Descending On France 1780
Chapter 273 - 266 Rummaging Through Old Accounts and Its Associated Reactions

Chapter 273: 266 Rummaging Through Old Accounts and Its Associated Reactions

Inside the coalition’s headquarters, Duke Brunswick and Marshal Alvizi faced reports of a sudden influx of French Army, plunging them into confusion.

"How could so many French troops suddenly appear?" Marshal Alvizi frowned, "They are everywhere. Did we poke a hornet’s nest?"

Marshal Alvizi still held the old thinking where two nations’ armies fought bitterly, and the common people watched as spectators, endorsing the crest of the winning side.

This had been the norm in Europe’s feudal wars for many years, just as it was during the Seven Years’ War, a decade ago.

He had no concept of a nation-state or universal conscription.

Duke Brunswick: "These must be mercenaries! The French have spent a fortune hiring so many troops to fight us!"

Marshal Alvizi turned to his chief of staff: "Are there reports that these ’French troops’ have Italian or Swiss accents, or perhaps from Hesse Territory?"

"No, Marshal."The chief of staff answered succinctly.

Alvizi glanced at Duke Brunswick.

Duke shrugged, "I was just trying to explain why so many French troops suddenly appeared."

As Alvizi was about to speak, suddenly a messenger soldier ran in: "Report! The troops besieging Sedan Fortress have been defeated; His Highness Franz’s brother has been captured by the French."

"What?" Alvizi was startled, immediately took the letter, and quickly scanned it, "Damn, this is bad. How am I going to break this news to His Majesty? He is in the hands of the French who are massacring the nobles!"

Duke Brunswick came over, took the letter, and also scanned it, then said, "Keep calm, the Grand Duke should still be in the fortress. We just need to redeploy troops and surround it again."

Alvizi: "Yes, the troops we can deploy immediately now..."

"There are troops, but they are about to reinforce Babi Village." The chief of staff answered, "If we divert them to surround the fortress, we might have to use the entire reserve."

Alvizi: "...Then let’s use it, there are French troops everywhere, it’s not the time to hold back forces. Also, send someone to gather the scattered siege troops and reorganize them as much as possible."

"Understood, I will get it done."

The chief of staff saluted and left.

Alvizi sighed, "Fortunately, according to current reports, the large number of French troop units appearing are weak in combat ability, having high morale but no tactical maneuvers. Our prepared troops shouldn’t be overwhelmed by these units."

Duke Brunswick: "The troops at Verdun have successfully held their position. Sedan...might have been ambushed."

Alvizi: "It might be because Sedan had no cavalry and therefore no early warning."

In this era, battlefield awareness primarily depended on cavalry; without it, soldiers were nearly blind and deaf.

Alvizi: "Although there are many French troops, we can still win as long as we stabilize our position!"

Duke Brunswick: "I think we should write a letter and report our situation here to request more reinforcements."

Alvizi hesitated: "With the capture of Grand Duke Carl, I doubt if I will receive reinforcements, and I might even be dismissed because of this."

Brunswick: "Indeed, that’s possible... but this isn’t our fault, who could have foreseen this?"

Alvizi sighed and looked at the sky, "Someone has to take responsibility for defeat, especially under an emperor who likes accountability."

**

A day later, the news of Grand Duke Carl’s capture reached Paris City.

All the newspapers, no matter which faction they belonged to — well, now only the Jacobin newspapers could be published, as the editors of other faction’s newspapers might have already "moved their heads".

In any case, all the newspapers reported with the largest font size: "The Habsburg Royal Family captured, great victory at Sedan Fortress."

Suddenly, the name Napoleon Bonaparte was known throughout the entire Paris City, and suddenly everyone in the city knew that General Frost had a highly capable confidant.

Then an accident happened, because someone dug out the official records from the enlistment office, claiming Napoleon was a Noble, and moreover, his noble title was bestowed by the fugitive great traitor Louis XVI, who also gave him two thousand Francs and allowed him entrance to Briena Military Academy.

For a time, there were people in Paris City starting to drum up opinions, saying one should not be guillotined just for being a Noble, as Nobles can very much be Republicans.

The National Assembly was immediately dragged into the vortex, many members tired of the endless bloody terror raised objections, demanding an end to the relentless trials and executions.

That afternoon, several members who held such views spoke.

As soon as they finished speaking, Dan Dong stood up.

"Our current terror policy is to protect the newly born Republic! There might be some who were wrongfully sent to the guillotine, but we would rather kill mistakenly than let any hidden enemies go free and root them out entirely!"

Dan Dong said this while slapping the table: "Until all the Royalists and all the Girondists are sent to the guillotine, we must not stop!"

Someone immediately stood up to oppose: "Have you not considered, it is precisely because we have killed so many innocents, that it has led to much resentment against the newborn French Republic? Even Frost disapproves of the indiscriminate killing; he has been sending people from Paris to Marseilles, we all know he’s protecting them!"

Dan Dong: "Frost also supports the adoption of terror policy! He sends people to Marseilles only because he wants to carry out his envisioned Steam Revolution; these people are there to build steam engines!"

"Bullshit Steam Revolution, he even sent Monsieur Equality to Marseilles, and remember, it was he who decided at a crucial time to marry the King’s sister! Consequently, instead of executing Louis XVII, the sentence turned into exile!

"I think, he is actually a Royalist, a deeply hidden Royalist! You’d better send him to the guillotine as well!"

At these words, the assembly erupted into an uproar; both the supporters and opposers of the terror policy were shocked.

Frost is a Royalist! Such rumors had long been circulating in Paris, but no one dared to say it so directly!

Especially to declare it openly and squarely in the Parliament!

There were already frightened members quietly leaving the scene.

The crowd watching the Parliament was also in an uproar.

Suddenly, someone in the crowd shouted: "Send this mischief-maker to the guillotine!"

This immediately got a response, and the crowd fervently chanted: "To think of executing our hero! Send him to the guillotine!"

The speaking member was fearless: "The personal rights of members are sacred and inviolable! This is stipulated in the constitution! Even if I truly am a Royalist, I cannot be tried or sent to the guillotine!"

Dan Dong was about to speak, when Robespierre stood up.

He adjusted his glasses, and said sternly: "Indeed, the constitution stipulates that the personal rights of members are sacred and inviolable, so I cannot judge you, nor send you to the guillotine.

"Because of this, we have failed to completely root out the Royalists."

"You..." the member who had just spoken showed fear, "What are you trying to say? No, you can’t do this..."

"I finally see clearly, the malaise at the heart of France lies right here, within this assembly hall!" Robespierre angrily pointed at the man, "As long as these stains remain hidden within the Parliament, the revolution will never be complete! But think carefully, the old constitution belongs to the constitutional monarchy of France, and we are now a Republic!"

The crowd’s cheers interrupted Robespierre’s speech: "Long live the Republic!"

When the crowd’s cheering subsided, Robespierre said: "Thus, we do not need to adhere to the old constitution! I propose, starting now, we vote to repeal from the old constitution, the provision that the personal rights of members are inviolable!"

Even Dan Dong was shocked, staring dumbfounded at Robespierre.