I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 530 Nobles and Commoners

The second floor of the French National Prison No. 1.

Guard Captain Kesod opened the door of cell 211 for the Crown Prince.

A faint scent of incense immediately wafted out. Joseph glanced at the flat white walls of the cell, the desk with carved patterns, and the flush toilet behind the half-open toilet door, and couldn't help frowning slightly.

This bad habit in French prisons is really difficult to correct.

Previously, I told the prison director, Marquis de Launay, that the cell should not be too luxurious. He quickly changed the cell into a single room, but in addition to the single room, he actually kept the toilet, dining room and a huge closet. Although the furniture was much smaller than before, it was still high-end goods that were not cheap.

In general, this place is much more luxurious and comfortable than the homes of ordinary Parisians. Of course, for the nobles, the conditions are several times more difficult than before, and living here for a day is torture.

However, Joseph also knew that it was difficult to change one's mindset all at once, so he would just have to keep adjusting in the future. Moreover, he came here today for more important things, and he didn't want to talk to Marquis de Launay about the prison cell.

The man in cell 211 heard the noise and immediately turned to look at the door. When he saw the crown prince in a neat blue and white cavalry uniform, he hurriedly took a half step back with his right foot, touched his chest and saluted deeply, and said nervously:
"Your Majesty, it's great that you can come..."

Joseph sat down on the chair that Emmanuel pulled over and looked coldly at the middle-aged man in front of him who was still wearing a lace velvet coat and a neat white wig:

"Baron Pellier, you may speak now. About that 'important matter' of which you spoke."

Yes, this man with an arrogant look in his eyes is none other than Pellier, one of the giants of the General Association of Tax Farmers, a banker, usurer, and landowner.

Just over ten days ago, his trusted aide Antonel was arrested for "inciting panic" and "spreading rumors."

Then, the police soon uncovered several murders committed by Antonel - this guy controlled one of the largest gangs in the port of Marseille, and he had done a lot of such things, and it was almost known to everyone in Marseille.

It's just that he had the protection of Pellier and Marseille's corrupt bureaucracy, so no one could do anything to him.

However, this time it was the Chief of Police, Besançon, who was in charge in person and brought an order signed by the Crown Prince himself. Now no one dared to help Antonel get rid of the crime.

However, what he didn't expect was that after Antonel was imprisoned, Besancon only threatened him a few times, but he actually gave out his boss behind the scenes.

Besançon was overjoyed. Recently, the tax bureau had been so popular that it had even taken over many jobs that the police bureau should have done. After he stabilized the situation in Marseille, he immediately rushed back to Paris and led his men to catch the big fish, Pellier.

With the order from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince in hand, he dares to arrest even a cabinet minister, let alone a chaebol!

At first, Pellier wanted to fight to the end, but he soon heard the news that "the French Trade Alliance emerged and occupied nearly a quarter of the French caravan market within half a month." He was immediately devastated and no longer had his previous confidence and arrogance.

He knew very well that Ford's plan had failed. Now that the crisis of the collapse of the trade route had been eliminated and the matter of Marseille Port had been suppressed, the government no longer had any concerns, and the next step would definitely be to deal with his people.

But at this critical moment, he was betrayed by the fool Antonel.

So, he decisively decided to learn from Antonel - selling out his teammates in order to protect himself.

Pellier put on a flattering expression, bowed slightly and said to Joseph:

"Your Highness, I did make some very stupid and dishonorable decisions before, and I know you must be very angry about it, but I hope that what I tell you later will make you feel better.

"Of course, if you can give me a little mercy and forgiveness, I will be forever grateful for your mercy." Seeing Joseph's impatience, he quickly got to the point:

"Your Highness, I know who was behind the intimidation and attacks on the tax bureau across the country."

Joseph raised his eyes: "Say his name."

"It was Borróle," said Pelly. "Jacques Albert de Borróle. I know that your men captured many of the attackers, but the trail soon dried up. That's because Borróle sent the men responsible for this matter to Switzerland and Venice.

“And I happen to have friends in Switzerland who know the whereabouts of several of them.”

He said it was a "coincidence", but in fact, as early as when he heard that Borore was going to use intimidation against the tax bureau, he had already begun planning to use this incident to catch the "smuggler".

Later, by making advance arrangements in Switzerland, he successfully seized the hiding place of Borore's men.

He originally planned to use this matter to threaten Borore in exchange for a lot of business benefits, but he didn't expect that it would save himself at this time.

Joseph's eyes lit up. These capitalists were indeed ruthless in pursuing their own interests.

"So, where are they?"

Pellier rubbed his hands and said with a wry smile: "Your Highness, I hope to be exempted from punishment in exchange for a fine of 2 million francs..."

Joseph immediately interrupted him: "I can only guarantee that you will not lose your life."

Upon hearing this, Perrier was struck by lightning, and beads of cold sweat rolled down his cheeks...

A week later.

When Borore was about to board a ship to flee to Britain, he was stopped by an intelligence agent. Then he met his men in the interrogation room of the prison, who were supposed to have fled to Switzerland.

Second floor of the Tuileries Palace.

Joseph listened to the cheers and discussions coming from outside the window and signaled Emand to close the window.

Those are Parisians rushing to the Louvre Square to watch the execution ceremony that is about to begin. Today, dozens of lackeys of the tax farmers, who are hated by all ordinary people, will be beheaded there.

Almost all citizens who could spare the time, including farmers within a radius of more than ten kilometers, rushed to watch this exciting moment.

Baron Breteuil, the Minister of Justice, who was standing in front of Joseph, waited until the noise was blocked by the glass and immediately continued: "Your Highness, you know that there are many nobles among the prisoners sent to the Louvre Square, at least more than ten.

"It is an insult to the nobility to have them be punished with the same punishment as those lowly prisoners. I am afraid that this will provoke strong protests from the nobles. I mean, this is actually completely avoidable."

In France, and even in Europe, the death penalty for nobles and commoners is completely different. This time, due to the "combined trial", ordinary prisoners who should have been hanged were unexpectedly "upgraded" to enjoy the aristocratic guillotine treatment.

(End of this chapter)