Descending On France 1780
Chapter 256 - 249 The Incorruptible Goes Alone

Chapter 256: 249 The Incorruptible Goes Alone

Anning’s request to meet with Robespierre alone in the carriage quickly spread.

Lareveiller Lebel, with a grimace on his face, found Paul Barras in the stand: "The Chairman of the National Assembly, theoretically the Head of State, scurried off as soon as Frost called him to discuss matters in the carriage. I think we might as well directly appoint Frost as the Duke of the Country and give him a lifelong ruling position!"

Barras: "Although not holding a position in the National Assembly, he is indeed the leader of the Jacobin, universally recognized as their leader. I’ve requested the General to tighten the reins on the current situation."

"You’ve already sought him out, huh?" Lebel sneered, "Hopefully it works, or who knows how many people will suffer. It could end up with the heads of public figures other than the Jacobin rolling."

Barras: "That will not happen. The more the Jacobin indiscriminately slaughters their opponents, the more discontent they arouse. Robespierre is too much of a purist; incorruptibles are anomalies in this world. He doesn’t understand that this world needs necessary compromises. Negotiation, in fact, is an art of compromise."

Lebel: "Would Frost compromise?"

"Of course he would. On the surface, he seems to be pushing the revolution, but in reality, he has a very flexible baseline. He is a pragmatic politician."

Barras paused, speaking in an admiring tone, "He is a deft hand, unlike the incorruptibles. We should be thankful that he’s there to pull back on Robespierre’s reins, otherwise, we could only wait for everyone to grow weary of the Jacobin’s reign of terror, then find a way to end this madness."

Lebel: "Who knows how long that would take."

"Exactly, so we’d better hope the reins work. The good news is, Frost does not agree with the current blindly expansive approach.

"There’s no better news than this."

Having said that, Barras sighed. Then Lebel suddenly leaned in and whispered, "By saying this, do you mean that if anything happened to Robespierre, Frost wouldn’t blame the National Assembly?"

Barras glared fiercely at Lebel: "Don’t act rashly! When Robespierre opts for expansionism, it still goes through court and the guillotine. Frost, when dealing with Paris — you know what he does! He’s ruthless, using shotguns to blast traitors right on the streets of Paris. Don’t provoke Frost!"

Lebel: "Didn’t you say Frost disagrees with the actions of the incorruptibles?"

"But he still acknowledges him as a friend, at most it’s a disagreement between friends, do you understand? If you do that kind of thing, it becomes enmity, and he would use cannons against his enemies!" Barras said, looking around nervously, then advised again, "Don’t even think in that direction, absolutely not!"

**

As soon as Robespierre stepped into Anning’s carriage, he excitedly said: "I heard you rushed back from the frontline, and was thinking of visiting your headquarters at Versailles! Let me tell you, I’m currently in Paris, rooting out hidden enemies one by one!

"Very soon, only the Patriots will remain in Paris!"

Anning: "Maximilien, have you ever considered that sending people massively to the guillotine could push those who were not against us to the opposing side?"

Robespierre, glaring at Anning: "What do you mean? Let those already gone, those traitors hidden and assassinated by nefarious means! During such times, decisive actions must be taken to completely eliminate traitors!"

Jean Paul Marat’s full name is Jean Paul Marat.

Anning: "I’m also grieved by Jean’s death, but that cannot justify our misuse of the guillotine. Everyone sent to the guillotine should have solid evidence, to prevent any injustice!"

Robespierre: "That’s exactly what we’re doing! Every person sent to the guillotine has solid evidence! I know you’re afraid of killing the innocent; I assure you, if it happens, it’s very rare!"

Robespierre paused, then added: "Moreover, even if a few cases are mistaken, it doesn’t matter, given the critical situation. We would rather wrongly execute dozens or hundreds rather than let a single Royalist or Girondist go!"

Anning was left utterly silenced by Robespierre’s firm belief in his own righteousness.

Such a person is beyond dissuasion.

No wonder in the original history, he later parted ways with his former close friends such as Dan Dong.

On the battlefield, Anning had never despaired, no matter how dire the situation, he still felt there was a turning point. But now, facing Robespierre, who showed not a hint of hesitation, Anning felt helpless for the first time.

Could it be that the key to saving Robespierre was to protect Marat?

Anning wanted to make one last attempt, so he said to Robespierre: "You were originally very gentle, always playing the role of holding back Dan Dong and Marat who rushed ahead..."

"It is because of my gentleness that I was killed by them in the most despicable way! I am ashamed, you had already perceived such danger and provided him with bodyguards, while I did nothing!"

Robespierre showed a look of self-reproach: "It can be said that I caused Jean’s death. His death made me realize, being merciful to the enemy is cruelty to comrades!"

Anning was astounded.

The gentle Robespierre was no longer there, here now was the steel-like "Corrosion-resistant", who would send all he deemed as enemies to the guillotine.

Anning gave up, as adopting this policy of terror objectively did stabilize Paris.

Despite the rampant beheadings, the overall order in Paris was actually quite good.

Let’s drive out the invading armies within France first.

Robespierre: "How long will you stay in Paris?"

"Until the day Marat is buried," Anning replied.

"Is that so, is there no problem at the front?"

"Generally, there shouldn’t be any problem, we have already crushed the weakest of the three enemy forces, one is blocked at Sedan, another below the fortress of Verdun. The strong fortresses will stop them. Next, after we replenish the new troops, we will conduct mobile operations between the Somme River and Marne River to relieve the siege on the two fortresses."

Robespierre: "I don’t understand military affairs, but everything is under your control, right?"

"One could say that."

"Good, then we can rest assured and hold a grand funeral."

Anning: "A grand funeral?"

"Yes, we need to make this funeral, the death knell for the hidden Royalists and Girondists in Paris!"

Anning: "Maximilien, the toughest Royalist in Paris has already been turned into a sieve by Napoleon’s cannon!"

"But the Girondists have not!" Robespierre replied emphatically.

For a moment, Anning thought of using force to make Robespierre stop, but then thought again that the policy of terror did indeed maintain the stability of Paris, and effectively dealt with the potential Royalists and traitors.

So, Anning ultimately made his choice.

Compared to a chaotic rear, a stable rear was better, even if the cost was the blood of a large number of innocents.

As for Robespierre’s transformation into a great devil, to put it positively, now as the leader of the four giants of the Jacobin, it is still Frost, while Robespierre is the second in command, theoretically he could stop him at any time.