Descending On France 1780
Chapter 124: What does ’red hand’ mean!

Chapter 124: What does ’red hand’ mean!

News that Anning began conscripting troops at an estate on the outskirts of Paris spread, and more people from Paris flocked to this small rural estate.

For several days in a row, people kept streaming into the estate nonstop, turning it into a marketplace.

From the second floor of the estate, Anning even saw people getting the idea to sell water and snacks among the crowd.

But because there were too many people, it was impossible to house them all after the conscription; the estate had only so many houses, and even if the animal sheds were included, there was still not enough room for so many people.

Consequently, Anning had no choice but to send the people who had been recruited thus far over to Conte.

Over a few days, Anning had already sent several infantry companies to Conte, and in order to have enough non-commissioned officers in charge of organization, Anning promoted a series of sergeants from the company he had brought back with him to Paris, to cope with the situation for the time being.

Anning’s move greatly furrowed Lazar Kano’s brow.

But, given the circumstances, he didn’t say much more.

On the other hand, for the remnants of the Sunset Knights, since most of the soldiers were genuine sergeants and officers, organization was much simpler.

For some reason, Anning’s organization of the Sunset Knights—the Sunset Army—received many interpretations in Paris, and as a result, a bunch of little nobles who had survived the rural revolution flocked to join this unit.

Because vetting each of these people would require too much manpower and energy, Anning pinched his nose and accepted them all.

As a result, the situation became very strange; Anning, a contributor to the overthrow of the old regime, had under his command the most reactionary of armies...

Lazar Kano also expressed his concerns about this, but Anning assured him that in future battles, he would use the Sunset Knights as a suicide squad, so there was no need to worry.

On the 24th of July, Anning sent a newly formed women’s Cavalry unit to Conte.

This unit had no horses yet, so they had to walk to Conte.

Everything seemed to be getting on track.

Because Lazar Kano was too capable, Anning found himself with spare time, hence he spent each day drinking tea with the young maid on the second-floor terrace.

It must be said, this hands-off approach to governance felt truly wonderful!

On the 26th of July, Anning was having tea as usual, when suddenly a servant appeared on the terrace and whispered a few words into Vanni’s ear.

Anning: "What’s the matter?"

"There’s someone who specifically asked to see you, claiming to be an acquaintance," said Vanni with a shrug, "I’ll go down and have a look."

Anning: "No, I’m not busy anyway, let him come up."

Vanni: "I wouldn’t recommend this. If just anyone who wishes to see you can do so, it might..."

Anning cut off Vanni’s words: "I’m not any real noble. I’m the same as everyone else, and since I have time, why not meet someone who comes looking for me? It’s fine. You were a maid for nobles, and it’s understandable from your point of view that this shouldn’t be how things are done, but remember, I’m not a noble, I’m just the son of a leatherworker."

Vanni didn’t respond, but simply bowed slightly: "Then I will bring the person up."

After saying that, she turned around and followed the waiter who came to report.

After a moment, Vanni came up with a young boy who looked to be about fourteen or fifteen years old.

Anning frowned when he saw the boy: "I don’t remember having such a young friend."

The boy immediately took a step forward: "Mr. Frost! My dad died during the attack on the Bastille, and my mom participated in the march on Versailles; she was a supporter of yours! Before she died, she told me to find you, saying that there were no orderlies by your side, and you must be short of people!"

Anning frowned: "Before she died?"

The child nodded: "Yes, she fell ill, always coughing up blood. Doctors came to bleed her several times, but it didn’t get any better, and eventually we ran out of money and could no longer afford a proper doctor. We found a street doctor who bled her, but after that, she kept having a high fever, and in the end, she died..."

As he spoke, the child started to cry, covering his face with his hands.

Vanni took out a handkerchief, knelt in front of the boy, and began to wipe away his tears, softly consoling him: "Don’t cry, speak properly."

Anning sighed.

He probably guessed what was happening. The patient was already weak, and bloodletting had made him even weaker. That fever at the end must have been an infection of the wound, coupled with his original illness, which led him to die quickly.

This is what medical practice was like in this era: whether one could be saved entirely depended on how tough one’s fate was. If your fate wasn’t strong enough, even someone as eminent as Washington could be treated to death.

After the child stopped crying, he looked at Anning: "Mr. Frost, I..."

Anning: "Did your mother send you to be my orderly?"

"Yes, she said so. She said she’d observed for a long time that you never had an orderly or any attendants, so she told me to give it a try."

Anning curled his lips and thought to himself that this mother was a smart woman. Having her son serve as an infantryman might quickly lead to a tragic death on the battlefield, but being an orderly was much safer.

But Anning shook his head: "I can’t let you be an orderly, because no one knows if you were sent by my enemies. There are many in Paris who want me dead.

"However, I respect your mother’s wish of not wanting you to die senselessly on the battlefield. Vanni, send this child to the stables, and have coachman George teach him how to care for horses."

Vanni: "Yes."

The child immediately showed a grateful expression, obviously, he did not insist on being an orderly; he just wanted to find a livelihood that could keep him alive.

The child repeatedly thanked Anning, and then Vanni took him away.

A moment later, Vanni returned: "There’s a gentleman in the hallway asking to see you."

Anning frowned: "Another orphan?"

"No, it’s your recruitment officer, Sergeant Paul."

Anning immediately perked up because he had ordered the recruitment officers to watch out for several specific individuals and report back immediately if they were recruited.

Anning: "Who has he found?"

Vanni: "I’m not sure, shall I let him come up?"

Anning: "Quickly let him come up!"

Moments later, Sergeant Paul appeared with a young man of about eighteen or nineteen.

Sergeant Paul saluted Anning and announced loudly: "General, sir! We have found someone who meets your criteria, as per your command!"

Anning: "Good! Full of spirit!"

Damn, I just responded reflexively because Paul’s voice was too loud!

Anning: "Who have you found?"

Sergeant Paul pointed to the young man beside him: "This here is the dyework apprentice, Jean Lannes! He just came today to enlist in our army."

Anning was overjoyed: "Oh! Spalasi!"

What the hell am I saying?!

Anning: "I mean, well done!"

He stood up, walked around Jean Lannes, scrutinizing him with evaluative eyes.

Indeed, he looked almost identical to the person in the portrait! It must be thanked that portrait painters of this era were all realists. Even with some artistic embellishment, they wouldn’t completely change someone’s appearance like future beautifying filters would.

There was no doubt, this was the "Undying Grenadier," the commoner who became a Marshal from the dyeworks, Jean Lannes.

Anning rubbed his hands together in excitement, he had drawn another SSR! I wondered why my gacha luck was so poor before I crossed over – even my guaranteed draws were off. It turns out all the luck had been accumulating right here!

Jean Lannes, worthy of being the Marshal who later distinguished himself in courage above all others, although the current situation was bizarre, he still stood tall and proud without any sign of shrinking back.

Anning spoke: "Are you Jean Lannes?"

"Yes, that is me, a dyer’s apprentice!"

"No matter, I was a leatherworker! The Revolution has given us completely different fates!" Anning patted Lannes’ shoulder, "Do well in my ranks. Go down and find Captain Lazar Kano, tell him you’re the assistant I’m sending him, and let him teach you how to organize the army."