Chapter 519: Go Big—Audit the Past Ten Years of Accounts
Outside Asco, the army stationed there represented the strongest force within the Corsican National Guard. According to the Intelligence Bureau, at least four smaller units of the National Guard were still active across Corsica.
While these units only had a few hundred soldiers each—the smallest having fewer than 100—they were harder to locate and completely eliminate due to their ability to hide.
Napoleon pondered deeply. If this battle could make the Corsican populace despise the National Guard even more, then these smaller factions might be dealt with by Corsicans themselves without him lifting a finger.
He returned his focus to the map—ironically, it was a highly detailed map created by the National Guard but was now being used against them. Soon, he finalized his battle strategy.
"Send orders: Captain Benito will lead three companies to flank the enemy and establish a defensive line at the Ro Alto pass."
Pointing to a hillside north of Asco, he continued, "Position the artillery here. If the enemy approaches, bombard them with everything we've got.
"Deploy the rest of the infantry to the east of the enemy.
"And have the quartermaster secure sufficient supplies from Calvi Port. We may be here for a while."
"Yes, Major."
Over the next day, Napoleon's 2,000-strong French force, built around the infantry battalion he had brought from Marseille, swiftly occupied the designated positions. From an aerial view, the National Guard would appear surrounded on their northern, eastern, and southern flanks, with only the path toward Asco left open.
The National Guard Takes the Bait
After waiting three days without any French attack, Cesare became convinced this French force was weaker than previous garrisons and decided to strike first.
At dawn, 800 National Guard soldiers launched a charge against the northern flank of the French forces, believing it to be the weakest point.
Instead, they were met with a devastating barrage of artillery fire. Among the French battalion Napoleon had brought, the artillery unit stood out as elite—it had once served under Napoleon during his time in the Imperial Guard.
The sheer intensity and precision of the cannon fire stunned Cesare's troops, throwing them into disarray.
Seizing the moment, French cavalry units stormed into the chaotic ranks of the National Guard. Adding to the carnage, Napoleon's artillerymen followed, firing devastating grape-shot rounds at close range.
In under 30 minutes, Cesare's main force was shattered and forced to retreat amidst cries of anguish.
Simultaneously, the French infantry on the eastern flank advanced. While Napoleon doubted the combat effectiveness of Corsica's garrison troops, he aimed to create an imposing show of force rather than engage in full-scale combat.
However, Cesare, demoralized by the artillery barrage, lost the will to fight. He ordered his remaining forces to retreat into Asco and prepare for a last stand.
As the National Guard retreated into the city, Napoleon ordered his troops to cease pursuit and sealed off the two main entry points to Asco.
A Siege of Attrition
For over two weeks, the French forces maintained a tight blockade around Asco, refraining from direct assaults.
Meanwhile, Cesare faced a dire situation inside the city.
Asco, home to fewer than 10,000 residents, was one of Corsica's larger towns—by comparison, Ajaccio, the capital, had a population of just 60,000–70,000. However, with over 1,200 soldiers needing food and supplies, the city's resources were quickly depleted.
Starving and armed, the National Guard soldiers refused to sit idle. They resorted to coercion and outright theft to seize the town's last reserves of food and wine.
The city descended into chaos. Violence over scarce resources became widespread, and the townspeople's initial sympathy for the National Guard rapidly turned to hatred.
A month into the siege, Asco's merchants and townsfolk, desperate and enraged, secretly set fire to the National Guard's ammunition depot.
The next day, informed of the situation, Napoleon led his troops into the city. The townspeople eagerly assisted the French in rooting out "the thieving scum."
The battle was over in half a day.
Nearly all of Cesare's soldiers were killed, with over 100 falling at the hands of the vengeful townsfolk.
Napoleon, bringing much-needed food supplies into the city, was hailed as a hero. The city's commissioner even organized a grand ceremony in the central square to honor him.
The story of Asco—where National Guard soldiers had starved civilians to death—spread quickly across Corsica, turning the National Guard into a universal enemy.
Within weeks, Napoleon's forces had eradicated two more National Guard factions. For the first time in nearly a century, Corsica's rebellious militias were almost entirely wiped out.
Paris: The Next Move
In the Tuileries Palace, Robespierre looked at the Prince in astonishment.
"You want to audit the tax accounts of all the tax farmers across the country?"
"Exactly," Joseph nodded. "And not just for the current year—I want the last ten years reviewed as well."
Since the tax farmers had chosen to oppose him, Joseph decided to go all-in.
He was confident that these tax farmers' books would be far from clean. Any discrepancies would warrant hefty fines, forcing them to contribute far more than they would by simply purchasing government bonds.
Unfamiliar with the intricacies of audits, Robespierre deferred to the tax bureau's director, Furco, who widened his eyes in alarm.
"Your Highness, while we've confiscated the tax farmers' account books, they contain millions of records per year. Identifying discrepancies in such volumes would be like finding a diamond in the Atlantic.
"Moreover, verifying even three-year-old records is nearly impossible. Going back ten years would be…"
Joseph smiled. "You're thinking about this the wrong way.
"If there are irregularities in the accounts, who would know best?
"The taxpayers.
"If they were overcharged by even one sou—even if it was ten years ago—they'll remember it vividly.
"All we need to do is announce that taxpayers can file 'tax appeals' at local tax offices. Have your people cross-check their claims with the account books. You'll uncover issues quickly.
"Oh, and I'll instruct the newspapers to publish past tax regulations in detail so people can compare for themselves."
Furco and Robespierre exchanged glances, impressed by the Prince's ingenuity. This approach would undoubtedly uncover numerous irregularities.
Furco hesitated. "But even with just cross-checking, our current manpower might need over six months to complete the audits…"
Joseph nodded. "I'll have Archbishop Brienne reallocate personnel from the finance department to assist you.
"Additionally, we can enlist the accounting guild and university students to help. Pay them a decent wage, and they won't refuse."
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