Chapter 81: Cordeliers Club (3) This world has long since rotted through and through.
The nonsense spouted by those governing lords who claim their power was granted by God is enough to make one sick just hearing it.
What, exactly, have those governing lords done with that so-called God-given power?
Is driving France into bankruptcy, trampling the daily lives of the people, and indulging in debauchery and luxury truly a privilege bestowed by God?
What utter nonsense.
If God truly granted them the privilege to do such things, then is that God truly benevolent?
If such a God exists, then He is not the benevolent being we know, but something worse than a three-year-old brat who toys with us as though we were insects.
If God is such a madman, then who grants power?
It is the people.
Last July, the people tore down the Bastille.
The people themselves shattered the damp and filthy shackles imposed by corrupt rulers and stepped out into the world.
Ah. How beautiful a sight that was.
And yet.
Those who claim to have taken power through that revolution—are they truly loyal to the people and to the revolution?
Commander of the National Guard, Marquis de Lafayette.
National Assembly deputies Gabriel Riqueti Mirabeau and Emmanuel Sieyès.
Controller-General of Finance, Guillaume de Toulon.
What exactly are they doing?
The king, the Duke of Orléans, has already revealed his dark intentions to the revolutionary army.
If so, should you not drag him down and cut off his head?
Why are you standing idle?
You who call yourselves the standard-bearers and the face of the revolution—what exactly are you doing?
Surely you do not intend to imitate the English constitutional monarchy, neither monarchy nor republic?
Those who rose to power by the strength of the people—rather than adding even a single sack of grain to the people's stores, are you trying to preserve the old privileges and cling to them?
If you truly follow the will of the people, should you not create a republic—even if it means shedding your own blood?
Filthy reactionaries. Traitors to the revolution. Betrayers of the people.
Men who have no intention of liberating the suffering people across Europe.
Amid the reactionary atmosphere they are fostering, even the Cordeliers Club itself is in danger.
Has not last year's fervor vanished, replaced by a growing mood of complacency?
Knock, knock, knock.
"Citizen Hébert. May I come in?"
"…Come in."
Jacques René Hébert, a delegate of the Cordeliers Club and editor-in-chief of The Old Duchesne, slowly opened his eyes at the voice calling from outside his door.
"What is it?"
Hébert asked as he looked at the attendant who had entered.
"Commissioner Danton is looking for you."
"…What does that man Danton want with me?"
"The Controller-General of Finance, Guillaume de Toulon, will soon be visiting our club. He says he wishes to meet with the delegates of the Cordeliers Club."
"…Controller-General Guillaume de Toulon?"
"Yes."
At the attendant's reply, Hébert closed his eyes again and spoke.
"…Tell him I understand."
"Yes."
The attendant bowed and left.
"Guillaume… Guillaume de Toulon…"
Feeling his way through the darkness before his eyes, Hébert murmured.
Controller-General of Finance, Guillaume de Toulon.
The face of the revolution, and friend of the citizens of Paris.
And yet—
Like Orléans, perhaps a bourgeois with noble blood mixed in, hiding his own black heart.
Whose side are you truly on?
"Your Excellency the Controller-General, I heard you have returned from a long journey. Thank you for visiting our club in person."
"Haha, not at all, Commissioner Danton. You are doing good work. I had to come at least once."
Georges Danton greeted me with a smile and extended his hand.
Behind him, Mr. Robespierre approached with a faint grin and also held out his hand.
"Your Excellency, it has been a while."
"Deputy Robespierre. Have you been well?"
"Haha, thanks to you, I have been well."
"You haven't forgotten what I told you, have you?"
"You need not press me so. I review it every night."
"Haha, that's a relief."
It would not be pleasant to watch Mr. Robespierre awaken fully.
My goodness. A guillotine—what a terrifying device.
"Ah, Your Excellency. This is Monsieur Jean-Paul Marat, editor-in-chief of The Friend of the People."
The Friend of the People… Ah, the journal that plagiarized my speech without permission.
What a pity. I should have pushed a copyright law through the Assembly beforehand.
"…A pleasure to meet you."
"The honor is mine, Your Excellency."
"And this is Monsieur Camille Desmoulins, editor-in-chief of Free France and someone who works under Deputy Mirabeau."
"Good to meet you, Monsieur Desmoulins."
"A-an honor, Your Excellency."
"And this is—"
Cutting off Danton, a sharp-eyed man extended his hand and spoke.
"…I am Jacques René Hébert."
"Guillaume de Toulon, Controller-General of Finance. A pleasure."
After shaking hands with everyone, I opened the door to the reception room prepared by the Cordeliers Club and entered.
A simple round table stood in the center, surrounded by five or six chairs.
"Your Excellency, what brings you here in person?"
Once everyone had taken their seats, Danton leaned forward and asked on behalf of the others.
"I have come to speak frankly and in depth about the situation France currently faces."
"…Frankly and in depth?"
I nodded and looked at Deputy Robespierre.
"Deputy Robespierre. You are aware of how the Assembly is currently functioning, are you not?"
"…Of course, Your Excellency."
Robespierre replied with a troubled expression.
"If Deputy Robespierre knows, then the rest of you must know as well. The Assembly is now divided between those who follow Orléans and those who support the revolution."
Everyone nodded.
Good. They are listening closely.
"I believe the sense of crisis born from that division is precisely why you founded this club and are holding these discussions. I, too, believe France now stands at a very dangerous crossroads."
"…Hmm."
Danton let out a short sound and furrowed his brow.
"…Your Excellency. Is Orléans's faction truly that powerful?"
"According to what our revolutionary forces have determined, Orléans's faction is not yet a grave threat. However, even setting that aside, it is certain we stand at a dangerous crossroads."
"Why?"
I looked at Desmoulins, who tilted his head, and spoke.
"This is for your ears only. Not long ago, Italians crossed the border and attacked one of our small villages."
"…What?"
"The National Guard and local citizens repelled them, but this is no different from a clear threat to us. A threat that foreign armies may attack France in times of instability."
"War… you mean?"
"At minimum, civil war. At maximum, a nationwide armed conflict."
"…How does the National Guard intend to respond?"
"The majority opinion within the National Guard is that we should lie low until the finances are stabilized."
"…Are you saying we should betray the revolution?"
"It is not betrayal. Realistically speaking, a military response is impossible right now. Every half-day we move an army is equivalent to bread for a thousand men disappearing."
"…."
"…Commissioner Danton, may I smoke?"
"Hm? Ah, yes."
"Thank you."
I took out my pipe and lit it with flint.
After drawing in a breath and feeling the nicotine reach my head, I spoke again.
"I will speak plainly. With France's current situation, we cannot depose Orléans. For the record, I despise that man as well."
"But if we depose him now, who do we set up as the next king? The Count of Provence? The Count of Artois? Are they not all mad?"
"Then a republic—"
"A republic? Like America? The moment we declare a republic, France will be attacked from all sides by the monarchies surrounding us. The Holy Roman Empire, Britain, Spain, Italy, and so on."
"The reason America functions as a republic without interference is not some grand principle. It is simply because it stands alone on a new continent."
"Then, Your Excellency, do you advocate constitutional monarchy?"
"For now, that is the position of both the revolutionary army and the Assembly. Even if we depose him later, at present we should avoid drawing the intense attention of the European powers."
"Does that mean there will be changes in policy as well?"
"Do not worry about that, Deputy Robespierre. As long as I remain here, land redistribution and the economic policies we have already planned will proceed unchanged. My goal is that every citizen of France can sustain a stable livelihood."
"Phew… that is a relief."
"…Very well. The fact that you have come here in person to speak with us means you trust us."
"Indeed. Please wait just a little longer—until our government firmly establishes itself."
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