by the church directly to the Ministry of Science, Education and Civil Affairs was cumbersome and unnecessary. He suggested that the more professional French tax authorities collect the tithes on behalf of the church, and then submit them to the Ministry of Finance along with other taxes for unified disbursement. This would not only save the church the trouble of tax collection, but the tax authorities' extensive experience would also effectively reduce tax evasion.

(End of this chapter)