Emerging from Grand Duke Carl’s presence, Anning had a new idea.
If, according to the original plan, after defeating Austria and signing the treaty, they exchanged King Louis XVI and his spouse for Grand Duke Carl, then Grand Duke Carl would be in a relatively weak position.
Obviously, this was not conducive to initiating top-down reforms and turning Austria into an ally of France.
Sending the Grand Duke back in advance to let him take command in a crisis, then feigning defeat on the battlefield to enhance Grand Duke Carl’s prestige before signing an inconsequential treaty with Austria seemed like a more profitable approach.
As soon as Anning returned to the Fortress Commander’s office, he dismissed everyone except his core officers and proposed this idea.
Napoleon wore a stunned expression: "Brilliant, Andy! We only thought about winning on the battlefield, but you’ve even considered this! I must be given the task of feigning defeat; I have previously bested Grand Duke Carl. This time, faking a draw would not be shameful.
"Who knows, it might even become a celebrated story in history! All heroes must have a worthy rival, like Scipio and Hannibal!"
Anning was impressed—it was classic Napoleon to steer the conversation towards his beloved Rome in just a few sentences.
At this moment, Moro asked with some confusion, "I’m not familiar with the Roman heroes’ tales, but didn’t Scipio meet a rather unfortunate end? Or are you saying you want to be that Hannibal?"
Anning waved his hand dismissively: "How could he ever wish to be Hannibal? That’s Carthage’s hero, Rome’s arch-enemy. Napoleon shouts ’Carthage must be destroyed’ even in his dreams!"
Napoleon: "Carthage must be destroyed!"
After the laughter, Bernadotte spoke up: "I agree with your view, provided that the Grand Duke truly harbors a heartfelt belief in the republic and the ideals of enlightenment."
Anning: "I assure you he does; I can tell, he has become our friend now."
"That’s good enough for me."
After Bernadotte spoke, Lana said: "Grand Duke Carl must be a rather outstanding general for Austria, right?"
Napoleon: "Absolutely, I’ve verified it myself, he’s quite exceptional."
Lana: "Then I’m against sending him back. Releasing an enemy’s excellent general is tantamount to increasing our own casualties. I oppose this."
Anning: "Casualties are inevitable in war, and our plan involves feigning a defeat to Grand Duke Carl, which won’t increase our casualties much."
"Just that there will be a relatively larger number of prisoners." Napoleon added, "Unlike us, Austria won’t make the prisoners perform hard labor to build fortresses; they will likely just sign a contract promising not to oppose Austria for a year and then return them."
Anning took his hesitation as agreement: "Then does anyone else have objections?"
The rest of the officers shook their heads.
Anning continued: "The remaining issue is how to send him back. What reason do we provide?"
"Do we even need a reason?" Lasalle said, "Didn’t Austria send the ransom money long ago? You simply haven’t accepted it yet. Just go and tell Austria to send the ransom again; wouldn’t that solve it?"
Anning thought about it and realized it was true; with the 500 ounces of gold from Balas, he had already established a reputation for amassing wealth, and no one would doubt him if he asked for money.
Anning: "Alright, then let’s send our Grand Duke back to Austria this way, and we’ll try to capture more high-ranking Austrian officers on the battlefield to create a chance for our Grand Duke to rise to power!"
During the recess of the National Assembly, Dan Dong was discussing matters with friends in the corridor outside Parliament.
"George," Balas suddenly appeared, addressing Dan Dong by his name as if they were old acquaintances, "You seem to be in good spirits."
Dan Dong glanced at Balas and laughed: "Oh, the First Governor’s hound has come to inspect, has he?"
Balas said self-deprecatingly, "What kind of hound am I? A hound at least has a place in the Cabinet; I’m now unencumbered by office.
"I’m the same as you all now."
Dan Dong frowned in displeasure: "I’m the honorable Chairman, and the others here are formal members of the National Assembly, unlike you."
"How are we different? Because of Fouché and Talleyrand, the executive power has been stripped away. You still have the legislative power in name, but what good does that do? The ones holding the new positions of First Governor and Cabinet ministers have already filled their coffers."
Dan Dong’s friends all fell silent.
They were all from the Jacobin-controlled National Assembly of ’93, where the National Assembly was the true representative of French sovereignty, holding legislative, executive, and judicial powers.
Even though the judicial power was later separated by the Savior Committee, the Parliament could still send people to the guillotine by vote.
That was when the National Assembly’s members were at their most "mighty," and even ordinary members were exalted masters, with endless wealth rolling in.
Now that the executive power had been stripped away, all present felt the stark difference.
At that moment, Dan Dong said: "The current situation is mainly due to the lack of a proper balance of powers after the separation of the three branches. Once we use our legislative power to establish a new constitution, the National Assembly will have the ability to oversee the Cabinet again.
"At that point, not only the Cabinet but also the First Governor will be subject to our oversight."
Dan Dong’s friends all beamed, as if they could already see themselves looking down from their lofty heights as parliamentary lords at the diminutive First Governor.
Balas: "But can it really be achieved? The army is under the command of the First Governor."
Dan Dong’s smile froze.
After a few seconds of silence, someone suggested: "We can stipulate in the new constitution that generals cannot hold public office. If the First Governor wishes to keep his title, he must relinquish his military power; if he wants to be a General, he must give up the position of First Governor."
The crowd echoed: "Yes, that’s the way it should be!"
"The First Governor has said he’d rather have the worst republic than the best dictatorship. He should support this suggestion!"
"Once the new constitution is enacted, everything will get better!"
Balas watched Dan Dong’s faction in silence, enjoying the fruits of his sowing.
Balas knew he was not alone; everyone who had missed out on a piece of the "cake" last time was a potential ally.
The First Governor might be invincible on the battlefield, but in the great melting pot of Paris, he was not so formidable.
At least in Balas’ view, the First Governor lacked the political acumen of a Cardinal like Richelieu and might not be able to outmaneuver him in the melting pot that was Paris.