Descending On France 1780
Chapter 80 - 80 The night of the New Year's Day in the first year of freedom 074

80: The night of the New Year’s Day in the first year of freedom, 074 80: The night of the New Year’s Day in the first year of freedom, 074 In the dead of night, Anning was escorted by the uprising populace to the Paris City Hall.

Accompanying him was the corpse of the Commander of Bastille Prison, Marquis de Launey.

Seeing the body, Lafayette frowned: “I was playing bridge with Marquis de Launey just last week.”

Anning hurriedly said, “I tried to stop the mob’s lynching, but it was already too late.”

“Perhaps this was his fate,” sighed Marquis Lafayette.

“It’s probably a good thing that the people’s anger has dissipated like this.”

It seemed Lafayette didn’t care much about his friend, Marquis de Launey.

“The Father of America” changed the topic: “I heard that you personally commanded the siege?

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

Anning smiled: “There’s no secret, I simply moved the cannons to within less than fifty paces of the gate and opened fire.

I first targeted the drawbridge, then pushed the cannon into the barbican and fired at the inner gate.”

No sooner had Anning finished speaking than a busybody added fuel to the flames: “Mr.

Frost even personally stormed into the fortress’ inner courtyard and broke through the garrison that was trying to block the attackers.”

— Did I personally storm in?

I was carried in by these damned souls!

Then they were knocked down by a volley, and I, damn it, fell on my butt and had no choice but to charge forward.

I am damnably unlucky.

Listening to this self-volunteering fellow’s description, Lafayette looked at Anning with an incredulous expression: “You also personally charged into the castle’s inner courtyard?

That’s astonishing, after taking so many dangerous actions, you don’t even have a scratch on you!

“Could it be that you are the one cherished by the battlefield?”

Wait a minute, “cherished by the battlefield,” that sounds cool—No, don’t give me any more bizarre titles!

At this point, Ba Yi stepped forward and said to Anning: “Taking the Bastille is a great achievement!

Unfortunately, given the current situation, we can’t really reward Mr.

Frost with much, but would you be willing to serve as the Deputy Commander of the newly formed National Guard?

“Having the hero who took the Bastille on board will greatly boost the morale of the National Guard!”

Anning smirked, and when Ba Yi mentioned “Deputy Commander,” he noticed Lafayette twitch at the corner of his mouth.

It seemed Marquis Lafayette didn’t relish the idea of a commoner artillery officer becoming his deputy.

Making such a judgment, Anning immediately spoke up: “Well, I’m just a lieutenant and not suitable for the role of Deputy Commander, which is such an important position.

I think I could serve as the artillery instructor for the National Guard, responsible for training their artillery skills.”

Lafayette visibly relaxed at this suggestion.

The marquis’s mind was indeed easy to read.

Lafayette said: “Since Mr.

Frost has nominated himself, I think that settles it.

Mr.

Frost’s rapid breach of the Bastille clearly shows his mastery over cannon use, and he is more than capable of serving as an artillery instructor!

“I think we can entrust Mr.

Frost to lead all of the National Guard’s artillery!”

At that time, many traditional generals regarded cannons as an accessory, believing that the outcome of land battles still depended on the massed volley fire and charges of line infantry.

It wasn’t until the Napoleon Era that the Revolution Army began to particularly emphasize the use of artillery.

Now, before the Napoleon Era had arrived, it was evident that Lafayette still saw the artillery as a force to add glory to what was already glorious, rather than as a decisive force in battles.

So, Lafayette easily handed over the command of the entire artillery division of the future National Guard to Anning.

Anning suddenly found himself hit by a position that had fallen from the sky and was somewhat dazed.

What did this mean, this representative of the people suddenly had military power in hand?

Then Ba Yi added: “Also, Mr.

Frost, we are planning to go to the Versailles Palace tomorrow to beseech His Majesty to withdraw the Royal Swiss mercenaries.”

Good gracious, at this time, this isn’t a royal audience, but it’s clearly setting up for a palace coup.

Marquis Lafayette: “As the hero who has taken the Bastille, Mr.

Frost should naturally join us.”

Anning thought to himself, please no, I’ve just blown up the king’s symbolic fortress, and now you want me to meet the King?

What, do you still want me to tell the King how I breached his fortress?

Though he complained inwardly, Anning responded outwardly: “I understand, then let’s journey together tomorrow!”

As soon as the words were spoken, the Duke of Orleans, Tolleson, led two followers into the City Hall.

“Freedom!” the Duke of Orleans exclaimed, “The crowds in the streets are singing and dancing, calling today ‘the first year of freedom’!

Andy, you did well!

You did very well!

But there’s one thing I don’t understand, how did you kick open the gates of the Bastille with your feet?”

Anning frowned, for the whiff of alcohol was enough to suggest that the Duke of Orleans was quite drunk.

And the nonsensical content of his speech further indicated that the Duke of Orleans was in a state of extreme inebriation at that moment.

The Duke of Orleans: “How exactly did you breach the fortress?

Tell everyone and let them marvel!”

Anning didn’t think it was possible to have a clear conversation with the Duke at that time, so he changed the subject, “Mr.

Duke, did you come to the City Hall just to say this?

You must have more important matters, right?”

Just as Anning finished speaking, he heard Ba Yi muttering beside him: “What important matters?

He’s clearly just drunk and came here to find someone to chat with.”

Lafayette shook his head: “Drinking really does cause trouble.

That’s why I only drink a little at banquets and quietly pour the rest away.”

At that moment, the inebriated Duke of Orleans suddenly began chanting “Long live Paris”.

**

Late that night, Anning went to sleep in the guest room provided by the City Hall.

Early the next morning, as soon as Anning opened his eyes, he saw an unfamiliar servant bringing in a set of military uniform.

Anning: “What’s this?”

“Mr.

Lafayette thought that you should wear the proper attire of an officer to meet with the royalty today, so he specially sent someone to fetch it from your home.”

Anning raised an eyebrow, then asked, “Was it given by the little maid at my house?”

“It seems so.

I wasn’t the one responsible for retrieving the clothes, so I don’t know the details.”

Anning pursed his lips, got up from the bed, and started to change into his uniform.

He had just put on his uniform when Lafayette arrived pacing purposefully, lightly knocking on the open door.

Anning: “Good morning.”

“Good morning, you tiger of the people!”

Anning couldn’t help frowning: “Who came up with this nickname for me?”

“Your friend Marat, in his newspaper Friend of the People.

He has been praising you to the skies, as if you alone took the Bastille.”

Anning: “Of course there’s no such thing, these are exaggerations.

I’ve only done a little that I could.”

Lafayette raised an eyebrow.

Anning quickly changed the subject: “By the way, what’s the situation with the Imperial Palace?”

Lafayette: “The King looked downcast yesterday, today he has summoned all senior generals in Paris for a meeting, including Marshal Broglie.

For now, it’s uncertain how His Majesty will respond.”

Anning remembered, Marshal Broglie was a new noble who was inclined towards the Revolution—in fact, by this point, almost all the distinguished nobles in Paris were inclined towards constitutionalism and reform.

Since His Majesty had also summoned Marshal Broglie, the likelihood of using force to suppress the uprising had been greatly reduced.

Anning breathed a slight sigh of relief.

In his dreams last night, he had been worrying that his interference in history might alter its course, and that the King would unreasonably choose forceful suppression in firm opposition.

Anning, before the mirror, straightened his military attire.

Lafayette took Anning’s hat from the coat rack and handed it over.

Only then did Anning notice that the red, white, and blue roundel was already pinned on the military cap.

This must have been prepared at home by Vanni.

Anning seemed to see Vanni from the night before, working by candlelight on this roundel.

Anning took the hat and placed it on his head.

Lafayette: “Are you ready?

Then let’s go to Versailles to meet with the royalty.”