Descending On France 1780
Chapter 284 - 277 Planter Andy

Chapter 284: 277 Planter Andy

Anning frowned and took the golden rod—I mean, the golden flagpole.

Anning: "The eagle is carved pretty impressively."

"The special commissioner FouchE found Lyon’s best goldsmith," the messenger said proudly.

Holding the flagpole, Anning thought to himself that he absolutely couldn’t use this flagpole because, in the European context, using this would mean he was nearly proclaiming himself Emperor.

But then... does it really matter?

In real history, the Jacobins went on a killing spree for the revolution, making many enemies, and then they nearly wiped themselves out. After the fall of the Jacobins, the Thermidorians who came after, every single one of them was an ambitious opportunist.

These people did nothing humane except filling their own coffers to the brim.

Many of the accomplishments of the French Revolution were actually solidified during the era when Napoleon became Emperor.

Maybe by seizing this moment to announce himself as the contemporary Caesar, becoming the First Governor, he could avoid the destruction of the Jacobins?

As Anning was pondering all this, Napoleon burst in excitedly, shouting as he entered: "Andy! Brilliant, I knew you could do it! 200,000 coalition troops, and you just chased them off!"

Napoleon was about to add more praises when he suddenly noticed the Eagle Flag in Anning’s hand. His entire expression changed: "This is the Eagle Flag! The Roman Eagle Flag! Are you finally going to fly the Eagle Flag directly? Fantastic, the deserters I captured on the road all said you’ve raised the Eagle Flag, I can’t believe it’s true!"

No, no, no, I just got the Eagle Flag!

Napoleon stepped forward, excitedly dancing with joy: "So it’s true! Personally carrying the Eagle Flag to charge at the enemy, even Caesar had never done such a thing! Andy, let’s restore the Roman Empire! The Roman Empire around the Mediterranean!"

Anning looked at Napoleon, this ultimate Roman fanatic, somewhat speechlessly.

Is rebuilding the Roman Empire such a simple matter? It’s not like in a Paradox Interactive game where clicking a decision instantly rebuilds Rome...

Even in a PI game, rebuilding Rome serves as a grand objective that generally marks the nearing end of the game.

Napoleon grew more excited: "Then we must restore Roman military tactics, forming Roman legions..."

To shut him up, Anning shoved the Eagle Flagpole into Napoleon’s hands.

This move proved effective immediately, as Napoleon shifted his focus onto the flagpole: "Oh, marvelous, beautifully made. Did you have this custom-made?"

"No, it was done by Special Commissioner FouchE."

Napoleon’s expression instantly became grave: "FouchE? Damn, he’s not loyal, he definitely has no good intentions. He’s just like Talleyrand; he’ll be extremely diligent when we’re prospering, but he’ll kick us when we’re down without hesitating!"

Anning: "I know."

Anning was of course very clear about the characters of FouchE and Talleyrand.

Speaking of which, he, Andy Frost, originally intended to take these two as his role models, but now he could no longer sit on the fence.

Napoleon continued: "I heard that Talleyrand has gone to the UK to do diplomacy. I suspect he might conspire with the British and sell France for a good price."

Anning: "Not yet, because Talleyrand is very shrewd, he knows that betting on France now is more profitable."

Napoleon laughed: "That’s true, especially since Andy you are incredibly brave, winning battles one after another. No one bets on a loser."

At that moment, Napoleon’s gaze shifted to Muller and Ney.

"Who are these two? Where’s Lasalle?"

Anning shrugged: "He got too carried away in his charge and got injured. Now he’s probably spending every day in Paris City, drinking and fondling women’s rear ends."

"Indeed, it’s truly enviable. No, I mean, it’s really infuriating!" Napoleon declared emphatically, "In such times, even if wounded, one must charge into battle. This is precisely when we are short of officers!"

Anning chuckled and introduced Moura and Ney to Napoleon: "This is Noachian Muller, an exceptionally outstanding Cavalry officer, and this is Michel Ney, also very... well, what I mean to say is, an excellent blacksmith."

Since Moura had been a Cavalry officer before the Great Revolutionary Wars, it was no problem to call him excellent.

As for Ney, he was actually a blacksmith before, so calling him an excellent officer didn’t seem quite right.

Anning: "Although he is a blacksmith, I sense in him the potential to become a distinguished officer."

Napoleon: "Your insights are always accurate, your ability to assess people is truly undeniable! That Bernadotte, I heard he also fought well in Verdun."

Anning: "Bernadotte? He didn’t come?"

Verdun is much closer to the current location of Anning Command than Sedan.

Napoleon: "The enemy has just withdrawn on his side, he’s probably busy clearing the battlefield. On my side, the enemies fled early. Oh, and I’ve brought Carl, the Grand Duke."

Anning: "Why didn’t you say so earlier? Please invite him in!"

Napoleon snapped his fingers, and his personal guard waiting at the doorway immediately went out to invite the Grand Duke in.

Upon entering, the Grand Duke fixated his gaze on the flagpole bearing the Eagle Emblem.

Napoleon noticed this and hurriedly tried to hide the flagpole behind him, but the flagpole was too tall and he was too short, which only made it more conspicuous.

Grand Duke Carl: "It seems you are already prepared to proclaim yourself the Caesar of our time?"

Anning: "No, Caesar is a title held by the Holy Roman Emperor, and as long as the Holy Roman exists, I would not claim to be Caesar."

Napoleon: "You could call yourself Augustus."

Augustus was also a title of the Roman Emperor, but for some reason Byzantine did not use it, instead creating the title Basileus.

Anning: "Don’t be like that, I know you’re joking, but the Duke might take it seriously. I have long admired you, Holy Roman Empire’s Royal Brother, Carl Ludwig Johann Joseph Lorenz."

Grand Duke Carl grasped Anning’s outstretched hand: "The honor is mine, for you are the renowned General Frost, the Savior of France."

Anning: "Even Austrians are calling me the Savior of France now?"

"What? I thought it was a title similar to those given to royalty..."

"Not at all," Anning waved his hand, "I am just an ordinary citizen of the Republic, following orders from the National Assembly to command troops in battle, that’s all."

While being modest, an idea formed in Anning’s mind.

—Wait a moment, planting a seed of republicanism in Grand Duke Carl here might prove quite interesting?

Historically, after witnessing everything about the Republic firsthand, especially the might of the newly formed National Guard, Grand Duke Carl implemented a series of reforms within Austria.

Although those reforms were mainly military, perhaps with a little push, could Grand Duke Carl be directed onto a path he hadn’t imagined?

Certainly not that path, but rather a bourgeois revolution, given the limitations of the era.

Thus, Anning was about to speak...

At that moment, Grand Duke Carl shifted his gaze from the Eagle Flag to Anning, his eyes gleaming with a thirst for knowledge: "General Frost, could you please explain to me in detail your viewpoints on the advantages of a national state?"

Anning was taken aback: Wow, the Duke is initiating questions himself?

Napoleon, as if boasting, said: "Ever since I discussed with him your views on the national state, he has been pondering over it and frequently asks me questions and debates with me! I’ve exhausted all I know and still can’t fully resolve his doubts, it’s up to you now!"