Descending On France 1780
Chapter 254 - 247 Virtuous Helpmate Christina

Chapter 254: 247 Virtuous Helpmate Christina

Anning arrived at Versailles before entering Paris City.

Versailles had now been transformed into a massive military camp, where troops realigned within Paris City would be redeployed to Versailles.

The rooms that once housed the French King’s servants and guards had all become barracks.

Even the area where the Royal Family once resided was now partly converted into the staff headquarters, still bustling with a considerable number of clerks at work.

And the former residences of the King and Queen had now become General Frost’s quarters.

Anning’s return to Versailles, in many ways, was like coming home.

Christina had prepared early and was already waiting at the gate with a group of officers.

As Anning dismounted, seeing this arrangement, she couldn’t help joking: "With such a reception, I might have thought you were some Princess from another nation here to welcome a suitor Prince."

Christina’s smile was somewhat awkward.

Anning puzzled, "What’s the matter?"

Christina stepped forward, took hold of Anning and whispered in her tip-toes: "Consider the implications; don’t just say something that can cause misunderstandings. I know you’re joking, but others might not think so."

Anning uttered an "oh".

Admittedly, joking like this was neglectful on her part. Now in her position, holding the entire Republic’s military power, and with high prestige among the people, on top of that having married the sister of Louis XVII.

Even by the old feudal hierarchy of succession, Anning had a slight claim to the crown of France.

In this situation, a casual joke of hers could be taken as more than a joke by others.

Anning put on a stern face: "I understand, I’ll be more cautious in the future."

Christina nodded, then, changing the subject said: "I’m very sorry about Marat. He was your good friend, wasn’t he?"

Anning nodded: "Yes, I met him after entering the military academy in Paris, and we often drank and played cards together at the club. He... was a like-minded friend."

Anning had thought she could view Marat, Robespierre, and others with the detached perspective of a historical bystander, but now she found it quite difficult.

After all, she had established so many connections with Marat.

The so-called human bonds are accumulated bit by bit in daily life.

Even if it were just a drinking buddy she often caroused with, his departure was saddening.

Christina gazed at Anning’s face and silently embraced her: "Condolences and be resilient."

Anning quietly relished the embrace of her fiancee.

After a moment, Christina pulled away and then expressed with worry: "Right, I think you should visit Robespierre. Marat’s death seems to have greatly shaken him; these past few days he’s been acting like he’s possessed by a demon. His landlady even came to the Versailles Palace to complain to me, saying that the once gentle and refined Robespierre seemed to have vanished."

Anning was taken aback: "Is that so? I’ll have a good talk with him."

Christina: "These recent days, Robespierre has sent many to the guillotine, even Mr. Lavoisier, whom you specifically wanted to protect, nearly met with misfortune. I’ve already had people escort Mr. Lavoisier and his family out of Paris to Marseilles overnight."

Anning: "Has it gotten so bad?"

"Yes, Robespierre seems to view all the old nobles as enemies. He even targeted the families of some Knights of the Twilight. It was Lazar Kano who acted and managed to save them."

Anning frowned: "The families of the Knights of the Twilight? They have proven their loyalty to the Revolution!"

"But their status as old nobility hasn’t changed!" Christina paused, then anxiously lowered her voice and said, "Moreover, I feel that in Paris there are people taking the opportunity to incite... I mean, incite you and..."

Anning: "Is it Talleyrand’s doing? Or FouchE?"

"No, FouchE got the position of Special Commissioner for Lyon and has already set off for Lyon. Talleyrand, on the other hand, went to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and might be dispatched to the UK in a few days."

Although the UK did help form the coalition between Prussia and the Sardinian Kingdom, and also transported the old nobles to landings in areas like VendEe, it hasn’t taken direct hostile action against France itself.

Additionally, in this era, even if two countries were at war, they still maintained diplomatic relations and channels of communication.

Anning curled his lip: "These two sly foxes, seeing the situation in Paris is not looking good, are taking the opportunity to make a run for it."

If it were before, Anning would have definitely chosen to make a run for it too, to sit back and watch, but now he had no choice but to do so.

He could only stay at the center of the storm, desperately trying to hold the reins in the midst of everything going mad, to prevent the situation from completely spiraling out of control.

Anning: "Firstly, send your father to Marseilles. Everything can be discussed once he’s in Marseilles."

Anning had already wiped out all the Royalists in Marseilles, and with Marseilles being a hub for industry and commerce, places with developed industry and commerce were naturally strongholds of the Republicans.

Christina nodded: "I’ve already talked to my father about it, but he refuses to leave, he says he’s a deputy and has immunity."

Anning: "Tell him to leave quickly, soon the deputies will no longer have immunity. Also, have Lazar Kano make a list of the scientists within Paris City, send them all to Marseilles, no matter what their current positions are, just tell them to stop all their work."

Christina nodded repeatedly: "Okay, I understand. Only scientists? What about the poets and writers of Paris..."

Anning: "The poets and writers can join the National Guard. The musicians of Paris have already enlisted as military band members, so naturally poets and writers should also follow suit. I look forward to their great creations forged through the trials of blood and fire on the battlefield."

"I always feel like you’re prejudiced against poets and writers," Christina said with a light frown, then noticing Beethoven among Anning’s entourage, she asked with concern, "I heard that Ludwig has become deaf?"

Anning: "Yes, you have to speak very loudly when talking to him, or else he can’t hear you."

Christina covered her mouth in shock: "Good heavens, I’ll immediately find the best craftsman to make him a hearing aid..."

Beethoven, guessing Christina was talking about him, responded loudly—really very loudly: "Don’t worry about me, mere deafness is nothing, I shall seize fate by the throat, it shall not bring me to my knees!"

Anning: "That’s what he said."

Christina looked even more sorrowful: "Why must the heavens be so cruel, to take the hearing from such a talented musician."

Anning: "An old Chinese proverb says, ’Heaven in placing a man in a great position, will first test his will and resilience...’"

Anning recited a long passage and was then surprised to find that his translation augmentation didn’t translate a single word.

Christina looked puzzled at Anning: "That is..."

"A Chinese ancient saying." Anning could only say.

Christina: "You even understand Chinese! Is it the country mentioned in the travels of Marco Polo?"

"Yes, even further east than India."

Anning’s explanation filled Christina’s face with admiration.

It was fortunate that everyone was already used to Anning’s linguistic genius, otherwise this would really be hard to explain.

Anning steered the topic back to the Death of Marat: "When is Marat’s funeral?"

Christina: "In four days, his body will be placed in the PanthEon and a grand state funeral will be held before that."

Anning: "Understood. I’ll go into the city to see Maximilien first. The trend towards unlimited radicalization must be stopped."