Reincarnated: Vive La France
Chapter 234: Annual Budget - II

Chapter 234: Annual Budget - II

Two days had passed since the ministers laid out their priorities, today, they returned with folders with figures, maps.

Moreau sat at the head of the long oak table.

He watched as each minister arranged their papers into neat stacks, aides hovering like sentries.

He cleared his throat. "Gentlemen, mesdames, the envelope remains fixed one hundred billion francs. Today, we allocate. Across these files are demands totaling one hundred thirty-two billion." He paused, letting the silence stretch. "We must reconcile them. Thoroughly. Every franc needs justification. Let’s begin."

Reynaud, Finance Minister, exhaled and leaned forward. "I’ll start. We must protect fiscal stability. Proposals beyond one hundred thirty billion risk reserve depletion. I’ve already groomed bond curves to maximum solvency if we go higher, inflation will return. My colleagues, if taxes increase, spending must balance in real terms."

Zay, education minister, glanced down at his pages, fingers tapping impatiently. "I understand concerns, Paul, but these schools reopened months ago with borrowed uniforms and no heating. I’m requesting three billion to hire staff and repair buildings basic infrastructure. My schools feed twenty thousand children. Without them, social breakdown returns."

Beauchamp shot a glance at Zay. "If you cannibalize social funds for heating, it takes from those assisting veterans and widows. M. Reynaud’s right on inflation. Cuts must occur."

He paused, gazing around. "What if we stagger phase two education to next quarter if rural electrification and transport funding go first?"

Zay bristled. "Then rural students die of cold. And you’ll blame us in Paris."

Moreau raised a hand. "Back to Mr. Reynaud. These requests exceed cap by a third. Offer your figures in prioritized order. Then we assign."

Reynaud flipped through his binder. "Here it is. If rural electrification falls to ₣3.5 billion, education can hold. If we reduce industrial modernization by ₣2 billion, agriculture and labor can absorb ₣4 billion more. Public housing takes a hit of ₣3 billion."

Mandel, interior minister, leaned in. "But rural electrification can wait a quarter. Public order needs teeth training reservists, re-certifying prefects. That’s now. Our identity needs holding."

He tapped on Reynaud’s proposed cut. "How about reducing industrial modernization by ₣3 billion, shifting the funds here?"

Déat, labor minister, rose. "You’ll break jobs. If labor liaison bureaus go unfunded, factories will collapse into chaos. We already have rioting in Dijon. That ₣2 billion is not optional."

Mandel retorted sharply.

"I’m not responsible for maintaining chaos."

Gamelin spoke quietly from the corner. "Ministers, factories tied to our defense initiative aren’t complying they’re withholding product until they see clarity in construction programs. If modernization funding drops, we lose industrial confidence and harness fails."

Vuillemin agreed. "Without parts, airfields anchor. The sky remains empty."

His eyes were fixed on Reynaud, urgent.

Muselier, naval minister, cleared his throat. "Ports are starving: fifteen merchant freighters aligned to discharge goods this week. We lose that if dredging funds fall below ₣2 billion. That funding gap kills grain imports." He paused.

"The sailors waiting in Marseille haven’t eaten yet."

The table grew louder.

Auriol rose, voice calm but insistent. "I urge restraint. Judicial tribunals have scheduled sessions in four cities. They need at least ₣1.5 billion. Less, and trials resume in Paris only. That defeats our aim transparency across France. Rural France must see justice in action."

Delon voice, cold and measured, cut through the noise.

"Each of you pushes for your ministry, but this is not a zero-sum fight. France cannot bear fragmentation. I propose a ceiling. breakdowns must balance. If modernization is cut by ₣3 billion, that money splits among social, education, order. Any surplus returns to franc stabilization."

Reynaud nodded. "That helps but doesn’t answer rural electrification versus dredging versus liaison bureaus. Someone must cede."

Zay stood, anger edged with passion. "I will not sacrifice elementary schools again. St. Denis and Reims will not freeze because others can’t hold holdovers."

Moreau tapped the table. "Enough. We need a compromise framework." He nodded toward Delon.

"Please record a sliding scale. Each ministry drops their second-priority line item by 10 percent. Primary allocations remain intact."

Beauchamp nodded in agreement, and murmurs spread.

Mandel leaned back. "I’ll sacrifice train station renov ation to shore up liaison programs."

Déat agreed. "I’ll drop the registry expansion fund for youth camps by ₣500 million."

Zay grudgingly accepted. "I’ll reduce civic education materials by ₣200 million."

Muselier countered.

"I’ll reduce the port dredging schedule cut the Rhône by ₣500 million."

Gamelin added: "I’ll scale back civilian engineering schools by ₣500 million, keeping dual-use road forces active."

Vuillemin offered: "Full reconnaissance fund stays we can cut promotional flyovers."

Reynaud flicked through the draft. "That brings us to ₣98 billion," he said.

"Good. We have ₣2 billion left. Perhaps we stabilize the franc reserve with it."

Auriol nodded. "Yes for final transcript systems."

Moreau leaned forward.

"Here’s tomorrow’s agenda. We freeze this allocation envelope. Each minister must produce specific department-level breakdowns before nightfall. Reynaud will circulate a trimmed budget for final validation."

He looked slowly around. "Tomorrow, we vote. But tonight, we negotiate quietly inside your ministries. If any further adjustments, bring them. But public confidence demands a unanimous draft."

Lebrun cleared his throat. "Ministers, remember each franc not spent is a franc reclaimed for the Republic."

Silence spread as aides began copying charts and preparing binders.

Reynaud gathered his papers. "I’ll begin organizing the bond measures."

Zay gathered his by rote. "Community schools reopening on Monday."

Mendel folded his pages. "Prefectorial vetting begins next week."

Auriol tapped the tribunal list. "Regional courts will publish initial heating and structural plans."

Moreau nodded, then rose. "Well done sensible, not sentimental." He turned to Gamelin.

"General, are you satisfied with the allocation for Engineering Corps?"

Gamelin paused. "It houses six regiments. Enough to build roads without building armies. That is our goal."

Moreau smiled faintly. "Then we are no longer rebuilding with bricks alone but with accountability. Tomorrow, at this hour, the budget will be confirmed. And the public will see no ministry reigns over France. France governs."

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(Guys your opinion or suggestions on how to repair France Economy and what reform shall I push next.)