Napoleon roared, and the other officers caught on.
A chorus of swords being drawn rang out in the hall, and instantly, Saint Just had seven or eight swords at his throat.
The slowest to react, Bertier shouted, "Someone’s trying to assassinate the General! Protect him!"
The next moment, the main door of the hall was kicked open with a bang, and soldiers from the National Army guarding the door poured into the hall.
At the same time, soldiers from the National Army also appeared in the various stands, and suddenly, the whole hall was filled with the blue of the National Army uniforms.
Those unaware might think General Frost was staging a coup.
And today wasn’t even the 12th of December!
At this moment, Anning was utterly flabbergasted as his golden finger suddenly took control of his body—it had been too long since such a sudden and vigorous movement.
Napoleon rushed over and started tearing at Anning’s clothes: "Where are you hurt?"
Anning: "I’m not injured!"
"Where are you hurt? How come I don’t see any blood? How can we find the wound without blood?"
Isn’t it possible that there’s no blood because there is no wound?
Anning forcibly restrained Napoleon: "I’m not injured! Alright! Calm down!"
Napoleon finally calmed down: "You’re not hurt? I thought you were going to follow in Caesar’s footsteps."
—So you wish for my death, huh?
And then you’ll take Octavian’s place? First I’d have to adopt you, you know.
Anning: "Alright! Everyone, calm down!"
By then, Moura and Lasalle had already grabbed Saint Just, one on each side, like clamping a hot dog, and removed all daggers, while Bernadotte was frisking Saint Just.
Saint Just was still shouting: "For France!"
Anning: "Shut him up."
Lasalle slapped Saint Just across the face.
A tooth flew from Saint Just’s mouth and bounced onto Anning.
Napoleon: "You actually tried to use a Flying knife for the assassination?"
Anning gave Napoleon a big embrace: "Calm down!"
After physically calming Napoleon down, Anning turned to Saint Just, stared at him for a few seconds, then abruptly turned to look at Robespierre.
Robespierre was now standing at the Chairman’s position, which was about the height of a man above the ground, and the two locked eyes again.
Anning spoke up: "Maximilien, can you swear on your honor that this had nothing to do with you?"
Robespierre lifted his head: "No, this was my idea because it’s the only way I could think of to defeat you, and I regret that it has failed."
Anning thought to himself that he was the one regretting, he had intended to spare Robespierre’s life to let him compile the Civil Code.
A few soldiers spontaneously climbed onto the Chairman’s platform, their bayonets poking at Robespierre’s chest, and the leading Sergeant shouted: "I arrest you in the name of attempting to assassinate General Frost!"
Robespierre loudly said: "I have no intention of defending myself, Frost! I did this because you’ve fallen and become an enemy of the Republic!"
Anning: "Take him away, we will immediately vote on how to deal with him. And him too, take him away and watch him closely! Moura, you follow them and make sure nothing goes wrong."
Moura saluted, then was about to take Saint Just away.
Saint Just: "I can walk by myself. I have already failed, I won’t take any further action. I will face my defeat like a Knight."
Moura didn’t let go, instead, he looked at Anning.
Anning nodded slightly; after all, with his golden finger protecting him, even if Saint Just tried again, Anning was confident he would not perish. It might be better to leave them a little dignity.
Moura released his grip on Saint Just.
However, Lasalle hadn’t let go. He looked at Anning: "Really letting him go? You’re too chivalrous for someone who wants you dead. Not so Knight-like!"
Anning: "Let go, Lasalle. I’m hardly going to be wounded by a pretty boy. It’s not about being chivalrous, just absolute confidence in my own martial ability."
Lasalle whistled, then released Saint Just.
Saint Just walked with his head high and with a proud stride, as if boasting of his own looks, towards the main entrance.
Robespierre behaved similarly; he left the Chairman’s seat under the escort of a group of soldiers, glancing back at Anning as he walked out.
After Robespierre was escorted out of the hall, Anning straightened his disheveled clothes and approached the Chairman’s seat.
His personal painter, David, took out his sketchbook and quickly drew the scene with his exquisite skills.
Anning stood on the podium, sighing deeply.
Then he began his speech.
"Everyone knows the purpose of my visit today is to impeach my friend, Robespierre.
"Robespierre is undoubtedly loyal to the revolution; he is so fervent in eliminating the enemies of the revolution that he has fallen into paranoia, treating everyone who disagrees with him as an enemy.
"But now, with our military victories, France is no longer in the dire straits it once was. Continuing to enforce the Reign of Terror is clearly inappropriate at this juncture.
"Therefore, I believe it is time for my friend Robespierre to relinquish the dominant power he holds and let more suitable individuals take on the responsibilities of the Chairman.
"I had intended, after impeaching him, to have him preside over the compilation of the Civil Code—that’s an area where he excels and could perform well."
Anning’s words left the audience exchanging puzzled looks.
Talleyrand muttered softly: "How merciful, too merciful for someone who has a string of victories on the battlefield."
Fouché nodded: "Now I believe that the painting of General Frost accepting flowers from Italian children wasn’t a deliberate propaganda stunt. Such a compassionate and humane ruler is both our fortune and misfortune."
Here, Fouché was already referring to Frost as "the ruler," but no one around him objected.
What else if not the ruler?
Without Saint Just’s assassination attempt, Anning might have simply remained the military Commander of France, but now, even if Anning continued to hold no position in Parliament, he would still be the undoubted ruler of France.
Anning did not hear Fouché and Talleyrand’s whisperings; he continued with a melancholy tone: "I am very good friends with Robespierre, and it pains me to see such an outcome.
"The Jacobins started with four giants, then became three, and now only Dan Dong and I are left.
"Here, I propose that Jacques Danton serve as the interim Chairman until Parliament elects a new Chairman. He will take on the responsibility of stopping the Reign of Terror, and returning everything to normality.
"As for how to handle Robespierre and Saint Just, I propose we vote on that here..."
At this moment, Fouché stood up in the audience and loudly said: "General, before that, I think there is something more important to do. The current chaos in France is mainly because we lack a convincing leader, leading to everyone acting on their own accord.
"We need someone who can unite the whole of France!
"In my view, there is no one more suited to this role than you. Although I am not a deputy, as the Special Commissioner of the National Assembly, I believe I have the right to put forward a motion. I propose that we vote now on appointing General Andy Frost as the First Governor of France!"