Revolutionary Period – National Assembly (2)
The western region south of the Loire River continued to complain about the revolutionary government’s decree of religious suppression and confiscation of church property.
Then, this time, the conscript officer who was dispatched for conscription and the revolutionary army had a conflict with local peasant resistance, and in the end, the conscript officer was killed and the revolutionary soldiers who accompanied him were also said to have died or been injured.
“This is a betrayal to our country!”
“We saved those peasants from the oppression of the old regime, but how dare you commit treason against the revolution!”
The National Assembly, where this news was delivered, was seething with all kinds of anger and raw anger.
For them, the revolution was justice.
The old regime was a clear enemy, and the future they envisioned was one in which the people united under the banner of revolution resolutely opposed the enemy.
However, it is not the king or nobles of the old system who are rebelling against them now, but the peasants.
“They have been defending the clergy from the beginning and causing friction with us. “It must be the innocent and foolish peasants who were played by the corrupt and corrupt clergy!”
The National Assembly believed that there were other forces behind the farmers’ revolt.
“Maybe they were a mob instigated by reactionary aristocrats-”
The congressman, who was swayed by the atmosphere and chattering wildly, was startled and looked at Christine and me.
That area is right above Bordeaux, the capital of the County of Aquitaine, and they say things like that.
“But reports say that the conscripts and their attendants executed some of the villagers first. “Even if we check the succession relationship first and then deal with it-”
As the atmosphere seemed to be heating up, cautious opinions were also expressed from the moderates, but these were soon fiercely refuted.
“Then what if they start an uprising? How dare you defy the revolutionary government when a war with the king who has joined hands with foreign powers is just around the corner? “This must be proof that they are traitors to the republic!”
“It is clear that they were instigated by the king or a foreign power!”
“If they are not traitors, then who is a traitor?”
Everyone’s eyes naturally turned to Maximilien Isidore, the leader of the radical faction.
“We freed ourselves from the oppression of the old regime and established a republic for the people. To protect that republic, the people must be led by reason, and their enemies must be led by fear. “Our revolutionary government is itself a dictatorship of freedom that resists tyranny, and if they revolt against us, that means they are enemies of the people.”
How can it be so easy to say something that accuses the entire people of one region of being traitors?
Are these the same people who drove me to the guillotine for plundering the enemy’s territory during the civil war?
I can’t leave this like this.
“Death to traitors-”
“I speak.”
The shouting that was coming out was cut off by my voice, and the members of the National Assembly all turned their eyes to me.
Maybe it’s because I don’t usually show my face in the National Assembly, but I’m sure everyone’s attention is focused on me.
“I think it would be hasty to define them as rebels at this point.”
“If those who refused to be drafted and harmed the conscripts and attendants sent by our government during wartime are not rebels, then what are they?”
“But there were also reports that our side harmed them first. “I don’t want to see a situation where we hastily oppressed our own people in a situation where a foreign power is invading, and then they end up joining King Louis or a foreign power.”
“Do you think the commander of the Confederate army is prudent? “You refuse to suppress the rebels.”
“I wish that prudence wasn’t the same as indecisiveness.”
Sarcasm flew in from here and there, but I looked straight at Maximilien Isidore and waited for him to speak.
“…As you know, we don’t have time, Marquis de Lafayette. “When winter ends, a war between the king and foreign powers will break out immediately, so it is important to root out those rebels from the beginning.”
Isidor’s statement also makes sense.
If we wait too long and fail to deal with them, there is a clear risk that we will end up in a crisis on two fronts.
“It is not yet a rebellion, but it can be dismissed as a protest and unrest. However, if we raise an army to suppress them, then they will have no choice but to launch a full-scale rebellion.”
I made eye contact with Christine and she nodded.
“Besides, we still lack justification. As you know, they are united around the priests, and the Holy Church will certainly be keeping an eye on this situation. “I think you know where the Republic, which is subject to trade sanctions from most countries, is currently importing weapons and supplies.”
“Hmph, you are hell-bent on protecting the monopoly interests of the top of Aquitaine!”
“In any case, it is currently the Republic’s only revenue route guaranteed by the Holy Church. “What would you do if we blindly declared them rebels and subdued them with the priests, and the Holy Church used that as an excuse to cut off trade?”
Is there an alternative?
“Would you like to go back to the days when we had to endure price ceilings as a temporary measure because we could not control the soaring prices? Foreign troops are flocking in, so what will you tell the newly conscripted revolutionary troops to send them out? Should we at least pick up some farm equipment and send it out? The first thing to do is to understand the situation and listen to their demands. “If they are truly traitors to the revolutionary government and the fatherland, then the cause is ours.”
There was silence in the National Assembly.
After a while, Isidor opened his mouth.
“But they have already harmed elements of the revolutionary government. Is it possible to have a proper conversation with them? To put it this way, if the result was to overthrow the revolutionary government and buy time for the rebels who wanted to join the old regime and foreign powers, the responsibility lies with the Marquis de Lafayette. “I will come to you.”
Anyway, I won’t let you go easily.
Obviously, if I make a mistake after getting this far, it will be my responsibility.
However, we cannot become bystanders to the senseless persecution here, even if it is because of the sincerity promised to the Church and to prevent the runaway revolution.
“Don’t worry about that part. “If the basis of their actions is faith, they will go with someone they have no choice but to respect.”
And above all.
The future queen will never acknowledge this kind of persecution, and she is a saint who was directly recognized by the church.
–
Damien Demirbeau, who was accelerating preparations to send troops to the Eastern Front under my orders, foamed at the mouth when he heard that I was leaving the capital, but I eventually left the capital with Eris to contact the protesters in the west. .
I am very worried about what will happen in the capital while I am away, but I believe that Christine will somehow prevent public opinion in the capital from deteriorating significantly.
Because we were running out of time, instead of carrying carriages and a busy procession, we rode down the road with only a small number of selected knights and cavalry.
As I drove the horse, I chuckled as I looked at Eris, her white robe fluttering beside me, and Lord Beaumont following with her harp on her back.
“This reminds me of my time in the South.”
“It seems like it was just yesterday.”
Eris, wearing a hood and veil, giggled and answered.
“It’s already been two years.”
“Has it already happened?”
“okay.”
“Lady Eris grew up well too.”
Lord Beaumont spoke with a fatherly, warm gaze, but Eris’ answer was cruel.
“Uncle Frank speaks like an old man.”
Sir Beaumont, who could not even get his money’s worth, remained silent in shock.
Eris, who was only 16 years old when we first met her and had a mysterious appearance but still felt like a child, has the appearance of a very young woman.
If you just keep your mouth shut and be pious, you will now look worthy of the name saint.
But I don’t know.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“No, just.”
If all goes according to plan, I will have to crown her as Her Royal Highness someday, but it is a big deal because no matter how much time goes by, I feel like she will feel more like a younger brother than a master.
“It seems like you are having some impure thoughts, Marquis.”
“..See you ahead, Eris.”
After hearing what I said, Eris turned her gaze straight ahead and immediately made an audible sound.
As we neared the entrance to the city, we stopped and the people gathered all fell to their knees.
“…Did I tell you? “You will need the qualifications to become a saint.”
Instead of answering me, Eris got off her horse and walked towards them. An old man wearing a bishop’s uniform at the head of the group bowed politely to Eris and opened his mouth.
“It is an honor to welcome such a faithful person. Bishop John sends greetings to the Virgin Mary and the Marquis Pierre de Lafayette.”
–
“Laudatus dominus deus Sanctus.”
The pure sound of singing resonates in the pious chapel, and her pure white hair and skin, illuminated by the soft light of candles, seem as if they are wrapped in light.
“Hosanna in excelsis.”
Eris may have never conducted a proper service before, but she responded to the believers’ requests as if she had always done so.
It was only after coming here that I realized that the songs Eris sometimes hummed were ancient words only used in the Holy Church.
“Dona nobis pacem.”
Even though she has a mysterious appearance and is singing ancient hymns with divine power, she looks divine even to me, and even the residents who were apprehensive at first are mesmerized and cannot take their eyes off her.
Was it really her mother who taught Eris, who does not believe in God, such things?
As I was sitting in a corner watching the scene, Bishop John came up next to me.
“Does this old man dare to have the honor of sitting next to the Marquis?”
“of course. “I came here to hear the story.”
John bowed his head as if to express his gratitude to me, then slowly opened his mouth.
“I understand that the Marquis is the commander of the Southern Army of the Republic. “You must have come because of this unrest.”
“you’re right. On behalf of the government of the Republic, this is to understand the situation of the unrest and resolve it as amicably as possible. “It seems to me that the bishop is in a position to exert some influence on the people of this region.”
“I’m embarrassed, but I’m not. “If the Marquis hadn’t come with the saint, it wouldn’t have been so easy to start the conversation.”
John hesitated a little and then opened his mouth again.
“The charity that the Marquis has extended as a patron of the saint is known even in this land.
Because we also have news to hear. We also know that the republican government in the capital is not that moderate. … The antipathy that has built up among the people of this region did not arise overnight.”
John’s attitude was quite cautious. Fortunately, he seems to have some awareness of reality.
You probably know that this is a critical situation.
“This land is a poor place. In order to survive in a land without significant resources or commercial districts, people had to learn how to come together as a local community. The same goes for the church. Although the church collected religious taxes, it was run as communal property to be used for the benefit of the region.”
“Hmm, is that so?”
“But the revolutionary government deprived the church of its property and distributed it to those who contributed to the revolutionary government. “It mainly went to wealthy people from outside the region, not from here.”
Right. If so, it is not unreasonable for people in this region to protest.
At least in their view, the church was not an evil that needed to be eradicated, but a member of the community.
However, if outsiders who had nothing to do with it under the feudal system arbitrarily accuse people of old-world corruption, persecute them, rob them of their property, and blindly impose rules that suit them, they would naturally be dissatisfied.
“…So there is unrest?”
“Not long before the civil unrest broke out, tax collectors sent by the government collected heavy war taxes. However, immediately after that, the conscription order was issued again, and the residents who had built up discontent exploded and refused.”
John paused for a moment and then opened his mouth with a dark look on his face.
“Then the tax collector and the revolutionary army executed several people, saying they were setting an example, and the next day, residents who learned of what was happening came and attacked them.”
You can’t just believe what they say, but honestly, if this is true, the revolutionary army’s mistake is bigger.
“…Marquis. Not long ago, a proposal came from the Count Lionel family of a nearby estate. “If there is an uprising, I intend to help.”
Oh shit. Count Lionel In the end, to him, the revolutionary army was nothing more or less than a rebel group.
“…Why are you telling me that?”
“Marquis. “I don’t know what the revolutionary government thinks, but the people of this land do not want to side with the king or rebel against the republic.”
John is desperately pleading.
“We just want to protect the values of the community we have built over the years. We do not want to shed blood with our neighbors in a situation where foreign powers are invading. “Marquis, please tell our story to the revolutionary government.”
For me, my feelings are complicated.
First of all, I know that these people are unfair enough.
In the end, what they want is to stop the oppression of religion and gain some kind of autonomy that will allow them to maintain the lifestyle they have maintained so far.
On the other hand, the revolutionary government of the Republic, especially the radicals led by Maximilien Isidore, are pursuing centralization under a strong central government.
For them, it is not an easy matter to acknowledge the mistakes of the republic and recognize the autonomy of local communities.
Besides, my position is also awkward. I have to take care of them as quickly as possible and head to the battlefield.
I must act immediately as the commander of the Southern Army to prevent foreign invasions in order to solidify my position within the revolutionary government.
However, judging from what I checked before departure and what I heard directly on the ground, this is not an issue that can only be punished and buried by those who have done moderately wrong things.
I looked back and forth between Bishop John, who was looking at me with a weak hope, and Eris, who was singing as if she were an extremely pious saint, and then sighed.
“…under. “It won’t be easy.”
Even if it is not a deal with the Holy Church, it is not possible to allow them to be suppressed unjustly unless they are covering it up and rebelling against it.
Moreover, if this is resolved well here, it will be possible to take the leadership of the National Assembly from the radicals.
In that case, we have no choice but to do it somehow.
?
