SWDnovel Chapter 55 The Parliament's Tightening Pressure, Supplies Falling from the Sky
Chapter 55 The Parliament's Tightening Pressure, Supplies Falling from the Sky
Standing in the trench he had built, looking at the results before him, the private let out a long sigh of relief.
Several more blisters appeared on his hands, old wounds reopened, and new wounds bled again. DuPont's clothes were tattered, and he was covered in mud and sweat, emitting an unpleasant smell. However, in DuPont's heart, completing this project still filled him with a sense of accomplishment.
After all, this defensive line was built with their own hands and blood and sweat, and it was their last barrier against the Prussian army.
Just as the soldiers were able to rest briefly and slump in the trenches to catch their breath, the sound of horses' hooves came from afar.
A caravan of horses, adorned with the coat of arms of the French Parliament, sped by, their wheels screeching over the gravel road.
"It's a delegation from Paris."
Louis, slumped on the ground, looked up and squinted at the scene, his tone tinged with disdain.
"Those old men sitting in offices have finally decided to leave their plush sofas."
While the privates were complaining about the officials from Paris, the delegation's carriage stopped right in front of the command post.
Raúl, the speaker of the Paris Parliament, was the first to jump out of the car. He was dressed in a smart black suit, with clean white gloves and shiny leather shoes that were spotless, making him stand out starkly against the muddy and dilapidated surroundings.
A dozen or so parliamentary representatives and army officials followed behind him, ignoring the French soldiers who were curiously observing them, and walked straight toward the rear command post.
Napoleon III, who had just returned to his tent in the command post, was greeted by this group of uninvited guests before he could even have a sip of water.
Raul barged in without waiting for the guards to announce his arrival, followed by the other representatives who filed in, quickly filling the small tent to capacity.
"Your Majesty, Marshal McMahon. On behalf of the French National Assembly, I lodge the strongest protest against you."
?
"What's wrong with me?" Napoleon III, leaning back in his chair, coughed a few times, covering his mouth with his handkerchief, which was then stained with a bright red stain.
He beckoned to the speaker, who had started acting crazy as soon as he entered, signaling him to sit down and talk.
"Speaker, please speak slowly."
"Take your time, Your Majesty. Marshal Bazan's 180,000-strong army is being starved to death by the Prussian forces in Metz. They are bleeding and sacrificing themselves every day. And what about you? You are hiding here in the trenches with the Xialong Legion, not moving an inch."
Montauban regretted it; the arrival of Speaker Raul this time was more of an experiment by Montauban.
After forcibly demanding that the French army not retreat and having a big argument with Eugène, the Rhine Army is now indeed surrounded by the Prussian army, just as previously predicted.
French Prime Minister Montauban was getting anxious. He wanted to bypass Eugène and convey the government's wishes directly to Napoleon III, ordering the Challenger Army to advance and relieve the Rhine Army.
McMahon, who was overhearing Raul's words, frowned. He stepped forward to block Napoleon III, but the movement aggravated his wound, causing the marshal to wince in pain.
"Mr. Speaker, please watch your words. We have just spent four days and four nights building this defensive line, and the soldiers are exhausted."
"I think the army is terrified by the Prussian army, not exhausted. Marshal Bazan was able to hold off an attack of 300,000 Prussian troops with 180,000 men, so why can't the Xia Long Legion, with over 100,000 men, break through the Prussian defenses and relieve the siege of Metz?"
"The Prussian army has deployed two corps, more than 100,000 troops, and more than 200 Krupp cannons west of Metz. If we attack rashly, we will only expose more weaknesses."
"If the Bazan Legion is completely annihilated, France is finished. What use will it be if you hold the Meuse River then? I am now formally informing you that the Parliament demands that you launch an attack immediately tomorrow morning."
"You're being ridiculous! Military operations are not child's play!"
The conversation between McMahon and Raul escalated, with both sides raising their voices higher and higher. However, it was clear that McMahon couldn't win the argument with Raul. Raul, who had come to this place carrying the will of the government and parliament, was not someone that an Imperial Army Field Marshal could stop.
Ignoring the increasingly weakened McMahon, Raul's gaze bypassed the French Marshal and landed directly on Nathan.
"I am saving France, Your Majesty. Make your stance clear. Will you heed the call of Parliament, or will you continue to cower here?"
Raul was very powerful, and with the influx of republican ideas and the gradual weakening of the empire's rule, the power of the parliament was constantly increasing.
As Speaker of the Council, Raul possessed considerable power. Under his relentless pressure, all eyes inside the tent were focused on Napoleon III.
The French emperor, facing the aggressive Raul, moved his lips but could not utter a single word.
A violent cough struck again, and Napoleon III bent over, coughing so hard it was heart-wrenching. With each cough, Napoleon III, who was suffering from an illness, possibly even cancer, coughed up a mouthful of blood onto the ground.
"Your Majesty! Raul, are you satisfied now? What good has it done you to drive His Majesty to this state?"
Looking at the bloodstains on the ground and listening to McMahon's questioning, Raul's face flashed with panic, but he quickly regained his composure.
"I am merely fulfilling my duty. If Your Majesty cannot make the right decision, then the Council will have to consider taking more extreme measures."
The air in the command post froze. All the French officers glared at Raul, some gripping their knives tightly, yet powerless to do anything.
Unlike the parliament that was merely a figurehead in the past, the current parliament truly holds considerable power over public opinion and official logistical supplies. If a major conflict were to break out, the situation on the front lines would only become more difficult.
Moreover, Raul's arrival largely represented the intentions of Prime Minister Monbanto's cabinet.
Inside the tent, in a tense and deadlocked situation, a communications soldier, beaming with joy, stumbled in, his voice trembling with excitement.
"Your Majesty, Marshal! Great news! Incredible good news! The supply convoy from Paris has reached the outer edge of the defense line. The convoy stretches as far as the eye can see!"
Upon hearing the communications soldier's report, everyone present was stunned, and Raul, to everyone's surprise, frowned.
"Nonsense, the Army Ministry has never allocated such a large-scale supply of materials."
No one paid any attention to Raul's questioning. Napoleon III, who had caught his breath and was feeling a little better, raised his head and asked a question with a hint of expectation in his eyes.
"What did you say? Say it again."
"It was sent by His Highness the Crown Prince. He sent us supplies from Paris. There's flour, gunpowder, rifles, shells, warhorses, and medicine—too much to count."