Chapter 389: Marie Antoinette's Reassurance and Relief
As Joseph spoke, he looked around at the nobles whose faces still showed discontent and continued in a loud voice:
"And yet, their descendants now lie on the glory they inherited, seeking nothing but pleasure, living in mediocrity, even to the point of going against His Majesty the King's wishes, affecting the future of France, just to squeeze a bit of rent from poor farmers!"
In this era, enlightened absolutism was a widely accepted concept among European nobility. Additionally, the influence of Enlightenment thought was profound. So when he spoke of "affecting the future of France," even though the nobles felt dissatisfied, they subconsciously knew he was right.
"If your ancestors could see your behavior today, they would be ashamed of you!"
Not giving the nobles any chance to rebut, Joseph immediately continued:
"If I were you, I would follow in my ancestors' footsteps, head to the battlefield like a true warrior, and fight for His Majesty the King and for France. You would strive to surpass the achievements of your forebears, earning glory and honor that would make you stand out!"
"Your eyes should be set on the vast continent of Europe, your heart concerned with the rise and fall of empires. You should fulfill the duties that France has entrusted to you, defeating powerful enemies one by one, and thus earning endless wealth and glory! Not being content with a few coins of rent from the farmers, feeling secretly pleased or complaining like a little girl when that small income is lost!"
"You should make your ancestors proud of your courage, cheering for your victories! Not using their names to justify your empty and insignificant lives!"
As Joseph finished speaking, the nobles present were momentarily stunned. The education they had received from a young age about noble honor stirred their blood, but also filled them with shame.
This was Joseph's strategy. For these idle, income-less nobles who were prone to causing trouble, the Prussians had long found a solution—enlisting those noble descendants who didn't inherit land into the military, turning them into professional soldiers, and rewarding them based on their military achievements. These petty nobles, driven by poverty, fought desperately on the battlefield to build a livelihood, forming the backbone of the Prussian army. This was the origin of the Junker nobility.
Joseph had no intention of creating a French version of the Junkers. With the large number of common soldiers in the Imperial Guard diluting them, these nobles wouldn't be able to form a cohesive interest group. However, despite their idleness, these nobles had a solid educational foundation, particularly in riding, fencing, and shooting—all essential skills.
With strict training and reinforced discipline, their combat abilities would surpass those of common soldiers. Moreover, the French royal family itself was the largest noble house, so it couldn't easily abandon these old nobles. At the very least, they were loyal to the king, their interests closely tied to the royal family, ensuring they would never seek to overthrow the monarchy. If they could be integrated into the industrial age in France, it would greatly benefit the royal family.
Joseph also knew that a rousing speech alone wouldn't suffice. To make a class of people genuinely work for you, you had to offer them appropriate benefits.
Seeing the reaction of the crowd, Joseph quickly struck while the iron was hot:
"You want to earn land through traditional means? That's entirely possible!"
"As long as you, like your ancestors, earn glory with blood and sword, you can receive honors and rewards."
"France may not have much land, but overseas, there are vast expanses of land waiting to be claimed. The colonies you win for France through your bravery will contain lands of your own! The size and income from these lands will be hundreds or even thousands of times greater than the little estates you've inherited!"
"Come, join the Royal Army, and secure your brilliant and glorious future!"
On the balcony, Marie Antoinette listened to her son's passionate speech, watching the nobles who had been causing trouble now filled with a fervor in their eyes. She was both shocked and deeply relieved.
It turned out her son didn't need her to clean up his mess. He stood there like an unshakable tower, making all challenges and difficulties seem insignificant before him.
She smiled contentedly, no longer concerned with the thousand or so nobles below. She turned back inside, leisurely picking up a piece of cheesecake and popping it into her mouth. With Joseph around, perhaps she could finally relax and enjoy some delicious desserts.
...
Southwest Corner of Versailles.
Surrounded by four guards, the British Foreign Secretary, the Marquess of Wellesley, glanced gloomily at the doors of the Peace Hall before him.
He knew that a very tough negotiation awaited him.
Originally, he had planned to incite unrest in France to pressure the French government. But before his ship even reached Le Havre, he had already heard that the unrest had been quelled.
However, as one door closed, another seemed to open.
He learned that the unrest had been settled due to a land purchase policy issued by the French government that was highly favorable to the peasants.
So, confident that the situation would escalate, he requested that the French Foreign Ministry delay the talks, hoping that the furious French nobility would challenge the king, forcing France into internal chaos and resulting in concessions to Britain.
But the situation took an unexpected turn, leaving him utterly baffled.
The nobles at Versailles suddenly fell silent. In fact, he even heard rumors of a wave of noblemen eagerly joining the military.
These useless French nobles! He cursed inwardly. If this were Britain, they would have certainly staged a Glorious Revolution by now, forcing the king to beg for mercy...
The doors to the Peace Hall opened, and in walked the limping figure of Talleyrand.
Wellesley quickly stopped his brooding, pretentiously placing a hand over his chest as he greeted the Frenchman: "It's a pleasure to see you, Archbishop Talleyrand."
The other man smiled as he returned the gesture: "I'm equally pleased to see you, Marquess Wellesley. I hope we have a pleasant conversation today."
"Oh, it will be just as you wish."
Wellesley secretly gritted his teeth, following the limping man into the spacious hall. As his eyes passed over the massive painting above the fireplace titled "Louis XV Brings Peace," he couldn't help but mutter internally: Hypocritical Frenchmen!
The British and French Foreign Ministers exchanged some polite formalities before taking their seats on opposite sides of a long table. Several other diplomats sat on either side, each behind their respective leaders.
After a few seconds of silence, Wellesley exhaled softly and began: "I hear France recently experienced severe unrest. I hope it didn't cause you too much trouble."
"Of course not, it was just a few peasants taking a walk in the city, and they were quickly dispersed by the police," Talleyrand replied calmly. "Oh, by the way, it seems your country has encountered some difficulties in India. I trust they haven't caused you any trouble either."
(End of Chapter)
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