Descending On France 1780
Chapter 306 - 299 Mobius Strip

Chapter 306: 299 Mobius Strip

The next morning, Anning prepared the denunciation documents and copies of important evidence letters, which he then clipped together before departing in a carriage.

Christina had initially wanted to come along to watch the excitement but was reminded by Vanni that there were two tea parties that day, thus she reluctantly bade farewell to Anning.

Anning, with documents in hand, headed straight for the Committee of Public Safety.

Upon his arrival, he immediately attracted the attention of everyone.

Someone warmly greeted him: "General, have you come to inspect the committee’s work?"

Anning frowned: "I don’t have any authority over the committee, so it’s not a question of inspecting. I am here to denounce the enemies of the Republic."

"Is that so? We are very grateful for your effort, and we will treat it with the utmost seriousness! Mr. Robespierre is in his office, I will take you to him."

Anning hesitated. He initially intended to handle the matter formally and didn’t plan on using personal connections to gain favor with Robespierre.

But since the clerk had put it that way, it would seem inappropriate not to visit Robespierre, as rumors might start circulating by the afternoon.

So, Anning nodded: "Lead the way."

Moments later, he met with Robespierre, the head of the Committee of Public Safety.

Robespierre was somewhat surprised: "Andy? What brings you here? Is there a problem?"

Anning showed him the folder: "I’m here to report enemies of the Republic to you. You would never guess, someone is deliberately stirring up trouble between you and Danton."

Robespierre was furious: "What? Such a thing is happening? Although Danton and I often argue fiercely, it’s just a normal disagreement between comrades, a friendly exchange! Andy, hand me your documents, I have to see who dares to be so reckless!"

Anning passed over the folder.

Robespierre immediately put on a pair of thicker glasses and began reading the documents, muttering to himself: "Josephine Boarne and Paul Balas, I should have thought of this, I should have known!"

He looked up at Anning: "You probably don’t know, while you were fighting in Italy, Mr. Balas has been trying to infiltrate the circle formed by myself, Danton, and Marat but hasn’t been very successful.

"We could all see that he is not a staunch reformer. He didn’t join us out of a desire to establish a republic of liberty, equality, and brotherhood. He isn’t!"

Anning thought to himself that Balas indeed had a dual nature in French history, being an opportunist who seized opportunities to rise high and eventually became one of the five Directors of the Directorate, even monopolizing power.

On the other hand, his personal capabilities should be acknowledged, at least in quelling rebellions in the regions of Nice and Toulon, he displayed quite a bit of talent.

Actually, the representative opportunists and fence-sitters of the Great Revolution were all quite capable themselves.

For example, FouchE, who established France’s modern police system, benefiting the country up to the present day.

And Talleyrand, who, at several key moments, advanced the revolution through his own efforts.

Anning hadn’t ruled out the possibility of turning Balas and others into his subordinates.

But now, to preserve Robespierre and Danton, he needed to strike first and not wait for Balas to achieve his objective through instigation.

The pity was that Anning had thought too late of influencing the course of history, otherwise, he could have become a mentor and guiding light to Balas early on, just as he did with Napoleon.

But back then, Anning’s thought was to fence-sit as a wealthy man and watch the winds of change.

Now, he had no choice but to see that Balas exited the stage early.

After reading Anning’s "incriminating material," Robespierre decisively banged on the table: "The evidence is irrefutable! However, we must still adhere to basic procedural justice. Let’s begin, first by sending a summons to Paul Balas."

Anning nodded: "Indeed, procedural justice is to ensure a baseline level of fairness. Let’s proceed with that."

Yet, Anning thought to himself that as long as he showed the intent to send Balas to the guillotine, the jurors would "understand the greater good."

Giving Balas an opportunity to defend himself was not a bad thing; it would highlight the fairness and greatness of the Republic.

At that moment, Robespierre stood up: "But why did you suddenly decide to target Paul Balas? I was under the impression you two had a good relationship."

Anning: "Your impression is mistaken; my interactions with Mr. Balas were merely because he was the Parliament’s Special Commissioner."

Robespierre: "But I always felt you knew Mr. Balas quite well."

—Indeed, I know him, as a history enthusiast.

Anning: "That’s because I’ve heard some rumors."

Robespierre shrugged, then remembered something: "Right, we need to let Danton know about this. I’ll write him a note."

**

"I object to sending Paul Balas to the guillotine just like that!" Georges Jacques Danton, furious, barged into Robespierre’s office, his first words addressing the matter.

Anning and Robespierre were having tea, and now both turned their gaze to Danton.

Anning: "Take a look at this. The evidence is concrete; he’s been sowing discord between you and Robespierre..."

Danton: "Yes, but so what? Is what Mrs. Boarne wrote in her letter not true? I indeed disagree with some of Maximilien’s practices. Why should we send her lover to the guillotine just because Mrs. Boarne spoke some truths?"

Robespierre: "He is an ambitious opportunist, you and I both know his loyalty to the Republic is far less than his loyalty to himself."

"I know!" Danton interrupted Robespierre, "But we can’t just send a man to the guillotine for that reason! Moreover, in my view, Mr. Paul Balas has considerable talent. Just a few months after assuming the role of Special Commissioner, he settled the rebellion in his district and eradicated the Royalists. The Republic needs his talents!"

Danton continued to shout: "No, no! As one of the parties being driven apart, I firmly oppose sending Paul Balas to the guillotine just for this!"

His face turned red, resembling an enraged lion.

Anning was deeply shocked by Danton’s display.

A terrible thought rose within his mind.

—My efforts to change the inevitability of a falling out between Robespierre and Danton may have become the catalyst for deepening their rift?

Then an even more dreadful thought emerged.