Descending On France 1780
Chapter 225 - 218 Chameleon Talleyrand demonstrates his power

Chapter 225: 218 Chameleon Talleyrand demonstrates his power

Anning frowned as he recalled the night when he entered the Palais des Tuileries.

He thought of the young Emperor who had a striking resemblance to Christina, arrogantly looking down on him.

This fellow was so bewitched by the throne that he forgot his own surname, staying in France he would undoubtedly be a disaster.

Although many Royalists had been killed, there were still a vast number who had escaped abroad, with significant influence.

Moreover, with rural rebellions like those in the Vendée, France had been the bastion of feudalism in Europe, the most feudal country.

Keeping Louis XVII could turn unpredictable.

So Anning made up his mind: "Tomorrow I will go to the Parliament and directly call for the trial of Louis XVII."

Robespierre: "Are you sure? He is your brother-in-law; this will label you as a kin-slaying beast. Maybe we should handle it."

Anning: "Are you confident in sentencing him to death?"

Dan Dong straightforwardly replied: "No. There is already great resistance to executing the King, many believe that now since we have seized power, it would be better to spare the King’s life rather than drive the Royalists to desperation.

"How foolish. We’ve already completely fallen out with the Royalists, showing mercy to the enemy is cruelty towards our own comrades! The Royalists wouldn’t hesitate to slaughter us when given the chance."

Marat: "Then, in such a situation, you’ve gone and entangled yourself with the King’s sister."

Anning couldn’t help facepalming: "I just felt that with Paris being so chaotic right now, it’s unsafe for her to go home alone. Fine, I’ll personally attend the meeting tomorrow... Wait, is this procedurally legal?"

Robespierre: "Of course, as the Chairman, I can invite you to the Parliament to discuss the current security situation in Paris, making it completely legal."

"Alright, then I will show up at the Parliament tomorrow to present my stance that the chief evil must be eradicated; after that, the voting is up to you."

Dan Dong snapped his fingers: "Excellent, very good. Let’s do it this way!"

At that moment, a Waiter brought over wine, and Dan Dong raised his glass: "Let’s toast to the nascent Republic!"

Anning also raised his glass: "Cheers!"

By doing so, he prompted all the gentlemen of the Jacobin Club to pick up their glasses, and the entire monastery echoed with the shouts of "Long live the Republic!"

**

The next day, Anning changed into a clean military uniform and set off early from the headquarters towards the Parliament.

As he neared the entrance of the Parliament, he suddenly saw several people wearing Phrygian caps and long trousers rummaging through corpses on the ground.

The corpses looked fresh, presumably Royalists who had met a tragic end last night.

One of the men in long trousers heard the horse hooves, looked up to see that it was General Frost, and sprang up, shouting: "Long live General Frost!"

Upon hearing the shout, others looked up in puzzlement, then all stood up and joined in the chanting.

Anning frowned and said to Lana beside him: "We must restore order in Paris as soon as possible to prevent the endless cycle of retribution from escalating."

Lana: "I’ll do my best."

He rode forward angrily, "Did you all kill these people? Only the court has the authority to judge and execute Royalists!"

The man who just cheered responded: "They were executed after a court’s judgment! The court is right over there; it continues today! These few were die-hard Royalists!"

As soon as he finished speaking, someone muttered: "What die-hard Royalists? They just owed Old Barber money, and then Old Barber became the Judgment Chief and executed them!"

Anning: "Lana, investigate this matter, and if it’s true, take out the Judgment Chief who abused his authority."

Lana nodded and had the men lead him to find the Judgment Chief.

After sending Lana off, Anning continued towards the Parliament.

The National Assembly was also crowded with onlookers from Paris today, and when they saw Anning, they began to shout "Long live General Frost!"

Anning nodded and acknowledged nonstop.

Robespierre and others had already arrived at the Parliament and were waiting for him at the entrance.

Standing with them was a large group of parliamentarians.

All looked at Anning with inexplicable expressions.

Anning dismounted, joined Robespierre and the others, and then they all entered the parliamentary chamber together.

Robespierre, as Chairman, was positioned next to the platform, able to approach the rostrum with a mere stand. Anning’s seat was beside it, separated by one Robespierre.

Dan Dong sat next to Anning.

And Marat was in the very front row of the observer’s seats.

Saint Just sat to the left of the rostrum, his seat higher than the platform. The Jacobins usually favored these elevated seats, hence also known as the Mountain Faction.

After Anning took his seat, he noticed many members stealthily glancing at him and whispering to each other.

He even heard someone mutter: "Didn’t we veto the decree to put Louis XVII on trial yesterday?"

Because you vetoed the decree, that’s why I came!

As Anning was thinking this, Robespierre stood up, clapped his hands forcefully to draw everyone’s attention, and then loudly declared: "Today, I have invited General Frost to report to us the situation in Paris, so the General will be present at the meeting. Now, let us begin today’s session.

"After we rejected the execution of Louis XVII yesterday, the masses immediately unleashed their dissatisfaction. Thus today, we will continue to discuss whether to execute Louis XVII! This is to respond to the voices of the people of Paris!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the spectators in the stands shouted loudly: "Execute him!"

"Hang the King!"

"He should be held responsible for our fatalities that night!"

"My brother died in combat against the Royalists! Why should the head of the Royalists live!"

Seeing this, Anning thought, if the people also want Louis XVII executed, then what are we waiting for!

Just at that moment, Robespierre announced the start of the meeting, so Anning intended to directly address the assembly, responding to the call of the masses.

But before he could act, someone stood up.

Anning almost didn’t recognize him until he spoke, realizing it was the infamous Chameleon Talleyrand!

—Goodness, Bishop, after a few years of the revolution, you’ve put on quite some weight! So much that I can barely recognize you!

Talleyrand stood up and glanced at Anning, his expression as if to say "I fully understand, leave it to me."

Anning raised his eyebrows, wondering if this chameleon had already grasped the significance of his appearance at the Parliament.

And he had decided to take my place in calling everyone to judge Louis XVII so that I wouldn’t have to become a kin-slaying beast?

Worthy of being the most famous chameleon of the Revolutionary France, you really get it!

As Anning was thinking this, Talleyrand began: "Ladies and gentlemen! We all know, the people of Paris, strongly demand the execution of Louis XVII. Without executing Louis XVII, their rage will not be appeased!"

Anning thought, yes, yes, Talleyrand, that’s right!

Talleyrand glanced again at Anning and continued: "Hence, our decision to veto the proposal to put Louis XVII on trial yesterday caused a massive uproar! We must reconsider it today!

"Ladies and gentlemen! For the new-born Republic, we must thoroughly liquidate the old feudal system; a King must die!"

The spectators applauded wildly, and Anning was also pleased, well done, Talleyrand!

This way I don’t have to say it myself! Although my fiancée has already given up on her brother, my father-in-law still reminisces about him. Personally proposing to kill him would surely cause heartache.

You did very well, Talleyrand!

At this point, Talleyrand pressed down the cheering with both hands, and solemnly continued: "But, ladies and gentlemen, think about it, is it enough to just execute any King?"

Anning: Huh?

Talleyrand, what are you trying to do?

Talleyrand: "The Louis XVII we currently have in custody is but a puppet propped up by the Royalists! If we kill him, would that satisfy us? Certainly not! The real mastermind, and the outright traitor with undeniable evidence, is Louis XVI in Vienna, along with his Austrian Woman!

"What we should judge, is not the puppet Louis XVII, but the real mastermind Louis XVI! If we were to judge Louis XVII and then execute him triumphantly, the Royalists would mock us instead!"

Anning: ?

Talleyrand raised his arm and cried out: "We should, with all our might, support General Frost. I believe the General will certainly turn the tide, defeat the imminent Prussian-Austrian coalition, march to the Vienna District, and bring back that accumulated scoundrel Louis XVI, along with his Austrian witch to face the trial of the Republic!"

Anning: ????

Talleyrand: "This must be the reason why General Frost is participating in this meeting!"

I’m not, I didn’t say that! Don’t talk nonsense!