The Crescent of the Sultan

Chapter 34



News of the outbreak of the French Revolution quickly spread throughout Europe, and the ancient European royal families were uneasy about it.

Leopold of Austria told everyone he met that he was very worried about his sister Marie-Antoinette, the Queen of France, and that he was afraid that his sister would be harmed.

Not only that, Leopold also threatened to send a large army to invade France, although in Selim's view this was just an excuse for Leopold to try to interfere in France.

The contemporary King of Prussia, Frederick William II of the Hohenzollern family, who is also a European antique, felt as if he had found his long-lost half-brother after hearing Leopold's speech.

As the two most stubborn European monarchs who opposed the French Revolution, Frederick William II and Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II had a close affinity. It is said that the two had met privately in Munich and reached an agreement to send troops. French Agreement.

But what worries the royal family even more is yet to come. On August 26, with the approval of the Constituent Assembly, the Bill of Rights was passed.

From this moment on, the concept that "people are born and always are free and equal" was for the first time established in the form of law in Europe.

"Bonaparte, what do you think of this?"

In Constantiniya, in the Baghdad Palace, Selim was exchanging views on the French Revolution with Napoleon, although the news between the two was somewhat delayed.

"Your Majesty, the kings of France have long lost their qualifications to rule this country. They are like a puddle of water that is about to dry up.

As for "create equal," I'm not surprised that such ideas existed since they existed as early as the last king's reign.

The failure of the Seven Years' War caused France to lose large areas of colonies in Canada and India. The monarch's prestige declined, and the Bourbon royal family faced a huge financial deficit.

Compared with the era of the Sun King, Louis XV's rule was even worse. He not only consumed France's national power, but also caused France to lose its status as a European hegemon. "

"You are right, Bonaparte, perhaps fate is so elusive," Selim added.

“When Louis XIV died, the people of the provinces, who had fallen into despair over the ruin and decay of their homes, trembled with joy.

The bankrupt, the oppressed, the depressed thank your God with shameful joy and celebrate deliverance because they had given up hope.

However, when they happily welcomed the next king, they ran into Louis XV head-on. "

Napoleon took over.

"That's why the king's incompetence and stupidity are unbearable. He's being manipulated by everyone, from his slutty mistress to his stupid prime minister."

In this case, the people were extremely dissatisfied with the king's rule, and the government was constantly criticized in various ways. "

Selim changed his tone.

“But isn’t that the greatness of France?

With the Enlightenment, a large number of enlightened figures emerged, including Voltaire, Montesquieu, Rousseau, and Diderot.

Ideas such as natural human rights, constitutional monarchy, separation of powers, and sovereignty among the people came into being and became increasingly popular. "

Napoleon then commented.

“Indeed, under the influence of the Enlightenment, a progressive force gradually emerged in France.

They began to try to break through the political and economic constraints of the old system. "

Selim pulled a stack of papers from the table.

"Let us look at a set of figures, Bonaparte.

Exploited by cultural absolutism and obscurantism promoted by feudal lords and religious churches, France's population increased by about one-third from 1700 to 1800.

However, as the population increases, the development of agricultural production cannot keep pace with it. In most years, food is scarce and prices soar.

However, the real wages of residents living in cities and towns dropped by 10%-12%, and the conflicts between farmers and workers against nobles and bishops became increasingly fierce. "

While Selim was talking to Napoleon, he was complaining about Louis XV in his heart.

“The old boy Louis XV is so lucky that he did not live to wait until the revolution, so Louis XVI took over the important responsibility for him.

If he could comment on the current situation of Louis XVI in one sentence, Selim believed that the later Charles X and now the Count of Artois had the most appropriate comment on his brother Louis XVI: “Imagine a few oiled Ivory balls, try to catch them all.”

I have to say that although Charles X was not very good at governing the country, his metaphor was quite apt.

As soon as the old guy Louis XV died, the blessings he left behind were not so easy to solve.

In fact, if Louis XVI had seized the opportunity and carried out reforms, there might not have been subsequent turmoil in France.

But due to political and economic considerations and the humiliation brought to France by the Seven Years' War.

Louis XVI chose to join the American Revolutionary War, which successfully upgraded the blessing left by Louis XV from 996 to 007. "

Selim was thinking about the miserable future of the poor headless founding father, when he heard Napoleon's voice.

"Your Majesty, your documents do reflect France's problems.

During my time in the empire, I saw a lot of chaos. The increasingly severe reality forced Louis XVI to carry out political reforms.

This includes persuading the privileged elites who own most of the wealth to give up some tax exemptions and immunities to increase revenue for the country.

The elites transferred their economic rights and interests, but also obtained a different political status than before, allowing them to intervene more directly in the exercise of royal power.

To some extent, the ancient monarchy has been undermined.

This meant that the ancien régime had begun to collapse before the Revolution officially broke out, and by 1788 the royal power had been weakened to the point that it threatened to turn France into an aristocratic republic. "

Selim smiled and said: “But this situation is no longer possible, dear Napoleon.

At the recent Constitutional Convention, the revolutionaries had become divided.

Moderate "royalist" MPs, who oppose outright revolution and advocate the establishment of a constitutional monarchy similar to Britain, sit to the right of the Speaker.

This group of people are basically aristocrats, but they also include intellectuals and capitalists.

As for the radical "Revolutionary Party" members, they advocated complete restrictions on monarchy. In order to distinguish themselves from the royalists, they chose to sit to the left of the speaker.

This group of people are mainly representatives of the former third estate. A group of "sans-culottes" are the main force among them, and small producers also join them. "

"Your Majesty, do you think it is not time yet for me to return to Paris?"

After a long conversation, Napoleon expressed his confusion.

Selim looked at the calendar and saw that September was approaching. He immediately replied: "Bonaparte, wait a little longer. The situation will become clearer in October.

At that time, I will contact Marie-Roland. It will be good for you to make friends with the Gironde people. "

I was a little embarrassed. After publishing the book for more than ten days, I realized that I had no character cards. Every time I read other people's novels, I always felt that my own was missing something, so I made one this afternoon.

Also, this chapter is posted a little late, because I am about to enter a new script, so it is a little slow, I hope you can understand.

Finally, please read and collect


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