Descending On France 1780
Chapter 79 - 79 No Your Majesty this is a revolution

79: No, Your Majesty, this is a revolution.

79: No, Your Majesty, this is a revolution.

At this moment, Anning was not the only one absent from Versailles Palace, failing to fulfill his duties as a representative.

At this time, Ba Yi, a representative of the Third Class, and Marquis Lafayette, a representative of the Second Class, were both at Paris City Hall.

Ba Yi had just led the civilian officials of Paris in confronting the palace, compelling the original noble lords of Paris to relinquish their power.

Now they were discussing the establishment of Paris Commune—a body to lead Paris after the citizens seized power during the French Revolution, sharing a name with another great organization nearly a century later.

“For the sake of maintaining public order,” said Ba Yi, looking at Lafayette, “we must select reputable citizens to form the National Guard.

I believe no one but Marquis Lafayette is qualified to serve as the General of the National Guard.”

Lafayette nodded: “Given the current situation, I shall contribute to the cause of the constitution.”

The gentlemen around Ba Yi voiced their admiration, with one of them sighing in relief: “That’s great, once the National Guard is organized, we will have the leverage to negotiate with His Majesty…”

Ba Yi nodded: “Yes, at that time we can use more radical methods to force His Majesty to make concessions…”

Suddenly, someone shouted, “Gentlemen!

The Bastille, it has been breached!”

All the gentlemen present fell silent, seemingly unable to accept this news at the moment.

Ba Yi looked at the messenger, puzzled, and asked, “What place has been breached?

Could you say it again?”

“The Bastille!

The Bastille has been taken by armed citizens!

The Marquis De Launay has been beheaded and paraded through the streets by the people!”

Lafayette furrowed his brow: “How is that possible?

Despite its outdated design and lack of defense theories from DuPont, the Bastille is still a fortress!

How could an unarmed populace possibly breach it?”

“The populace obtained weapons from the Hôtel des Invalides and then, under the leadership of Andy Frost, the leatherworker’s son, seized the Bastille!”

Lafayette looked astonished: “How did he do it?

Storming the Bastille—if it were a regular army, it might take a day!

How did he manage to breach the fortress in such a short time?

Did he have more than twenty cannons?”

The messenger hesitated before answering: “Seems…

only one.”

Lafayette, the only soldier present, inhaled sharply: “One cannon?

They took the fortress with just one cannon?”

“I’m not quite sure of the details, but after the Bastille was taken, the crowd is celebrating in the streets.

Perhaps you can find someone who knows the situation better and ask them.”

At this point, Ba Yi spoke up: “This is good news!

Mr.

Lafayette, the Bastille is the most formidable fortress in Paris, and it’s where the Royal Family imprisoned the Enlightenment figures!

Its capture is like a thunderous roar!

We must seize this opportunity to force His Majesty to make concessions!”

Lafayette’s expression grew solemn: “We cannot be blindly optimistic.

His Majesty still has twenty thousand Swiss mercenaries.

What if he decides to take a hard stance?

I think we should immediately organize the National Guard!

Now that the Bastille has been taken, those in the city who support new ideas must have already taken action.

Recruiting them to form the National Guard will be convenient!”

Ba Yi: “For the National Guard’s uniform, how about using the red and blue colors of the Paris coat of arms?”

Lafayette shook his head: “No, red and blue only represent Paris.

We should add the white that represents the Royal Family, red, white, and blue.

This way, the King also has a step to descend, without putting him under too much pressure!”

Ba Yi nodded: “Let’s do it that way!”

At the same time, the news of the capture of the Bastille spread throughout Paris.

And at this moment, Marat was fervently writing in his study room, crafting the article to be published in tomorrow’s Friend of the People.

Suddenly, someone knocked forcefully on the door.

“Come in!” Marat called out, his pen rapidly scribbling.

De Mulan burst into the room, his emotions surging as he shouted at Marat: “Why are you still in your room!”

“I’m writing tomorrow’s editorial, this is very important!”

“The Bastille has been taken!”

Marat stopped writing, looking up at De Mulan confusedly: “Which Bastille?”

“The Bastille that imprisoned Voltaire!

Just now, it was taken over by the citizens led by Mr.

Andy Frost!

Do you realize what this means?”

Marat stared with wide eyes, his mouth slightly agape, “This…”

Suddenly, he became ecstatically happy, half a beat too late: “This means the symbol of royal power has collapsed!

Are you sure it was the armed citizens who breached the Bastille?”

“Of course, I’m sure!

The only soldier there was Mr.

Andy Frost!

The rest were all armed citizens!

“Mr.

Frost personally loaded the cannon, directed everyone to push the cannon close and fire.

With just two shots, he broke through two gates!

“Then Mr.

Frost drew his saber, shouted ‘Citizens, follow me!’ and led the charge into the fortress!

“I was there, I saw it all with my own eyes!

“Mr.

Frost alone cut down several guards defending the city and pressed on until he was facing Marquis de Launay, then he loudly declared: ‘In the name of all the citizens of Paris, I order you to lay down your arms!'”

Marat was overjoyed: “In the name of all citizens!

And then Marquis de Launay surrendered?”

“That’s right, he surrendered.

With a bold step, Frost cut down the military flag beside the Marquis!”

Marat excitedly stood up, pacing back and forth: “It’s so thrilling!

Why wasn’t I there in person?

I should have been there to witness this moment!”

De Mulan: “I was there!

I witnessed everything on your behalf!

And you, with your pen, can make all of Paris witness it all!

“Jean!”

De Mulan called out Marat’s name.

“Jean!

Pick up your pen and spread the news of this glorious moment!

The gentlemen at Versailles need this support now!

Let the King know that the citizens of Paris are no longer afraid of his bayonets!”

Marat stopped pacing, plopped down at the table: “You’re right, I should write about this!

Indeed, I must write!”

**

The same events unfolded in every corner of Paris.

In every Parisian tavern, big or small, those who had witnessed the Storming of the Bastille became the storytellers.

For instance, in a grimy tavern in the Saint-Antoine district not far from the Bastille, people gathered around a red-nosed old drunkard.

“Let me tell you, we even rescued Mr.

Voltaire!” the old drunkard said with a belch, making it sound very important.

Immediately, someone objected: “Mr.

Voltaire has long been dead.

He’s buried in the Panthéon!”

The old drunkard spread his hands: “Well…

I didn’t know that, but we did rescue a Mr.

Voltaire, perhaps his son.

“I heard it directly from Mr.

Frost!

Mr.

Voltaire was locked in the Bastille!

We pushed the cannon there to rescue him!”

The old man took another swig of his drink, let out a long belch, and continued: “Let me tell you, Mr.

Frost was like possessed by God himself!

He just gently kicked, and the gates of the Bastille flew open!

Then with another gentle kick, the second door opened!”

Someone loudly objected: “That’s not true!

He blasted them open with the cannons!”

The old man rolled his eyes: “Humph, you don’t understand!

Could the fortress’s doors so easily allow cannons to enter?

Cannons have carriages and are mounted on wide axles!

How could one push it through the small doors of the fortress?

It was Mr.

Frost who kicked them down!

The sound was just very loud!

Think about it, if a kick can break open the doors, wouldn’t the sound be thunderous?

So everyone thought it was the sound of cannons!”

The crowd nodded in agreement: “That seems to make some sense!”

**

That evening at eight o’clock, the news finally reached Versailles Palace, and a report was placed before Louis XVI.

Louis XVI picked up the report with a puzzled look and began to read.

He had just written “Nothing of note today” in his diary.

After reading the report, Louis XVI lifted his head to look at his royal steward, Duke Lyon Gour: “Is this a rebellion?”

The Duke shook his head: “No, Your Majesty, this is a revolution!”

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