Chapter 83:: The Boomerang of Public Opinion

Chapter 83:: The Boomerang of Public Opinion

Joseph, feeling a surge of excitement, quickly added:

"I've read many of your articles, and I was always puzzled as to why a true freedom fighter like you hadn't yet targeted the most corrupt and rotten place in all of Paris. It wasn't until I read your recent article that I realized I had misjudged you."

Marat blinked in confusion:

"The most corrupt and rotten place? What are you referring to?"

Joseph clenched his fists and declared:

"Of course, I mean the High Court! That place is filled with bribery and corruption, where they create unjust rulings at every turn. The judges use the suffering of victims as a means to line their own pockets. It's the very source of all the misery faced by the people of Paris!"

He wasn't exaggerating about the High Court. According to many historical records, it was the most corrupt institution in France at the time, without exception. Judgeships had become almost hereditary, and as their power grew, the outcome of a trial depended entirely on who could bribe the judge the most. This led many common people, when faced with disputes, to seek help from gangs rather than go to court.

It wasn't until Napoleon came to power and thoroughly reformed the judiciary that the courts started to clean up their act.

Marat frowned. He was well-informed and knew of the dirty dealings within the High Court. Compared to it, the bureaucrats in other departments seemed as innocent as young, untainted girls.

Joseph continued:

"Your recent article was excellent, fiercely condemning the High Court's shameless obstruction of the tax law and exposing the dirty dealings between the judges and the nobles!"

Hearing this, Marat felt a pang of guilt. His article had only hinted that the court's refusal to register the law lacked sufficient reason and suggested there might be some hidden agenda. It was far from the fierce condemnation that Joseph was describing.

Joseph seemed to be making a passionate speech to himself:

"Because the High Court controls the censorship of publications, no newspaper has dared to expose their evil deeds. But I've decided to declare war on them! Even if my newspaper is shut down, even if I end up in jail, I won't regret it! At least the honorable Mr. Marat will have fought alongside me!"

Listening to Joseph's impassioned declaration, Marat suddenly felt like a coward. Deep down, he had always known that writing about the High Court could lead to trouble with the censors, so he had subconsciously avoided the topic. How many injustices had gone unexposed because of this cowardice?

The young Mr. Xavier was the true fighter!

Seeing Marat's expression, Joseph thought to himself, This is the moment of truth. He took a deep breath and said:

"Mr. Marat, I know all of this is very dangerous. Even if you choose to step back, I would completely understand. But I will continue to fight for the people of France!"

Marat felt a rush of blood to his head, and he stood up, clenched his fists tightly, and said firmly:

"I will fight alongside you to expose the crimes of the High Court and restore justice and dignity to the people!"

…

In the western suburbs of Paris, at the headquarters of the Surveillance Office.

Joseph, accompanied by Fouché and other senior officials, walked past rooms labeled "Intelligence Squad," "Action Squad," and "Resources Squad," before entering the chief's office at the end of the corridor.

The Surveillance Office had grown rapidly. Fouché had already given Joseph a brief report. The office now had over four hundred "officers," and informants were scattered all over Paris. They had established intelligence networks in key places like the Town Hall, the courts, and embassies, gathering and compiling information daily.

In terms of intelligence-gathering ability, even the secret police, with seven or eight times their numbers, couldn't claim to surpass the Surveillance Office.

Joseph sat down at the desk, first praising Fouché and his team for their excellent work, and then began assigning tasks:

"The Surveillance Office must, within a month, thoroughly investigate the corruption and criminal activities of the High Court's chief judges and key officials!"

Although he could have simply sent someone to relay the instructions, this matter was critical to his political future, so he decided to come to the office in person to emphasize its importance.

"And also investigate the Duke of Séville, the Earl of Selles, and…" Joseph read off a list of names from his notes, all of whom were influential nobles that had been mentioned in the cabinet meeting supporting Brienne's removal.

"These people need to be thoroughly investigated too. Whether it's taking advantage of women, tax evasion, or even beating their servants, find out everything!"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Joseph then listed several street addresses and house numbers for Fouché:

"This is Marat's address."

Fouché, looking puzzled, asked:

"Jean-Paul Marat? The stubborn anti-royalist?"

Joseph nodded:

"At the moment, he's 'one of ours.' You can have your men approach him as informants and hand over the dirt on the High Court."

He had just successfully directed Marat, the "piranha," toward the High Court. Now it was time to give the prey a few wounds so the piranha would bite even harder.

…

At the Paris High Court.

In the second-floor judges' lounge, Judge Wézinié flung a crumpled newspaper at the face of an official standing before him, shouting in anger:

"What do you think you're doing, letting something like this pass the censorship!"

The official nervously picked up the newspaper and unfolded it, revealing a copy of The Paris Gazette, with the headline boldly stating, "The Dangers of Hereditary Judges in the High Court."

He frowned, then looked at another paper, The News and Illustrated Report, where the front page was titled, "A Discussion on the Scope of High Court Powers."

He hastily tried to explain:

"Earl Wézinié, these articles don't really contain anything problematic. I read them carefully yesterday. Although there are some hints and misleading content…"

A hook-nosed judge sitting next to Wézinié asked:

"Are you sure?"

The official in charge of censorship stammered:

"Perhaps I could have them change the titles?"

Wézinié, his face dark, said:

"Your censorship standards need to be stricter!"

The official quickly bowed and replied:

"Yes, my lord. I won't let anything like this appear again."

Wézinié then turned to the judge beside him:

"Have René take some men and go to that newspaper. Find any reason to shut them down."

"You're right. I'll instruct him immediately."

Two hours later, thirty or so publication police, armed with clubs and shields, surrounded the front and back entrances of the Paris Gazette's offices.

Despite their title, the publication police were not under the control of the police bureau but rather answered to the courts.

The leader of the publication police, René, brought a few men and marched into the newspaper office, grabbing a worker and barking:

"Who's in charge here?"

The worker, trembling, pointed towards Denico's office. René shoved him aside and barged into the office, pointing at Denico and barking:

"Are you the one in charge here? Get everyone out to the yard. We're conducting a full inspection!"

However, before Denico could respond, René heard a whistle outside.

He turned to see a squad of police officers in blue uniforms marching in formation towards the office, led by an officer who took off his hat and saluted René.

René, confused, approached the leader and asked:

"Are you here to apprehend a criminal?"

The officer glanced at René and coldly asked:

"What are you doing here?"

René pulled out the court's warrant:

"This newspaper might contain contraband. I'm here under orders to search the premises!"

But the officer ignored the warrant, saying:

"Get your men out of this office immediately."

René blinked in disbelief, raising the court's document again:

"I'm following orders. I must insist…"

The officer waved a hand, and the officers behind him formed two lines. The front row leveled riot forks at the publication police, while the rear row cocked their muskets.

Staring at the dark muzzles, René gulped and, despite his bravado, reluctantly muttered:

"Alright, we'll leave."

He led his men out of the office, retreating in defeat.

Joseph had anticipated that the High Court would resort to underhanded tactics against the newspaper, so he had already informed Besson of the situation. In response, Besson had set up a guard post right across from the newspaper office and doubled the number of patrol officers in the area, instructing them to ensure the newspaper's operations weren't disrupted.

When René returned to report his failure, his superior furiously chewed him out. He had no choice but to muster more publication police and return to the newspaper, only to find that the police had already set up a blockade around the office, making it impossible for them to get close.

The next day, several articles in The Paris Gazette and The News and Illustrated Report were blocked by the censors, forcing the newspapers to fill the empty space with trivial content.

But that afternoon, several pamphlets featuring those censored articles appeared, along with an editorial titled, "The High Court's Assault on Press Freedom." Another pamphlet's front page screamed, "Shocking! Publication Police Raid! Their True Motive Is…"

These pamphlets, filled with thrilling serialized stories and priced cheaply, quickly sold over ten thousand copies, spreading throughout the streets of Paris.

Two days later, after the pamphlets had time to circulate, journalists and publishers began gathering in front of the High Court to protest, demanding an end to censorship and insisting that The Paris Gazette's articles contained nothing illegal and should have been approved.

Some journalists even started giving speeches on the streets, condemning the High Court for using violence to threaten a perfectly legitimate newspaper.

The people of Paris, long fed up with the corruption of the High Court, gathered around the speakers, enthusiastically discussing and cheering.

Although Paris officially forbade unauthorized public speeches, the city's police had received orders that any speech involving the High Court was to be ignored.

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