Mid-January 1859.

As the "Imperial Chief Steward," Achille Fuld once again represented the Imperial Government and went to Bourbon Palace to conduct the annual reporting work to the nominal highest power agency of the Empire—Bourbon Palace Legislative Corps.

The content of this report was naturally the fiscal income and expenditure of 1858 and the budget for 1859, which had already been discussed by the Imperial Council.

When the carriage of Achille Fuld arrived at Bourbon Palace, the ceremonial troops (also referred to as the Garrison) responsible for guarding nearby had long been waiting on both sides of the Bourbon Palace steps.

As Achille Fuld set foot on the first step leading to Bourbon Palace, all the soldiers uniformly drew their sabers from their waists to show respect to the Imperial Government represented by Achille Fuld.

At the same time, a band appeared at the gate of Bourbon Palace, musical notes leapt from their instruments, stringing together and finally assembling into the Empire’s national anthem, "Song of Departure", which filled every corner of Bourbon Palace.

Inside Bourbon Palace, members of the Legislative Corps belonging to the Republican Faction frowned subconsciously upon hearing the imposing "Song of Departure".

However, even if these Republican representatives were unwilling in their hearts, they still stood up from their seats solemnly to show respect towards the Empire represented by "Song of Departure," led by Vice Speaker Bijou (since Jerome Bonaparte is the Speaker of the Legislative Corps, day-to-day parliamentary maintenance is handled by the Vice Speaker).

After the performance of "Song of Departure" concluded, Bijou then spoke to the members of the Legislative Corps present, "Representatives, please sit!"

The representatives gradually sat back in their original seats, quietly awaiting the arrival of Achille Fuld.

After a while, Achille Fuld appeared in the right passageway of Bourbon Palace, dressed in a black tuxedo jacket with a woolen undershirt, tight brown leather trousers, and a pair of shiny black leather shoes, looking every bit like a member of the Empire’s Middle Class.

The reason he chose this attire to enter Bourbon Palace was to silence the "Opposition Faction" within who had criticized Achille Fuld’s ostentatious dressing more than once.

Even some newspapers controlled by Empire supporters (Church Faction) subtly criticized Achille Fuld’s dress as too "showy."

"Our esteemed Achille Fuld doesn’t look like a dignified Imperial Minister, but rather like a peacock."

Thus Achille Fuld slightly changed the attire he wore when reporting to the Legislative Corps.

As Achille Fuld approached the edge of the stairs by the podium, Vice Speaker Bijou responsible for maintaining order in the Bourbon Palace conference hall rose from his seat and solemnly asked Achille Fuld.

"Minister Fuld, are you ready?"

"Of course!" Achille Fuld responded to Bijou without hesitation.

"Then please start your speech!" Bijou made a gesture inviting him to proceed.

Achille Fuld walked step by step towards the podium located at the center of Bourbon Palace, while Bijou sat at the lower platform, maintaining order in the whole Bourbon Palace.

Standing at the podium, Achille Fuld first glanced around, then bowed to the members of the Legislative Corps seated around him.

The majority of the Legislative Corps members applauded Achille Fuld, the thunderous applause echoing throughout the Bourbon Palace hall.

After a while, the applause subsided, and Achille Fuld spoke to the Legislative Corps members present.

"Distinguished members of the Legislative Corps, I am delighted to represent the government and meet with you in this sacred hall, working together for our country, our nation.

...

As the crisis-filled year of 1857 quietly passed, our government once again achieved a victory in 1858 no lesser than on the Crimea Battlefield.

Even more gratifying, this victory did not increase soldier casualties; it was entirely a diplomatic victory.

The Empire, with a heart of peace, successfully eliminated the increasingly polarized conflict between the Austrian Empire and the Sardinian Kingdom, bringing valuable peace to Europe..."

Achille Fuld did not start his speech with fiscal issues but chose to begin with the Austrian-Sardinian conflict led by the French Empire in 1858.

And naturally, his purpose was to lay the groundwork for the subsequent fiscal report.

After all, nothing was more politically correct than the annexation of Savoy and Nice in 1858.

Even the Republican Faction members opposing the Empire could only offer subtle criticism of this move, calling it "bad form."

Only by hiding fiscal issues under "political correctness" could Achille Fuld avoid the Legislative Corps’ accountability.

As time passed, Achille Fuld gradually guided the discussion toward the government’s fiscal budget for 1858.

"Our government not only achieved impressive results in diplomacy last year, but also made significant, high-quality progress in finances compared to 1857!"

Achille Fuld first reported the Empire’s income and expenditure for 1857 to the Legislative Corps members, and then reported the fiscal income and expenditure for 1858.

Despite Achille Fuld’s very skillful use of language, those seated on the representative seats in the Legislative Corps are no fools; everyone sitting here is smart (only when their own interest is threatened do they tend to "act foolish"), and Achille Fuld’s trickery couldn’t fool them.

When Achille Fuld finished speaking about the 1858 financials, Bourbon Palace temporarily fell into silence as everyone pondered.

About 30 seconds later, the representative seated on the right side of the Bourbon Palace raised his sign to indicate his desire to speak!

"Favre, please stand up and speak!" Bijou said to Favre from the Republican Faction.

Favre quickly stood up from his seat and challenged Achille Fuld with sharp language.

"Honorable Minister Fuld, I would like to ask why the Mingming Empire’s revenues in 1858 were much higher than in 1857, yet the fiscal surplus increased only slightly compared to 1857!

Does this mean that our expenditures in 1858 were higher than in 1857?

I remember last year you were here!"

Favre paused, pointing to the gilded chandelier above, and emphasized: "In this solemn and sacred Bourbon Palace, during the report on the fiscal balance of 1857, you said that the fundamental reason for the imbalance was the sudden economic crisis!

At that time, we could all understand the government!

After all, no one anticipated the crisis would occur so swiftly!

I clearly remember that during the fiscal budget for 1858, you pledged confidently that government spending would gradually decrease!

However, your promise was not fulfilled at all!

Our government has gone to great lengths to impose taxes on every citizen of France, striving for every French citizen to enjoy participating in this ’great’ (Favre showed a mocking expression when saying ’great’) initiative of paying taxes to the government. Our farmers reportedly surrender one-third of their annual income (this belongs to Favre’s fabricated claim) to the government, and the government’s purse grows fat under constant exploitation.

Yet, when the government spends the money gathered from the farmers’ blood and sweat, it does so far more arbitrarily than the effort it invests in taxing them.

...

If the government continues in this manner, I can hardly imagine how much more the burden on the citizens of France will increase!"

As Favre finished his sentence, representatives from the Republican Faction swiftly gave him applause, and Favre returned to his seat amid the applause.

Bijou, upon seeing this, tapped his gavel twice, solemnly saying, "Quiet! No noise during speeches!"

The Republican Faction immediately began whispering "boos"!

Regarding the "protests" from the Republican Faction, Bijou was clearly indifferent, facing away from Achille Fuld, he asked Fuld on the podium, "Minister Fuld, do you have anything else to say?"

"Regarding Representative Favre’s remarks that the government imposed taxes on farmers, I disagree!

The Empire has always maintained a caring attitude towards farmers, and the taxes imposed on them are lower than any previous kingdom.

Our tax revenue mainly comes from the booming development of industry and commerce.

The Empire provides a stable environment and appropriate policies for industrial and commercial sectors, which repay the Empire with taxes!

...

Such development is beneficial both for the Empire and the entrepreneurs!"

Achille Fuld did not respond to Favre on the issue of expenditure but instead seized the opportunity in Favre’s language error to counterattack.

Seeing Achille Fuld distort his meaning, Favre wanted to rise again to rebut Achille Fuld.

However, the next moment, representatives from the Imperial Faction who had long been instructed by Achille Fuld interrupted Favre’s attempt to rebut with cheers and applause.

"Well said!"

The thunderous applause suppressed all opponents.

Even though an angry Favre felt unwilling, he understood that further entanglement would only lead to self-inflicted suffering.

On the podium, Achille Fuld, listening to the thunderous applause, showed a hint of joy at the corners of his mouth.

Subsequently, Achille Fuld cast a slightly provocative glance toward Favre.

Provoked, Favre wanted to stand again, but a companion beside him pressed him back into his seat.

"Favre, now is not the time to tear off the mask. We are still very vulnerable, you must stay calm!"

Hearing his companion’s words, Favre sat back down!

The applause and cheers ceased under Bijou’s gavel, and Achille Fuld once again proposed the rough budget for 1859 to the Bourbon Palace Legislative Corps.