After visiting Robespierre and Danton respectively, Paul Barras chose to come to the Palais Royal to visit the remaining member of the Big Three.
An Ning originally wanted to refuse, but after all, he had already blocked Madame Beauharnais's letter, which was basically tantamount to breaking up.
But then he thought about it and decided to listen to what Barras had to say.
Barras was led into An Ning's study by Fanny, and then Fanny bowed and exited the room.
As soon as the door was closed, Barras spoke impatiently: "Dear General Frost, I think there may be some misunderstandings between us."
An Ning: "It seems that you have heard about my interception of Mrs. Beauharnais's letter."
Barras nodded: "Yes, it has spread all over Paris, saying that you took my evidence of guilt and went to the National Salvation Committee to report me. I came here just to explain the so-called evidence of guilt."
An Ning leaned back on the chair. In fact, the chairs of this era were not very comfortable to lean on. An Ning had long been accustomed to the ergonomic chair and couldn't stand the hard touch of the chair back.
But leaning back on the chair can highlight your superiority. An Ning is using this action to show off to Barras.
Barras ignored An Ning's move and assumed a sincere attitude: "Josephine said that Danton and Robespierre would split. This is a very common judgment. Everyone in Paris thinks so, or in other words,
Everyone is looking forward to it. Can you still send everyone in Paris to the guillotine?"
An Ning: "Of course not. I also know the rumors circulating in Paris, but is it inappropriate to write something like this that may be groundless into a specially sealed letter and delivered by a confidant?
"
Barras: "Indeed, I don't know why Josephine values this letter so much. Maybe she is worried that the content inside will be used by people with ulterior motives?"
An Ning: "So you mean, I have ulterior motives?"
"What I mean is that you may be deceived by these people with ulterior motives. I don't know why you suddenly targeted me. There must be some misunderstanding, or someone is sowing discord."
An Ning wanted to laugh. It was obviously you who wanted to sow discord between Danton and Robespierre, but you turned back and said that I was being sowed?
An Ning: "Then who do you think instigated the discord between me? Tell me! You must tell me!"
Barras shrugged: "I don't know, I have many enemies in Paris."
An Ning was convinced. He was indeed the strongest person in history who became a governor. Look at this perfect logical loop: Someone must be sowing discord because I have too many enemies. So who is sowing discord? I don’t know because I have too many enemies.
Too many.
But An Ning was a social beast in his previous life, and he gained little benefit from fighting in the office. He was just being toyed with. But when he was talking nonsense online, he never took advantage of others.
So An Ning exclaimed: "What! You are the French commissioner, and being hostile to you is being hostile to France!"
"Mr. Barras, please make a list of those who have blackmailed you. I will report it to the National Salvation Committee immediately. I will never let any enemy of France go!"
Barras did not expect to be counterattacked like this. He was stunned for a moment, and then stammered: "This... is not to the point of having to go to the guillotine..."
An Ning: "Whether it has reached that point is up to you. The National Salvation Committee will decide. The power of sentencing is in their hands."
The National Salvation Committee is much better than the previous street courts. Street courts basically only have two sentences: acquittal and guillotine, with no middle option.
Now that the National Salvation Committee has been replaced, at least there are more options for putting people in jail. However, the National Salvation Committee has never sentenced people to jail, and the common treatment method is still to acquit people or be guillotined.
This is the case. Whether or not to be sentenced is one thing. Whether it is written down in the criminal law is another matter.
Barras: "You know very well that the National Salvation Committee is now either acquitting or guillotining, and the punishments in between are all for show.
An Ning: "You actually think that the National Salvation Committee is just a decoration?"
"No, I didn't! I mean those specific punishments! Punishments are just decorations!"
An Ning: "If you question the work of the National Salvation Committee, you can go to the parliament. You can even initiate an impeachment against the National Salvation Committee. Once the resolution is passed, you can even cancel the National Salvation Committee as an institution."
"I didn't mean that. I was talking to you about my personal matters! I have no thoughts against Danton and Robespierre. I also hope that their friendship can last forever!"
An Ning frowned and looked at Barras, thinking that if I were familiar with history, I would have been deceived by you.
For a moment, An Ning wanted to call Murat and get rid of this Barras once and for all.
But if I did this, I'm afraid not only Danton and Robespierre would have a grudge against me.
The most important thing is that An Ning doesn't want to be a tyrant.
Although he now has the objective conditions to launch a "Kuptiao Tower" (coup), he doesn't want to use it yet.
Fanny's previous words have been lingering in An Ning's ears: "In that case, you will become a tyrant, is there no problem with that?"
To be honest, after you have the strength to kill decisively, it is really difficult to resist this impulse.
The resting hand has moved to the bell on the table. As long as you click the button and make the bell sound, Murat will come in and everything will be over.
But in the end, An Ning still took no action.
He doesn't want to be a tyrant, he doesn't want to be a true junior general.
Moreover, An Ning also has an emotional preference for the Republic. The word "Republic" makes him feel familiar.
After all, he also comes from a republic, which is his hometown. He is used to listening to the boatman's call and seeing the white sails on the ship.
Finally, An Ning quietly moved his hand away from the bell.
He continued to spar over words with Barras.
"Is this what you came to see me for?"
Barras: "Yes, that's all... No! I also want to congratulate you. I heard that you are planning to marry Miss Christina."
An Ning: "The news spread quickly. Yes, there is such a thing."
Barras: "You are about to become the brother-in-law of His Majesty Louis XVII. This is a good thing!"
"We got married in a free love relationship, and it has nothing to do with her identity or her family."
Barras: "So when are you planning the wedding? I will definitely prepare enough gifts."
An Ning raised her eyebrows: "Mr. Barras is indeed rich, can you teach me a few tricks to make money?"
Barras smiled and asked: "What you did in Italy was much better than mine."
This time An Ning was hit in a sore spot and was completely unable to refute.
Barras may be good at making money, but it's just a drop in the bucket compared to what he made in northern Italy.
Damn it, suddenly I no longer have the position to criticize Barras.
But there still needs to be some justification.
An Ning: "My purpose is to gather strength to launch a new industrial revolution. Science and technology have reached a point and will soon experience explosive growth. The resulting industrial technology revolution will change everything.
“Whoever completes the Industrial Revolution first will be the master of the next hundred years.
"I am doing this for France, don't compare me with you who are enriching your own pockets!"