After collecting clues, the Police officer assured Lemaire that they would identify the culprit as soon as possible, and left two officers to protect the Tax Office.
Lemaire had originally planned for his subordinates to familiarize themselves with the business by visiting markets or factories, but after several attacks, he had no choice but to order everyone not to leave Police Headquarters during work and to travel ho in groups of three.
Despite these precautions, over the following period, mbers of the Tax Office still suffered attacks, with over a dozen hoodlums hurling stones and incendiaries at Police Headquarters, only dispersing after the stationed police fired their guns.
The subsequent investigation concluded that the attackers of the Tax Office were unlikely to be gang mbers and that they operated covertly, seemingly with professional prowess.
Although a significant number of police were deployed, they still couldn't trace the assailants in the short term. Panic ensued within the Tax Office, and so Tax Officers even tendered their resignations to Lemaire.
Left with no alternative, Lemaire was forced to submit a report to Paris, requesting guards for the Tax Office.
...
Paris.
In the office of the French Tax Administration, the newly appointed Inspector Robespierre frowned at the mountainous pile of reports on the table, his complexion ashen.
These reports were mostly from Tax Offices across the country that had been attacked. In just over ten days, 2 Tax Officers had been killed and more than 40 injured. Although the police were making every effort to locate the assailants, only three or four people had been apprehended, and the situation was dire.
Most heads of the Tax Offices requested additional guards, while so directly requested to resign.
Robespierre knew very well that with the finances of the Tax Office barely sufficient to provide compensation to the injured, there was no possibility of allocating guards.
He felt an imnse pressure weighing him down—as the Count Fulco, the superintendent of finances, mainly handled financial matters, it was his responsibility to deal with other issues.
He first penned a passionate speech to boost morale, to at minimum halt any further resignations.
Regarding security, after much contemplation, a disheartened Robespierre shook his head, stood up, and said to his manservant, "Prepare the carriage; I must visit the Tuileries Palace."
Yes, the only solution he could think of was to request so funds from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to enhance the Tax Office's guard strength.
Tuileries Palace, second floor.
Joseph carefully reviewed the docunt in his hand, confirming that the amount was correct, then signed his na and pressed his signet ring firmly into the wax.
Standing opposite him, the Bank of France Reserve Governor Mathew de Laffiébleur accepted the docunt with reverence before inquiring, "Your Highness, the current flow of funds seems a bit rapid, and I'm concerned it might raise suspicions.
"Do you think we should further split the transactions from Poitou and Burgundy and defer the recovery to next week?"
Joseph pondered for a mont and nodded, "Your suggestion is very sensible, let's proceed as you've advised. And rember, maintain secrecy at all costs, all those handling the funds must be vetted by the intelligence service before they can be utilized."
If anyone had seen the docunt in Baron Laffiébleur's hands, they would have been astounded beyond asure—the transfer of funds listed there totaled 13 million francs!
In reality, the finance of France didn't possess hundreds of millions of francs, nor was it possible to have tens of millions credited each week.
Joseph had previously amassed only 50 million francs through insurance, financial managent, and real estate. Except for real estate, the rest of the funds belonged to insurance companies, and though he could temporarily utilize them, it was impossible to spend them as actual budget.
Therefore, if the Tax Farrs were abolished, next year, Brian would have only about 26 million francs at his disposal for financial expenditures. In less than a month, the salaries of French officials, governnt operations, and infrastructure projects would completely collapse.
To stabilize the situation, Joseph had to secure a loan from the Tax Farrs.
At least 150 million francs.
But he knew that the Tax Farrs relied on the governnt being out of money, always turning to them desperately. Under these circumstances, they would undoubtedly cling to the tax farming system.
Thus, he had to create the illusion of a governnt flush with funds to strategize and negotiate with the magnates among the Tax Farrs.
Joseph then used the 50 million francs as "props," depositing the funds into the governnt's accounts in several installnts.
He was well aware that the Tax Farrs had informants in every bank who would certainly learn of the governnt's account balances.
The money was first deposited into foreign banks, then ostentatiously entered into the Bank of France Reserve as a loan.
The Bank of France Reserve would then disburse the funds to local banks in various provinces in installnts, often to its own branches.
Since this money was part of the next year's budget, the provincial governors could only look but not touch.
Now ca the covert operation.
Local banks privately loaned out the provincial governnt funds in the form of short-term loans, imdiately transferred back to the Bank of France Reserve headquarters in Paris.
These loans were personally orchestrated by Joseph, marked as "confidential projects," prohibiting any inquiries.
In fact, once these loan agreents were signed, they were directly taken to Paris by reliable Bank of France Reserve senior officials and locked in the Governor's safe, guarded 24 hours by intelligence personnel.
The money loaned out from the provincial finances would be redeposited into foreign banks, then flowing back into the Bank of France Reserve accounts once again.
This was the reality behind the Tax Farrs Association's discovery that "the French Governnt accounts had received hundreds of millions of francs, with substantial sums continually pouring in each week."
In truth, it was only 50 million cycling through the motions, and the funds disbursed to provincial banks were budgetary, leaving no suspicions of any issues.
For the secrecy of this handover, Joseph specifically appointed a dozen Bank of France Reserve branch managers and assistant managers, all financial activities related to the "reverse loans" had to be conducted by them.
The ga at play was psychological warfare. If the Tax Farrs Association could remain calm, sacrificing profits to face off against the French Governnt indefinitely, then there was nothing Joseph could do.
But he was quite confident that those profit-driven individuals would ultimately capitulate to the bottom line.
Governnt officials were selected from company employees, who in the early days often perford two jobs. After Hastings beca Governor, he divided company staff into comrcial and administrative, with one person not allowed to hold both types of jobs simultaneously. Administrative staff beca officials, overseeing taxation, justice, administration, and the like, rising through the ranks based on seniority.
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