Chapter 474: Honest Person

Chapter 475: Honest Man

The second floor of the Tuileries Palace.

Joseph watched Brian's back disappear, then looked at the annual financial report on the table, shaking his head and sighing.

Although France's industry and agriculture are now booming, France's debt growth rate has increased significantly again after a brief decline at the beginning of last year.

Last year's total fiscal revenue was 580 million francs, an increase of 70 million francs from the previous year.

But at the same time, expenditures also surged to 540 million, plus the annual fixed interest on national debt of nearly 100 million francs, the deficit was as high as more than 60 million!

As of the beginning of this year, France's total debt has reached a historical high of 2.25 billion francs.

Of course, compared with France's debt of nearly 3 billion francs in 1790, the situation is much better. Moreover, last year's debt growth was mainly due to large-scale investment in the Wallonia region of North Africa, Luxembourg, and the Southern Netherlands, especially the infrastructure construction, which not only cost a lot of money, but also did not see any benefits in the short term.

In addition, wars in North Africa, the Southern Netherlands and Silesia are also big spenders. According to the financial data submitted by Brian, last year's military expenditure exceeded 43 million francs!

This is the case that Austria has borne a large amount of expenditure for the last two wars, otherwise the number would be even more frightening.

In addition, due to the food shortage last year, the country's strategic reserve grain was consumed in large quantities, and huge investments were needed to replenish the grain reserves. After all, until 1795, the climate in Europe was not very stable. Although there was no famine as serious as last year's hail, small-scale harvest failures still occurred from time to time, and it was necessary to be prepared for any eventuality.

This cost nearly 10 million francs to buy food.

In general, if there had been no war and no food hoarding, the long-lost balance of income and expenditure should have been achieved.

However, Joseph was not at ease at all.

Because he knew very well that many of his previous reforms were based on eroding the interests of the nobility. Especially the old nobility, from their control over the national economy to various privileges, to feudal rents and taxes, they were almost completely cut.

The reason why there is no major turmoil in French society at present is that the income from the "Industrial Development Fund" and the "King's Fund" has been used to stabilize the nobles.

Once the income of these funds is insufficient, the old aristocracy will be dissatisfied, and the accumulated resentment against the royal family will burst out. As for the result, although it will not be like Austria where the reform was abandoned halfway, after all, the capital aristocratic group has already reached a certain scale, it is still entirely possible that the country's development will stagnate or even regress for a few years.

Among them, the profitability of the Industrial Development Fund is particularly important.

Originally, according to Joseph's plan, with the dividends of the Industrial Revolution, the return on investment in industry should be more than 30%. After the initial results of industrialization, this figure can even reach 200%!

In history, Britain took advantage of this wave of take-off and achieved the Empire on which the sun never sets.

With such a return situation, it is completely feasible to incorporate the old aristocracy into the overall situation of national industrialization and realize the transition from land aristocracy to capital aristocracy.

However, the current industrial return rate in France is less than 10%, which was achieved by Joseph with a lot of "black technology".

In the final analysis, France's social system is still the same as that of the feudal era. From the tax system to administrative management, it has seriously hindered the development of industry.

Joseph couldn't help shaking his head and smiling bitterly: "In fact, a thorough revolution is the simplest and most effective solution."

The British took advantage of the Glorious Revolution to develop a complete set of political and economic models suitable for industrial development.

Take the tax reform that is the most troublesome for him now. Historically, France cut all tax farmers and nationalized the tax they paid, solving the problem simply and crudely. Yes, that's right, it was the work of the Jacobins.

But Joseph had to do the same thing while maintaining national stability, which was much more difficult.

There are two key difficulties in abolishing the tax farmer system - money and people.

In terms of money, it would be best if the tax farmer could lend the original tax to the government in the form of a loan and collect some interest. In this way, the government can gradually repay the money with the taxes received later.

Of course, Joseph knew that the tax farmers would not agree to lend money. After all, you are touching their cakes, and you still want them to cooperate with you?

So first of all, you have to get a large amount of funds to support fiscal expenditures. It is estimated that at least 200 million francs will be needed.

The second is people. Tax officials are the most prone to corruption. Louis XIV was helpless because of tax corruption, so he had to adopt the tax farmer system.

Joseph took out the previously formulated tax reform planning document from the drawer and began to revise it carefully.

At this time, the sound of Aman knocking on the door came from outside the house: "Your Highness, Mr. Robespierre is here."

Joseph smiled immediately: "Please let him in."

The door opened, and the blond, slightly fat young man followed Aman in, glanced at Joseph nervously, and immediately saluted: "It is an honor to be summoned by you, your Royal Highness the Dauphin."

Joseph stood up and gestured to the sofa: "I am also very happy to see you, please sit down."

After resolving the Chartres inheritance lawsuit last time, Robespierre did not work at the Notary Investigation Bureau after all, but took advantage of the influence of the case to become a trainee prosecutor at the Paris High Court.

Robespierre sat down awkwardly and asked hurriedly: "Your Highness, what can I do for you?"

Joseph immediately coughed lightly and said in a very serious tone: "Mr. Robespierre, are you willing to fight desperately for France, for His Majesty the King, and for all the people, even in the face of great danger?"

He prepared several opening remarks, and finally felt that this most middle-aged one might be more suitable for Robespierre.

Sure enough, the latter immediately stood up again excitedly and nodded vigorously: "Yes, Your Highness, I am willing to give my life for France!"

"Very good." Joseph continued, "You are the most noble and incorruptible person I know, so only you can complete this important task."

Robespierre did not expect that the prince would have such a high opinion of him. He felt dizzy and immediately said without hesitation: "Please give me your orders, I will never let you down!"

Joseph maintained a solemn look: "I hope you can serve as the inspector of the newly established National Tax Bureau."

Joseph knew that if there was only one official in France who was not corrupt, that person must be Robespierre.