January 7, 1849, 10:50 AM.
The Prime Minister of the French Republic, Audion Barrot, led the newly assembled entire cabinet team to the Elysee Palace under the guidance of Secretary Percy, waiting in the conference hall for Jerome Bonaparte’s arrival.
"Gentlemen, please wait a moment! Mr. President will be here soon!" Percy, who had stepped back to the conference hall door, bowed politely.
Having adapted to President Jerome Bonaparte’s schedule after more than ten days, Audion Barrot naturally understood that the president should still be in his slumber at this hour. He smiled lightly and nodded.
Percy turned and left the conference hall, carefully closing the door.
After watching Percy leave, Audion Barrot extended his hand invitingly and said, "Colleagues, there’s no need to be overly formal! I believe the President should be here shortly!"
The ministers present sat on either side of the sofa at Audion Barrot’s invitation, sitting in different positions depending on their closeness to him.
The ones sitting closest to Audion Barrot were the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Druan De Luy, and the Minister of Internal Affairs, Leon Fushi, followed by the Minister of War, Luillié, and the Minister of Finance, Pasi... Meanwhile, as ministers not appointed directly by Audion Barrot, the Minister of Justice, Eugène Roué, and the Minister of Public Works, Mornay, sat farther from him.
However, the most surprising was Count Falu, the Minister of Public Education, who intentionally distanced himself from Audion Barrot and sat with Eugène Ruby and others, even though he should have sat close to Barrot.
Audion Barrot displayed a tinge of displeasure, knowing that if not for considering Count Falu’s dual affiliations with the Orthodox Faction and Catholic Right, he, as a former member of the left wing of the previous dynasty, would never have employed such a person.
"Alright! Gentlemen, from now on, our seating will remain as it is!" Audion Barrot decisively confirmed the future seating arrangements, then turned his gaze to his "money-bag," Minister of Finance, Pasi, and said, "Mr. Pasi, what is the current financial status of the Republic?"
Pasi shook his head, stood up, and handed Audion Barrot several documents filled with dense French writing, which he had meticulously organized since taking office.
Audion Barrot flipped through the documents Pasi had organized, his expression growing more serious as he delved deeper. After reviewing the data Pasi provided, he tossed the documents onto the walnut desk and solemnly raised his head, saying, "Minister Pasi, I’d like to hear your opinion!"
"Mr. Prime Minister, our Republic is facing a huge financial deficit! Last year’s political turmoil devastated our market, and if we don’t think of a solution soon, our government will face a situation where we can’t even pay the national debt interest!" Pasi exaggeratedly stated.
"Do you have any solutions?" Audion Barrot continued to inquire, knowing well that the claim of being unable to pay off debt interest was an exaggeration by Pasi, yet the financial deficit was indeed not a good situation.
"Given that the Constitutional Assembly abolished progressive income tax and some other taxes, I suggest that we should reinstate some of the previously abolished taxes! For instance: restore the salt tax!" Pasi proposed to Audion Barrot.
The suggestion to restore the salt tax immediately filled Eugène Roué with an inexplicable sense of malice.
Regardless of whether Pasi’s suggestion to restore the salt tax was sincere or intended as a provocation, Eugène Roué knew that if the proposal passed the National Assembly, the President would have to face the fundamental base’s ill will.
If taxes in France were to be ranked, the salt tax would undoubtedly be first, as it symbolizes the old regime’s brutal exploitation of small farmers, being the most hated tax by them, and it would affect the fundamental base’s perception of the President.
This tax is practically digging at the foundation of the Bonaparte Faction.
However, since the President hadn’t arrived yet, Eugène Roué as the Minister of Justice couldn’t overstep and interfere in the Ministry of Finance’s matters. He could only purse his lips, showing a hesitant expression.
Sitting nearby, Mornay also looked at Pasi in astonishment, not understanding what was in the mind of the Minister of Finance.
Just as Audion Barrot was about to request Pasi prepare a proposal on "restoring the salt tax," the door of the cabinet meeting hall suddenly opened.
Everyone’s eyes instinctively turned towards the door, leading Audion Barrot into a momentary daze as he looked at the "guest" by the door.
"Mr. Prime Minister, esteemed ministers, hello!" Jerome Bonaparte, dressed in an Emperor Napoleon Cosplay military uniform and pants, wearing a tricorn hat, and adorned with a Legion of Honor badge on his chest, greeted enthusiastically.
Except for Eugène Roué, everyone was taken aback by Jerome Bonaparte’s attire, which made him look more like a miniature emperor.
In his daze, Audion Barrot even "saw" the emperor’s spirit wandering behind the president; he rubbed his eyes, and the emperor vanished, replaced by a clumsy imitator.
This attire does look quite decent!
"Mr. President, hello!" Audion Barrot and the ministers rose to greet him.
President Jerome Bonaparte shook hands with the Prime Minister and ministers one by one, and when his hand grasped Eugène Roué’s, he patted Roué’s shoulder and instructed, "Do your best!"
"Yes!" Eugène Roué responded firmly.
Upon Audion Barrot’s enthusiastic invitation, President Jerome Bonaparte replaced him as the core figure in the cabinet meeting.
"Minister Pasi, please report your proposed financial plan to the President!" Audion Barrot ordered Pasi.
Explaining the necessity of "restoring the salt tax" to a "farmer" president is undeniably a suicide mission and might result in becoming the quickest dismissed minister in French history.
In response to Audion Barrot’s blatant "betrayal," Pasi paused for a moment but still explained the importance of "restoring the salt tax" to President Jerome Bonaparte.
Jerome Bonaparte listened attentively to Pasi’s proposal, nodding occasionally in acknowledgment.
After Pasi finished his presentation, Jerome Bonaparte finally spoke, "This issue, you can discuss with Prime Minister Barrot! If there are no problems, it can be submitted directly to the National Assembly!"
With Barrot and Eugène Roué’s astonished expressions, Pasi replied with a slight tremor, "Yes!"
"Is there anything else that needs reporting? Report everything once!"