Descending On France 1780
Chapter 291: Raise a toast to the best of times

Chapter 291: Raise a toast to the best of times

The Savior Committee was thus established, though it carried the name of the original timeline’s Jacobin government, in reality, it was the Public Security Committee.

After the establishment of the Savior Committee, the effects were immediately visible; the number of people sent to the guillotine each day dropped from over 200 to just over 50.

Originally, the guillotine in Revolution Square operated from dawn until sunset every day, and the idlers of Paris could watch beheadings the whole day long.

Anning was very satisfied with this result.

Of course, he was still worried that history might revert to its original course, so he specifically instructed Lazar Kano to keep an eye on the situation in the city.

He even contemplated establishing his own intelligence agency, but regretfully, because he was physically intact due to his "cheat," even if he managed to set up the agency, he would not be able to use a saw to test his agents’ courage by sawing his own thigh every day.

Dan Dong was also delighted. After the establishment of the Savior Committee, the daily use of the guillotine visibly decreased, greatly encouraging Dan Dong, who was originally a radical.

Yes, that’s how marvelous it was. Dan Dong and Marat were initially extremists, mocked by the Girondists as the Furious Faction, with another nickname, the Madmen Faction. They demanded that all the bad or suspected bad people be sent to the guillotine.

And Robespierre was a moderate.

But after the Jacobin took power, Dan Dong became a moderate, while Robespierre was labeled by some as the "Terror Overlord."

That is the wonder of history.

And right now, Anning found himself in the midst of that wonder.

However, at least for now, Robespierre still maintained his sanity, and Dan Dong was not cursing Robespierre. It seemed that everything was developing in a good direction.

Anning felt a sense of fulfillment from having changed the course of history, and he even started to fantasize about the scenario of the Jacobin’s rule continuing, followed by the French Republic arm-wrestling the United Kingdom after the steam revolution.

On June 15th, the National Assembly officially passed the resolution to promote Anning and his subordinate generals.

Except for Davout and Massena, who were far away in Italy and had the promotions done through correspondence, the awards ceremony for the others was held at the Versailles Palace which was being used as barracks.

That day, Anning’s fierce generals gathered in a group.

That day, the hall where the Third Estate used to convene was wholly filled with military men.

Lasalle: "Damn it, how come all of you guys got the rank of Brigadier General, and I’m only a Colonel?"

Napoleon: "Hey, I captured the brother of that Emperor in Vienna, and I’m only one rank higher than you, as Brigadier General. Be content! Davout has made so many meritorious services, and he is only a Major General now, isn’t he?"

Lasalle: "Damn it, I shouldn’t have gotten injured; otherwise, I would have definitely made some big moves."

At this moment, Bernadotte came over with a tray holding three glasses of wine: "Gentlemen, would you like some wine?"

Napoleon: "Hey, how did you turn into a waiter? You also received the rank of Brigadier General!"

"We are in an equal republic where a Leatherworker can become a General, and a General can also be a Waiter. That is what you call equality."

Napoleon laughed heartily, then he took a wine glass from the tray in Bernadotte’s hand.

Lasalle also took a glass, and then exclaimed: "To our Leatherworker!"

Bernadotte himself took a cup, then passed the empty tray to a real Waiter, after which he raised his glass high: "To the Republic!"

Napoleon: "To Caesar!"

And the three of them drained their glasses in one gulp.

Lasalle: "You seem particularly happy?"

"What? Me?" Bernadotte was somewhat surprised, "Indeed, maybe it’s because I have finally found someone to follow. I arrived rather early and talked with Mr. Frost for a while; his loyalty to the republic is beyond question!"

Napoleon: "He is Caesar, after all. Even Caesar was a Governor of the Republic until the end."

At this time, Lasalle suddenly saw a novel toy and said to the other two, "Hey, look, a black one is coming!"

The other two looked in the direction Lasalle was pointing and indeed saw an authentically dark-skinned man chatting with another two.

Napoleon: "I heard they used three battalions to hold off an entire army of the enemy at Babi Village. Damn it, I alone can hold an army with three battalions, they fought together and they all got promoted to brigadier generals, and I’m just a brigadier general too!"

Lasalle looked at Napoleon: "You want to repeat that while looking at me, a colonel who has been fighting alongside Andy to the full extent?"

Napoleon: "Nonsense, I was commanding Your Excellency’s mobile artillery during the Beech Battle, I was on the hill facing Lafayette’s forty thousand strong with Davout! Where were you at that time?"

Lasalle: "Still better than the three of them being brigadier generals..."

At this time, Anning came over: "If you were promoted to brigadier general, you wouldn’t be able to charge into battle yourself, you’d have to be on the command post."

Lasalle: "What? I’d rather be killed, forget it, colonel is also... damn Andy, how did you show up without making a sound?"

Anning: "I was observing my lovely subordinates, then heard someone was dissatisfied with their military rank, so I came over."

Bernadotte: "General, congratulations on becoming vice admiral."

Napoleon seemed a bit displeased at Bernadotte for congratulating before he did: "That’s right, congratulations, although I think they should have made you a marshal!"

Anning: "The Republic doesn’t have the rank of marshal."

"You could create one for yourself!" Napoleon said, frowning.

Lasalle: "You just got back to Paris so you probably don’t know, they were initially going to make Andy grand marshal of the army and navy!"

As soon as Napoleon heard this, he perked up: "Damn, that’s awesome? Why not take the position?"

Anning: "I can’t make an exception for myself, it’s not right."

Sincerely convinced, Bernadotte said: "You truly are strict with yourself."

Anning glanced at Bernadotte, thinking I just poked at your Republican G-spot by the way, the real reason is that I have a sense of déjà vu with this title and do not want it.

At this time, all the officers in the hall gathered around Anning.

Apart from the officers who were Anning’s subordinates, there were other officers who were promoted for their outstanding performance, and these two groups stood clearly divided.

Bernadotte naturally stood with the group under Anning.

Anning glanced over the crowd, and then clapped his hands.

A large number of waiters entered the hall, pouring a glass of wine for each person.

Anning: "This wine comes from Epernay, a city which our army has defended and retained through fierce fighting. Let’s raise our glasses together, to celebrate victory! For France!"

The newly promoted brigadier generals and colonels raised their glasses together: "For France!"

After Anning finished his wine, he placed the glass on the waiter’s tray and continued: "The external enemy has been repelled, and although the Parliament orders us to march on the Rhein, our current logistics and supplies do not allow for a long campaign.

"Next, you will each lead a troop to quell the rebellions in the insurgent regions. I look forward to seeing your performances!"

**

Moura and Nei silently watched from the side.

Nei snatched up the title of major, and because Moura had always been by Frost’s side, he had no exploits to claim, only that of a captain.

He said with immense longing, "How I wish I was among those raising glasses here."

Nei: "Don’t worry, I always feel that there will be plenty of battles in the future, the best of times for the military has already arrived."