Descending On France 1780
Chapter 109 - 103 Gentlemen of Paris

Chapter 109: 103 Gentlemen of Paris

Anning: "Oh, I just felt that it wasn’t quite right for the troops to always sing military songs that praise the King, since we are the National Guard, not the King’s army. So, I improvised a new military song on the spot."

The military song that Anning came up with was a copy of the future "Three Main Rules of Discipline and the Eight Points for Attention." This tune is easy to memorize, and the troops can learn it after a few lessons. Moreover, the lyrics reinforce military discipline and help to promote it among local people—there couldn’t be a more suitable military song than this.

The only problem is, the music for this song was taken from the military song used by Yuan Shikai at his small station during training exercises, "Commander Training Song," which is said to be from the German military song "Emperor Wilhelm’s Training Song."

Using a German military song on French soil has a sense of black humor to it.

After quietly listening for a while, Dan Dong suddenly laughed, "This is really good. Although the melody is that kind of simple tune without much skill, it’s very catchy and easy to remember!"

Anning laughed and said: "Exactly, it only took me an afternoon to teach the entire army this song."

"The content of the song is also good, emphasizing the importance of discipline and the source of the righteousness of the national army. You’re a genius, to come up with such a great thing."

——Actually, the main reason is that I couldn’t handle the Marseillaise, I can only hum the chorus part, and don’t even know what the lyrics are, otherwise, do you believe that I would have given you the Marseillaise?

Dan Dong: "By the way, what is this song called?"

For a moment, Anning thought about taking the name of the tune directly, calling it "Commander Training Song," but he suppressed this impulse and answered: "It’s called ’Song of Discipline for the National Guard.’"

Dan Dong: "Really nice, very good! You are a truly talented guy, enviable. I really think you shouldn’t be running off to Conte, you should be in Paris—the National Assembly needs you!"

Anning smiled awkwardly but politely, thinking I’m running precisely because the National Assembly needs me too much.

Dan Dong sighed and added, "However, the decree that Parliament is going to announce next will surely stir up the whole country, and conservative areas like Conte really do need a fierce general like you to keep watch."

Anning raised his eyebrows, thinking to himself, could it be that they are about to pass the Priest Law?

The Priest Law during the French Revolution was a very radical law that required all clergymen in France to swear loyalty to the nation. More importantly, it decreed that the appointment of the clergy was entirely within the National Assembly’s jurisdiction, completely severing ties with the Pope in Rome.

Priests who refused to accept the Priest Law would be treated as traitors, to be captured and executed.

This law directly led to France’s division, with conservative people being pushed to the opposing side of the Parliament.

Moreover, after the revolution, with the rapid rise of the new revolutionary elite, a great deal of conflict had accumulated, and the intensification of this law caused all these conflicts to explode.

Large conservative regions rose in rebellion against the emerging National Assembly; the French civil war fully erupted.

For a moment, Anning wanted to use his prestige to prevent the passing of the Priest Law, to make the overall revolution less radical.

Perhaps that could prevent the outbreak of the civil war.

But he immediately gave up the idea — that would completely derail history, and his advantage of having read the script would vanish.

If not careful, he might find himself on the wrong side and perish in the torrent of the raging revolution.

Having dismissed the idea of interfering with history, Anning pretended to be curious and asked, "What’s happening? Is Parliament about to pass some sort of remarkable act?"

Dan Dong: "Yes, they are about to pass a very radical act, to turn priests into civil servants dispatched by the state, cutting off relations with Rome. Maximilien strongly supports this bill; I think it’s a bit too radical."

Anning thought to himself, Dan Dong, you and Marat are supposed to be radicals, why do you sound like a moderate?

Dan Dong continued: "I remember the prediction you made before, that if policies toward the clergy are too radical, the conservative regions will rebel, like you mentioned Vendée. So I’m really concerned about this."

——Damn it, so it was me who made Dan Dong, a radical, seem like a moderate?

I’m such a terrible sinner!

Anning attempted to justify: "But without taking some radical measures, it’s impossible to cure France’s malaise. Harsh medicine is needed when the illness is severe!

Having said this, Anning suddenly realized that in this era, Europeans treat illness not with medicine, but bloodletting...

So he immediately corrected himself: "I mean, like bloodletting, when you have a serious illness, you need to bleed out a lot, to cure it in one go! If it leads to civil unrest, then so be it. This is bloodletting, a necessary condition to purge the toxins that have accumulated in France’s body!"

——What the hell am I even talking about!

Let it be, let it be. This is a unique metaphor of the era, it has nothing to do with modern people.

Dan Dong nodded with a grave expression: "Mhmm, I understand. But if our troops could fight as well as yours, quelling the rebellion would probably be a matter of moments!"

Anning just smiled without saying a word.

The French civil war lasted until 1796, and it was interspersed with wars against foreign powers.

In any case, after 1790 was over, France hardly had a single day of peace, there was constant warfare.

There was no need to tell Dan Dong this.

Dan Dong changed the subject: "By the way, speaking of which, have you made any progress with the Duke’s daughter?"

Anning: "Huh? What the heck?"

"Everyone in Paris is saying that you’re the son-in-law the Duke has his eye on, and that’s why he’s been working so hard to help you. Now, half of the pamphlets in Paris are about the military romance between you and Christina!"

Anning suddenly thought of Christina’s pectoral muscles and hurriedly chased the exaggerated whiteness from his mind.

"It’s not like that; I’m too busy with marching and fighting to attend to these matters," Anning replied, "Christina is an outstanding Cavalry officer, and her recon has been a great help to me."

Dan Dong: "Just recon?"

"Just recon," Anning said firmly.

Dan Dong continued: "That’s rather unromantic. Even though Christina joined the army, she’s still a girl. There are examples of female soldiers getting married afterward!"

Anning: "Things like that depend on the girl’s own intentions, what we say doesn’t count. Besides, with the current situation, it’s not a good time for romance."

"That so," Dan Dong shrugged.

Though he had refuted Dan Dong, Anning’s mind couldn’t help but indulge in wild fantasies—Christina wasn’t impossible; after all, she was quite tall, beautiful, and quite tall...

**

It took Anning and his group a week to get back to Paris.

Three days before his return to Paris, news of his comeback had already spread throughout the whole city.

And the person most displeased with this news was Lafayette.

That day, Lafayette sat in his study, puffing on his cigarette in gloom.

Sitting on the guest sofa, the Mayor of Paris, Ba Yi, lit his pipe leisurely: "Originally, I wanted to use this opportunity to undermine his reputation, but now instead, he’s returning in a blaze of glory. In a few days, after he speaks at the National Assembly, he will probably be promoted to Brigadier General. By then, it wouldn’t be surprising if he also gets the title of National Guard Deputy Commander."

Lafayette clicked his tongue: "Who would have thought he could defeat so many Rebel Armies? From the information we’ve collected so far, even if his victory was somewhat inflated, he has at least defeated an enemy force three times his size. I don’t know how he did it."

Ba Yi: "You don’t know either? I thought a hero of the Independence War would have ways of doing the same thing!"

Lafayette: "The forces of the Independence War were not so disparate. Even if you exclude the Continental Army, which was not up to snuff, we still had the advantage compared to the British troops."

Ba Yi: "Is that so..."

Lafayette let out a long sigh: "As much as I’m reluctant to believe it, I have to admit, that damn Leatherworker does have some talent in warfare!"

Ba Yi: "Aren’t you going to do something about it? At this rate, his prestige in Parliament will completely surpass yours!"

Lafayette: "Humph, all I can do is congratulate him then. The only silver lining is that I have the merit of victory in the Independence War, so I won’t lose the position of General of the Self-Defense Army to him."

"Thinking on the bright side," Ba Yi paused, "that Leatherworker has always seemed indifferent to status and power; maybe he will remain without desires?"

"How is that possible! After achieving such victory, how could he not crave more? Once he arrives in Paris, he will definitely shows his greedy side!" Lafayette said decidedly.