Descending On France 1780
Chapter 68 - 68 064 Must strike hard

68: 064 Must strike hard 68: 064 Must strike hard While everyone was shouting “Long live the National Assembly,” Sais stood on the podium, as if he were the presiding officer of the entire meeting.

He waited for the cheers to subside, then said loudly: “Next, before we begin the verification of credentials, I would like to emphasize our purpose!

Everyone should know that our purpose is…”

Mirabeau stood up, interrupting Sais loudly: “The constitution!

The National Assembly shall not disband until a constitution is established, and the King’s power is limited!”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than several others stood up to voice their support for Mirabeau.

One of them said loudly: “We are the representatives elected by the people, the legitimate highest legislative body!

We are the masters of the state!

What we demand is, a constitution!”

Countless people shouted together: “The constitution!”

Sais remained standing there as if he truly saw himself as the chairperson.

After the cheering subsided again, he spoke once more: “Indeed, that is our goal!

No one has the right to stop us from doing so!

“Based on the principle of popular sovereignty!

We, the representatives of the people, shall exercise sovereignty on behalf of the people!

We are the supreme power of the state!

“We have the right to establish a constitution that is effective throughout the nation!”

Anning, watching this passionate scene, also shouted “the constitution” several times.

The meeting then continued to progress, beginning the verification of credentials.

At this moment, Dan Dong suddenly had a doubt and said to Anning: “Now it’s only us from the Third Class, and we’re verifying credentials.

Isn’t this just like before, with each class reviewing separately?”

Anning: “No, it’s not the same.

Because the vote we just had has effectively declared the Third Estate illegal.

We are now the highest authority representing this nation.

In other words, we have expelled the nobles and priests from the ranks of representatives, not acknowledging their right to represent.”

Dan Dong: “But those from the other two classes don’t know this, do they?”

“They will know.”

In the following days of the meeting, the Third Class took over the room originally intended for the meeting of all three classes, assuming the posture as if they were indeed the masters of the room.

After completing the verification of credentials, the National Assembly started on the next topic: drafting the constitution!

On the morning of the 13th, the assembly declared, by vote, all existing taxes as illegal, but they would not be abolished until a new and more reasonable taxation system was established; they would only be suspended.

When the assembly declared the taxes illegal, the masses watching erupted in deafening cheers.

It was as if they believed that without taxes, they would be able to afford bread that had become frighteningly expensive.

The progress of the meeting grabbed the attention of public opinion throughout Paris, with Marat writing lengthy articles almost every day, commenting on today’s topics of the assembly.

Thanks to the media, the delegates from the First and Second Classes who had left the assembly were kept informed about what the Third Class was doing, knowing that the Third Class had bypassed them and started drafting the constitution themselves.

On the morning of the 19th, Anning was attending the National Assembly’s discussion in Versailles Palace as usual when suddenly someone exclaimed: “Everyone, look!”

Anning looked in the direction of the voice and saw a large number of delegates from the First Class, dressed in priestly garb, entering the room.

Mirabeau, standing on the podium, asked loudly: “Gentlemen!

You are mistaken, this is not the meeting place of the Third Estate, but the meeting place of the National Assembly!

Do you represent the nation?”

Leading Priest replied resonantly: “Of course we represent the nation; priests are also part of the nation!

We heard that you were drafting the constitution, so we have come.

You cannot let Sais alone represent all the priests of the nation!”

Sais stood up: “Of course, I have no right to represent all the priests of the nation, let us warmly welcome my colleagues!

Their participation will greatly increase our legitimacy!

“Their participation is equivalent to declaring the death in name of the Three-Class meeting!

“From now on, there will be no delegates of three classes, only representatives of the nation!”

“Long live the representatives of the nation!” someone shouted.

Anning joined in the hubbub: “Long live!”

These days Anning was thoroughly enjoying himself; he didn’t take the initiative to speak, just following everyone else’s shouts.

If everyone shouted for the constitution, he shouted for the constitution, when everyone hailed long live, he echoed fervently.

In any case, Anning emphasized one word, blend in.

If initially he had taken a strong stand to prevent history from going off course out of necessity, now his blending in was revealing his true nature.

Anning’s goal hadn’t changed from the beginning: I want to sit on the fence, I want to slack off!

I want to effortlessly become a big shot of the French Revolution!

As long as there is no danger of history going off the rails, no one can stop me from slacking off.

**

At this time, in Versailles Palace, Queen Mary burst into Louis XVI’s study.

Louis XVI frowned: “Why have you come?”

This study was Louis XVI’s sanctuary, where he indulged in fiddling with all sorts of mechanical devices—mainly locks.

Marie looked speechlessly at the locks and tools piled on the table in front of Louis XVI: “With everything that’s happening, you’re still playing with your locks!”

Louis XVI: “I’ve already finished reviewing the documents for today!

Now it’s my…”

“Do you know what those Third Class bastards are doing?

They just declared themselves the representatives of the nation, intent on exercising national sovereignty!

“They are turning the world upside down!

You, Louis, are the true holder of the nation’s sovereignty!”

Louis XVI asked in astonishment: “They’re going to exercise national sovereignty?

Is that true?”

“Of course, it’s true!

The meeting records are clear and written in black and white!

All of Paris knows, and only you are still in the dark!”

Louis XVI looked flustered, his fingers awkwardly intertwined: “This…

What should I do then?”

Marie: “You must declare them illegal and dissolve this damned National Assembly!”

Louis XVI hesitated: “I can’t dissolve them though, I’m counting on the Third Estate to pass the taxation bill to solve our financial issues.

You see, you need money to buy various clothes and jewelry, I too need new locks…”

“Let’s not talk about your locks!” Marie slammed the desk, “They want to follow the UK’s lead in establishing constitutional monarchy!

The UK!”

In France, the worst insult was to suggest: By your actions, you must be British.

The enmity between France and the UK was no joke, starting from the era of the Maid of Orleans.

Louis XVI: “That definitely won’t do!

Yes, it certainly won’t!”

“So what are you waiting for!

You are the supreme monarch; how can you maintain the royal authority established by your forefathers while mingling with these insects?

You must take drastic measures!

Dissolve them!

“Today, I heard that a group of priests plan to join the ranks of the commoners as well!

Once they truly become representatives of the nation, it’ll be too late!

They must be dissolved now!

Let the meetings follow the original Three-Class system!

“You must drive them out of the large hall they currently occupy and into a smaller hall prepared for each class to deliberate separately!”

Louis XVI hesitated for a few seconds, sighed, and said: “Alright!

I will go to the meeting place tomorrow and demand their dissolution!”

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