Descending On France 1780
Chapter 338 - 331 Resolution

Chapter 338: 331 Resolution

Anning: "When I met Christina, she was not yet the sister of the King; in fact, no one then thought she would become the sister of the King. Our union was the pure crystallization of love, without any political considerations."

Robespierre remained unmoved, silently observing Anning.

In that instant, from the eye contact with Robespierre, Anning realized that he had probably lost his influence over Robespierre forever.

The Incorruptible was so stubborn that once his influence was lost, it was absolutely impossible to regain.

It was time to start Plan B.

Dan Dong and Robespierre—at least Dan Dong should be preserved.

Better to let Dan Dong be the head of the Parliament than Paul Balas.

Therefore, Anning gave up all attempts to persuade and stood up directly: "It seems this meal cannot continue; my apologies to Mrs. Claire."

The moment he spoke these words, Anning felt a heartfelt sorrow, as he recalled the night many years ago when he first met Robespierre in the Jacobin Club.

Led by the sudden surge of memories, Anning stopped, turned around, and looked at Robespierre: "Do you remember, half a year ago, that night at the Jacobin Monastery?"

Robespierre shook his head: "I no longer remember, nothing noteworthy must have happened, right?"

Anning clenched his teeth: "Goodbye."

Then, he walked out of Robespierre’s study with his head held high, without any lingering attachment.

Downstairs, he saw Moura chatting with Mrs. Claire.

Moura was surprised: "What happened? Was it because I held Mrs. Claire up and caused the meal to be delayed?"

Anning studied Mrs. Claire carefully and noticed that the widow obviously had feelings for Moura. So, was his presumption that Robespierre and Mrs. Claire had tender feelings for each other just his own wishful thinking?

Anning: "There was a small argument, nothing serious. I think Maximilien and I both need some time to cool off."

Mrs. Claire immediately covered her mouth: "But you two are the best of friends."

Anning just smiled and then left with Moura.

Once outside the door, Anning immediately lowered his voice and said to Moura: "Go and notify Lazar Kano and all the officers... I mean, all the officers you saw at our internal meeting, don’t call anyone not at that meeting.

"Also, invite Dan Dong, Balas, and Talleyrand to come to the Royal Palace."

Moura, sensing something wrong, immediately wiped the smile off his face and responded seriously: "I’m on it."

After saying that, he took a few steps, turned back to look at Anning: "Will you be alright going back on your own?"

"No problem, there’s nobody in Paris who can kill me yet."

Only then did Moura turn and leave.

Anning also got into his carriage and told the coachman: "Back to the Royal Palace."

**

After Anning left, Mrs. Claire immediately went to the study, then discovered that Robespierre was slumped in his chair like a burnt-out candle.

"Uh, Mr. Robespierre?"

Robespierre turned and stared at Mrs. Claire for a few seconds before he came back to life like a mummy awaking from slumber: "Ah, Mrs. Claire, what a pity, your prepared dinner was wasted."

"It’s fine. Shall I serve the meal now?"

"Alright, serve it. Also, send someone to deliver a message for me, tell Saint Just to come here immediately."

Mrs. Claire nodded and left.

**

On Anning’s side, by almost eleven at night, the Royal Palace was brightly lit, its garden filled with countless carriages.

The large turnout was because both Balas and Dan Dong were hosting balls at home, and as soon as Moura came calling, many of the sensitive gentlemen realized something major was happening and immediately followed Dan Dong and Balas over.

The result was that, late at night, half the members of the National Assembly were gathered at the Royal Palace.

Anning was not pleased with the turnout, his outcry wanting to send them packing.

However, Christina stopped the angry Anning and took those uninvited gentlemen to the ballroom of the Royal Palace, then had the maids serve supper.

The invited officers and gentlemen gathered in Anning’s study.

Anning began: "Do you know Robespierre invited me to dinner?"

Napoleon: "We know, what happened?"

"In his study, he told me about his next plan." Anning paused, then recounted Robespierre’s plan to establish an organization that could deal with "enemies" directly without trial.

Dan Dong immediately stood up and slammed the table: "Is this true? He cannot be allowed to do this! If he sets up this organization, I am doomed!"

Talleyrand made a disdainful face: "That seems like a plan the Incorruptible would propose. He’s already deluded by the omnipotence granted by the Savior Committee."

Napoleon: "Let’s arrest him!"

Lasalle immediately agreed: "Yes! Lock him up!"

Anning: "Directly arresting him would certainly be the easiest, but it would trample the order of the Republic."

He said while glancing at Bernadotte and other Republicans.

As expected, he saw a relieved expression on Bernadotte’s face.

Indeed there would be objections to directly arresting Republican officers.

Anning was determined to preserve the unity of the officer corps.

At that moment, Balas spoke up: "You want to impeach Robespierre through parliamentary means? But in this room, only Mr. Dan Dong is a member of Parliament. Shouldn’t you discuss this with the people now in the ballroom?"

Dan Dong shook his head: "No need, leave this matter to me; I was already discussing impeaching Robespierre with the gentlemen.

"Now that we have Andy’s support, we can go full throttle! Andy, all you need to do is to attend the meeting as an observer tomorrow, and then sit on the stands on our side, everyone will understand!"

Anning shook his head: "No, I will personally enter the Parliament and make an appeal to the entire body."

Talleyrand and Paul Balas couldn’t help but laugh: "Perfect! Tomorrow will be the end for Robespierre, and the reign of terror that has everyone living in fear can finally come to an end!"

**

On Robespierre’s side.

As soon as Saint Just entered the study, he saw Robespierre standing in front of a window, looking into the boundless darkness outside.

Robespierre: "Louis (Saint Just’s name), I am now like standing in darkness, in front of me is endless, immense darkness.

"Louis, the worst we feared has happened, our respected Andy Frost, has become the enemy of France."

Saint Just hesitated to speak.

Robespierre turned around, looking at Saint Just: "Tomorrow, I will probably be impeached. Once Frost decides to take action, he will be decisive. And with his current prestige, we have no way to resist.

"No matter how moving our speech is, no matter how we shout, Frost can subdue us with his enormous prestige and the bayonets of the army.

"The conventional methods will no longer work, Louis, do you understand?"

Saint Just’s lips turned white: "You’re planning to..."

"Those under Frost are just a bunch of opportunists banded together for profit; once he falls, they will scatter like birds and beasts!"

Saint Just took a deep breath: "He has won countless duels."

"This is not a duel!" Robespierre grabbed Saint Just’s shoulders, "I know it’s despicable, not honorable at all, but in order not to let him turn France into his own backyard, to save the Republic, we must do this!"

Saint Just swallowed hard: "I understand..."

"The assassination will be carried out by me, and afterwards, I will definitely be executed, and after that, France will be led by you, continue the revolution to the end!"

Saint Just looked at Robespierre with a touch of surprise: "What? I thought you called me here to..."

"This is my decision, so I will carry it out! I called you here to entrust the revolution to you.

"Your responsibility is heavy, France is full of enemies everywhere, speculators, and conspirators, always thinking about how to seize France as their own.

"Louis, I can no longer accompany you, you must be brave, brave, and even braver! May liberty, equality, and fraternity be with you."

After a brief hesitation, Saint Just said: "No, Maximilien, you’re not good at this. I have been in the army and have dueled with people, I am much better suited for this than you. It is only logical that I should do it."

Robespierre shook his head: "No! No! It is I who has decided to kill my dear friend, after all, once we were comrades advancing for the same ideal, so naturally, it should be me who sends him on his way after he went astray!"

Saint Just interrupted Robespierre’s words: "Be realistic! Think about the success rate! What use are your words if you can’t succeed?"

Robespierre hysterically waved his hands: "I will succeed, just using a dagger when he’s not paying attention to stab into his heart, he will never expect me to do so!"

Saint Just: "Do you know where to stab to be lethal?"

Robespierre paused: "Isn’t it done when you stab the heart?"

"The heart is protected by ribs, you layman who doesn’t understand might end up with the dagger stuck on a rib! Let me do it!"

Robespierre looked at Saint Just, his mouth opening and closing, but he said nothing.

In the end, he slumped into a chair like a deflated ball: "You’re right, this is not my forte. I’ll leave it to you."

Saint Just, like a knight poised for battle, raised his head high: "Leave it to me. What glory it is to die for the revolution."

**

The next day, unbeknownst to how the word got out, the area outside the Parliament was full of commoners who came to watch the excitement.

When Anning appeared on horseback with a large number of officers, the crowd erupted into cheers.

Someone asked loudly: "Your Excellency! Are you planning to remove the guillotine at Revolution Square tomorrow?"

Anning smiled, and Napoleon beside him responded loudly: "I’m afraid it won’t be dismantled just yet, but it should get a break anyway."

Someone else asked: "Is it being kept for the incorruptibles?"

Anning immediately answered solemnly: "No! He will not die!"

Anning had no intention of killing Robespierre, he just wanted to impeach him and then send him to compile codes.

After all, he was a friend for so many years; he couldn’t bring himself to commit murder.

Moreover, he still had to wrestle with history, not killing Robespierre was also part of that wrestling.

During the conversation, he arrived at the entrance of Parliament and thus dismounted.

Today, the members of Congress arrived very early, all waiting in front of the main door of the Parliament.

Anning raised his hand: "Alright, everyone, let’s go in. It’s about time, let’s start today’s session."

Despite Anning being just a military figure, theoretically without the right to order the members, they still followed his command and entered one after another under Dan Dong’s lead.

Anning followed the members into the Parliament Hall, then saw Robespierre standing at the Chairman’s position, looking down at Anning from above.

Their gazes met.

In Robespierre’s eyes, there was a trace of chilliness.

Anning sharply felt Robespierre’s murderous intent.

He had no time to think more when Saint Just appeared before him with a stack of documents.

"For France!" Saint Just shouted. He threw the documents, revealing a dagger, and stabbed at Anning!

Then Anning’s reflexes kicked in.

His body dodged with astonishing agility, and the dagger just slid past his chest. Napoleon was the first to react, he exclaimed loudly: "Damn, Brutus!"