Palace of Versailles.
The sound of metal moving was heard in the glorious palace.
Regardless of his status, Louis XVI squatted on the ground and fiddled with an exquisite squirrel-shaped copper lock.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty?"
Next to Louis XVI, a handsome man with a noble temperament wearing a platinum wig stood upright and called softly.
It was Turgot, Louis XVI's finance minister.
Turgot was not used to Louis XVI's daily routine of indulging in making locks, and he had no choice but to do anything.
After all, any child in the country knew the reputation of King Louis XVI as a locksmith.
"Okay, okay, wait for me a little longer..."
Louis XVI was a little impatient when he heard the urging, and muttered perfunctorily, while his eyes were still focused on Squirrel Suo, for fear of getting the details wrong.
He inserted the key and twisted it a few times. The copper-locked squirrel nodded frequently as if it was infused with vitality.
"Hahaha, it's done! But it took me several weeks of thinking."
Louis XVI, who had been frowning, suddenly opened his eyebrows. He held the copper-locked squirrel in his hand, handed it to Turgot like a child showing off, and asked with a smile:
"Dear Turgo, guess what mechanism I used this time?"
However, Turgo just kept a straight face and said solemnly: "I'm here to discuss the unsightly financial predicament with you, Your Majesty."
Louis XVI smacked his lips and showed regret, "Tsk, well, it's a pity that my royal locksmith Garman is not here... Show it to Mary, she will definitely like it."
After changing hands, he put the exquisite and lovely squirrel lock into the hands of the servant and asked someone to give it to his queen.
The next moment, Louis XVI's expression became solemn. He picked up a silk scarf to wipe the oil on his fingers, sat on the sofa, and at the same time extended an invitation to Turgot:
"Sit down, my chancellor, and tell me what's going on."
Now, Louis XVI did not care about the internal affairs of the country at all, as the people said.
On the contrary, he wanted to revitalize France and improve the country more actively than anyone else, but his character flaws prevented him from being firm and consistent.
"Difficulties everywhere, my lord, the Privy Council passed our Bill of Measures, but the Members did not place it on the record."
"It can be said that we want to restore the economy, but the nobles are very determined to resist, because every cut is to cut their flesh."
Turgot calmly sat down in front of Louis XVI, his eyes full of sorrow.
In his eyes, Louis XVI was a createable king who could listen to advice and even hear the voices of the people and try to satisfy him.
For the king at the top of the ruling class, being able to do this can be called wise.
But a wise man who does not grasp the power is a balloon that bursts as soon as it is pricked. This is the dilemma of France.
He wanted to reform the old system, which made the whole country resentful, but he did not have the power to confront the old class nobles.
For example, the nationwide abolition of the corvee system, reduction of people's exorbitant taxes, and revitalization of trade development included policies of physiocrats.
Among them, the most uncompromising one that the court and the nobility could not accept was to allow the nobility and monks to enjoy the same tax rate as the third estate, and even expand political openness so that the people could obtain political rights.
This approach is simply digging your own grave!
Turgot certainly knew all this, but he firmly believed that only in this way could we seek benefits for the people and allow France to stand up again.
Louis XVI rubbed his brows in distress.
"I just hope you can solve these problems. Previously, I appointed my important minister Mopu to straighten out the current chaotic system. However, his prestige and experience are no match for those jackals."
"I know you are a person with broad ideas, Turgot. You are younger, which makes me more confident in your skills."
The words were so sincere that Turgo could not help but remain silent.
This king truly cared about France. He even publicly supported the constitutional monarchy and had no intention of dominating the throne.
Therefore, Turgo is willing to fully support him, but only needs one thing.
Turgo slowly raised his deep eyes and took a breath, "Your Majesty, you know best that it is not the system that hinders us."
"Of course, those who enjoy the benefits." Louis XVI continued.
"As long as there is parliament, most of our efforts will be in vain, and the problem cannot be solved without using the sword!"
Turgot stood up, clenched his fists, and said loudly: "The only way out for reform is to dissolve the Parliament and completely suppress the privileges of those nobles!"
But when Louis XVI stood up, these words were like thunder, immediately making the hairs on his body stand up, and the soft sofa seemed to be covered with spikes, making his whole body stiffen.
"This this……"
Louis XVI turned pale and dissolved the meeting? How dare Turgot say that!
"Don't you know what happened to Charles I!"
Charles I was overthrown due to sharp conflicts between the two parties and set off the British Bourgeois Revolution because he did not pay attention to the Parliament at all. He tried to dissolve the Parliament many times.
Turgot issued a powerful rebuttal: "How can this be the same! Charles I was purely arrogant and did not want to solve domestic people's livelihood problems at all, so no one supported him!"
"You underestimate the Parliament."
Louis XVI waved his hands, unwilling to listen to any more words.
He has not yet made the determination to completely break up and confront the parliament, or in other words, his weak character prevents him from having the courage.
"Your Majesty! This is reform, you should stand firm, the resistance we face will not even be less than that of Charles I!"
"Without determination and perseverance, without taking tough measures, and hesitantly looking forward and backward, you are destined to fail!"
Turgot still wanted to persuade him, but Louis XVI had already covered his face and stood up, saying in a weak voice: "That's enough, Turgot, you must be too tired to talk such nonsense."
"Don't be so extreme first. I will work hard to make the parliament comply with the bill and will not let the fruits of your time go to waste. There will be a lot of time later, so you can try to convince more supporters."
Louis XVI turned his back and walked towards the floor-to-ceiling windows of the palace, looking out at the bustling garden scenery outside the window, and spoke earnestly and sincerely.
"well……"
Turgot also let out a pale sigh, and looked at Louis XVI several times, but in the end he couldn't say anything else.
Perhaps because of his almost powerless ambition, weakness became the king's biggest weakness, and it also gave Turgo a headache.
Compared with George III of Britain, Louis XVI was simply the other extreme.
I saw Turge sighing leisurely...
