Moro: "Follow me! The road we took is filled with volunteer soldiers from everywhere, and he’s probably responsible for their registration. Come with me, and we’ll surely find him!"
Then Anning waved his hand: "Bring the horse over, I was just about to escort the Minister of War back to Paris City, it’s perfect to check out this person who dares to line his pockets at such a critical moment!"
Immediately, Julian led the horse over, Anning mounted his horse, turned his head to make sure all his attendants were also mounted, then turned again and urged the just-unearthed Moro: "Move!"
So the group went back to Paris City with great momentum.
As they neared Moro’s station, he pointed to a house from afar where an official was condescendingly lecturing the volunteer soldiers and said: "It’s him! He demanded a bribe from me, or else he wouldn’t grant me my officer’s rank!"
Anning scrutinized the guy that Moro was pointing at and couldn’t help but frown.
That guy gave Anning the impression of those top enforcers working for landlords depicted in pre-liberation animated art that he saw as a child.
Yes, just like those characters that make your blood boil at the sight, making you want to slap them twice, the ones Anning as a child thought were even more detestable than the landlord tycoons.
So Anning, without another word, rode forward and demanded in a stern voice: "What are you doing!"
The Ministry of War official jumped in fright, his wig nearly sliding off his head. He turned around in a huff, bellowing: "You scared me! If my wig had fallen to the ground, could you, a stinking soldier, afford to compensate? This is an extremely valuable wig!"
Anning was taken aback. What the hell, this guy actually doesn’t recognize me?
Anning: "Open your dog eyes wide and see who the hell I am!"
The official pushed his glasses: "Who are you... How would I know who you are! There are so many generals in Paris City now! Let me tell you, I am a subordinate of the Minister of War, and the Minister is a favorite of none other than General Frost!"
Anning turned to Lazar Kano: "Is that so?"
Lazar Kano: "In terms of favoritism, Bonaparte and Lasalle are somewhat more esteemed, I simply have followed the General for a slightly longer time."
At this moment, the arrogant official sensed something was amiss. He pushed his glasses again, stared at Lazar Kano for a few seconds, and exclaimed in horror: "Minister! How... how did you get here?"
Lazar Kano: "You’re only surprised by that? Guess who this person beside me is?"
Anning: "I am the Commander of Paris Security, Major General Frost!"
Bertier, who had caught up at some point, coughed: "According to the latest resolution of Parliament, the title of Major General has been abolished, and now everyone is uniformly referred to as Division General."
Anning frowned: "What the hell? Division General, my commanded troops definitely exceed just one division!"
Bertier shrugged: "I don’t know, the resolution from Parliament that was given to me does not mention Army General. It seems this is in the spirit of highlighting equality..."
Anning cursed: "What kind of bullshit is this! The differentiation of ranks in the troops is for ensuring the smooth operation of the command chain. I’m a Division General, Lana is a Division General, who’s commanding who? It’s all just chaos!"
Anning thought for a moment, then said to Bertier: "Draft an order stating that for the smoothness of the command chain, regardless of whatever bullshit resolution Parliament has made, we shall still maintain our original military titles. As of now, I am still a Major General."
Bertier nodded again and again: "Understood, I will issue the order immediately."
Anning was furious, and suddenly remembered there was still a vermin to deal with. With a shout, she ordered the fleeing commissioner, "Stop right there! Repeat that nonsensical crap you just said to me again!"
The commissioner immediately dropped to his knees with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly to Anning, with his expensive wig falling off to the ground, soon gathering a layer of dust, "I failed to recognize a great person..."
"Is your only problem that you didn’t recognize a great person? Military intelligence is critical, yet you dare to line your own pockets! Such behavior is treasonous! I bet you’re in cahoots with the Royalists! Guards, seize this traitor! Take him to the nearest guillotine!"
The soldiers who were listless while listening to the commissioner’s lecture earlier perked up gleefully and apprehended him.
Another officer who was nearby gleefully fished out several Gold Kroner from the commissioner’s pockets, then said to Anning, "General, if you hadn’t come, I would never have gotten these Kroner back!"
Anning nodded and then said to Lazar Kano, "Take a few men to this guy’s home, confiscate all the money he has embezzled! With a formidable enemy at our doorstep, we need to recover every penny these traitors have profited from betrayal!"
The commissioner was sobbing uncontrollably, "At least leave some money for my wife and daughter to live on..."
"What good would money do them?" Anning sneered, "Their future is bleak, they can’t escape the stigma of being a traitor’s family no matter where they go, this is the mess you’ve created. Regret it in Hell."
With that, Anning waved her hand and the former commissioner was dragged away.
Moro was somewhat soft-hearted, "Isn’t this a bit too much? Just to settle his embezzled assets, and then imprisoning him for a few years would suffice..."
Anning: "You don’t understand. In times of chaos, stern laws must be enforced. If we don’t do this, the entire Paris City will soon become rampant with corruption."
In real history, it seemed that most of the Jacobin leaders didn’t have any issues, mainly because they died too early and didn’t have the time to become corrupt.
But their successors, one more corrupt than the other, mostly didn’t hold any revolutionary ideals, being purely opportunistic.
In France, this was the situation, but in a 20th century African nation, they would probably end up in John’s bizarre small country series, being cited as examples of "benevolent rulers".
So Anning’s words were not entirely alarmist; Paris indeed was likely to become rampant with corruption in the future.
Moro: "Alright, you have a far-reaching vision, I have nothing more to say. So, I will just..."
"Don’t you move!" Anning shouted, "Where do you think you’re going? I am appointing you as the commander of the 67th Infantry Brigade!"
Bertier: "That... he is just a Captain, it might be more appropriate to appoint him as a acting brigade commander first. It’s already a great exception to promote a Captain to a acting brigade commander, and it’s only acceptable because of the shortage of officers we are currently facing."
Anning pondered for a moment, then nodded, "Alright, you’re the acting brigade commander of the 67th Infantry Brigade, temporarily acting as the brigade commander."
Bertier frowned, pinching his nose as he agreed.
After all, Anning did compromise a little.
Moro was utterly baffled, "Report to the General, I am a lawyer, I’ve never had a day’s experience in military life, it’s only that I like to ride horses and hunt occasionally, so I know how to handle swords and guns."
Anning: "No problem, the brigade commander of the 66th Infantry Brigade is a writer. Everyone’s being pushed into positions they’re not accustomed to. Just take your brigade and do your best!"