I am the Crown Prince of France Chapter 383: Conflict and Greater Conflict

The young nobles who had been re "extras" in the earlier street confrontation were not ant to be detained for long. As they were released from the Reims prison, their waiting family mbers and servants imdiately surrounded them—so scolded them loudly, others comforted them, and a few even burst into tears. They then hurriedly ushered the disgraced youths towards the carriages waiting outside.

However, the young nobles all insisted on staying to witness the trial scheduled for the day after tomorrow, refusing to return to Versailles just yet.

Yes, they had already been inford by the guards that a public trial would be held on the 17th of this month for the captured Southern Netherlands spies.

Already seething with indignation, the young nobles were determined not to miss it.

This led to more scolding and pleading from their families and servants.

The noble youths, still fuming, recounted how they had been deceived by the spies from the Southern Netherlands, claiming they had co to Reims to defend the rights of the nobility but were wrongly arrested by the police.

"They dared to deceive ! I must watch them be sentenced to the gallows!" one of them shouted, quickly gaining support from others:

"Yes, I can't leave with this humiliation hanging over !"

"I want to throw stones at them, just like the commoners!"

"I even want to personally execute them!"

The news of the Southern Netherlands sending a large number of spies to incite French farrs to revolt quickly spread throughout France, causing an uproar.

The newspapers were filled with reports on the matter, along with announcents of the public trials scheduled for the 17th in Reims, Lille, and Paris. In line with Prince Joseph's orders, the Press Office temporarily withheld approval for any news unrelated to the "spy case" to ensure that public opinion was focused in one direction.

Various stories about the Southern Netherlands spies circulated in the streets, describing in vivid detail how these spies had plotted their sches and how they were eventually outsmarted and captured by the brave intelligence officers.

Of course, these stories were hastily written overnight by novelists, including the famous writer Beaumarchais, who had previously ghostwritten for Prince Joseph. The narratives were ticulously crafted, full of suspense and twists, emphasizing the sinister intentions of the Southern Netherlands spies to disrupt France and portraying their vile, despicable nature.

As a result, the entire country was abuzz with discussions about the evil spies. Whether noble or commoner, everyone was furious, denouncing the shaless and wicked acts of the Southern Netherlands.

The recent uproar over the land redemption policy was temporarily forgotten.

Most of the farrs who had caused trouble were now lying low, fearing they might be accused of treason. No one dared to risk organizing protests or demonstrations, as such gatherings were now equated with being incited by spies—who would want to take that risk?

As for the nobles, it beca almost politically correct to curse the Southern Netherlands whenever they t. They would also "lant" how their sons had been deceived by the spies and arrested in the northwest provinces. This had beco a common topic of conversation at Versailles.

The wave of anger against the Southern Netherlands spies reached its peak on the 17th, the day of the trial.

Outside the Paris High Court, a crowd of five to six thousand people had gathered. So nobles, eager to get a closer view, even paid dozens of livres to commoners for better "seats."

As the forty mbers of the Southern Netherlands "Free Allies Committee" were escorted to a small room at the edge of the square, the crowd erupted in a thunderous roar:

"Hang those despicable scoundrels!"

"They brought chaos to France! Death penalty!"

"My sister died in the Lille riots because of them! Southern Netherlands spies must go to hell!"

"Declare war on the Southern Netherlands! Let them pay in blood!"

Soone nearby quietly reminded him that France had already declared war on the Southern Netherlands rebels and had won two major victories.

The person who had called for war imdiately changed his chant: "Long live the King! Crush those rebels!"

Soon, the trial began.

The court officials first read out the charges against the dozens of spies and the evidence collected.

The intelligence agency had done an excellent job carrying out Prince Joseph's orders, gathering a mountain of evidence against the "Committee." The pile of letters, docunts, and financial records was over half a ter tall.

Of course, so of this evidence had been "replicated" by Fouché's n. But in this setting, no one would bother to verify the authenticity of the evidence.

As the crowd continued to shout in anger, nurous witnesses took the stand, including farrs who had accepted the "Committee's" stipends and French liberals who had incited unrest. They testified against the Southern Netherlands spies on trial.

Next, the victims of the riots ca forward, tearfully recounting the tragedies caused by the spies and pleading with the judges to impose severe sentences.

The trial dragged on from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., but only about ten of the defendants had been processed. The court officials then announced that the trial would continue the next day.

The crowd lingered around the courthouse for another half hour, cursing and shouting, before finally dispersing.

...

On the second floor of the Tuileries Palace, in the Office of Industrial Planning, Venio was brimming with excitent as he praised Joseph:

"Your Highness, just as you predicted, the riots across the provinces have vanished overnight. So of the farrs involved even turned themselves in at the police stations. You truly are the embodint of wisdom and strategy, blessed by God Himself!"

Brienne nodded in agreent: "When the conflict between two groups becos so intense that they can't reconcile, the only solution is to introduce an even bigger conflict to make them forget their previous disputes and unite against a common enemy.

Your Highness, how did you co up with such a brilliant idea? Your mind always leaves envious to the point of madness."

Joseph smiled and gestured for them to stop: "I assu you're not here just to shower with complints, right?"

The two n exchanged a glance before Brienne spoke hesitantly: "Your Highness, while the riots in the northwestern provinces have indeed subsided for now, you know that both the farrs and the nobles are still waiting for the land redemption plan.

The issue with the Southern Netherlands spies will eventually pass, and when it does, people will once again focus on this matter. Although the spy incident may have prevented further major unrest, the underlying discontent will eventually resurface, so..."

Joseph nodded seriously: "You're absolutely right. So, the day after the trial concludes, we'll officially announce the land redemption plan."

Brienne was taken aback, his face falling as he replied: "But, Your Highness, we still don't have a plan that will satisfy everyone."

Joseph smiled: "Just go ahead and finalize the plan according to the revisions I gave you last ti."

"You an the plan where the farrs redeem eight years' worth of land yields and taxes?"

"Exactly."

(End of Chapter)

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