Descending On France 1780
Chapter 74 - 74 068 is what you asked for yourself

74: 068 is what you asked for yourself 74: 068 is what you asked for yourself That evening, Anning had just returned to his residence near the Royal Palace when he saw Vanni standing at the door, looking worried, waiting for him.

She had been intently watching the carriage that Anning was in.

When the carriage stopped and Anning alighted, the maid exhaled in relief.

Anning: “What’s the matter?”

“In the afternoon, there was news that His Majesty the King might arrest all the representatives, and rumors are saying that the Guards have been dismissed from duty.

Now the ones guarding the Imperial Palace are the Swiss mercenaries.”

Anning: “That’s correct, His Majesty summoned more than twenty thousand Swiss mercenaries, but they are not here to take over the defense of the Imperial Palace.

It seems that the Swiss soldiers are mainly deployed to deal with the National Assembly.

The palace defense is still the responsibility of the Guards.”

Vanni: “Isn’t the situation very dangerous now?

Maybe you should stop attending the meetings from tomorrow?”

Anning shook his head: “How can I not go?

If we don’t attend the meetings, it will play right into the Queen’s hands.

The more so at a time like this, the less we can afford to show any sign of weakness.”

“Isn’t there any danger?

Today, people were spreading the rumor that you all have been captured by the King’s Swiss troops.”

“Here I am, safe and sound, aren’t I?” Anning said.

“But today, in the square near the Royal Palace, people were calling for action to save the representatives with practical actions…”

Anning curled his lip.

The information from Vanni clearly indicated that the entire situation was gradually heading towards a total explosion.

Just a few more provocative actions from the King could ignite the volcano himself.

Regarding this, Anning’s attitude was: Hurry, Your Majesty, go on and hasten your demise!

If you don’t light this volcano, history will change!

Come on, Your Majesty!

But Anning could not show his attitude of wanting to stir up chaos.

He had to pretend to be deeply concerned: “The current situation is not that bad, trust me Vanni, there’s no need to worry too much.”

Vanni nodded her head.

Just then, a newsboy came running, waving a newspaper: “Sir, take a look at the latest special edition!

The representatives are surrounded by the Swiss troops, the National Assembly is in imminent danger!”

Anning thought to himself, nonsense, I am a member of the National Assembly.

Although the representatives were indeed surrounded by the Swiss soldiers, the meeting process was completely unaffected, and personal freedom was not threatened.

There’s no need to talk as if the representatives had already been detained by the King.

Seeing that Anning did not show much interest, the newsboy added another sentence: “Sir, take a look, France is in imminent danger!”

Anning vaguely felt that the kid wouldn’t leave until he purchased a copy, so he fished out a few sous in copper coins: “Give me one.”

“Alright, here you go, sir!”

The newsboy happily took the copper coins and stuffed the newspaper into Anning’s hands.

Anning unfolded the newspaper and saw the headline on the first page, a bold line of text jumping into view: “Danger!

The accomplishments up to this point may be destroyed in one stroke!”

Upon reading carefully, the entire front-page article was filled with anxiety-inducing statements, proving that media from any era thrives on selling anxiety.

At the end of the article, the author, who signed as “Erin,” called out emphatically: “Citizens, take action, save the future of France!”

Vanni, standing by the side, finished reading the article and said: “Just a moment ago, Mr.

Frost, you were saying that the situation was not that dangerous.”

“Well, it isn’t that dangerous.

Personally, I believe that His Majesty has not yet resolved to use bayonets against the National Assembly.

In fact, I don’t think he has the guts, he’s just a locksmith.”

But that might change after a few more days of pillow talk from Queen Mary.

The immediate priority is to prevent the King from deciding to use force to clear the scene.

In history, this task was accomplished by the people of Paris.

Anning: “Alright, no matter what the situation may be, I’m hungry, is dinner ready?”

Vanni: “I have prepared it already, just waiting for your return.

Would you like to eat now?”

“Yes, I would like to eat now.” Saying so, Anning walked towards his house.

In the Royal Palace Square, next to the house, the gathered citizens were reading the anxiety-inducing special edition just mentioned.

**

The next day, Anning took a carriage as usual to Versailles Palace to attend the National Assembly, but upon arrival, he found that a large crowd was gathered in front of Versailles Palace.

Quite a few people had even climbed over the palace walls and entered the royal lawn.

As soon as Anning alighted from the carriage, the crowd began to cheer for him.

“Mr.

Representative, we support you!”

Anning waved to the crowd in acknowledgment, then passed through the throng into the Imperial Conference Hall.

Dan Dong came up: “They cheer like this for anyone.

We owe it to that special edition yesterday.

Now the whole city thinks the representatives are about to be caught by the Swiss troops.”

Anning shrugged and then asked Mirabeau, “What’s on our agenda today?”

“Mr.

Necker will come over today,” Mirabeau answered, “We need to persuade him to convey a message to His Majesty, asking the King to retreat his troops.”

Suddenly, someone shouted, “Mr.

Necker is here!”

Everyone turned their heads.

Louis XVI’s Finance Minister entered the Assembly hall, “Ladies and gentlemen, I’ve received your letter, so what is it that you’re calling me over to do?”

Mirabeau: “Mr.

Necker!

Please relay our message to the King, asking him to withdraw the Swiss Regiments!”

Necker showed a hesitant expression, “I…

uh…

alright, I will try to convey the message, but everyone, the King’s determination this time is not trivial, it seems he has decided to take thunderous measures.

“If I were you, I would temporarily abstain from holding meetings at Versailles Palace, to avoid being thrown into the Bastille.”

Dan Dong suddenly laughed, “Very well!

Let the King throw me into the Bastille!

Voltaire was also imprisoned in the Bastille, for us, being detained there is like a big medal, an achievement to boast about for a lifetime!”

The other representatives also shouted together, “Exactly!”

“That’s right!”

“Let him come and catch us!

I’ve been wanting to get a ‘gold-plating’ in the Bastille!”

Necker looked at the clamouring representatives speechlessly, “Alright, alright…

So, should I also convey this exactly?

Saying that you can’t wait to be caught and sent to the Bastille?

Gentlemen, calm down, the Bastille is not a gentle place.”

Mirabeau: “Just tell him that!

See if he has the guts to send us, the people’s elect, into the Bastille!”

Necker was about to say something when suddenly a tidy volley of gunfire sounded from outside the hall.

Then the Parisians outside the hall started screaming.

The representatives inside the hall were stunned, and a representative near the window leaned to look outside, then exclaimed, “The Swiss Regiments are firing on the people who are supporting us!”

Dan Dong rushed out of the hall first, roaring at the Swiss Regiments outside, “What are you doing!

How can you shoot at unarmed people?”

The Swiss officer at the door said assertively, “We didn’t shoot at people, it was merely a warning shot, but the flintlocks are terribly inaccurate, so a few unlucky ones might have been hit.”

Before the officer finished speaking, a scream came from outside, “They’ve killed Henry from the tailor shop!

Oh Lord, the clothes I’m wearing were made by old Henry!”

“The King is going to slaughter us!”

“Fight them!”

People began to shout, and from outside the windows of the Imperial Conference Hall, the noise of melee combat indicated that the crowd was charging the Swiss Regiments.

Robespierre jumped onto the window sill of the Assembly hall, stood there, and shouted to the people outside, “Everyone!

Do not be impulsive!

It was just a warning shot!

Quickly send the unlucky ones who were shot to the doctor!

Maybe he can still be saved!

“We are preparing to speak with the King, represented by the beloved Finance Minister Mr.

Necker!

“Mr.

Necker is right here, inside the Assembly hall!

He will convey our demands to the King!”

Robespierre’s speech was clear and forceful.

The commotion outside gradually calmed down, then Robespierre turned to look at Necker, “Sir, please hurry to His Majesty before everything becomes too late!”

**

“I refuse!” Louis XVI said with his hands behind his back, resolutely stating, “I have already made the greatest compromise!

If it were my great-grandfather, they would have all been beheaded already!”

Necker: “The representatives are afraid of the Swiss Regiments…”

Louis XVI was delighted: “Are they afraid?”

Necker was stunned: “Uh…

at least very concerned.”

Louis XVI clenched his fists and made a “hooray” gesture: “Good, that’s fantastic!

They should be afraid!

Marie was right after all!”

Necker was taken aback by Louis XVI’s behavior: “Err…

the representatives asked me to convey…”

“You were asked to convey!

And you just came?

You’re my Finance Minister!

Not theirs!” Louis XVI waved his fist speaking, then muttered to himself “I must be firm,” before continuing, “If you insist on standing with the Parliament!

Then I can only dismiss you from your position!”

Necker looked distressed; he couldn’t understand why the King, who always seemed amiable, was being so determined today.

He said, “Then dismiss me, I can’t solve your financial crisis anyway.”

Louis XVI thought for a moment, then with a wave of his hand said, “Alright!

You’re dismissed, Necker!

It’s you who asked for it!”