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Chapter 246: The Gathering Storm

These military nobles knew well that since they failed to suppress the royal family by leveraging the unrest this time, they would inevitably face a backlash.

Previously, they had intended to bargain with the royal family, relying on the fact that the royals had no troops of their own and were heavily dependent on them.

This time, however, the Crown Prince had led his army and crushed Marquis de Saint-Véran with lightning speed. The latter had lasted barely over an hour—or so the rumor had 'shrunk' to by the time it reached their ears.

The royal family now possessed an elite, highly effective fighting force, which meant their value in the eyes of the royals had plummeted.

They had been on edge for days, only breathing a sigh of relief when they learned from Marquis Luckner that the royal family's punishment for them would not be too severe.

Given this, it was better not to wait for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to arrive with tens of thousands of troops to "chastise them one by one." Coming to the Crown Prince to admit their mistakes proactively would at least show a more sincere attitude.

Joseph was pleased by their initiative. While it meant losing the opportunity to display the might of the Guards Corps in the southern provinces, it saved him considerable time for his subsequent plans.

After dealing with these individuals, Joseph simply established his base in Riom.

In the following days, all military officers involved in the attempted coup came forward to "report," as if fearing the royal family would change its mind if they arrived too late.

By this point, Joseph had largely completed his control over more than a dozen major armies in the western and southern provinces. According to their official rolls, they should have comprised 110,000 troops, but in reality, there were just over 80,000.

While these armies certainly wouldn't be able to strike exactly where commanded, at least they would no longer openly defy orders.

With the addition of Duke of Broglie and other northern officers who had been the first to see the situation clearly and "defect," the entrenched problem of military nobles forming blocs to monopolize the army was finally resolved.

The most significant aspect of this matter was that it bought Joseph time and a favorable environment for his military reforms.

Once the military reforms were complete, France would possess a powerful, modern army, and the existing antiquated feudal forces could be swept into the dustbin of history.

Joseph left the Guards Corps in Riom to deter the newly integrated armies. Until the military noble faction formally arrived at Versailles to bow before the King, he still needed to guard against any lingering schemes they might harbor.

Joseph, meanwhile, traveled north by carriage through the night, returning to Versailles. Soon, that would become his primary battlefield.

Before his departure, a series of secret orders had already been issued to the Police Intelligence Bureau, Mirabeau, and others.

A few days later, in the southern provinces, the Police Intelligence Bureau agents who had been preparing for a long time received their directives and immediately sprang into action.

At the same time, the numerous newly emerging nobles Mirabeau and his associates had dispatched to various regions began to take to the streets, cooperating with them.

A great storm, personally instigated by Joseph, was about to sweep across France.

...

Versailles.

North Wing, Hercules Salon.

After Marquis Luckner bowed and exited the hall, Joseph whispered a few words to Louis XVI and Queen Mary, then yawned and left through a side door.

He had been traveling by carriage for four consecutive days, in addition to campaigning with the army before that, and was truly exhausted. He would avoid such formal occasions whenever possible.

Outside the hall, the dense crowd of nobles who had come to watch now looked at his retreating back with a touch of fear.

People whispered among themselves: "Did you hear? The Montcalm Legion rebelled, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince crushed them with the Paris Police!"

"Oh, your information is probably not entirely accurate. His Highness's main force was Berthier's Legion; the police were merely assisting..."

"Hah, but the police were the first to break through the rebels' lines!"

"Alright, either way, His Highness defeated the rebels and captured Marquis de Saint-Véran in just half an hour."

"Speaking of which, why did Marquis de Saint-Véran suddenly rebel?"

"The specifics aren't clear, but it seems to be connected to the unrest in the south. I heard he was the one supporting the rebellion."

"Good heavens!" The speaker made the sign of the cross. "That's simply terrible! A grand noble like him involved in the unrest..."

Yes, in the perception of most people in Paris and the northern provinces, the southern unrest had not yet ended. However, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had cut off the black hand behind the rebellion, namely Marquis de Saint-Véran.

Thump!

The ceremonial officer struck the ground heavily with the end of his staff and announced loudly, "General Mornet is granted an audience."

A low bugle call followed.

General Mornet adjusted his collar, passed between two rows of guards with the court official, then walked through two tall doors into the Hercules Salon.

He strode quickly to the center of the hall, and upon seeing only the King and Queen Mary seated opposite him, with the Crown Prince absent, the pressure in his heart suddenly eased a little.

He knelt on one knee and declared loudly, "Your Majesty, I offer my deepest apologies for my recklessness and imprudence, and I beg your boundless mercy to pardon my transgressions. I swear before God to remain forever loyal to you, serving you as your humblest servant..."

He went on and on for a good while more before Queen Mary finally raised a hand to signal him to rise. "You still possess the trust of His Majesty the King and myself, General."

"Thank you for your magnanimity..."

General Mornet expressed his gratitude once more, then bowed his head and withdrew from the hall.

Afterward, the ceremonial officer called in the next military officer. At that moment, seventy or eighty mid-to-high-ranking officers were still waiting outside the hall, all eager to admit their mistakes and pledge loyalty to the King.

Queen Mary watched the officers outside the hall through the door panels, then turned to her husband and whispered, "I can hardly believe Joseph, with just a group of police, could bring these defiant generals to such submission."

"He is the Son of Divine Favor," Louis XVI said, making the sign of the cross over his chest, his expression filled with pride. "I always knew he would be the greatest king!"

Queen Mary frowned slightly again. "Speaking of which, he's always going off to battle with the troops lately... Isn't that too dangerous?"

Louis XVI smiled faintly. "No, the battlefield is a boy's finest stage."

He suddenly leaned closer to the Queen, whispering as if seeking praise, "Do you know, the guns Joseph used to defeat the rebels were actually ones he and I designed together..."

The officers' audience ceremony continued for an entire day.

These military magnates individually bowed their heads and repented before the King, in front of numerous Versailles nobles. This process significantly boosted the royal family's image and further reinforced the authority of the monarchy.

At the evening banquet, almost everyone's conversation revolved around the rebellion and the southern unrest.

Mirabeau turned to several young nobles beside him, solemnly whispering, "We must profoundly reflect on this latest unrest. What kind of people, or what unreasonable system, is driving people into the despair of starvation!"