Descending On France 1780
Chapter 119 - 113 What does it mean to consecutively draw SSR cards?

Chapter 119: 113 What does it mean to consecutively draw SSR cards?

An exhausted Anning waved his hand: "Alright, have it your way. I’m a bit tired and need to return to my estate."

Beethoven stepped forward and grabbed Anning’s hand: "After Omnes and I complete this song, what should we call it?"

Anning frowned. To be honest, he wasn’t good at naming things; it gave him a headache just thinking about it. Since the melody was originally from the Marseillaise, he simply answered: "Just call it the Marseillaise."

Beethoven was shocked: "Why call it the Marseillaise?"

Anning: "Because the melody of this song came to me for the first time while I was drinking Marseilles fish soup."

Beethoven: "Just because of that, you want to call it the Marseillaise? That’s too childish!"

Anning scratched his head. Clearly, Beethoven and his group held him in such high esteem, so why couldn’t they just follow his lead?

It must be because he is Beethoven.

With no other option, Anning had to think of something else: "This..."

Suddenly, he had a brilliant idea, and slapped his thigh: "Call it the Hymn of Rome! The awakened citizens will create a new Rome on the land of France. The awakened citizens are the new Roman citizens!"

Beethoven thought for a moment, then smiled: "Good! I like this name! Citizens, arm yourselves to defend the new Rome!"

Anning nodded. He didn’t tell Beethoven that he had another meaning in mind when he thought of the name Hymn of Rome.

Rome later had a dictator who became Emperor, and the First Republic of France would too.

And I also know this future emperor.

When the time came, Beethoven would scold Napoleon, and Anning could mediate at the side, maintaining a lifelong good friendship with the great musician.

Beethoven, excited, paced back and forth: "Hymn of Rome, Hymn of Rome! Then the arrangement of this song needs some changes, it has to be grander, with the addition of more musical instruments in Roman style!"

Anning: "That’s the concern of the composer, not mine. I am heading back to my estate now. Once you’ve got it figured out, come straight to the estate to find me, no need to send a letter in advance. I’ll let my little maid know."

In this era, visiting someone required sending a servant with a letter in advance, otherwise, it was considered impolite. So Anning said this to save some trouble.

Beethoven: "Okay! I will definitely come!"

Anning nodded, turned, and left the theater.

Outside the theater, many people who had just watched the opera were chatting. Someone recognized Anning and exclaimed: "Long live the Lion of Bastille!"

Anning could only put on a smile and wave in return.

At that moment, the theater’s servant brought out Anning’s white horse. He hurriedly jumped on before the crowd closed in and galloped away.

**

By the time he returned to the estate, it was already late at night.

Vanni, as always, was holding a lantern at the gate, waiting for Anning’s return.

As Anning stopped at the gate, Vanni came up to take the horse.

Anning: "You don’t need to wait for me at the gate yourself; we have so many servants now!"

"I am your personal maid, of course, I should wait. By the way, sir, you’re a General now, why not assign yourself an orderly? Other generals go out with a whole entourage, why are you always alone?"

Anning: "Because I’m pretty much a general without an army. Besides the young ladies from the Cavalry, I don’t have a single proper officer under me. I couldn’t possibly bring a bunch of rookies as an entourage, could I?

"But I could use an orderly."

As Anning spoke, a thought occurred to him; his current title was the Magician of the Battlefield, just like Yang Weili from ’Galaxy Heroes Legend’. Perhaps it’s time for my adopted son Julian to make an appearance.

And my Filletilia...

At this moment, Vanni said: "Right, you had a visitor today, he has been waiting in your study for a long time, and from the looks of it, he doesn’t seem to plan on resting in the guest room until he sees you."

Anning: "Who is it?"

"He gave his name as Lazar Kano."

Anning, who was just about to hand over the horse to Vanni and enter the manor’s gate, stumbled almost face-planting into the dirt.

Lazar Kano? The "Organizer of Victory," who reformed the military of Revolutionary France and established an army of seven hundred thousand regular troops?

A man so capable that when Napoleon pronounced himself Emperor, despite his voting against it, he continued to hold an important position—Napoleon couldn’t afford to replace him because of his sheer competence.

During the Republic, when the Royalist Party briefly seized power after the Jacobins, this guy was exiled for his support of the republic, and as soon as he left, the French Army stumbled, getting severely beaten by the Anti-France Alliance.

Later, during the Coup of Brumaire, Napoleon quickly invited the exiled Kano back to continue overseeing the military construction.

In short, he is fierce enough to be featured on ’Hardcore Fierce People,’ the program that Little John could host.

Vanni looked puzzled at Anning: "Why do you have an expression as if you’ve seen a noble young lady undressed?"

Anning quickly wiped her face, concealing her fanboy expression.

"Where is Mr. Kano? In the study? Alright, I’ll go see him at once!"

Vanni was even more puzzled: "Is this Mr. Kano very famous?"

"Not very famous right now," Anning said. "But he is a military officer, isn’t he?"

"Yes, he introduced himself as a Captain who graduated from the Military Engineering Academy."

"You see, we’re short of officers, and then an officer shows up."

Anning strode eagerly toward the main house of the estate, not concealing his eagerness at all.

Vanni was supposed to take the horse to the stable, so she didn’t follow, but her gaze at Anning’s retreating back was a strange one.

**

As soon as Anning reached the study, he saw a Captain in engineer officer’s uniform stand up.

After a close scrutiny, Anning confirmed that this was the Lazar Kano mentioned in Napoleon’s memoir, almost identical to the illustrations in the book.

"Hello, General Frost," Kano began, "I apologize for the sudden visit. My name is Lazar Kano..."

"I know you! You’re a top graduate from France’s Military Engineering Academy, and a mathematician!" Anning rattled off, "Have you come to join my ranks?"

Kano was a bit bewildered by Anning’s enthusiasm but nodded: "Yes, I’ve indeed considered it."

"May I ask why?" Anning queried, although he was itching to say, "Great, fantastic, you’re my Minister of War," and appoint him on the spot then assign him important tasks; still, protocols must be observed, otherwise people might be suspicious.

Kano, somewhat awkwardly, said: "I was originally set to be dispatched as a representative to the Legislative Assembly in Calais, but my friend Robespierre recommended that I come to you for employment, mentioning you particularly needed experienced officers at the moment."

Anning then remembered that Lazar Kano and Robespierre were friends because in around 1780 Kano had been sent to Alas, Robespierre’s hometown, where he had worked until 1789.

Lazar Kano took out a letter: "This is a letter of introduction from Robespierre for you."

Anning took the letter, tore it open, and skimmed through.

Robespierre had written a great deal, roughly stating how excellent Kano was as a military engineer and officer, and how his skills could certainly be of significant use to Anning.

After seriously reading the letter, Anning said to Lazar Kano: "I don’t need a military engineer for the time being—don’t worry though, I may not need engineers, but I desperately need experienced officers, especially those capable of organizing and training troops."

Lazar Kano stood at attention, facing Anning, "I also have some knowledge in this area, and I should be able to assist you!"