Chapter 115: Chapter 115 - Joseph's Reappearance
On the nineteenth of December, which should have been a frosty day in Frimaire, Napoleon encountered an old acquaintance in Marseille—Joseph Fouché, a commissioner dispatched by the Convention. Fouché had been sent to Marseille to replace Couthon, tasked with investigating the counter-revolutionary activities in the south and overseeing requisitioning of various supplies.
When Couthon had arrived in the south, he was full of ambition, believing he could achieve the same glory as Saint-Just. Little did he know that the people of the south proved to be more challenging to suppress. His actions were slightly delayed, and he missed out on the victorious battles.
As for his efforts in suppressing the counter-revolution, he believed he had done a decent job. However, even in Paris, his achievements in suppressing the counter-revolution were not appreciated. It was said that Robespierre privately complained:
"Couthon only knows how to kill, yes, he has eliminated quite a few counter-revolutionaries. But, if we're only looking to get rid of that bunch, anyone could do it. Why send him? He must organize production, accumulate wealth. Look at him, though, he has beheaded two thousand, but he hasn't collected much. The number of heads he has cut off, compared to the amount of wealth he has confiscated, doesn't even meet the average for commissioners. This is... he's just wasting heads..."
Due to this, the Committee of Public Safety convened a special meeting to discuss Couthon's performance. Everyone, except Carnot, believed Couthon had not been effective. As for Carnot, he maintained his habit of not directly evaluating Couthon's performance during this time. But as soon as he spoke, it was, "I need money, a lot of money, a whole lot of money!" This statement, more vehement than others' accusations of Couthon's ineffectiveness, caught everyone's attention.
So, it was decided that Couthon had to return immediately, and a more resourceful person should be sent to the south. Among the Jacobins, there were two people recognized for their financial skills, Danthon and Fouché.
In terms of personal preference, Robespierre had more reservations about Fouché—after all, Fouché had betrayed him. But when it came to choosing between these two individuals, Robespierre did not hesitate to select Fouché. There were two main reasons for this choice: one could be spoken aloud, the other could only be thought but not expressed.
The reason that could be stated aloud was as follows: Danthon was indeed skilled at accumulating money, but at the same time, he was adept at keeping a portion of it for himself. If Danthon were tasked with this mission, he could probably contribute more to the treasury in terms of wealth and resources than Couthon. However, he would likely embezzle a considerable amount for himself, which would tarnish the reputation of the revolutionary government.
The reason that could only be thought but not spoken was this: Danthon held a much higher position and influence than Fouché. Even though he had recently been pushed out of the inner circle, if given the responsibility for this task and it went awry, he might make a powerful comeback.
As for Fouché, despite his talent and danger, he had a lower starting point and limited influence. Even if he achieved remarkable success, Robespierre believed he could still control him.
Most others shared similar thoughts on this matter, and given Fouché's recent performance in Le Mans, Vendée, and Lyon, where he had not claimed the highest number of heads—although there were still many—their deaths were calculated and not excessive. This was an important quality in a commissioner.
In terms of acquiring funds, Fouché excelled above all. Among all the commissioners, he was the most effective at raising money for the government. Moreover, his success was not like those sent to Belgium, who offended all the locals and destabilized society. Fouché managed to gather resources while maintaining social stability, which was a considerable achievement.
If one were to calculate the amount Fouché raised for the government for each head he beheaded, his efficiency was frightening. This ratio was almost double that of Couthon.
Currently, the government was in dire need of funds and resources, making individuals like Fouché invaluable. So, everyone unanimously agreed to let Fouché replace Couthon. Even Carnot, who had always looked down on him, gave his support after asking, "Can this guy handle money?"
Fouché was indeed a diligent worker. Upon arrival, he greeted his old acquaintance, Napoleon, and then locked himself in his office for three full days. During this time, he did not leave his office except to eat and use the restroom.
During those three days, Fouché meticulously reviewed the documents left by Couthon. When he got hungry, he had some bread and a bottle of milk brought in. When he got tired, he ordered strong coffee or ice-cold water. When it got dark, he requested candles. For three days, Fouché did not lie down for even half an hour. With astonishing energy, he studied, analyzed, categorized, and made notes on Couthon's records.
After completing this work, Fouché told his guards, "I need some rest. During this time, you must guard this room diligently. No one is allowed near it, remember, not to enter, but to approach."
Fouché's voice was not loud, and it carried a tone of fatigue. However, the guards did not take the task lightly; they understood that any mishap could result in fatalities.
Fouché went to his room, lay down, and immediately fell asleep. After three days of work, he had gained a general understanding of the current situation.
Fouché slept for four hours, then rose with a renewed spirit. He devoured three people's worth of bread and found Napoleon to inform him that he needed to visit Toulon in person and requested some soldiers to assist him.
Napoleon handed him a battalion and told him to contact Dawe, stationed in Toulon, after his arrival.
"If you need any support, you can request it directly from Dawe. He's the young man who used artillery to repel the counter-revolutionaries in Le Mans last time. You know him," Napoleon said to Fouché.
"General Bonaparte, thank you for your help. We had a very pleasant cooperation in Le Mans last time. I hope that this time, we can both contribute to the republic's restoration," Fouché replied politely.
Fouché then mounted his horse, waved to Napoleon, and departed.
Napoleon knew why Fouché had gone to Toulon. Couthon had beheaded two thousand people in Toulon, but he did it too quickly. He hadn't had time to figure out where the aristocrats had hidden their money before he beheaded them.
Couthon probably believed he could search the aristocrats' estates in the countryside and find all the gold louis and silver écus they had hidden. However, in those times, even the provincial nobles knew to invest their wealth in interest-bearing accounts. Hiding bank documents was not an easy task.
Fouché's trip to Toulon was likely an attempt to recover some of this money. Napoleon, however, had reservations about the success of this endeavor.
Fouché spent a little over two days in Toulon before returning to Marseille. Upon his return, he sought out Napoleon.
"General Bonaparte, I've obtained some leads in Toulon. These leads indicate that there were individuals in Marseille who either participated in or at least observed the rebellion in Toulon."
"Observed?" Napoleon inquired.
"Meaning they knew about it but didn't report it," Fouché replied with a cold smile. "Knowing without informing is collusion, it's joining the traitors. In this struggle, no one has the luxury of staying neutral."
Napoleon understood Fouché's intentions. His trip to Toulon wasn't merely about uncovering the aristocrats' missing funds; it was about connecting the Toulon rebellion to the aristocracy and the wealthy in Marseille. If he succeeded, there was no need to worry about the money.
Napoleon decided it was best not to intervene in these matters and smiled, saying, "These individuals have hidden their secrets well, and I can't do much about it. I hope you achieve success, and if you need any assistance, don't hesitate to ask."
"If there's ever anything I need your help with, I will definitely come to you," Fouché replied courteously.
The day after Fouché returned from Toulon, he initiated a massive search operation. Over a thousand people were arrested in one fell swoop, and the prisons in Marseille were almost bursting at the seams.
However, Fouché didn't immediately hand these people over to the "Revolutionary Tribunal," nor did he accuse them of any crimes. Even during the arrests, he referred to them as "assisting with the investigation."
Fouché presented enough evidence to potentially send some of these people to the guillotine, then stated he was tracing the money hidden by the rebels in Toulon. He knew some of that money had been concealed by wealthy individuals in Marseille. Fouché also made it clear that if these individuals helped the Republic in this matter, he was a generous man, and his memory wasn't the best—he might forget some of their actions.
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