He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 69

(68) Robespierre Dies Under the Guillotine

The guillotine is the symbol of the revolution.

-Thud! Thud! Thud!

Like fruit ripening, on a September day when the sun dyes the sky red at sunset.

The guillotine continues to sever heads and send them flying into the sky.

Today was the day a particularly prominent aristocrat was to die.

As the executioner Sanson confirmed the death, Hébert rushed forward, raising the head and shouting,

“Behold! The head of the revolution’s enemy, Duke of Liancourt!”

At the same time, the *sans-culottes* [common people] citizens surrounding the area cried out,

“Waaah! Death to the enemy of the revolution!”

Duke of Liancourt, the very person who coined the term *La Révolution* [The Revolution] in the original history.

Although Eugène beat him to it, he was a reformist aristocrat who advocated for a constitutional monarchy.

After the revolution began, he had been active in the constitutional monarchist faction.

However, he was a close aide to the royal family, a high-ranking aristocrat, and had corresponded with the Duke of Orléans, which was problematic.

Moreover, the revolutionary government now decides executions with a simple majority.

Before Eugène could even pay attention, he was dragged to the guillotine and executed.

Suddenly, a middle-aged man in priestly attire spoke to Marat, who was watching the scene from under the guillotine.

“Monsieur Marat, we can’t delay any longer.”

Marat, one of the three giants of revolutionary France.

The man speaking to Marat now is Jacques Roux, a member of the most hardline faction within the Jacobins, the Marat faction.

Originally, in the original history, he dies when the Reign of Terror intensifies.

However, currently, the guillotine is still aimed at royalists and traitors, so he is safe.

Marat stared at the guillotine without looking at Jacques Roux and asked,

“Is it certain that Danton visited Bonaparte yesterday?”

“It is certain. The bigger problem is the movements of the Public Security Forces.”

“Does it seem like military units are moving?”

Jacques Roux shook his head.

“No. It’s quiet. That’s why it’s more suspicious.”

As can be seen from his priestly attire, Jacques Roux is from the priesthood.

Therefore, he was able to utilize the information network of the clergy who were still in Paris to some extent.

However, due to the current revolutionary government’s stance of extreme dislike for priests, the clergy’s movements are limited.

Robespierre himself is preparing a festival to deny *God* and worship *Reason*.

Therefore, the information Jacques Roux obtained was limited.

Nevertheless, he sensed a suspicious atmosphere.

Clearly, Danton met Napoleon, but Napoleon has not reacted at all.

Isn’t that strange?

Marat frowned slightly and asked again,

“Is the National Convention being held tomorrow?”

Not the meeting of the top leaders, the Committee of Public Safety.

The entire assembly of representatives, the National Convention, is being held.

Even if the Committee of Public Safety is the highest authority, the power structure that represents the nation under the constitution is clearly the National Convention.

In short, what is resolved in the National Convention is absolute.

Jacques Roux nodded.

“Yes, it’s a regular session, but it’s suspicious. There are rumors that Robespierre is preparing an impeachment speech.”

“Father Jacques Roux, Robespierre impeaches anyone. Besides, Danton is more likely to be the target this time.”

“That’s the bigger problem.”

Jacques Roux explained, analyzing the information meticulously.

“The fact that Danton met Bonaparte likely means he was desperate. He trusted the Public Security Forces more than a citizen uprising.”

This is an era when Robespierre, Danton, and Marat are known as the three giants of the revolution.

But Robespierre is now uncomfortable with the other two.

Has Danton become the first target?

At that moment, Hébert, who had stepped down from the guillotine covered in blood, chuckled.

“Hehehe, how foolish. The population of Paris is 600,000! Of those, at least 200,000 are adult men. Our *sans-culottes* [common people] can mobilize over 100,000! The Public Security Forces? Not even 10,000? Peacetime operating personnel is around 3,000, isn’t that a brigade level?”

“But the Public Security Forces are regular soldiers. Besides, there are Lafayette’s National Guards too.”

“So what. Jacques Roux? Everyone is the same when they pick up a gun! They’re all conscripts anyway!”

Hébert glared with mad eyes.

“Guns are equal, Monsieur Marat. Make a decision!”

Marat and Hébert are already planning a [citizen uprising].

The story has been told to the heads and middle managers of the Paris Commune.

Most of them communicate with Hébert and respect Marat.

Above all, the citizens’ dissatisfaction is high, as seen at this guillotine site.

Because they deliberately spread the rumor that they would kill a prominent aristocrat today, tens of thousands of citizens are crowded in the square.

After staring intently at the citizens, Marat nodded with his scabrous face.

“Yes. A regime that even spared the corrupt tax collector, Lavoisier. The current regime!”

Marat remembers the decision to save Lavoisier some time ago.

Unlike Danton or Hébert, it was that decision that moved Marat.

It was five years ago that they started the revolution to kill the rotten and purify the world.

But to save Lavoisier, a big shot among those rotten people, because he is needed for the war?

This system is wrong.

“Listen, citizens!”

Suddenly, Marat climbed onto the guillotine.

“Oh, it’s Marat!”

“Jean-Paul Marat? The conscience of the revolution! The great leader of the revolution!”

“[The Friend of the People] has come to the revolution square!”

Friend of the People, a nickname that the *sans-culottes* [common people] affectionately call Marat.

Of course, that friend mainly talks about killing people.

In an era with cameras, Marat, who would not be able to become a politician because of his skin, looked around the square.

At that moment, Marat’s gaze turned to the rolling head of Duke Liancourt.

“Here, an enemy of the revolution has died. A high-ranking aristocrat who exploited the people with wicked words by the king’s side!”

This is, of course, a lie.

Liancourt worked hard for the reform of France.

Before the revolution, he was one of the aristocrats who supported the revolutionists.

But at the same time, it is also true that Liancourt was a wealthy man as a high-ranking aristocrat.

It is also true that he ate white bread and greasy meat when the people were starving.

It is also true that most of the aristocrat’s wealth came from his lords.

A man who speaks the truth through lies, Marat declared in a sonorous voice.

“But what about our lives? Bread is still expensive, it is difficult to make a suit of clothes, and the stove has cooled down!”

“That’s right!”

“Why is our life like this!”

Marat roared at the *sans-culottes* [common people] who were still wearing rags.

“All this is because of the new aristocrats! Republic aristocrats! Those, the National Convention crowd!”

Across the Seine River, not visible from this square.

It’s the Tuileries Palace, where the National Convention’s parliament is located.

But anyone in this place could understand what it meant.

They say they open salons.

I heard they enjoy fashion.

There are still many citizens starving because they can’t eat a piece of bread, and they waste 1 million *livres* [French currency] to make some kind of unknown gunpowder?

Isn’t that what only aristocrats would do?

Marat punctuated his words to the murmuring people.

“Will we not defeat the new aristocrats and achieve the true spirit of the revolution, equality!”

A declaration of armed revolt.

At that moment, Hébert rushed out and waved a flag.

The heads of the Paris Commune ran out and shouted.

“Follow Marat!”

At this moment, Marat’s rebellion began.

***

A fall only begins when you reach the top.

“We need to introduce a maximum price system. It seems.”

Robespierre said, reviewing documents in the study of Duplay’s house, still quiet.

Maximum price system.

In modern history, it is synonymous with price controls.

It remains in history as a system that ignores market principles, but at that time, France’s economy was so messed up that it had to introduce such a system.

In particular, prices were skyrocketing like cannonballs, making it difficult to catch them by any means.

This is because of the triple whammy of the collapse of *Assignat* [early French paper money] banknotes, the shortage of supplies, and the famine.

Since the war broke out, there was no way to do it.

However, everyone knows that the maximum price system is unreasonable even in this era.

Couthon, a member of the Public Safety Committee who was helping with the work next to him in a wheelchair, widened his eyes.

“Are you going to control prices? Isn’t that dangerous? There is a risk that merchants will rebel.”

“We have to push it through anyway. Have you heard? A bottle of milk is now one silver coin.”

“That’s expensive, my God.”

When Couthon closed his mouth, Robespierre turned his gaze.

“Desmoulins? How is the land distribution going?”

Desmoulins, Robespierre’s aide, licked his lips and reported.

“We have succeeded in confiscating the land held by the royalist aristocrats, so it is progressing successfully. Rebellion is good at times like this.”

“What if we make it a law to confiscate all the property of counter-revolutionaries? The citizens will like it even more.”

“Representative Saint-Just. That’s too radical. Not all counter-revolutionaries are rebels, and their property rights must be inherited.”

When Saint-Just made a radical suggestion, Desmoulins was horrified and waved his hand.

This place is not strictly a formal organization of the National Convention.

It’s not even the meeting place of the Public Safety Committee.

However, those in this place are all members of the Public Safety Committee, and they are also Robespierre’s closest aides.

In the end, it shows where the highest power of the French revolutionary government lies.

It is the house of the wood businessman Duplay, the room of the lodger Robespierre.

At that time, Robespierre agreed with Saint-Just’s opinion.

“No, it’s a good law. I’ll announce it at the National Convention tomorrow. At the place where we declare the rebirth of the great revolutionary France to stand against the Great French Alliance.”

Desmoulins, Couthon, and Cambacérès, who was working as a scribe in the corner, closed their mouths.

Only Saint-Just is shining his eyes.

French Rebirth Declaration.

This is the speech Robespierre is preparing.

Robespierre was planning to present a new vision for the country at the National Convention tomorrow.

At first glance, it sounds like a good story that instills new hope in the country.

But the reality is cruel.

Because the conclusion is to punish those who interfere with revolutionary France.

Saint-Just began his report.

“The Great French Alliance is one thing, but trade routes are still being disrupted. It seems impossible to recover prices this year.”

“Pitt is the problem.”

“That’s right. Since England is interfering with the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, merchant ships cannot easily go out to sea. Of course, those guys can’t stay on the sea 24 hours a day. In the end, we have to purify the navy!”

Saint-Just’s mission is to purge the military.

It seems that the navy has become Saint-Just’s target.

However, Robespierre nodded as if it were natural and said expressionlessly.

“But the bankers of the East India Company claim that trade is possible, right?”

Saint-Just, Desmoulins, and Couthon competed with each other to speak.

“That’s nonsense.”

“There are rumors that Danton is behind it. Last time, a Danton faction member proposed a law to prevent the bankruptcy of the East India Company.”

“Gee, why do you like bribes so much? He’s not a bad friend except for corruption.”

In an instant, Robespierre glared coldly at Couthon.

“That’s a model of a corrupt politician. Couthon.”

Couthon closed his mouth.

The core of the French Rebirth Declaration was said to be punishment.

Then who will be the target of punishment?

A corrupt politician who corrupts the revolutionary spirit.

Just like Danton.

Signing the last document on the desk, Robespierre declared.

“I have no choice but to give him the guillotine.”

Suddenly, Desmoulins asked carefully.

“Monsieur Robespierre, what are you going to do with Marat?”

“Marat? That guy is still useful. He’s radical, but that’s why he can’t get a majority in the parliament. He’s popular with the people, so he’s worth using.”

“But he’s too radical. Besides, there are rumors that he’s meeting with Hébert. Maybe even Babeuf.”

Originally, in the original history, Desmoulins forms a friendship with Marat and allies with Danton.

Because Robespierre, with Saint-Just at the forefront, executed the opposition every day.

Robespierre presents the guillotine to Desmoulins, who became an anti-Robespierre faction because he was tired of the execution.

However, now that the full-fledged Reign of Terror has not yet arrived, Desmoulins and Robespierre are still on the same side.

Conversely, that means that Desmoulins had quite a close relationship with the opposition.

Enough to know Marat’s suspicious movements.

Robespierre shook his head.

“That’s why I put Bonaparte in charge of the Public Security Forces. He’ll stop Marat if he revolts. Also.”

Suddenly, Robespierre muttered, looking out the window.

“He’ll take responsibility with him.”

It was then.

-Whoosh!

Robespierre was surprised and stood up at the sight of flames suddenly rising outside the window.

“What is it? Is it a fire? Huh?”

Paris is an old city that still has 100 years left before urban reorganization is completed.

That means that the alleys are narrow and most of the houses are made of wood, so a fire can break out at any time.

But the fire that broke out now was different.

The sound of shouts pierced the window and echoed through the room.

-Waaah!

The sound of at least tens of thousands of people shouting.

Revolutionaries have experienced this sound before.

It was the day the Bastille fell.

The members of the Public Safety Committee were about to turn to each other when Auguste burst into the room and shouted.

“Something terrible has happened, brother. You have to get away!”

“What’s going on, Auguste!”

“General Bonaparte has sent an urgent report!”

The moment he heard Auguste’s words, Robespierre’s expressionless face hardened.

“Marat has started a rebellion!”

The man who was at the very top of French power.

Maximilien de Robespierre began to fall.

***

Once a comrade betrays you, it can be more devastating than anyone else.

“This can’t be! How could Marat really start a rebellion! No, the citizens are rebelling against the revolutionary government!”

Robespierre ran out into the alleys of Paris in a daze.

Couthon couldn’t escape because of his wheelchair.

Desmoulins and Cambacérès were caught by the crowd they encountered in front of the door.

This is because Marat, who knew that Duplay’s house was Robespierre’s base, urgently dispatched *sans-culottes* [common people] soldiers.

While Auguste desperately blocked them with his body, Robespierre barely escaped.

Saint-Just’s whereabouts are unknown.

As Robespierre turned the corner, panting,

“There’s Robespierre! The enemy of the revolution!”

The square was in front of him.

The great square of Paris, once called Louis Square.

It is now renamed Revolution Square.

There, armed citizens lined up in large numbers held up torches.

Robespierre gritted his teeth.

“Me, the enemy of the revolution! What nonsense is that!”

He took the wrong way.

It is now impossible to escape.

The number of armed *sans-culottes* [common people] citizens in front of him is at least 20,000.

There will probably be soldiers behind him too.

Then it is better to persuade them.

Robespierre, who has been called the leader of the revolution until now.

The armed citizens, who were revolutionary radicals, hesitated as Robespierre shouted.

It was then.

“Bread! Bread! Bread!”

Hébert sneered and shouted in front of Robespierre.

“Freedom? Equality? Fraternity? Those are all good words. But we don’t have a piece of bread right now, Monsieur!”

The citizens all nodded.

Revolutionary spirit, a new France, those are all good words.

But what was the reason for starting the revolution in the first place?

Because they were hungry.

But the people are still hungry.

Looking back at the starving armed citizens, Robespierre shouted.

“Hébert, Jacques Roux, and Marat!”

Pointing to the flinching Marat, Hébert, and Jacques Roux, Robespierre glared.

“You guys are trying to ruin the revolution!”

“We are rather trying to fix the revolution, Monsieur Robespierre.”

“Shut up, Marat!”

Robespierre has lived with speeches all his life.

The first speech in front of King Louis XVI, the graduation speech of the [University of Paris] representative.

The speech that roared to the citizens on the day the Bastille fell.

The speech that rebuked the representatives when the Mars Square incident occurred.

Now, Robespierre began a life-threatening speech to the armed citizens.

“France is in crisis now. All borders are at war, and the sea is blocked by England! The reason why we lack bread and prices are soaring is because of that!”

It is by no means a problem of the revolutionary government.

In fact, it cannot be said that it is a wrong story.

But there is a problem here.

Then, was there no war during Louis XVI?

Politics is all about results.

Robespierre failed to achieve results.

That is why he is now standing alone in the old Louis Square, where this guillotine is located.

Nevertheless, Robespierre’s roar made the armed citizens stop.

“But to hide that truth and start a rebellion!”

“We will lead this France properly!”

“Stop talking nonsense, Hébert!”

Now, in a heated tone, Robespierre shouted so that it echoed in the square.

“Do you even know what a revolution is? Revolution is not a country ruled by oppression or madness, but by reason. Look at those people. Aren’t they pitiful, foolish, and miserable? It is the revolution that makes them noble!”

Enlighten the people and make them better citizens.

This is the spirit of [Enlightenment] that drove the French Revolution.

But at the same time, it means that the elite sees the people as beings who are one step below and must be led.

Robespierre is now making that mistake.

“To do that, we must take property from the unjust accumulators, establish justice, and, above all, win the war! Can you do that!”

At that moment, someone couldn’t stand it.

-Bang!

In the crowd, one of the armed citizens trembled and shouted, holding a musket.

“Chatter, chatter, it’s noisy! Anyone can talk! Give us bread!”

Marat coldly watched Robespierre, who was shot and bleeding.

Maybe that figure is the future, Marat’s figure.

But not today.

To the armed citizens, Marat in the square roared.

“The tyrant is dead! Now seize the National Convention, the hall of aristocrats!”

20,000 armed citizens ran out.

After that, Robespierre’s body staggered and fell.

In front of the guillotine.

Red blood soaked the front of the guillotine.

-Drip.

A man who tried to protect the revolution by killing countless royals, aristocrats, and counter-revolutionaries.

There was a revolutionary who was clean, cruel, and ruthless.

September 13, 1794.

The revolutionary of blood, Robespierre, died.