Descending On France 1780
Chapter 311 - 304 Ant Hole

Chapter 311: 304 Ant Hole

Robespierre had just arrived at the Committee of Public Safety when he saw Saint Just walking towards him with an unusual expression.

"Maximilien, come!" Saint Just said, pulling Robespierre into the tea room next door.

"Did Balas come to you?"

Robespierre nodded, "Yes, he came, spoke a lot of nonsense, but I have nothing to say to such an opportunist, so I ignored him! He must have been furious."

As he said this, Robespierre laughed, like a mischievous child who had just completed a prank.

Saint Just, however, said gravely, "After he hit a wall with you, he went to find Danton."

The smile on Robespierre’s face froze.

"Danton? He went straight to Danton after leaving me?"

"Whether he went directly or not I do not know, but judging from the timing, he probably had no time to go anywhere else. Danton received him."

Robespierre: "What did he say?"

"I don’t know. I encountered Balas at Danton’s doorstep. I went to Danton’s house this morning to show him the draft speech I had prepared since I have to speak in the Convention this afternoon.

"We chatted for half an hour, then I took my leave, and just at the door, I ran into Balas."

Robespierre bit his lip: "They really are colluding!"

Saint Just continued: "Also, Danton had comments about you, saying you deem many people enemies of the Republic, and you never show them a good face; the tone of his voice indicated he was very dissatisfied with that."

Robespierre: "Damn, one must be as cold as ice to their enemies, what’s wrong with that! We’ve been merciful to our enemies before, and after the September Massacres, I even called for an end to violence, and then what?

"Then Marat was assassinated by despicable and shameless enemies! Leniency towards enemies is cruelty to friends, why doesn’t Danton understand that! Especially since his relationship with Marat was even better than mine!"

Saint Just: "You are right, and I support your approach, that’s why I came to tell you."

Robespierre, biting the nail of his thumb: "But I cannot quarrel with Danton, Frost would be saddened, that man is very kind-hearted, he cannot bear to see good friends become enemies."

Saint Just: "Mr. Frost is the kindest person I’ve ever met, have you seen the painting by David, ’General Frost at the Funeral of the Nameless Italian’? When I saw him taking the flower from the Italian girl, I was completely moved."

"Yes, so I cannot have a falling out with Danton, I cannot. No matter how much he badmouths me, I will continue to treat him as a close friend." Robespierre shook his head, "But Balas! No wonder Danton came storming over to vindicate Balas, so that’s what happened!"

**

After listening to Danton’s account, Balas immediately stood up: "Is it General Frost who suspects me? I thought the General had no interest in politics!"

"Frost suspects you of trying to drive a wedge between me and Robespierre, that’s why he took such action; indeed, he does not care about politics," Danton said, "Back in the first National Convention—the Constitutional Assembly, he used to sleep a lot, and even when awake he wouldn’t speak, just watching the deputies argue."

Danton didn’t know that back then, Frost had been preparing to play both sides.

Balas: "I see, then I will immediately go see General Frost to clarify that I had no intention of sowing discord."

Dan Dong waved his hand: "From your lover’s letter, it is indeed clear you had intentions of sowing discord. I opposed Robespierre because I didn’t think someone should be sent to the guillotine just for attempting to sow discord."

Balas immediately bowed to Dan Dong: "Thank you for your righteous words."

"Don’t rush to thank me, to tell you the truth, I am also quite dissatisfied with your attempt to sow discord! I was just voicing some complaints about Robespierre; we do that often. The man is a bit paranoid—he’s been wearing that green coat for so many years, what normal person does that?

"But the relationship between us, that has been going since the establishment of the Jacobin Club in 1785, has been maintained all this time—we’ve been old friends for eight years.

"In these eight years, we’ve gone through quarrels much more serious than this. Such a friendship is not something you, an outsider, can easily destroy!"

Balas immediately nodded: "I will never entertain such inappropriate thoughts again."

Dan Dong nodded: "Hmm. Moreover, you really should go and find Frost, not to deny your intentions to sow discord, but to acknowledge them and then offer a sincere apology for harboring such thoughts."

Dan Dong paused, looked up at the ceiling, and was silent for several seconds before speaking: "Frost, he really wouldn’t want to see Maximilien and me fall out. If we truly had a rift, he would certainly be the most heartbroken.

"And him, he’s the type to bear grudges. If someone caused Maximilien and me to split, he’d certainly take it personally.

"You wouldn’t want his confidant, that Corsican dwarf Napoleon, to make a decision with his Cannon, right?"

Balas shuddered.

Ever since Napoleon fired grape shot in the streets of Paris, the people of Paris began to spread rumors that he liked to tie people in front of Cannons and blow them to pieces with grape shot.

After nearly a year of spreading, the rumor had become so detailed that it seemed as real as the reclusive 99-year-old Voltaire.

Balas was of course aware of the rumor and shivered at the mere mention.

"As soon as I leave here, I will immediately go clear things up with General Frost."

Dan Dong: "Be sincere! Frost despises people who make excuses."

Balas nodded vigorously.

At that moment, Dan Dong suddenly exclaimed: "It’s a pity, I don’t understand military matters, otherwise I’d definitely choose to join Frost in his campaigns, so I wouldn’t have to witness the current state of Paris. Do you know, in this district where I live, there are at least five funerals every day."

Balas: "Is Frost also dissatisfied with the situation in Paris?"

"Whether he’s dissatisfied or not, I can’t tell, but I know that he previously went away to lead soldiers in battle because he found politics to be bothersome.

"Look at him, he went to Italy and stayed for a year. Back then, who would willingly leave Paris? Leaving Paris was tantamount to burying one’s political career, yet he just up and left."

Dan Dong sighed: "As it turns out, now in Paris, the ones who rise in rank the fastest and whose power inflates the most are him and his subordinate officers.

"Especially that Napoleon, who was a classmate of Frost’s at Briena, is highly favored. Recently, that guy even introduced his sister to Frost—and would you believe it, before Frost has even married, he’s taken a liking to the girl.

"Now in Paris, Napoleon is the flavor of the month. Those who can’t cozy up to Frost are all turning to him instead."

Dan Dong evaluated his friend nonchalantly, completely unconcerned about the consequences it might provoke.