I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 525 Mr. Robespierre, you are right! (Seeking monthly votes at the end of the month)
“The roads were so muddy that grain traders could not enter the towns to collect grain. So farmers had to use wheat to pay taxes.

"But because the tax farm was moved to the far suburbs, people had to rely on manpower to carry wheat to the tax farm again and again. During this period, four people died from drowning or sliding down a steep slope. At the same time, much of the wheat transported to the tax farm had to be sold at half price because it was damp."

Robespierre tried to suppress his anger and found documents related to the town of St. Joseph: "At this time, Lecornu proposed that if the townspeople were willing to pay the 'transportation fee', he could also go to the town to collect taxes.

"The farmers had no choice but to agree. The so-called 'transportation fee' is almost 70% of the grain price.

"From then on, Le Cornu fixed the 'transportation fee' in the tax and added it every year. I roughly calculated that in the past four years, he collected a total of 4 francs in 'transportation fees' from the town of Styrian.

"According to the townspeople who came to complain, now nearly half of the women in the town have to go to nearby big cities such as Angers to work as prostitutes in order to avoid bankruptcy..."

Joseph's chest rose and fell violently. He had been refreshed by these tax farmers today. Robespierre had told him too much about the shameless methods of this group of people this morning.

For example, they would issue problematic tax payment certificates to illiterate farmers, and then go to their homes and seize their property on the charge of tax evasion. Even if the latter went to court, it would be of no avail.

They would use "specially made" measuring tools to measure farmers' land in order to overcalculate taxes, or even include public land in the scope of taxes.

Before the aristocracy’s privileges were abolished, if a noble’s pigeons landed at someone’s house, the tax collector would immediately come to collect the “pigeon tax.” This was originally a tax that only pigeon breeders had to pay.

As for things like privately setting up taxes, beating tax defaulters to death, and molesting the wives and daughters of tax defaulters, these are not uncommon.

Joseph stared at the documents spread out on the table, furious: he worked hard every day to develop the national economy and improve people's livelihood, but he was afraid that people would go to play the Bastille dungeon because of their hardship. But these tax farmers were frantically driving people towards the Great Revolution just to fill their own pockets!
I had underestimated the shamelessness and viciousness of these tax farmers. I thought they would just falsify the accounts and collect a few more sous in taxes, but I didn't expect that they didn't care about the lives of the lower-class people at all, and directly forced people to death to seize their property, and drank human blood to get rich!
Damn it!
He looked at Robespierre standing in front of him, took a deep breath, and said with a heavy heart: "I finally understand why you did that at the time. You are right."

Robespierre was startled when he heard this, and asked in surprise: "Your Highness, what do you mean by what I did in the past?"

Joseph waved his hand: "Nothing."

He was referring to the historical incident in which Robespierre, Marat and others signed a document to execute all tax farmers. Although there was a regrettable case of wrongful execution of Lavoisier, from what we have seen and heard today, there are definitely not many such unjust cases.

After Robespierre had roughly reported on the people's complaints against the tax farmers during this period, he asked solemnly, "Your Highness, how do you think we should deal with these people?"

"Just do it the same way you did before."

"Ah? Me before?"

Joseph slammed his fist on the table and said in a deep voice: "The tax bureau is equipped with guns! Bring your people with you. If they are not enough, you can go to the police department. For those guys, arrest those who should be arrested, sentence those who should be sentenced, and hang those who should be hanged on the street lights!"

Robespierre did not expect that His Royal Highness the Dauphin would be so decisive. His blood immediately rushed to his head. He stood at attention and answered loudly: "Yes, Your Highness! I will make them pay the price they deserve!"

……

The outskirts of Reims.

In the brick-red villa next to the beautiful apple orchard in Moen Town, the tax farmer Boca swallowed the juicy fried beef, nodded with satisfaction, and said to his wife beside him: "Anouk's cooking skills are getting better and better." He picked up the bread, dipped it in some pigeon soup and put it in his mouth, then looked at his son sitting opposite: "Aubin, I think it's better not to sell the land. I worked hard for more than ten years to save it. Recently, many people have gone to North Africa to open up wasteland, so the land price has not risen.

"I heard that the 'Agricultural Service Consulting Company' set up by the government is very good. With just a little money, they can help us increase the yield of our fields by 20% to 30%.

"In this case, it would be nice to continue hiring people to farm, and the hired people can also pay taxes..."

His son, who was about twenty years old, looked at the food on the plate absentmindedly. Suddenly he looked up and said, "Father, the tax bureau's audit seems to be a big deal. I heard that many tax farmers have been arrested in Paris."

Boca snorted coldly and said disdainfully: "What are you afraid of? Those who are arrested must be guys with no background.

"And we are here to look after the business for Viscount Borore. Besides, the masters of the General Assembly will not sit idly by."

He lowered his voice and said, "I heard that the trade in the whole country will be shaken this time, and there is also a situation in Marseille.

"Don't worry, this furor will soon pass. The government is no match for the masters of the General Association."

His son Aubin still said nervously, "But father, safety comes first. I think we should sell the land and take the money to England. I heard that there are many opportunities to make money in England now."

Boca immediately shook his head: "You are still young, you don't understand. We must follow Viscount Borore to make a lot of money."

Although he also paid more than 30 francs in taxes himself, he mainly helped Borore manage the tax farming business.

He has more than 40 tax collectors under him. He is responsible for collecting taxes in the villages and towns around Reims. Although most of the taxes have to be handed over to Borore, he can get 5% of the profits and can use some "small tricks" in the tax collection process to make more money for himself.

As Boca was talking, the butler ran in in a panic and said anxiously, "Master, there are many people from the tax bureau, and it seems there are also police."

Obin immediately stood up nervously: "He...what are they going to do?"

Boca frowned slightly, comforted his son, and then told the butler, "Go and call all the tax collectors in the town."

"Yes, sir."

Boca wiped his mouth with a napkin, stood up and walked towards the door.

Soon, he saw seven tax collectors in uniforms carrying flintlock rifles outside the villa. There were also two policemen beside them. He knew them as security inspectors from the Reims Police Station.

He pretended to be enthusiastic and said, "Good afternoon! May God be with you. May I ask what can I do for you?"

(End of this chapter)